Wide Open Spaces

This is the third in a series of seven posts made during a 2017 US vacation. 

1. Joshua Tree
2. The Desert is Alive
3. Wide Open Spaces
4. Spring Flowers!
5. Gator Bait
6. Tornadoes and Car Trouble
7. Spirits in The Desert

It’s been really nice to get away from the busy life at home.  There are still responsibilities but when there is only a 17-foot trailer and truck involved, all of the usual chores are minimized or don’t exist at all. Life is simple, life it good.

Very dry New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns NM

The entire walk/hike is about 1.5 hours (approx. 1 mile around) with a descent of about 800 feet (there is an elevator back up but the hike back up wasn’t nearly as hard as we thought it would be). The temperature was a wonderful 56 degrees and very humid so it felt warmer. I struggle to describe Carlsbad Caverns, National Park. As with all national parks, it was amazing…they all have something truly unique. Carlsbad though is hard to describe and pictures do it no justice at all...but I'll try.

Walking into the huge opening that leads to the caverns we were greeted with hundreds of mud swallows pouring in-and-out of the cave entrance and their chorus of chirping (it was beautiful). Once down into the 800-foot cavern, we were in a very large enclosed stadium-sized space where the roof was anywhere from 200 to 500 feet above (there are also tiny spaces but that wasn’t part of the self-guided tour).  There were giant white stalactites hanging down up to about 50 feet. Some are as thin around as pencils and others, as large around as cars. On the ground are their mirror opposites, the stalagmites, shooting up towards the ceiling sometimes touching their counterparts (you can get an idea of the size from the first picture below. There is a red circle around a person).  There are some sections of the cavern where hundreds of stalactites hang down like the most beautiful crystal chandelier you’ve ever seen while in other sections they are gracefully draping like a piece of white silk fabric. The whole thing looks like something that Dr. Seuss would have dreamt up as his ideal crystal palace. As I said, pictures show nothing of it's amazing beauty and mass. 

Note the size of the stalactite size by the human on the right circled in red

Copper Creek State Park TX

After a short thunder and lightning storm, the clouds have parted and we are settling into a beautiful Texas sunset virtually alone at Copper Creek State Park. The park was named after its exposed rust colored hillsides. Lots of biking/riding/hiking trails.

Lake Eufaula State Park OK

“Craig, look at that Opossum over there….wait, that’s an Armadillo! Quick, get the camera”. This place is lousy with wildlife. We woke in the morning to a chorus of birds and other wild things. (see pics below). I take back all of my disparaging remarks about Oklahoma being flat and boring. In case you’re wondering Eufaula is a Creek word for “the gathering place”.

Camping at Lake Eufaula State Park

Apparently, Oklahoma has a problem with wild hogs

Horse Shoe Canyon AR

Arkansas is a beautiful state. Everyone told us that and we agree. It's hilly, rocky, wet, and green. We didn't get to spend a lot of time there but we did find this great ranch to stay at for the night in Horse Shoe Canyon. The place was bought to create a "dude" ranch but they were soon overtaken with climbers because of the great climbing rocks that surround the ranch (you can see some of it in the picture below). At night they let loose all of the approx 20 horses. Along with the dozens of goats...it was quite a sight as they surrounded our trailer.  

Horse Shoe Ranch AR

Deb climbing

Craig Climbing

Dad and Yvonne's House in Missouri

Target Shooting off the deck