Day 9: Carlsbad Cavern > Austin

Campsite neighbor

We awoke to road runners and wild rabbits running around our campsite which afforded Adler some wildlife to compensate for the disappointment from the previous evening's bat flight. We broke the tent down early and headed back up the mountain to explore deep into the cavern. You can elect to take an elevator down the 700 feet and "cheat" or you can walk through the mouth of the cave at the amphitheater where we'd been the night before. I elected the latter and it was the right choice.

On the walk from the visitors center to the amphitheater I spotted a rattlesnake off the path and pointed it out to Adler. I was doing my best to show that plenty of wildlife still existed in the area even if we hadn't seen the bats en mass. Adler enjoyed learning that the stalagmites and stalagtites were both members of the speleotheum family. Of which, there was also something called cave "popcorn." He then continued for a long time to point out all of the popcorn to which I asked him if it tasted like real popcorn and he replied, "No, it tastes like rocks."

The trek down is a trail with switchbacks that make the descent manageable for anyone. When you finally arrive at the bottom you're in something appropriately named the "Big Room" which according to the sign is the same size as fourteen football fields. But that only takes into consideration the breadth of the space. There is also the verticality and expansiveness that cannot be imagined unless you are in there yourself. It reminded me of a Gaudi's La Segrada Familia in Barcelon. But this was finished and entirely nature made.

Upon leaving that morning I asked Adler what his favorite thing was that we'd done so far. He quickly answered, "The cave." I asked if it was even better than the helicopter ride and he said, "No, the helicopter ride was better."

When we left Pleasant Hill and said our goodbyes the SUV was parked in the street and Lisa was on the doorstep waving. I had rolled down the back passenger window so that Adler could see her and say goodbye. Tears formed in his eyes and he bit his lip to prevent himself from crying. I'm not sure if she could see this because she was probably doing the same thing. The reality of the trip had finally settled in and he know knew that he'd be apart from him mother for longer than any time before. We pulled down our street made a right turn on Pleasant Hill Road and reached the stop sign behind our house when he said to me, "I miss mom." with moist eyes still fighting to hold back tears. It was a tough way to start the trip for both of us but I told him that mom missed him too and that it was okay to feel sad.

After the Cavern we started the longest drive of the trip. It was going to be an almost eight hour drive to Austin. We were traveling there to see Lisa. She'd flown in to join us during week two from Austin through St. Louis. It was something that he'd been excited about since the first day and asking me every day after, "When do we get to see mom?" I consistently answered that it would be the next Thursday but that didn't stop him from asking every day. Not only did he do well on the long drive but we only stopped once for gas, food and a restroom break. During the drive he said to me, "Dad, thank you very much for making this road trip. I really, really like it." Even being apart from his mother he still knew that both of his parents loved him equally and that he was getting to do something very special.

Lisa's flight beat us to Austin so she was already at the hotel room when we arrived. We had our reunion complete with long hugs and kisses and then a quick unpacking before the three of us enjoyed the first family meal together (albeit at a Mexican restaurant) in over a week and shared stories from our adventure. We went to bed ready to continue the drive across Texas in the morning.

Day's Mileage: 430
Total Mileage: 3110