Carlsbad Caverns New Mexico and Dallas Texas

Part of the Big Room

From Albuquerque, we rolled South down to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.  Carlsbad Caverns is located in the Guadalupe Mountains and formed from pressure of the mountains rising and releasing hydrogen sulfide gas that seeped upward.   The gas oxidized and bacteria thrived creating sulfuric acid that ate away at the limestone causing caverns (simplistic version).   The top of the mountains are porous which allows water to roll down into the caverns creating the stalagmite's and stalactites we're used to seeing in caves.   To get down to the caverns we took an elevator (how easy is that!).   From there you're  on a very nice paved trail that takes you ultimately to the "Big Room".   There is still much of the cavern that hasn't been explored because of access to these areas.  Example of what explorers did in the past was use helium balloons to rise to the top of the caverns to access the openings in the ceilings.  One of the the most interesting aspects of the cave is the Brazilian free-tail bats that live in natural entrance from early spring thru October.   Each evening thousands of bats fly out to feed on insects.   Unfortunately, we didn't stick around to see the event......we were on a mission to get to New Orleans for Kami's birthday and we only had 3 days to cross Texas to get into Louisiana.

Pic of Guadalupe Mountains above Caverns

Well lit walkway, temperature was 55 degrees

Pic above is one of several holes in the ceiling.  

The pic with rope is how they climbed into the ceiling holes to explore other parts of the cavern.  They used helium balloons to reach ceiling to set up ropes.

I added this picture because it reminded me of rock guy from Guardian of the Galaxy

The drive across Texas was interesting.   From New Mexico on Interstate 20 we first encountered fields of oil rigs and gas piping (that was expected).   Then we rolled thru an area that had tons of Wind farms (that was not expected).   We have traveled across this country both blue and red and never have I seen so many windmills.   For miles they were every where as far as the eye could see.   This is interesting to me as Texas is known for oil, but they still do their part on green energy.  

So we went thru Dallas and decided to take the tour of AT&T Stadium (Cowboy Stadium).   The day before we went to Texas Live! which is area built around Texas Rangers and Cowboys stadiums.   It's attached to Lowe's Hotel.  What a great area for food, entertainment, and refreshments 😏.   When we got there the Rangers were playing the Yankees on the last day regular season.   We noticed KISS banner and lighting......I said "No way, KISS is playing"?   Not exactly, it was a tribute band BUT they got KISS down on every aspect of the show they put on.   Kami and I enjoyed the concert!   

I wanted to put this pic in here because these folks were coming in for the Cowboy Stadium tour.  

The stadium is as most of Texas, HUGE!  The screen covers most of the field.   Couple of fun facts.....the first Cowboy game had over 100, 000 in attendance.   It was also the last time.   The Fire Marshall got with Jerry Jones.  They have had WWE in in the Stadium along with monster trucks that took 350 dump trucks of dirt.

Standing on the STAR at midfield.   Do you remember Antonio Bryant spiking the ball at midfield after touchdown?  

Below, Texas Live! is a great entertainment area between Cowboy and Ranger's Stadium.   The KISS tribute band played on stage after the Rangers last game of the year.   

They played the part and did the show exactly how I remember it when I saw KISS many moons ago.

Doesn't he look like Gene Simmons?

We were right there by the stage.  After the Rangers game a lot of people filed in.