Broken Adventurer: 2015

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Carlsbad Cavern and the Howard Museum

Carlsbad Caverns is large. Very large and very interesting. It was all set up for the tourist however. With carved steps and handrails throughout, there was something wrong with the site. Of course you saw all the big ticket items of the cave and the last part of Carlsbad Cavern was a large concession area that had flush toilets and sold odds and ends. Part of me thought it was kind of cool though another part of me was saddened by this crass commercialism that they would put it in the cave. I guess that it why it took me so long to write this part of my Broken Adventurer blog. It seems that where ever I go, there are little shops tucked away here and there, close by usual tourist spots. They are usually hidden away but still very noticeable because they usually have a very large parking spot to them. Of course I can understand why they are there, but I still can be a little saddened by it all.

Never the less, the cave was huge. Too bad it was a little late in the day when I showed up, but Tian and I had fun and took some pictures.

This wasn't all the pics I have taken. Unfortunately my camera does not take good photos in the dark.

Another unfortunate thing that happened was outside of Carlsbad. There was nothing. There was a RV and campsite, but that was it. The nearest town was like ten miles and the towns claim to fame was that they had just got a Macdonalds. I know, it seems like I am being hypocritical about the crass commercialization, but this was outside of the National Park. Anyway the camp closed up before dark and it was quiet.

Too quiet...

At eleven of the pm, I was wide awake and left the RV/campsite for Texas.

It was while I was in Texas that I saw the most peculiar site. I had gotten lost, my GPS was wonky at the time so I was driving East. I saw a building out of the corner of my eye and had to stop and swing a u-turn. It was what I thought. The home of Robert E. Howard. Oh my! What a find! Unfortunately it wasn't open as it seemed that it was open by reservation. Still, for all of my friends who love the Conan saga of stories, it was quite the find! I will have to go back and take the tour.

Up next, Friends!

Sunday, August 30, 2015

After Grand Canyon: Meteor Crater and the Petrified Forest

So after I left the South Side of the Grand Canyon I got to the Highway 40 via Flagstaff. I headed for the Petrified Forest but first I came, I noticed that Meteor Crater was along the way. Seeing as how never been there, I decided to take a quick trip to Meteor Crater.

It was barren, nary a tree to be seen. It was a bright and clear day and none too hot being late March. As I approached the Crater it appeared to be a newly constructed building atop a large hill. The hill itself was the rim of the crater. Inside, there was the Apollo test capsule, a large gift shop and a museum that was quite informative. They did guided tours out along the rim and they had quite a few observation points along the rim of the crater.

Now I wasnt sure of exactly what I was expecting. In all the pictures I have seen in the past, it seemed to be much more larger than I was expecting it was to be. Shibuya Crossing in Japan was the same way. Here I was expecting it to be much larger that it actually was. In fact the only that kinda blew me away in terms of size was the Grand Canyon. That was big.

So after Meteor Crater I went to the Petrified Forest. I was kinda rushed and I did miss some of the finer points of the Painted Desert. But seeing as how I have been here before, I did not feel that bad. I wanted to rush by and collect the stamps for my National Parks passport; and get my pin and iron on patch (as of today, I have gotten seventeen patches. Not bad considering I have only started of March this year!) I will have to get a picture of my coat.