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!