{"id":432,"date":"2010-09-21T19:41:06","date_gmt":"2010-09-22T02:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/?p=432"},"modified":"2010-09-21T19:41:06","modified_gmt":"2010-09-22T02:41:06","slug":"day-52-stalactites-and-stalagmites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/2010\/09\/21\/day-52-stalactites-and-stalagmites\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 52 &#8211; Stalactites and stalagmites"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sept 21st<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3061.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-434\" title=\"IMG_3061\" src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3061-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3061-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3061-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Today was the day to go visit the caverns.\u00a0 Both of us had been there before &#8211; my last visit was in 1967 when I was in the Air Force and stationed in San Angelo, Texas.\u00a0 I know that the caverns have looked the same for about the last 50,000 years but I wanted to see them again and so did Carol who last saw them on her 10th birthday.\u00a0 We got a bit of a late start because we met some really nice people in the camp ground and one of the couples was really interested in the GMC.\u00a0 They spend May through October in their really small class &#8216;B&#8217; and liked the looks of the GMC.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3065.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-435\" title=\"IMG_3065\" src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3065-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3065-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3065-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3065.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Our original plan was to get there early enough to do the two self-guided tours that took a total of 3 hours and then take the ranger-guided tour of a couple of smaller chambers.\u00a0 Our late start caused us to skip the ranger-guided tour and it was just as well because we were tired from the 3 hours of walking.\u00a0 The self-guided tours started at the natural opening of the caverns &#8211; the place that the bats come out &#8211; and proceeded down about 750 feet to the &#8220;big room&#8221;.\u00a0 It took about 1 1\/2 hours to get down there and then another 1 1\/2 hours to see the &#8220;big room&#8221;.\u00a0 Photos are very difficult to take because of the lack of light and the immense size of the caverns.\u00a0 They are gigantic &#8211; not the biggest in the world but ranked as the most beautiful &#8211; and we agree.<\/p>\n<p>Photos are hard to take in the caverns but here is an attempt &#8211; don&#8217;t forget to click on the box in the lower right of the photo to go to full screen.\n\n<div class=\"ngg-galleryoverview ngg-slideshow\"\n\t id=\"ngg-slideshow-f08b8d656cb9f18e45225b2e4148fea9-12141756580\"\n     data-gallery-id=\"f08b8d656cb9f18e45225b2e4148fea9\"\n     style=\"max-width: 800px; max-height: 600px;\">\n\n \t<div id=\"ngg-image-0\" class=\"ngg-gallery-slideshow-image\" style=\"height:600px\">\n\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3061.JPG\"\n           title=\"We are going in there?\"\n           data-src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3061.JPG\"\n           data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/thumbs\/thumbs_IMG_3061.JPG\"\n           data-image-id=\"434\"\n           data-title=\"IMG_3061\"\n           data-description=\"We are going in there?\"\n           class=\"shutterset_f08b8d656cb9f18e45225b2e4148fea9\">\n\n            <img data-image-id='434'\n                 title=\"We are going in there?\"\n                 alt=\"IMG_3061\"\n                 src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3061.JPG\"\n                 style=\"max-height: 580px;\"\/>\n        <\/a>\n\n        <\/div> \n<div id=\"ngg-image-1\" class=\"ngg-gallery-slideshow-image\" style=\"height:600px\">\n\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3064.JPG\"\n           title=\"looking back - goodbye daylight\"\n           data-src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3064.JPG\"\n           data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/thumbs\/thumbs_IMG_3064.JPG\"\n           data-image-id=\"435\"\n           data-title=\"IMG_3064\"\n           data-description=\"looking back - goodbye daylight\"\n           class=\"shutterset_f08b8d656cb9f18e45225b2e4148fea9\">\n\n            <img data-image-id='435'\n                 title=\"looking back - goodbye daylight\"\n                 alt=\"IMG_3064\"\n                 src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3064.JPG\"\n                 style=\"max-height: 580px;\"\/>\n        <\/a>\n\n        <\/div> \n<div id=\"ngg-image-2\" class=\"ngg-gallery-slideshow-image\" style=\"height:600px\">\n\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3065.JPG\"\n           title=\"&quot;The Whale&#039;s Mouth&quot;\"\n           data-src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3065.JPG\"\n           data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/thumbs\/thumbs_IMG_3065.JPG\"\n           data-image-id=\"436\"\n           data-title=\"IMG_3065\"\n           data-description=\"&quot;The Whale&#039;s Mouth&quot;\"\n           class=\"shutterset_f08b8d656cb9f18e45225b2e4148fea9\">\n\n            <img data-image-id='436'\n                 title=\"&quot;The Whale&#039;s Mouth&quot;\"\n                 alt=\"IMG_3065\"\n                 src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3065.JPG\"\n                 style=\"max-height: 580px;\"\/>\n        <\/a>\n\n        <\/div> \n<div id=\"ngg-image-3\" class=\"ngg-gallery-slideshow-image\" style=\"height:600px\">\n\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3068.JPG\"\n           title=\"pictures don&#039;t tell the story\"\n           data-src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3068.JPG\"\n           data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/thumbs\/thumbs_IMG_3068.JPG\"\n           data-image-id=\"437\"\n           data-title=\"IMG_3068\"\n           data-description=\"pictures don&#039;t tell the story\"\n           class=\"shutterset_f08b8d656cb9f18e45225b2e4148fea9\">\n\n            <img data-image-id='437'\n                 title=\"pictures don&#039;t tell the story\"\n                 alt=\"IMG_3068\"\n                 src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3068.JPG\"\n                 style=\"max-height: 580px;\"\/>\n        <\/a>\n\n        <\/div> \n<div id=\"ngg-image-4\" class=\"ngg-gallery-slideshow-image\" style=\"height:600px\">\n\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3069.JPG\"\n           title=\"huge stalagmite\"\n           data-src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3069.JPG\"\n           data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/thumbs\/thumbs_IMG_3069.JPG\"\n           data-image-id=\"438\"\n           data-title=\"IMG_3069\"\n           data-description=\"huge stalagmite\"\n           class=\"shutterset_f08b8d656cb9f18e45225b2e4148fea9\">\n\n            <img data-image-id='438'\n                 title=\"huge stalagmite\"\n                 alt=\"IMG_3069\"\n                 src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3069.JPG\"\n                 style=\"max-height: 580px;\"\/>\n        <\/a>\n\n        <\/div> \n<div id=\"ngg-image-5\" class=\"ngg-gallery-slideshow-image\" style=\"height:600px\">\n\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3070.JPG\"\n           title=\"&quot;Lion&#039;s Tails&quot;\"\n           data-src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3070.JPG\"\n           data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/thumbs\/thumbs_IMG_3070.JPG\"\n           data-image-id=\"439\"\n           data-title=\"IMG_3070\"\n           data-description=\"&quot;Lion&#039;s Tails&quot;\"\n           class=\"shutterset_f08b8d656cb9f18e45225b2e4148fea9\">\n\n            <img data-image-id='439'\n                 title=\"&quot;Lion&#039;s Tails&quot;\"\n                 alt=\"IMG_3070\"\n                 src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3070.JPG\"\n                 style=\"max-height: 580px;\"\/>\n        <\/a>\n\n        <\/div> \n<div id=\"ngg-image-6\" class=\"ngg-gallery-slideshow-image\" style=\"height:600px\">\n\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3071.JPG\"\n           title=\"about 60 feet tall!\"\n           data-src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3071.JPG\"\n           data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/thumbs\/thumbs_IMG_3071.JPG\"\n           data-image-id=\"440\"\n           data-title=\"IMG_3071\"\n           data-description=\"about 60 feet tall!\"\n           class=\"shutterset_f08b8d656cb9f18e45225b2e4148fea9\">\n\n            <img data-image-id='440'\n                 title=\"about 60 feet tall!\"\n                 alt=\"IMG_3071\"\n                 src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/gallery\/newmexicoday2\/IMG_3071.JPG\"\n                 style=\"max-height: 580px;\"\/>\n        <\/a>\n\n        <\/div> \n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share.php?u=http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/2010\/09\/21\/day-52-stalactites-and-stalagmites\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/plugins\/add-to-facebook-plugin\/facebook_share_icon.gif\" alt=\"Share on Facebook\" title=\"Share on Facebook\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share.php?u=http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/2010\/09\/21\/day-52-stalactites-and-stalagmites\/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Share on Facebook\">Share on Facebook<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sept 21st Today was the day to go visit the caverns.\u00a0 Both of us had been there before &#8211; my last visit was in 1967 when I was in the Air Force and stationed in San Angelo, Texas.\u00a0 I know that the caverns have looked the same for about the last 50,000 years but I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share.php?u=http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/2010\/09\/21\/day-52-stalactites-and-stalagmites\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-content\/plugins\/add-to-facebook-plugin\/facebook_share_icon.gif\" alt=\"Share on Facebook\" title=\"Share on Facebook\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share.php?u=http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/2010\/09\/21\/day-52-stalactites-and-stalagmites\/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Share on Facebook\">Share on Facebook<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"armand","author_link":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/author\/armand\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=432"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":438,"href":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432\/revisions\/438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}