Nancy, I see that you are in the cavers neighborhood of the universe. Although everything is still green here closer to the gulf coast, not yet having had a freeze south of Interstate 10, we ain't got no caves. Too much mystery in your trip report but sounds as if the "glistening wonderland" was almost in your back yard. Come on, give us a few clues. Fritz - (the flatlander)
-----Original Message----- From: Nancy Weaver [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 6:11 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Texascavers] beauty unimagined just below the surface Its been a hard day, a hard couple of days, not just the details of getting ready for a trip or the uncertainties around work and around the world, but the heaviness of winter gone on too long, too brown, too lifeless to be borne much longer. It was tempting to call my friend and say, 'not today, too much going on' and he would have acquiesed and said 'fine, another time'. Instead I found myself saying into the phone - I'll be about 30 minutes, now where do I meet you? and jotting down the directions. An hour later, I pulled up behind his truck in the suburban neighborhood - beige, identical, zero lot line middle America on the left and a tired out dead grass gated multi abuse area on the right. We skirted the industrial grated pit, some sewer diversion construction, and aimed for a massive amateur welded 'gate' that sealed off the pit. Using a pry bar we manhandled the top off, slid off the wooden layer below, and I started down the iron ladder that descended one side of the spacious concrete shaft. I'd forgotten to turn my light on above and entered the lovely warmth in darkness. My glasses fogged instantly in the warm moist air, so I could barely see as I stepped tentatively off the ladder. Turning on my light, taking off my glasses, my breath caught as I saw the glistening wonderland surrounding me. Impossibly delicate soda straws feet in length sparkled from every part of the ceiling. Frosted flowstone gleamed in improbable places above and below. The room was filled with family like groupings of stalags, crusts and flares of mineralized water glowing flowing growing. It was beautiful, the more so for its total improbabilty. Yet not improbable, because here it is, dazzling me, taking me out of my humdrum grey- brown and hopeless mood of moments ago, into the realm of wonder, beauty, mystery. Not a big cave, no real need to move about, just to stand still and breathe in the extravagant glory of it. And leaving, to remember the beauty unimagined below the surface. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
