Nothing exciting about this segment. A direct shot.
The only thing exciting on this leg of our journey could have been Roswell but Debby and I did that on her last road trip. Somehow stopping there again just wouldn't be the same. I did overhear someone talk about White Sands National Monument but I didn't think about it. That can be something for another trip.
So many towns with closed businesses
Vacancy. For how long?
Another business gone.
From the past.
One of the things that happens while travelling alone is there is a lot of time to think. I knew our economy has been bad but as I travel along the back roads of this great country it is amazing the number of towns that look like these photos above.
I believe there have been at least three major events that have caused the small town decline. The first major event was the building of the interstate highway systems. You see so many businesses that look like they were in business and prosperous in the 50's and 60's but are long gone. Some were repurposed and survived the first change but didn't make it on the second or third wave of changes.
The second wave that hit small businesses hard were the massive, cut rate stores, Walmart and all of the associated big box, high volume, small margin businesses. The small mom and pop stores couldn't compete.
The major wave has been the economic mess of the last several years. Everything for profit. To hell with everything else. Short sited decisions to keep the stock prices up regardless of the long term effects. High stock price yields high executive bonuses, although high bonuses still happen regardless of how the executives perform. Remember when we had pensions, health care paid for by our employers, employers that made every effort to keep their employees and keep them employed, politicians that voted for their constituents instead of a party line. It wasn't perfect but it wasn't as cut throat as it is today.
So this is what was determined to be good. Growth at any expense. Profit at any expense. If this is progress, I'll be damned. Maybe it's just the nostalgia of an old man but I'd really like to return to the relative safety of the 50's. Sorry for the ramblings but the thoughts passed through my brain along the way and I felt the need to get them out.
On a liter note, the scenery has changed. Nothing so dramatic as Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and northern New Mexico. A lot more large ranches. More often than not you can't see the homestead on most of the properties.
Pronghorns
The herd out for their breakfast.
It's the middle of nowhere. How many of us would like to live where it's 45 to 70 miles to the nearest bank, grocery store, gasoline, restaurant, or service of any kind?
Nearest gas.
Nearest bank.
Nearest groceries.
Southern New Mexico for miles and miles.
We arrive in Carlsbad Caverns, the city, in late afternoon, hot and tired. It's time to set up camp, get cool, take a nap, and relax. Tomorrow morning is a great time to visit the caverns. It' will be cooler and we'll be rested.
Map of the cavern from PlanetWare.com
Since I have to kennel Raven I choose to take the self guided tour which is focused in the Big Room. It's by far the largest room of any cavern I've ever visited. The size is just huge. The hike around the room takes about forty-five minutes and is beautiful.
The entrance once you descend the height of about a 75 story building.
An unusual formation hanging from the ceiling
Note the tall slender columns.
Another unusual formation
Stalactites hanging from the ceiling of the big room
Mirror lake, one of the few pools of water that I saw
More beauty
The Painted Grotto
There are so many more wonderful formations and photos. I don't want to go on for too long but when I see you again, if you're interested, I'd be happy to share more with you.
Well, the hike through the caverns was great. Raven survived the morning in the kennel. We're reunited and both ready to head east. This time it's onward to Austin and San Antonio Texas. Let's see what the big state has in store for us. So long for now and again thanks for following us. Take care.
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