In view of that, photography is prohibited, two airlocks are traversed, and visitors are cautioned to only touch the handrail (or each other). Even lint from clothing presents a problem, because the temperature inside is above 70 degrees F, and the humidity is very high, so that any particle of fabric will provide a breeding ground for unwanted mold or bacteria. The walkways are cleaned every day with pressurized water which drains into a system of drains to be recycled.
Two tours are available; the Rotunda/Throne Room tour, and the Big Room Tour. We had booked the Rotunda/Throne Room tour, and enjoyed it immensely. Since incorporation into the state park system, a series of mapping expeditions have identified the extent of the 350 million year old system, and a network of tunnels have been excavated through the limestone rock to provide easy public access. No more headlamps and worn out shoes! As a visitor enters, the first airlock begins to adjust humidity and temperature. The second requires a walk through a misting system that finalizes the humidity. Then on to the tour!
The tunnel/trail system that is in place is a work of art. Constructed over several years, it was created in sections that were "tented" and sealed off from the actual cave. When a section was done, the tent was extended and more work was done. At the end, the entire assembly was dismantled and brought out from the end back to the beginning so as to minimize the impact on the cave environment.
Many delicate and awesome formations are visible from the trail, but two features stood out in our mind. The area containing 45,000 year old bat guano was certainly a highlight…..and the final room of the tour, the Throne Room, was a perfect end to the tour. This room and it's formations resemble the court of a mighty king. At one side is the largest limestone column in the state of Arizona, aptly named
Kublai Khan!
Donna is having fun!
A garden outside the visitor's center includes a variety of well kept local plants.
After our Karchner Cavern experience, we drifted a few miles east to Benson, AZ, for lunch. Now, I don't know if you've ever been to Benson, but we found that it's a tough town to find a restaurant in. Or should I say, one that has curb appeal. We settled on the Horseshoe Cafe, on 4th Street. A casual western interior and some pleasant greeters made us welcome. Our order was taken promptly, but that's when things began to fall apart; we waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. I was just about to toss a couple of bucks on the table for the water and leave when our server came by to "take your order". (!). So we waited, and we waited, and we waited. Served finally, we were told that the salad was no longer available.."we ran out". So we waited, and we waited. Finally we got our sandwiches. Donna had ordered a Pastrami sandwich. What she got was a Patty Melt. Good, but….Server came by and apologized, and took it away. So we waited, and we waited. Finally all was in order, and eaten, and, I must say, very good. It was just annoying to spend 2 1/2 hours getting lunch.
Back in Tucson, we cleaned up a bit and took advantage of the generosity of our friends from Texas. Roger and Pat had reserved two seats at the Gaslight Theatre in Tucson (billed as the Hottest Thing to hit Tucson since Sunlight) but had to return to Texas a bit sooner than they had expected. They were kind enough to share the tickets with us, and we thank them. The production this spring is "The Ballad of Two Gun McGraw". Set in San Pecos, Texas, we follow the adventures of Two Gun McGraw, a Texas Ranger, as he saves the ranch of a recently widowed Miss Melody, from the unscrupulous businessman Jack Dagger. Dagger's henchmen, Scratchy, and Red Dog, hire a gunslinger, Lo-Ray-Do, to help. After several adventures and misadventures, including the tying of Miss Melody to the railroad tracks, all is well. The desperadoes are jailed and Two Gun and Miss Melody find true love.
The hilarious melodrama is supported by a live band, of course, with an extremely talented piano player named Linda Ackermann, who is a native Tucsonian that has been playing at the Gaslight since 1996. She makes that piano sing as she supports the melodrama, just as in the "old days". Linda has a Masters Degree in Music, and is the Music Director for the Gaslight.
The evening ended with the cast doing a short "olio" based on the Beverly Hillbillies. One of the jokes had to do with Jethro being asked to take care of a cow. When Jed asked how it worked out, Jethro said that the cow had been ready to be a Momma, but now she was "de-calf-inated". I guess you had to be there!
The Gaslight has been in existence for over 37 years, and is one of Tucson's favorite attractions. We wish we could be around for the next production, "The Adventures of Robin Hood", followed by "Space Wars". If last night was any indication, they will be hilarious.
Alas, no pix were allowed during the performance, but we took a few before the festivities started:
You can see the small stage on the right where the piano is, and the bass player and drummer sit.
The theater was filled to capacity, but Roger and Pat had scored a nice table with two chairs that provided a great view of the stage.
A great evening of fun and laughter! Thanks, Roger and Pat!
Today the weather was overcast, windy, and "iffy" for rain, so we decided to take a drive a few miles south to Nogales, AZ. Right on the US-Mexico border, Nogales is a major cargo transfer point for materials and produce entering the US from Mexico. Miles and miles of distribution warehouses line I19, and big trucks rumble over every street in the town. While we could look at the border fence and see the brightly painted houses on a hill across the border, we didn't stop to check it out. Wish I had brought our passports!
We did have lunch at a small restaurant a mile or so from the border called "Exquisito Restaurant". I gotta say….pretty good food!
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