Shreveport to Carlsbad and HOME!

September 19, 2012

Hello!

This will be our last posting, as we reached home this morning…but to go back…

We were up and down to breakfast fairly early (and a great breakfast it was, too!) and on the road about 7 a.m.  Within minutes we were in Texas, which, is really a BIG state – and to be honest, not a very attractive state, at least following Interstate 20 across to Dallas/Fort Worth and Abilene.  We figured that Abilene would be a good place to stop for lunch – wrong!  It was actually scary; not much going on, and we took the business IS-20 business route right through the middle of town!  We finally found an Arby’s, ate, and were on our way fairly quickly.  We left the freeway at Big Spring, and started angling up to cross into New Mexico and head right into Carlsbad.  We were amazed at all the activity going on – trucks going to and fro; lots and lots of traffic.  Turns out that the oil fields in New Mexico and Texas have discovered new ways to get more oil out of the ground – and the area is just full of employees needing places to stay!

We got to the Best Western in Carlsbad to find that the entire place was booked solid – leaving us a room with connecting door, which we never like.  We got everything into the room and then headed to the local Albertson’s to pick up a few basics – carrots, hummus, more water.  (After almost a month, we finally finished the four cases of Arrowhead sparkling water that we’d brought with us!)  

Seating area

The mouth of Carlsbad Caverns

From there, we drove to Carlsbad Caverns to watch the nightly Bat Flight at sunset.  Robert did take some pictures before the flight began – photos are not allowed once the bats start coming out, as the sound and light disturb the them.  And out they came!  A few minutes after 7, we heard the sounds of wakening bats – and WOW!  Just like last time, they came out circling from the cave entrance in hundreds.  We watched the wonderful creatures for about an hour or so, until it was VERY dark – then headed back to town (about 20 miles) for dinner.

We stopped at Chili’s, in hopes of getting a good, uncomplicated meal, but they were VERY full – even after 8!  So, we returned to our hotel and had dinner in their meeting room, as their restaurant was under renovation.  R had grilled chicken with salad, and I had a Cobb Salad.  Retired to bed before 10 – and guess what?  At 3:25 a.m. exactly, our next-door neighbor’s alarm radio went off – and continued playing music loudly through the connecting door – until we called the front desk.  At that point, we were both so disgusted that we decided to pack up and head home; we were out by 3:45…

The quickest route was back through Texas, so instead of doing the scenic route through the New Mexico mountains (as we had planned), down into Texas we plunged.  Fortunately the road was good, and while we were both a bit concerned about possible wildlife, everything was fine.  We had a bit of a hold-up for an accident on the freeway which runs across the top of El Paso, but that was the only problem.  We got home about 10:30 a.m.

So – we are now unpacked, everything put away, mail all sorted and it sure feels great to be home!  We do want to thank everyone we visited – Robert’s family, my family, the Kennedy’s and the Lowder’s – we had a fabulous trip, and thanks to you all for coming with us!

More later!

m

xxx