As of this afternoon, John and Tyler have biked 1063 miles.  They had a very chilly 55 mile long outing that began this morning, from Carlsbad, New Mexico, on the 285 toward Pecos, Texas.             

Yesterday we had a wonderful visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park – an amazing place well worth the trip to Southeastern New Mexico.  The best tour we can give you is showing you some of the photos we took during our experience and with a link to the National Park Service website where you will find much more information so you can plan your trip!   http://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm

Beginning with a sign about the Civilian Conversation’s role in the park’s history, you will see a few photos below.  The rest will have to wait until we have a better internet connection for uploading photos to our blog, which we hope will happen when we are in Fort Stockton, Texas, beginning tomorrow afternoon. 

The CCC is acknowledged for its contribution to the building of the National Parks, including Carlsbad Caverns.

“The buildings across the canyon have served Carlsbad Caverns since the early 20^th Century.  The prominent adobe and stucco houses illustrate the workmanship of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Built in the early 1940’s, these CCC structures blended easily into their surroundings.

The CCC, established in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, provided a lifeline of hope for the discouraged young men of the Great Depression.  In the program, the CCC “boys” earned $33 a month, learned vocational skills, and earned high school diplomas.  The CCC era ended with the onset of WW II, but the Corps’ work on our public lands, and notably in our national parks, remains as its legacy.”

A view of the entrance to the remarkable Caverns

Requests for good citizenship from people enjoying the Caverns

Dinner yesterday evening - such a treat after a beautiful outing! Kelly and Tyler continue to provide the four of us with eye-appealing, delicious dinners.