A Texas Cave Adventure

The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.
― Joseph Campbell 

Our long drive through the countryside was almost a delight - few crazy drivers, only a little construction, and the lovely curves and hilly road to Longhorn Cavern State Park.* As you find in many older parks in Texas (and across the country) many of the improvements at Longhorn Cavern have the look and feel of Civilian Conservation Corps work. And they tell that story throughout the cave.**

My siblings assured me we had explored this cave with our parents many years ago, but I didn't see anything that sparked a memory. So this sojourn would be something new for all of us. DH and I had invited two intrepid adventurers along for the day. The lure -- a cave and pie.

The CCC has been here. These are the steps to the cave. Down is easy.

The entrance is just off this area....a place where a dome has collapsed?

The temperature has already dropped a few degrees as we began our trip into the cave.

The first thing we noticed was the cool. We had been experiencing dangerously hot weather, but the cave was more than pleasant. 

There quite a lot of history to this place. Native Americans, Texas Rangers, local settlers and more. I cannot imagine traveling in this place in the dark...

DH, JS, MS, and I managed to get on the second tour of the day.

 I did not remember this cave, not the stairs leading down, and not the walls of crystal*** to be found in a few places inside. A fan of "shiny objects," I think I'd remember the crystals...

I mentioned to JS that "I love shiny things." "Who doesn't?" he replied. I knew I liked that kid.

"Soft" calcite crystals were formed by the waters that formed the cave.***

We counted Tricolored bats (9)****. I put this here as some of you will skip the critters at the end. This species has been ravaged by a number of things including white-nose disease.

It's an interesting hike through this hole in the ground (an underground stream bed?*****). Dark side-tunnels beckon.  At one point I joked with MS, the older brother. I peered into the darkness of a chamber and pretended to call his brother back to the group. [Hey, it's my job!] When JS, the younger of the two, appeared at our side from a different direction, MS realized the joke (and that he will have to be alert for he associates with pranksters).

The following will be extra-large photos for a better view...

"Queen's Watchdog" or just the "Watchdog" -- thought to be a natural formation as a study could find no tool marks. The formation was repaired after a fall, but is otherwise thought to be natural.

Dark marks above are from prior colonies of Mexican Free-tailed Bats that were sealed out of the cave when the openings were closed.

Once a designated a fall-out shelter the cave still shows signs of different uses (including hideout and nightclub).

The guide gave us a brief experience of how early explorers might have seen the cave in candlelight.

Moisture on a low part of the ceiling shows just a little bit of the moisture at work in the cave.

We also climbed a small observation/water tower nearby. Even the "scaredy-cat" in the group climbed the two spiral staircases to look out on the surrounding countryside (and the "castle").

The tower - we were a little underwhelmed until we saw the view.

One person on the stairs at a time!

A lovely design that lets in the light.

The view. What is that castle out there?

Proof! My tennis shoes at the stop of the winding stairs.

There is a "lower-level" tour of the cave for the more adventurous. It requires equipment, a change of clothes (you get muddy and wet), and twice the time. It could be that some in our group will try that on a Saturday soon. Stand by.

Post Script: We headed to nearby Marble Falls to eat at the famous Bluebonnet Cafe. The food was good, but portions so large that we skipped the pie (yes, you heard that right). Stand by for pie stories soon.


NOTES:

*https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/longhorn-cavern
**https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/longhorn-cavern/park_history
***https://geology.com/minerals/calcite.shtml
****http://www.batcon.org/resources/media-education/species-profiles/detail/2345,      
        https://www.fws.gov/southeast/pdf/fact-sheet/tri-colored-bat.pdf
*****https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/longhorn-cavern/nature

CRITTERS [Including a ~~~~SPIDER~~~~]

There were critters inside (cave crickets and bats) and outside of the cave. Here are a couple.

A true bug of some kind.

One of my favorite spider species - Yellow Garden Spider