Caverns

I've been in a number of caverns over my lifetime.  The first were famous Mammoth caverns in Kentucky, as a child.  Gerry and I and the kids went into Luray caverns in Virginia, and a few years ago, we toured caverns in South Dakota.  I've always been just a little bit anxious in cavesrn, being slightly claustrophobic.  Also, I  remember the first experience as a child, when they turned off the lights for a few minutes so you could experience utter darkness.  They did that in Luray Caverns in Virginia as well.  It is a darkness like no other.

Yesterday we took a little adventure to Howe's Caverns right here in our own New York, which neither of us had seen before.  I think these were the nicest ones I've been in, more spacious, no turning out the lights.  I am so glad I thought to throw in a sweatshirt at the last minute.  The caverns stay at around 52 degrees all year.   This tour also included a boat ride in the "lake", which was a first.  Steel pipe pieces stuck out of the rocks along the way, and the guide pushed/pulled the boat along by grabbing onto the spikes in the walls. You had to make sure to watch your head as we floated along.

There was a very narrow pathway in the last few yards of the tour, not much wider than a person's shoulders.  It was a bit tight, but I learned that as long as I was moving, I did not feel panicky.

 The first explorer, and later owner, Lester Howe actually explored those caverns by dropping himself in a hole with a rope.  He would have had only a lantern for light.  Brave man, Lester.  And smart too.  He bought the caverns from a neighbor for one hundred dollars cash.

The tour actually covers only a small portion of the underground caverns.   The rest is for the exceptionally brave explorers, and also, the bats!