UFO Central

Roswell, New Mexico, one of America's UFO capitals since a "weather balloon" crashed near here in 1947.  In my ignorance, I had associated Roswell with Area 51, but the two are not the same.  Area 51 is a part of Edwards AFB in Nevada.  Still, the UFO museum is here in Roswell, so I'm sure I'll be getting to the bottom of this in the next day or so.

Frances and I explored Carlsbad Caverns today.  Wow.  At first I was ambivalent about visiting the cave.  We have lots of caves in North Alabama, and I have been on caving expeditions with local NSS (National Speleological Society members, i.e. Guess Creek Cave and I have been to a commercial cave in nearby Gurly, AL, Cathedral Caverns.  Still, this was impressive.  I learned that the Guadalupe Mountains, which we hiked yesterday, are actually an exposed section of the Capitan Reef that was created during the Permian Era.  At this time, North America was joined with Africa.  NYC was roughly next door to Morocco.  The large shallow sea allowed the formation of a sponge, not coral reef.  Most of the reef is still buried, but the Guadalupe Mountains rise about 3000 feet above the plains.  They are riddled with cave, "like Swiss cheese" the park service says.  Carlsbad Caverns was discovered by a teenager in the early 1900s.   The upper cave is 750 feet below the NPS visitor center.  The lower cave, not open to the public, is several hundred feet lower.

We lucked, visiting the cave was free today.  It was filled with all sorts of folks, and I'm so glad that we made the trip.  In the distance of 30 miles we added two National Parks to our list of visited parks.

Driving up from Carlsbad we passed through Aretsia.  I was really surprised to see larger pecan groves.  The trees were not as large as out SE trees, but a local supply of water keeps them green and productive.  Lots of alfalfa is also grown in this area, enabled by irrigation.  From Aretesia to Roswell it was pretty brown.

Tomorrow I'll be doing my first bike ride in a couple of days.  We've been getting plenty of exercise, but the bikes have been calling.  Using Ride With GPS, I have downloaded a set of rides in the area.  Given that it is Easter Sunday tomorrow, I'm hoping the traffic will be light.  Since I don't know the area, I don't know which roads are busy and which are not.  I think thinks will work out fine.  Unless I'm abducted by aliens.  With my hair, I'm sure they will make me their leader.

We will visit the UFO museum tomorrow, as well as a nearby nature sanctuary.  There is also a series of lakes that are filled in caves that are supposed to be great for swimming.  May be worth a look.

I must say, we are settling down into this pretty nicely.