Day 22

I left Tucson around 8:00AM. Hurtling across the desert, it was already 93 degrees by 9:45AM. I hit the flat bottom of an ancient lake bed, and T. Rex's "Bang the Gong" came on the classic rock station I was listening to. I hit the gas and topped out around 105mph, and I left it there for a few minutes. My only companions were T. Rex and the mirage to my left, a small, yet vast, promising sea, glimmering in the distance. On it went, the desert was never ending. And I couldn't help but think, "Why do people live out here? Honestly?"
The miles passed in this way for the rest of the day. After El Paso, the cacti stopped, and I turned left. I headed over the mountains. Three more hours of desert driving and i came to the turn off for Carlsbad. By that time it was 4:45PM. I headed six miles into Carlsbad Caverns National Park. I bought a ticket and got to the elevator in time for the last trip down. But I opted to wait till morning.
I drove back to the turn in point which was a place called "Whites City". I booked a campsite and went looking for dinner. Toward sunset, I drove back into the park. There is an ampitheater at the natural entrance. Around 8:15PM, the bats start to fly. I watched as 500,000 Mexican Freetail Bats left for the evening to consume their individual bodyweights in bugs. It was a pretty amazing sight. They swirled out of the entrance in a whirlwind type pattern. They then scattered into the oncoming night.
I drove back to the campsite and set up the tarp to sleep in the back of the truck. The night that passed was a pretty bad one. After I laid down, a desert wind kicked up. It was gusting and shaking the tarp hard. It did that for about three hours. When it died down, I fell asleep. At least I think I did. Then the birds started. I have no idea how many there were, but they made a great deal of noise in a nearby tree for a few hours. They eventually stopped. But I suspect that was because the desert wind came back. In all, I estimate that I got two to three hours of sleep last night.
I got up at 6:30AM and showered. I was at the natural entrance to the caverns when it opened at 8:30AM. Here are some pictures:

So, after the cave, I headed back into Texas. I am now in Midland. I have opted not to go through Houston. I feel bad about it, but I have been away for just over three weeks now. I am ready for home.
I will probably make one or two more posts and then it will be done. I'll post more cave pictures in the next day or so. Most didn't turn out too well since it is so dark in the cave.