BATS!!  Not a fan but excited to view the bat flight at the opening of the cavern.  Sitting on the stone steps of the amphitheater, listening to the ranger give us information on the bats, many visitors were eagerly awaiting the flight of the bats.  About 1/2 hour before dusk, thousands of bats (approx. 121,000) leave the cave to hunt for insects to feed their young and themselves.  They travel more than a mile and a half from the depth of the cavern. The first group of bats could be seen against the contrasting color of the rocks before they took flight into the sky. It was amazing!  As time passed, it became more difficult to see as they came out of the cavern, but the ongoing swarms of bats flew into the discernable dimly lit sky was an indication more were to follow.  Occasionally, a group of bats would fly above our heads, and you could hear the flapping of their wings and their distinct smell.  This exodus continued for over 45 minutes until we could no longer see as the dark sky of nightfall was upon us.  The ranger said they usually return around 4 in the morning.  Easily heard but not seen, droves of returning bats make their way back to the caverns. The bats repeat this nightly until the end of October, when the bats migrate to Mexico.

As the night sky darkened, we went to the visitors center as we had reservations for the ranger-guided Starry Walk.  Armed with red light headlamps and mats, we strolled along a gravel road.  Once at our viewing area, we laid back on the mats to gaze at the multitude of stars above us. The ranger began to point out the various stars and planets and their mythological stories behind them.  Living in metropolitan areas, the Milky Way is usually not seen due to all the city’s lights.  Here, the Milky Way is easy to spot.  The big treat of the night – shooting stars. Unfortunately, these are not stars but meteorites coming into our atmosphere.

THE BEST PART………. THE CAVERN

The following day, we were at the caverns at 9:00 am since our reservation time slot was from 9:30 to 10:30.  Presented with an option of taking the elevator down to the Big Room or walking it down, we opted for the more adventurous journey – 750 ft down we go! We entered the cave the same way the bats came out last night.  The unique rock formations, stalactites, and stalagmites made the steep climb down worth it.  Forty-five minutes later, we were at the beginning of the Big Room, where those who chose the elevator landed.  We have been to many caverns, but this was by far the largest and far-reaching one we had visited.  There are over 119 caves and so many picture-worthy sights. Throughout, we compared this to the Kartchner Caverns.  Carlsbad is enormous, but Kartchner is more pristine.  Kartchner colors on the formations were opaque, and appeared to be still growing.  The draperies were beautiful blends of gold, brown and yellow.  In Carlsbad, the formations are impressive, but it seemed they were older and had a color of stone rather than the opaque bright color.  It didn’t look like this cavern was still growing.  We left the cavern at noon in awe and would recommend a visit if in the area.

Rose Valley RV Ranch was our home base to visit the Silver City area.  In 1880, this was a 430-acre working commercial dairy ranch. The original water tank and windmill still stand.  Scattered throughout the park are many of the original farming equipment.

Our first visit was to the Catwalk Recreation Trail.  This trail got its moniker because boards covered the water pipes leading to the ore processing plant established in 1890.  Guess the ore they were mining – correct silver.  Today, the steel structures replace the wood boards allowing visitors to traverse through the Whitewater Canyon.

The next day, we were excited to start our journey to the Gila dwellings.  The road to the Gila was challenging to say the least.  The twists and curves were nerve-racking, and I could tell Mitch was concentrating on maneuvering the turns and hoping another vehicle wasn’t coming in the opposite direction.

Upon our arrival, we watched a presentation of the inhabitants of the dwellings.  Sometime around 1280, the Mogollon people constructed homes inside the caves.  The cave provided shelter from the sun in the summer and kept them warm in the winter.  There was a steep climb to get to the dwellings.  As I was climbing up, all I could think about was the trek the woman had to go through daily to get water from the stream below to the homes above.  How thankful I am for running water coming from the faucet of our RV. It is incredible how these people made homes in caves, as the stone walls were constructed from rocks below the canyon.  It is fascinating to learn how people lived so long ago.

This campground has a unique feature – a cavern.  We secured our tickets months in advance. Tours book up fast, as we learned last year when we were here for a weekend.  We have been to many caverns, but this was one of the best.  It is pristine, and the state of Arizona has taken multiple steps to ensure it stays that way for generations to come.  They spent $28 million on high-tech airlock doors, misting machines, and lighting to showcase the cave.  A knowledgeable ranger who radiated the love of her job and the cavern was our tour guide.  A colossal steel door guards the entranceway. That led into a misted vestibule area where another steel door awaits to be open.  Those who remember the sitcom “Get Smart” with Don Adams would appreciate the feeling when he had to go through all the doors to get into headquarters.  The second door allows entry into the paved pathway, which leads through the dimly lit cavern. 

The pathway allows wheelchair access which most caverns tours do not offer. Visitors must remain on the path, touch nothing except for the steel rails along the way.  It was amazing to see so many perfect stalactites and needles (thin strips of water droplets calcified over the years). Frequently, caverns are destroyed by those wanting to take a souvenir or paint graffiti. Interesting fact – the oil on your hands will stop the growth of the formations and, therefore, not allowed.  The best part of this cavern was the Kubla Khan in the Throne Room.  It had to be the most beautiful stalactite I have ever seen.  It stands 58 feet tall and reminds me of an intricate totem carving.  Thankfully, it will be there for eons.  My only regret was not sharing the awe-inspiring cavern with you, as photography was not allowed. 

The next day we rode to Bisbee to take the Cooper Queen mining tour.  It was fascinating to learn about the workday of miners.  They started mining in 1885, growing Lowell’s town’s development and ironically the cause of its demise.  Lowell now consists of one street with several antique vehicles lining the street.  It also has the best breakfast place – Brisbee Breakfast Club. This mine was the most productive copper mine in the early 1990s.  In 1975, it closed as copper prices fell.  Gold, silver, lead, and zinc were ores mined. The number of pounds mined of these ores was staggering. The salaries were high due to the hazardous nature of the job, and bonus incentives led to increased production.  The tour provided a history not learned through books.

Afterward, we visited the town of Bisbee, where the miner’s homes and the buildings remain.  Our tour guide purchased one of the homes built by the mining company for its workers. If you are ever in the area, this tour should be on your list of things to do.

We also went to Tombstone but it reminded us of some western theme park with actors in the street portraying comedic scenes from the days of Billy the Kid. We didn’t spend much time here to elaborate more on the town.