Lots of you know that I am heading out for the weekend. I'm going to get some more Cave Training and visit some gated caves not accessible to the public. It is a long drive to get there and I've been up since 4 this morning. I might be around (especially on the drive), depending on my exhaustion level. If any of you need me you can try to contact me through E-mail, Gmail, or PM. I will be checking those before bedtime. I'll be back Sunday night.

We'll miss you around here, so I'm glad it's only temporary. Enjoy!

Have fun!

Have fun!

eruheran

*Sniff* I'm already missing you on chat... I got some people to vote, though!! Just for you.

I love caving.
I really love caving.
I'd gladly give up Holy Worlds for a few days to go caving.

See you when you get back.

@Carissa:

I am back, well sort of. I am back on the forum but not back to my family yet. There is still a long drive ahead of us to get home.

I had a wonderful time, although my body hates me at the moment. I’m in good physical condition, but this stuff is hard when you are constantly go go going. I’ve got bruises and scrapes all over and I was practically drowned in Buzzard’s Cave, but I have survived.

A few of you asked if there were enough caves where I live to need Cave Rescue, and the answer is most definitely. I live in the cave state which has over 6,000 caves in it. I also happen to live right next to the cave county which has 600 caves alone. Unfortunately, this also increases the risk to loss of life and injury in caves. Lots of people don’t think when they go spelunking, and those of us who participate in the sport appropriately and safely have to go in and get them out. Caving is so much fun, but it is also very deadly if you do not use your head. Everything changes underground.

Some of you have also asked why I like caving so much. Aside from the adventurous outdoorsy aspect I love being able to conquer the treacherous tunnels and chasms underground and struggle to get back to certain part of the cave that are absolutely breathtaking and show the mighty hand of our Creator. God takes time to put detail into everything! Even things that few people will ever see. It is an underground treasure chest. The work you have to put into getting to some of these places only makes it that much more worthwhile.

So, I went through a maze cave, a water cave, and a dry craggy cave and have now returned safely. I’m glad to have gone but I am also happy to have returned to all of you.

I thought some of you might enjoy the treasure without the struggle, so I have a few pictures for you. Enjoy!

Wow, those are gorgeous pictures! I'm glad you made it back safely, and I hope you have a safe ride back to your family! Thanks for sharing, sis!

Those are amazing, Airianna!! Thanks for sharing them with us. Caving does sound fun... I've only really been in one "cave" (Diamond caverns in Kentucky) but it was a guided tour, with steps and lights and everything. Still pretty neat, though.

*raises one eyebrow*

Your pictures are amazing, by the way!

eruheran

Oh my word. Awesome. Totally.

What state do you live in?

Those are so totally awesome! I want to see caves like that! I don't have anything like that! Mammoth cave is nothing like that! Caving for me is trying to fit into passages that get blocked up by tires and tree branches every time it rains, trying to fit into narrow waterways that come from who knows where, and searching every sink hole in a mile radius for an elusive passageway that three people have told me exists that must run about half a mile long. Eventually it gets boring. 600 caves!!! I want to move there!!!

@ Carissa: Guided tours can be fun too (I've been to many)!

@ Eruheran: What was the raised eybrow for?

@ Jaynin: I live in Mo. Katie. And while I do visit caves like the ones I showed you, I also visit the ones you described. In fact, over the weekend we went down in a sinkhole entrance that was filled with auto parts and spare tires, not to mention all the tree branches the recent storm brought in. But I didn't think those pictures would be nearly as interesting.

I've also been in caves before where everything was solid mud and by the time you got back out your whole body felt like an aching sore noodle that can't hold up your own weight anymore. You spend the entire time trying not to lose the boots you duck taped and trying to get yourself unstuck!

However, I learned a long time ago the urgency or desire can make a person get through some very small openings. I remember going caving one time when Joe was with our group (one of the cavers in our group). Now Joe is a 6' 6'' guy with broad shoulders. He's also a fireman. I saw Joe get himself through a hole I was questioning if I could get through. I was very amazed!

That sounds more familiar.

We have two caves on our property and they adjoin to two larger caves on a neighbors property. Me and my dad had been through the lower caves several times, and while we supposed the upper caves connected the same way, who could fit in there? The guys who finally went through it were all really big guys and when me and some of my friends tried to follow them we stared in horror at the passageway they supposedly came through. We did eventually figure it out, and I've been through it multiple times now, and every time I see it I still think I won't fit. Fun, fun, fun. Then I come back and tell my mom about it and she gets claustrophobic just thinking about it.

One day though, it would be nice to go in a cave you can actually stand up in...

Yeah, around here there are plenty of those to be had, but you can't always stand up. Sometime you are on you belly in water, head turned sideways to breath, slithering like a snake!

You said you liked the outdoorsy aspect of being in a cave...just seems like an oxymoron to me though I understand your meaning!

eruheran

I am surrounded by technical people!

Okay, I get it now .

Those are absolutely unbelievable. I adore photography; I may end up using some of those images as inspiration for book scenes!

Just the same, we are all selfishly happy that you have returned to the surface to be with us.

And I am very happy to be back as well.

Yep, yep! I love it! Since this is Ky, and every cave has water coming out of it, I get in situations like that too. Such fun. Crazy, insane fun, but fun all the same. You and I should so seriously go caving together sometime. I only know one other person who likes caves as much as I do; and it's funny because we normally cannot stand each other, until we get underground and then no one else can stand us.

We should! When we are both published authors and have lots of spare cash (haha, like that happens!) we should go caving! Not many girls are cavers (in fact I'm the only female caver under the age of 32 in my area) so I love it that you are into this stuff too!

Caving sounds like so much fun! I've only been to Mammoth Cave and Rainbow Falls (In Tennessee), and both of those were guided. Sadly, we don't have many caves in Florida!

But I'm very glad you didn't drown in Buzzard's Cave!

Me too! Guess all the things I've been taught paid off in the end.

*faints dead away* Those pictures are so beautiful! Just amazing God's handiwork, even in "hidden" places of nature.

I agree. It shows that God takes great pains over every little detail of our words. Even details that none of us will ever see!

Well, as fun as this topic was, I have been back for awhile now and I do believe it is time this thread got archived and locked. So I shall do so promptly. It will be in the archives.