raclow
Well-known member
Here lately, I've been reading some GREAT ride reports. I have been reading more than writing about a trip my wife and I went on Wednesday, July 2, 2008.
This is typically the week we spend in Destin, Florida. But because some folks, that usually go with us, had to change their plans we opted for the STAYCATION. I here this is becoming more of the norm with the state of today's economy now days. We were experiencing some abnormal low humidity days, for Arkansas this time of year, and decided we would go to a place neither of us had been to in over 30 years.....Blanchard Springs Caverns in Mountain View, AR.
So, we headed out at approximately 8:00 AM...no need to get in a big hurry....we are on STAYCATION.... :yahoo:
We headed out of Little Rock and made it to Hwy 5 North off Hwy 67/167 North. This highway will take you into Mountain View without much thought about the route. There are so many different ways we could have gone...the possibilities are unlimited. (Those that have traveled here, know the many different options in this state. We are lucky to have such an awesome state and roads to ride.) Depending on how fast we went, it would take approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours to get there. We wanted to take a couple of different tours in the caverns and these would take around 3 hours to complete.
This is the view my wife always tells me about. Man am I glad that isn't the view I have to see all the time while riding.
She is a trooper for putting up with this crap.
As we were crossing Greers Ferry Lake near Heber Springs, AR. The lake is still very high from the massive rains we received a few months ago.
Some pictures of our journey up Hwy 5 North. Some great roads and open farm land.
We were cruising along and we came up on the road construction. The highway department is getting the road ready to chip and seal. We all know how hard this stuff is on tires.
This is our escort vehicle....I wish he could have gone a little slower.......NOT.
The already re-surfaced road ready for the chip and seal. Wish they would leave it this way.
We made it to Mountain View around 11:00 AM. We had a few delays...gas, water, escorts, and STAYCATION Mode.
We had lunch at this great little spot. If you are in the area, this place is good and reasonable.
After lunch we headed to the caverns. We needed to get on out that way because we had two tours scheduled. Didn't see the reason to not do it all while we were up there.
This cavern's first professional exploration was in 1960, discovered in1934, and is the #1 cavern in the US. It was taken over by the US Dept of Agriculture in 1964. It took 10 years to develop the internal walk system and elevator system used to navigate the cavern. There is approximately 8 to 9 miles of cavern to explore and at two different levels. The first level starts at around 240 feet below the surface....appoximately 20 stories under ground. If you are claustrophobic, then this isn't the place for you. There aren't ANY tight place you have to travel. It is amazingly open and beautiful. The temperature is a constant 58 degrees year around and 100% humidity.
What you are about to see has taken thousands of years to form. It takes 100 years for every 1 inch of growth on these formations.
You will see Stalactite's..formations coming down from the ceiling. Stalagmite's...formations coming up from the floor.
When they meet each other it is called a "Column".
This column is 65' from floor to ceiling. Gives you a new perspective of how big some of these rooms are in this cavern.
A small Dripstone....formed by mineral filled water dripping from the ceiling.
They call this formation "The Curtains"
You have to realize that these curtains are approx. 75' tall.
The curtain is formed from the very light breeze through the cavern. The wind is constantly moving this formation and created the curtains.
Some more formations:
They call this formation the "Ship"
They call this formation the "Balcony"
More pics from within:
This is typically the week we spend in Destin, Florida. But because some folks, that usually go with us, had to change their plans we opted for the STAYCATION. I here this is becoming more of the norm with the state of today's economy now days. We were experiencing some abnormal low humidity days, for Arkansas this time of year, and decided we would go to a place neither of us had been to in over 30 years.....Blanchard Springs Caverns in Mountain View, AR.
So, we headed out at approximately 8:00 AM...no need to get in a big hurry....we are on STAYCATION.... :yahoo:
We headed out of Little Rock and made it to Hwy 5 North off Hwy 67/167 North. This highway will take you into Mountain View without much thought about the route. There are so many different ways we could have gone...the possibilities are unlimited. (Those that have traveled here, know the many different options in this state. We are lucky to have such an awesome state and roads to ride.) Depending on how fast we went, it would take approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours to get there. We wanted to take a couple of different tours in the caverns and these would take around 3 hours to complete.
This is the view my wife always tells me about. Man am I glad that isn't the view I have to see all the time while riding.
She is a trooper for putting up with this crap.
As we were crossing Greers Ferry Lake near Heber Springs, AR. The lake is still very high from the massive rains we received a few months ago.
Some pictures of our journey up Hwy 5 North. Some great roads and open farm land.
We were cruising along and we came up on the road construction. The highway department is getting the road ready to chip and seal. We all know how hard this stuff is on tires.
This is our escort vehicle....I wish he could have gone a little slower.......NOT.
The already re-surfaced road ready for the chip and seal. Wish they would leave it this way.
We made it to Mountain View around 11:00 AM. We had a few delays...gas, water, escorts, and STAYCATION Mode.
We had lunch at this great little spot. If you are in the area, this place is good and reasonable.
After lunch we headed to the caverns. We needed to get on out that way because we had two tours scheduled. Didn't see the reason to not do it all while we were up there.
This cavern's first professional exploration was in 1960, discovered in1934, and is the #1 cavern in the US. It was taken over by the US Dept of Agriculture in 1964. It took 10 years to develop the internal walk system and elevator system used to navigate the cavern. There is approximately 8 to 9 miles of cavern to explore and at two different levels. The first level starts at around 240 feet below the surface....appoximately 20 stories under ground. If you are claustrophobic, then this isn't the place for you. There aren't ANY tight place you have to travel. It is amazingly open and beautiful. The temperature is a constant 58 degrees year around and 100% humidity.
What you are about to see has taken thousands of years to form. It takes 100 years for every 1 inch of growth on these formations.
You will see Stalactite's..formations coming down from the ceiling. Stalagmite's...formations coming up from the floor.
When they meet each other it is called a "Column".
This column is 65' from floor to ceiling. Gives you a new perspective of how big some of these rooms are in this cavern.
A small Dripstone....formed by mineral filled water dripping from the ceiling.
They call this formation "The Curtains"
You have to realize that these curtains are approx. 75' tall.
The curtain is formed from the very light breeze through the cavern. The wind is constantly moving this formation and created the curtains.
Some more formations:
They call this formation the "Ship"
They call this formation the "Balcony"
More pics from within:
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