Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

On January 26, 2017January 24, 2017 By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

Carlsbad Caverns National Park … in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico. The primary attraction of the park is the show cave, Carlsbad Cavern. …

Carlsbad Cavern includes a large cave chamber, (The Big Room), a natural limestone chamber almost 4,000 feet (1,220 m) long, 625 feet (191 m) wide, and 255 feet (78 m) high at the highest point. It is the fifth largest chamber in North America and the twenty-eighth largest in the world. …

"The Chandelier" in the Big Room — “The Chandelier” in the Big Room

They do a good job at Carlsbad. But the most interesting thing I learned was the existence of the much larger and more impressive Lechuguilla Cave nearby.

… with 138.3 miles (222.6 km) the seventh-longest explored cave in the world …

They are not likely to let tourists into this one in my lifetime.

visit Bermuda

On January 24, 2017January 23, 2017 By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

Lonely Planet posted the best summary article I’ve seen, so far.

Explore Bermuda’s 500 years of history

30 Things I’ve Carried For 15 Months

On January 19, 2017January 17, 2017 By Rick McIn philosophy, travelLeave a comment

Charles Chu has some good tips.

30 Things I’ve Carried For 15 Months On the Road (An Essay On Minimalism)

Thanks Dave.

Sandia Peak Tramway, Albuquerque

On January 18, 2017January 17, 2017 By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, travelLeave a comment

One of the top tourist attractions in New Mexico.

I took the Sandia Peak Tramway trip on one of the snowiest days of the year.

Views were cool. But limited.

The Tramway provides access to a ski hill on the other side of the mountain.

In summer this is a terrific way to access hiking and mountain biking trails.

Still … I’m glad I saw it. Highly recommended.

Sandia is wrongly advertised as the “longest in the world”.

The entertaining cable car announcers grudgingly concede that Dajti Ekspres cable car in Albania is longer.

And I’ve been to Merida, Venezuela. That series of four aerial tramways – reopened April 2016 – goes 1640 – 4765 meters making it the highest tourist aerial tramway in the world. It’s 12.5 km long. Far longer than Sandia.

I love cable cars and have taken a number of these – 10 Most Amazing Aerial Lifts In The World

Sandia did not make that list. It did make this one – Amazing Aerial Tramways of the World

What’s unique about Sandia is that it has only two support towers.

hiking New Mexico, Texas

On January 16, 2017January 17, 2017 By Rick McIn hiking, travelLeave a comment

I love holidaying the S.W. USA. One of the best hiking regions of the world.

Rent-a-car. Making it up as I go along. 🙂

I’m generally headed towards Big Bend National Park in remote west Texas. On the Rio Grande.

Blue Mesa, Petrified National Forest, New Mexico

flying to the American S.W.

On January 12, 2017January 8, 2017 By Rick McIn hiking, product complaints, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

Canada is great. But the winter weather #sucks(™).

I’m off for a couple of weeks hiking. I’ve never visited New Mexico.

american_hiking_society_instagram_takeover-_kasha-katuwe_tent_rocks_national_monument_new_mexico_17919351439

Kasha–Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

I booked with Delta. The same seat on the same flight is priced differently depending on which Code Share partner you book with. WestJet #sucks(™).