Central Oklahoma Grotto Fun Trip
July 30 - Aug. 1, 2004
Participants: Anne Ault,
Steve Beleu, John & Sue Bozeman, Duane Del Vecchio, Dale & Lil
Town, Jon Woltz
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| Time for our annual COG FUN TRIP! Instead of killing ourselves crawling, ducking, muddying ourselves in one or two rarely visited caves in Oklahoma... | We decided to go tour some of the Texas Show Caves! So off from OKC to Sonora, TX (450 miles!) | We all gathered at D's house in Lawton and then hit the road. We made it in time to catch the last tour of the day at the Caverns of Sonora! |
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| HEY!! Where is Oklahoma at on here!! | We met one of the staff that is a member of the local grotto (Permidean Basin?) down there and shared some tales! | And found out a lot of common traits and stories between the two. |
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| Scientific Experiments by kids have won state awards using the cave as the test subject. | Humidity readings along with drainage experiments. | Then we got to get into the cave. Here the limestone is speckled with shells from what was once "A vast shallow sea!" |
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| There were eight of us (COG) and two family groups in the tour. | Our Tour Guide - Very knowledgeable and kept us busy for 2 1/2 hours of the tour! | Did you know that water makes caves? We learned<?> that on our tour! <grin!> |
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| The cave starts as a normal cave with a few decorations... ok but not spectacular.. but those are coming... | More evidence of a Vast Shallow Sea... Gosh...I guess Lil was right all along! | Then the cave started showing some decorations.... and by the end of the tour.... |
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| they turned out to be Phenomenal!! | Sonora is known for the helictites that grow in every direction and... | whole rooms decorated from head to toe. The next couple of web pages are devoted strictly to the 100+ pictures from the caverns. |
Click on any photo to see an enlarged version.
This cave was incredible! They brag that it is one of the caving wonders of the world... Maybe Lech has a one up on it but not much of one! Actively growing everywhere in the lower sections, the formations are wall to wall, floor to ceiling. This cave is well maintained and an excellent tour! The cave management has done their utmost to present the cave in an unspoiled manner and keeps all man made stuff hidden (i.e.. wires, lights, etc..) The guides are constantly watching you (right Dale and ddv?) making sure you don't touch anything! It is a shame it's stuck out in the SW corner of TX but maybe that's good! It's very well preserved! Good job Management! Well worth it! The Jewel of the Texas Show Caves!!!
Last updated: 8/5/04