Saturday, October 12, 2019

2019 Mini-Vaca2, Eastern Iowa, Pt 5 - Maquoketa Caves,pt II

When we were at Maquoketa Caves on Saturday, Robby made it perfectly clear that we needed to come back for a second visit and hit areas that we didn't get to.

That's exactly what parents like/love to hear when you plan, what you hope are, fun visits and family outings.  You got a spot that everyone likes enough to want to come back, then, by God, you come back!!!

So here we are.


A little evidence of a recent storm that had passed thru.  We'll see more of this as the day progresses.


Exhibit B of previously mentioned storm.

The "Rob" who is talking to himself as he strolls along.

Looking straight up the steep bank of stone.  


If you were so inclined, you could go back there and crawl into that hole.  I was NOT so inclined!

He was going to do a pull up until he noticed some bats hanging around the ceiling of the cave.


Pics like this make me want to go back!!

LOVE these two!!!!

Exhibit C of previously, previous mentioned storm.

Epic beauty,  both the Earth and the Chinaman!!!

My fams!  I am blessed beyond what I deserve...


Robby came down this path instead of using the trail.  It took FOREVER and he was sliding all over crap when he finally got down, but to his credit, he never fell.  Which was good because I told him he couldn't get back in my truck and would therefore, have to ride back the 30 minutes to our campsite in the bed of the truck under the tonneau cover.

It's almost impossible to see, but there are 2 baby mice in this pic!  Robby and some other girl were making sure that people wouldn't step on them.  :-)

Not sure where we're at in this pic...


Caleb was the only one who could fold himself up small enough to fit in this one.  I volunteered to stay out of this cave, remain upright and photograph anybody who wished to enter.

This was the funniest part of our day.  Why?

Not because of this...

Or this...

But this!  Robby was up on this ledge and working his way around.  He was singing and dancing, as you can see in the picture, when he came face to face with this lovely fella...

This creature was about 3 inches from leg tip to leg tip and pretty meaty.  Just like sunsets/sunrises,  the picture doesn't do it justice!  It was ugly and we all kept going back to look at it...  for some unknown reason.


Nearly at the end of our first hike,  this guy is still happy with his little handheld fan and life in general.  We sort of like him!

The final climb before lunch.

Lunch in near 100 degree temps before we head out for hiking in the Southern part of the park.  The waters and gatorade's were well deserved and met with much celebration!

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