Cave tour east coast style

The park's caves have a long and interesting geologic history beginning about 38 million years ago when sea levels were much higher and the southeastern coastal plain of the United States was submerged. Shells, coral and sediments gradually accumulated on the sea floor. As sea levels fell, these materials hardened into limestone. During the last million years, acidic groundwater dissolved crevices just below the surface creating cave passages large enough to walk through. Dazzling stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and other fragile cave-drip formations were by a similar dissolving process by the naturally acidic rainwater. The park's bluffs, springs and caves are referred to as karst terrain, and the caves provide habitat for the blind cave crayfish, cave salamanders and three species of cave roosting bats.

Nothing like the Del Dotto cave tour, but amazing none the less! We especially loved the grounds worker who told us all about his homemade honey!

I'm hoping swimming happens in the weird pond.

Stoking a fire before the rain storm..

Welcome to Florida! The Sunshine state?

Along Route 10: Texas and Louisiana

Balmorhea State Park

Beautiful Texas Sunrise

Unique bridge in Louisiana

Fontainbleau State Park, Louisiana

Campsite at Fountainbleu State Park 

Abita Brew Pub

Bayside Cabins

Old Mans Beard

Black Walnut with Spanish Moss

Old Sugar Mill Plantation 

San Diego, California

Bi-Coastal Best Friends

Mantle Shot

A beautiful setting for an amazing home cooked meal.  Thanks Shannon and Brandon!

A View from Torrey Pines Cliffs

San Diego, where cactus meets the sea.

YIKES! Which way?

Brandon, Brenden and Mike enjoying the finer things in life.

Shannon, the Hostess with the Mostess.

Kira and the boys

Brendens first fight ended in a draw. Rematch is scheduled for July 2012. Be There!

 Mike with the San Diegons.

A final cheers to our hosts Brandon and Shannon for their gracious hospitality and friendship towards us, we thank you. We can't wait to visit San Diego in July for you're upcoming wedding. 

Driving Route 1, Elephant Seals and Camping in Malibu

Views from the Pacific Coast Highway.

Thats right, $5.59 a gallon. We went inside for a free lunch but got shutdown.

Elephant Seal Beach

Before

After

(Dont feed the seals after mid-night)

Seals getting silly

Kiras First Kindling TeePee

Efficiently lit via propane torch

Vestibule Status (consider it a tent porch)

Big Sur, California

California, where River meets the mighty Pacific.

You only see this on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Naphente Restaurant. Not a bad lunchtime view.

The Big Sur River, looking more like the Small Mam River

Early morning picnic table meditation. 

The giant Maple leaves of Big Sur.

Kira wanted to bring a piece of driftwood back to NJ.  Unfortunatley this one was larger than the Yaris.

This brings the term "shooting the pier" to a whole new level.

Goonies Never Say Die!

                              

It takes an Irishman to sniff out a patch of clover on the West Coast.

Banana Slug!

Steve from the Big Sur Taphouse.  Highly Recomended to anyone visiting Big Sur

A pod of Coastal Redwoods