Okay, try to figure this out. The top pic is well underground at the mining operation in Tombstone, AZ. The man in the pic is the tour guide, we are at least 60 feet down, I think they said it's more like 100. It's very dark in there, they have lights set up here and there, but this guy was doing this in almost total darkness. There are 2 pics of holes. They aren 't really holes, they're shafts where they were removing the silver. The explanation was that the entire crew of people were give 3 candles to work under there. That's ONLY 3 candles for everyone. He further explained that they were basically working in the dark, but could tell the "feel" of the silver. And yes, we got to feel the streaks of silver in the walls and it did have a unique feel to it - though not so unique that I would be able to identify it in the dark.
The odd looking machine? An engine that produces steam. It would "drive" the piece of machinery that drills a hole into the rock. They would then put a stick of dynamite into the hole and blow that portion of wall apart.
Dad was having a hard time getting back up out of there. It was a lot of steps up and even people in good shape were panting. Ihad to stand behind him all the way up to make sure he didn't end up falling.
I was pretty impressed that he still has such desire to go do such things considering that it is obviously not that easy for him to do.
We all had to wear hard hats under there - the ceiling in man places was so low I had to duck WAY down to get underneath.
This is at the entrance to the building that gets you into the Kartchner Caverns. Can you guess which one is me? Lol. I don't remember being that much taller than my dad. 
13 comments:
Well, I was going to load a bunch of pics, but this blog format is definitely nothing like what JS was, and I haven't figured out how to space between pics and put in short comments like I used to on JS.
Crazy stuff. Try to figure this out and edit this post with more pics.
Great photo's i wasnt cut out for mining, im way too tall for small space"s LOL
Definitely agree. I'm fairly tall myself and had to keep ducking under a lot of things down there. They said the average life expectancy of a miner in those days was less than 50 years. They made a lot more money than anyone else - but paying for it with an early funeral doesn't sound like too much fun to me.
Hi Ben :) Wow, I'm so interested in this! Thanks for sharing such great photos!
Kudos to your Dad for enduring the caverns. I bet it's hard for anyone! (air quality and such)
You both look mighty fine! Handsome Father and son. :)
Maybe one day I will be able to go out to AZ or NM and visit some caves!
Have a nice rest of the weekend!
Hugsssss!
~Judy
When I did two pics in one post, I uploaded the first, wrote what I wanted, then added the second. It's going to take me some practice...
Anyway, great pics! I like mines, but I am more claustrophobic now that I'm older.
Great pics. I am sure you had fun spending time with your dad.
Looks like a blast!!! I love going to mines and caves, always tons of fun. :-)
I know what you mean about the photo thing. I am having issues with paragraphs. Lol. I wonder if maybe uploading them all, and then typing inbetween them? Who knows.
Thanks for sharing this post! :-)
Hiya Sunny!
I have more photos - lol - but, I apparently there's a limit to each amount of pics you can put on here at a time - I just gave up and went on to do something else.
Thanks for the compliment : )
AZ has SO much scenery/things to see - caves and the Grand Canyon and Indian ruins - alot here.
Have a great weekend, too!
Kate: I tried that method second. Still couldn't get it to post the words the way I want to like I used to on JS - I could put a line under each photo. Imagining there must be a way to do it, if so, give me enough time and I'll find out!
What this trip has done for me is renew my interest in exploring the great things that are all around this state to - explore.
Tammy: Yes, it was fun and we definitely had a good time.
CG: Totally!
Seems to me Simon or someone said something about putting some sort of HTML code in between paragraphs to force the issue. I also like line breaks between paragraphs - as you can see on this post, they totally disappear even though I put them in there.
Ben
Impressive picures. I would not wnat to be that close to dynamite!! But hat is me. Maggs.
Well you are WAY ahead of me in manipulating your space here.
I am glad you posted this here, as there was a grey strip covering the words on the right hand side of the text on your other one.
BG and I visited Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico after we met. After awhile, they all pretty much look alike somehow. Glad you enjoyed your visit, and thanks for sharing the pix.
Fin
Great pics Ben! Thanks for adding me to your blog list, and I've added you to mine. Look forward to reading your posts and getting to know you better. I might even have some truck driving questions for you sometime in the future.
Thanks again, my friend. :)
I can see your journal now! :) That stuff looks interesting, but it would make me clostrophobic I'm afraid. Bet it was an exciting adventure!
Hi Maggs:
Thanks! This is not a live mining operation. It's a thing that was going on in the early 1900's. There is still plenty of silver - high and low grade - visible in the walls in that mine. I guess the people that own it think they can make more money doing guided tours - and judging from the crowds, they may be right.
Fin: I'm learning, is all I can say about your first line.
The difference between Carlbad and Kartchner is that Carlsbad is not a live cavern. There is - they claimed - no water going through the structure, which is what makes those beautiful stalagtites and such - you can see water all over the place in the Kartchner. I have been to Carlsbad, but it's been 30 plus years and I don't really remember it that well.
Tim: Ask away! I have been to your blog numerous times in the past at JS - just never commented. I'm not necessarily the ever-commenting person - I more like to read the content of a journal and then if someone else hasn't already said what I might say, I'll throw a comment in there. I guess now that we aren't all on JS anymore and you can't tell who's been to your journal or not - if everyone doesn't comment on that visit - I'm going to have to try and change my ways. Thanks!
Sally: Oh, was there something blocking you from viewing it? I think I have this open to everyone and anyone and everyone and anyone can comment. Yes, it was pretty cool - both the mine and the caverns. Sort of stirred up the out-going/curiosity of all things natural juices that I once had long ago.
ben
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