Journey to the West 2: A Virtual Overland Tour from Texas to California

The sign for Carlsbad Caverns. It was raining off and on.

Now starting day 2.

This is the auditorium at Carlsbad National Park. At dusk, they have a bat show, and thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats come barreling out of the cave entrance. Most of them head off to the right, far away from the seating area. Here is some park information about the bats.

Some green moss and a vine follow a trickle of water down the cave entrance.

Looking up the cliff face at the cave entrance.

I think there's a bat in the hole in the center of the photo.

Prickly pears above the cave entrance.

One of many holes created by slightly acidic water interacting with carbonate rock.

The cave entrance is home to a flock of chimney swifts. The green and white streaks are from their poop.