h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's a 3 or 4 hour drive from here, Hypatia. If you did it on your way home, you should book a room there, and stay overnight after you've done the tour. Don't forget how exhausted you'll be after a weekend with the rest of us.

Lil, I would like to attend the Lincoln meet, especially as there will be other cowboys there that weekend. But I am afraid that a slight altercation with my third ex-wife, her lawyer and a cranky judge has left me with an embarrassing situation. It appears that she has won custody of Houndstooth. That means I have to run the diner by myself while the decision is under appeal.

I have asked Hyp to drop by the diner on her way there and pick up a little offering for the party. That's the best I can manage.

<>

If not it will have been a waste of time.

I've never seen Carlsbad, either. Maybe I'll convoy down with you

That would be fun. I checked on driving directions to Chaco Canyon. Maybe I'll do it another trip. I thought I lived in the middle of nowhere.

Well, sorry to disappoint, but the cake? Not going to happen. It barely survived the 45 minute trip in an airconditioned car today, so it's too fragile to travel far.

Sorry. I feel bad. But I will bring something tasty. Any requests?

Hypatia - does your Mother know what you're up to here?

No, Teuchter. I haven't been brave enough to tell her. In all fairness, it would do no good to tell her now anyway. She'd forget all about it by then. Better to wait until closer to the date.

MR, I for one am more interested in taste than fancy appearance. So, make the cake as a plain sheet cake in a pan with a lid. And put the icing in a bowl with a lid. Then plop it all together when you get there.

We can say that that is the best ugly cake we've ever had.

Seriously, the kid in me is screaming cupcakes.

What cities are en route for you Hyp?
I am looking at airfares for the various locations still.

Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Amarillo

Try Tulsa. I think they have more flights in and out of there than the other two.

If I pick Marv up along the way that will be three of us for Carlsbad.

We could go the back way...
http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/14331.html

Actually, not only are the Fort STanton caves closely guarded against public intrusions, I have claustrophobia. I'm only consenting to Carlsbad because it's kind of worn shiny with public access (but still worth seeing).

Also, in honor of all the adventures I've been on, I absolutely have to do these caves once.

*begins to think about the Fort STanton caves and adventures*

I love caves and have toured quite a few. And explored some local ones when I was young. Missouri has more caves than any other state - over 5500.

Well, none has been found, but in analysis of water flow, it is strongly suspected that Carlsbad and Fort Stanton cave systems are linked.

It is certainly possible when you consider how hugh Carlsbad is. I'm sure there is a lot of unexplored territory still in both of them. Are you sure going inside won't make you too uncomfortable?

It's been made into a commodity, complete with an elevator to get you down to the bottom. And back up. Cille, who last went there in 1947, says the some of the rooms are enormous, like bigger than football fields.

Wow! No reason to feel claustrophobic then. Except in the elevator. This is going to be great. I've wanted to see Carlsbad for decades. Even if it is worn shiny by tourists. It is such an amazing cave. I've been in a couple of big ones, but nothing even remotely as big as Carlsbad. I hear there are different kinds of tours - short ones and long ones.

*wanders in the water the cacti and check for any victims that might inadvertently have become impaled*

Hyp, did those substances you purchased from the hippy lady help at all?

Amy, please tell her that they do help. I'm really glad we went into her shop. And I really like my oil burner.

I'm going to my sister's next weekend. I'll deliver the Chelsea tote and the coal train. I know both will be big hits. And I found some cute teddy bears dressed as bobbies for the great nephews.