The last Tuesday in May was ideal for a road trip. The semester break gave me the day off both school and work, and my boyfriend requested the evening off. The weather was sunny and warm. We had the freedom to go where we pleased.
When my boyfriend asked me where I wanted to go, I replied, “Ohio Caverns.” I had never been there, but the website and a brochure I’d been eyeing looked enticing. The temperature stays 54 degrees according to their site, which features a video. http://www.ohiocaverns.com
The drive was short, about an hour from our home base of Westerville, Ohio. As we pulled into the parking lot we noticed the sheltered picnic area was teeming with students, and their bus was from central Ohio. In my head, I said a quick prayer that they would not be in our group touring the caves. Luckily, they had a separate reservation, and I deduced this field trip must be going on the “Historic Tour,” which was a different cave section than the tour we went on, the “Natural Wonder Tour.”
After browsing at the gift shop, it was time for our tour to begin. A lovely college-age lady was our tour guide. The group was six strong, only three couples. When we entered the cave the tour guide said, “Your eyes will adjust to the dark.” There were some small sconces added to the cave to allow electric light.
Rust Formations
The tour guide turned the lights on as we entered each area, and she turned them off behind us. We were in for a real shock as she said she was about to turn all the lights off. For about two seconds, we stood in pitch dark. “This is how dark a cave really is.”
The cave was devoid of animal life, but the rocks were alive. The crystals forming above us dripped icy water on our heads. Moss was growing in a few spots, looking like wiry green hairs all in parallel. Once we had seen a few stalagmites, stalactites, the guide pointed out some “columns” which are crystals formed all the way from the top to the bottom.
I never experienced darkness that was so illuminating.
writerundle 