Natural Bridge Caverns

Yesterday the girls and I went to Natural Bridge Caverns for Lena's TXVA field trip. I'd never been there, always wanted to but I was just too scared.
The grounds were beautiful. I wish I had listened more to the guide telling us the Cavern's history but my nerves wouldn't let me.

Lena waiting for the tour to start.


Walking down to the sink hole.

This is the "bridge" of Natural Bridge Caverns.








I do remember the guide saying the stone was limestone.


And we head in. They told us it was wet, steep and humid inside.

We would be climbing down 180 feet below the surface and waking up 180 feet to the surface via VERY steep tracks and stairs. I thought they were making it worse than it really was.
They weren't.

CC and Lena going in the entrance.

It was a tight fit. At this point we were just a bit below the surface, something like 40 feet. I was thinking ok, good, no big deal.





Everything is thousands of years in the making. Touching is not allowed. The oils on our hands can prevent the stalagmites from continuing to form.

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CC started getting a bit claustrophobic and was rushing me down, down, down to the room I remember was called Sherwood Forrest. I did manage to snap a few pictures.

This is where we were going...Sherwood Forrest

Walking down the tour group was ahead of me and I loved the absolute silence that was around me. It was so calming. We arrived...180 feet below the surface.

I don't know if it was the change in pressure or realization of the fact that I am in a cave, 180 feet below the surface..in a cave... But I started panicking. Real serious panicking. I was getting so hot and had this ugly, nasty feeling in my stomach. I felt like I couldn't breathe, my head hurt and I was tingling on my legs. I ripped my jacket off, threw my hair in a high pony-tail, rolled up my jeans to my knees and started praying. I knew it was a panic attack and asked God to just send me an angel to get me through this experience..alive..for the girls. I tried to relax and take in the beauty of my surroundings.









Everything was glistening and sparkling. You could hear water trickling down the walls and occasionally feel it drip on you. My glasses were fogging up like crazy and the humidity down there...unbelievable!

I tried to get a picture of myself to distract my self from the panic.

More pics to follow. I'm posting from my phone and I'm not sure how many it will let me photos it will let me add on one posting.

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