We've just emerged from the Caverns of Sonora, one of many caverns on the trip suggested by readers. Besides because it was recommended by usaprofessor5, we chose it because the caverns are quite literally in the middle of nowhere, and Sonora is the rough halfway point to Marfa. (Yes, we are making horrible timing.)
Discovered in 1905, the caverns are privately owned and are on the same land as a small campsite and general store. There are over seven miles of underground trails in the caverns, the longest in Texas, according to our guide, Patrick Hogan. The average tour is $20 and takes nearly two hours, but he gave us the improvised 45-minute version since our sidetracks to Banera and Imitation Stonehenge dragged out our plans a bit.
Inside the humid cave, we went nearly 180 feet underground to see different types of rare rock formations, the many-syllabled names of which escape me now. But Patrick showed us formations shaped into things we recognized: a pair of wolves, coral, a butterfly with a broken wing – and, because this is Texas, 'cavern bacon'.
Cavern Bacon @ Caverns of Sonora #meat #twitrips pic.twitter.com/Y3DTdpcFUK
— Katie Rogers (@katierogers) June 25, 2013
While we had Patrick in such close quarters, we asked the Massachusetts native about Texas.
What's the biggest misconception? "That everything is bigger."
The biggest truth: "The people are nicer."
We climbed out of the cavern just a bit ago and are on the 130-mile journey toward Fort Stockton. If there's anything we can quickly visit in town – there are rumors of a giant road runner statue – be sure to let me know.
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