Traveling Circus: Lehman Caves

Day Two began with breakfast at the Border Inn.  As we were preparing to leave, we picked up a "Survival Guide" for the "Loneliest Road In America" which we were planning to travel that day.
Off we went.

 Our first stop was the Lehman Caves Visitor Center in Great Basin National Park. 

 I had been there as a kid and was excited to take my family there.

 While we waited for our tour of the cave, the kids worked on their "Junior Ranger" certification.

 Titus and I got all saddled up for the big cave.

 And in we went.  It was even cooler than I had remembered it.

 The intricate formations in the cave were amazing.

 And huge.

 Titus didn't last long in the too-small Snuggli that the park let us borrow.  It was his (not-so-convenient) nap time and he cried and cried until he finally fell asleep.

 Levi was really hoping to see a bat in the cave.

 After our tour of the cave, we were looking across the sagebrush covered hills talking about how one would never guess there was a gigantic, magnificent cave hiding underground.  We decided that it is the same way with people.  On the surface a person may look average, plain, or even boring.  But when time is spent learning about someone, a treasure may be found lying within.

 The kids were sworn in as official Junior Rangers of Great Basin National Park.

 They were proud of their badges and certificates.

 We hiked around outside of the cave before we loaded back up and headed on down the road.

 The only thing of note that we saw on the loneliest road was this wind farm. Yay for clean energy!

 We ate at this yummo Mexican Restaurant in Ely and posed in front of this anatomically correct mural of elk because we couldn't stop laughing.

 After a quick stop at the Railway Museum, it was time to log some more miles.

 This time dad took up residency in back with the boys.

 And the girls were up front."Mom, say cheese."

 We couldn't wait to unwind in the pool when we got to our hotel in Fallon.

 Dad manned the circus in the pool while I ordered pizza.

It was the perfect ending to Day Two of our vacation.  The promise of Day Three was exciting:  we would arrive at our destination in California.