So I have come to the belief that one shouldn’t mix your workplace friends with your life outside of work. Doing so can cause an unhealthy life balance, at least for me. Sometimes I give in though, as was the case when some work peeps asked what I was doing for the weekend….
I wanted to go back up to Flagstaff and explore the Lava Tube Cave. I tried this a couple of years back, but was woefully unprepared. My work peeps were heading up to Flagstaff anyway to see the Autumn leaves and go for a run in the morning, and wanted to come tag along with me in the afternoon to go cave exploring as well. I broke my rule and invited them along.
Cbug and I arrived literally seconds after they did, and so a group of three girls and two guys dressed warmly on a perfect September afternoon, donned our headlamp gear, and ventured into the Lava Tube.
The Lava Tube cave was slick, and so it was a tad precarious as we started, but slow and steady wins the race on this exploration. It was only a couple of miles in total, but it took all of our strength to complete it. Between the slick stones, total darkness, and just the eerie feeling one gets being so far under the surface of the earth was daunting.
We loved it.
After caving, we all went to get something to eat on the company’s dime, then we parted ways. The girls headed back down to the valley to go home, while Cbug and I stayed in a cabin in Flagstaff. I found a historic old B & B that also had a smattering of cabins on the property. We actually stayed in the same cabin that the current owners of the property stayed in on their honeymoon some 40 years ago, which led them to falling in love with the place and eventually buying it.
I could see why. An evening of cool temperatures and an awesome display of stars was exactly what I needed.
In the morning we pack up and then take the backroads home. I love showing off Arizona to my nephew.
