NOLS Southwest Instructor Course

Feels like it's been awhile since I left St. Louis. On my way out I stopped in to take a guided tour of Meremac Caverns. Oh boy! The tour guide was a young guy with a southern missouri accent. He delivered his script word for word as it was taught to him, jokes and all. Most of it was pretty cheesy, with a huge dancefloor at the opening of the cave (for 2 concerts a year, apparently). The rest was juiced up by neon lighting. Interesting formations, some huge ones in there. It had been sunny and warm when I went underground. When I came out it was pouring down rain and there was hail and tree branches covering the ground. The rain stopped a few minutes later and I just had too move a few branches on my drive out. Sounds like the rest of the midwest got it worse though.

I made it though to somewhere, Oklahoma on Sunday night. I stopped driving around 1am and slept until about 7am. All through Oklahoma there are signs telling you not to drive into smoke. Good tip.
Today I continued through Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle. I could see lots of places that had burned in Texas earlier this year. Then the scenery got a bit more interesting as I drove into New Mexico. That's where I am now - Truth or Consequences, NM. It's a wonderful place so far. A nice combination of hippy and small-town southwest feel. Maybe the hippy part is cuz I'm staying at a hostel. Anyway the hostel has hot tubs fed with natural hot springs and they are situated right along the side of the Rio Grande. There's a tiny tv, but I might need to find another location suitable for watching the championship game tonight.
Tomorrow it's off to Tucson and getting ready to be schooled by NOLS.