My Road Trip Adventures: Tulelake Internment Camp NHS/Lava Beds NM

I want to first say am sorry everyone for not getting to write sooner. The day I went to the Lava Beds I didn't have signal to write that night and yesterday I was just to tired to think. I'm writing in word now since the internet is not connecting out in my room at my Grandma's so hopefully when im done catching up on this that I can post.
The Eagle's Nest Campground was nice and quiet and I slept great. I did talk to one of the owners Barbara and she kinda tripped me out it was funny. One of her dogs started barking and she started to talk to me about her animals and she has 5 dogs, 2 cats,3 I think rats and a red tail boa snake. I was at that moment thinking holy cows im in a tent and this thing could be feed for years off of this body. So I casually asked how big is it? Just has calmly she replies only 7 ft long. ONLY?? Then I asked o' thats cool is it in a cage and again she tells me (like if its no big deal) o ya otherwise he would eat my cats. EAT?? ONLY?? I mean really she could have listed the Boa has the first pet. It's not like their house is very big. I was curious and wanted to see it but I was still thinking about me sleeping in a tent outside and decided against wanting to see it. ( I didn't want to give their pet any ideas for a midnight snack)
Needless to say I made it safely both nights there. Anyways I headed out to see the museum for the Tulelake Internment Camp, which was alright. The museum was more about the towns around it and how they came about then about the actual Internment Camp. They did have a fenced section out where the Internment camp use to be and the actual jail. They also had a replica of what it would have looked like living in the barracks. So that was pretty cool.
I then headed over to the Lava Beds which is all in the same area just about. There was also an Indian war that had happened out there between an Indian named Captain Jack Stronghold and General Canby (who was the only General to be killed in an Indian War). There was tons of lava rock everywhere. Once I was at the visitor center I decided to be adventurous and go in a cave(there's lots of cave's to explore there). The ranger asked if I had a flashlight,which I did. I also informed them that yes I had been to other caves and knew what they were about. Ya well so much for adventure. So here I am going into a cave with a flashlight. Mind you this isn't some huge light up the night sky flashlight but just a regular 2 D battery flashlights that barely cover your walking area. So I start heading down into this cave and the further I got the more I thought man this is pretty dang scary. I've never been in a cave alone and let me just tell you I will never be in one alone again. It is totally different then when you are on a guided tour with a ranger and other people. Being alone in the total dark except for my little flashlight underground was like a scary movie. And if one of the bats that live in the caves came out or towards me I probably would have just died right there. I will say this I was probably more then half way through this cave and decided nope this is not for me and headed back. That was enough adventure in the dark for me thanks. Hey at least I tried right? You give me someone else to go with me and no problem I would go again,just not alone.I then decided to go see the Petroglyphs that Indians had carved into a side of mountain. Well let me tell you that was disappointing. It's surrounded by a high fence, but that's not the problem. The problem is that all the petroglyphs are not there anymore. In certain spots you can see faded ones but then in lots of the side of the mountain you can see where people have come and cut out the drawings. It was a big disappointment and I was so bummed that it wasn't there for all of us to see. Hopefully on my trip there will be other places that I can see some.So after that fun filled day of adventure I headed back to my campsite and just relaxed.
Later that night the sky was dark and you could see the star's in the sky for days. It was so awesome. The Big Dipper was right in front of me and it seemed like it was so close I could just reach up and grab it. Then directly above me was the Milky Way. It seemed like I could see it's path for miles. It was so pretty just bright and no light around except for the stars and moon in the sky. I wish I could have taken a picture of it to show but how amazing it was would not do it justice. It was actually more amazing then words can ever describe.
Miles Gone Today: 132