The Blue Hole

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I am running behind on our trip.  We arrived in Quartzsite yesterday afternoon.  That's a blog post in itself.

Waking up in Tucumcari, it was cold again, -3C.  I'm glad we have good heat.  We packed up and headed to Santa Rosa which is only an hour west.  We were searching for the Blue Hole.  It's a sinkhole or cenote.  It's a very famous spot for tourists as well as scuba divers and locals who use it as a swimming hole.  This is the largest in the area although there are more located on private land.

  

When we arrived it was a it confusing.  There is the sig for lue HOle ad a graded dirt road.  As we entered, it said Blue Hole Convention Center and also a sign that read, Santa Rosa DMV.  We parked and went to as for directions.  Inside there were vendors with tables set up selling different kinds of things:  Christmas decorationns gifts, baked goods, burritos and popcorn.  The place smelled like grandma's kitchen on baking day.  But where was the Blue Hole?  We found the information desk and behind it and the glass wall was the cenote.  Beautiful blue, crystal clear water.  That was it!  It is surrounded by a walking path an stairs that eter the water with a platform for the scuba divers.

It's not very large on top but expands to almost double the width at the bottom depth of 80 feet.  It maintains a constant temperature of 17C (62F).  Like most cenotes there are underground rivers that flow between them.  

In the past, scuba divers could enter the cave below and swim through it attempting to make it to the next opening.  Apparently, too many people were lost in the watery cave ad it was eventually sealed off.  

 

  

At the bottom are large boulders, bones, masks, a crucifix, and other objects.  The entrance leads to passages and rooms.  The cave extends to 194 feet, where it ends.  There are rumors that the labyrinth extends all the way to Carlsbad Cavern, but it has never been confirmed.  After about 15 minutes, we were done looking into the hole.

After, we headed down the road to the famous Silver Moon Cafe that catered to Route 66 travelers back in the day.  It's a pretty ordinary place but we wanted to say we were there.  An interesting tip, as the waitress seated us another couple came in.  Another waitress led them to their table and I heard the husband ask for the local menu.  We had the tourist menu but then Juan asked for the local menu.  Big difference in not only price but food.  Online, Juan had spotted a smothered burrito but it wasn't on the tourist menu we found it on the local one.  My plate of enchiladas was a price difference of $5.00!

On towards Albuquerque.