So last weekend, Nate and I ventured out of our perpetual hermitage in the beautiful 75 degree (random, might i add) weather that came over Columbia oh so briefly. Saturday I was confined to a dimly lit lecture hall for a long-planned graduate student symposium which our graduate student organization has spent months planning. So, therefore, it was even more nice to get out last Sunday to one of Missouri's state parks located just SE of town. It is called Rock Bridge State Park and features a VERY extensive cave system spanning miles of underground speleological wonder. Much of the eroded limestone tunnel system has been mapped, but some is still yet untouched and uncharted. Between November and May, undaunted member of the public can sign up for spelunking training and take a guided tour with professional cavers and geologists. I don't think i want to try that one just yet...
The park is well-known for one primary feature, the Devil's Icebox, or a large carved archway (not in the pictures) which has an interesting past. Formerly, it was likely part of the extensive system of underground caves, but as water perculated through the limestone and eroded away its walls over the years, parts of it collapsed, leaving only a small section. In the late 19th century, it was dammed and utilized by a whiskey brewer as part of the mill's property. When prohibition swept America, the brewery shut down and was abandoned. The property was eventually picked up by the state and turned into a park, along with much of the land around it.
It definitely was a fun place to visit as a natural, local wonder. They have a great system of boardwalks and trails designed to cut down on the effects of prolonged foot traffic, allowing the 'ruralness' of the woods above the caves to be preserved. The lower caves were certainly (and I will remember this for the summer) a great place to coooooool off during warm days!!
In another note, Columbia is scattered with sinkholes. Sinkholes happen when the rock system, esp. water-worn limestone, is deteriorated and disappears. Rock Bridge park is also full of sinkholes due to the cave system, which is pretty cool and scary at the same time. Although it would be nice to avoid sinkholes in more urban and residential areas, such as greater Columbia, it simply is not realistic. Columbia is known to 'suffer from' scattered sinkholes now and then, which results in both some funny and serious situations, such as houses, cars, or parts of roads just disappearing from time to time. As one of my professors so eloquently put it about a year ago about living in Columbia, "You know you're living on one giant sinkhole!"
Besides Nate's and my escapades to the caves, I have been trying to keep up w/my studies and other committments. I have now applied for 4 jobs, in 4 different cities and states. I have applied for one in St. Paul, Chicago, Boston, and Philadelphia. I may also apply for some in Cincinnati, New York, and DC, but who knows what will present itself. Just getting my cv ready to go and writing cover letter after cover letter to convince people that i am 'the best' for the job is really a time-consuming and agonizing task. I also continually run into the catch-22 about experience: one always needs 'experience' for a job (well at least in my field). The thing is, you can't get experience if no one will hire you for that first job that will get you the experience. Of course, I have worked and interned at various places (thank god) so hopefully that will be the shoe-in that i need. Keep your fingers crossed!
In an update on my yoga interest, i got the dvds and have tried them out. i am always amazed at how sore one can be from the simplest movements.......... Guess that means its working..!
