The first time was many, many years ago when I got to tour a cave. The guide turned off the lights and way down there below the surface of the earth, it can be really, really dark. One other time, in the "mushroom mines" when the lights got turned off.
What?? You never heard of mushroom mines? In western Pennsylvania where I grew up and lived for the first half of my life, there were a lot of limestone deposits and they were mined. The walls, roof, and floor looked like concrete. I toured one that was turned into a mushroom farm. Mushrooms grow better in no or low light. They would bring in a rail car load of manure to make compost that the mushrooms would grow in.
The other one that I was in a few times was used by a gun club as a shooting range. We could shoot in there any time of year and it was always a comfortable cool temperature and it was spacious enough to drive your vehicles in there and park just behind where the shooters were. That made it very convenient. Just get out, get your rifles, and you only had to walk a few steps. And oh yes, you definitely had to wear ear protection.
The other one that I was in a few times was used by a gun club as a shooting range. We could shoot in there any time of year and it was always a comfortable cool temperature and it was spacious enough to drive your vehicles in there and park just behind where the shooters were. That made it very convenient. Just get out, get your rifles, and you only had to walk a few steps. And oh yes, you definitely had to wear ear protection.
That is the only time in my life that I have experienced complete darkness. Now tell me the times that you have been in the absence of any light and have a great day, you hear?
Several caves in my history. The most unusual were some rooms built to be light/reflection/sound free when the doors closed and the lights were turned off. I forget what the company was testing but man that was dark and quiet. After a couple of minutes you could hear your blood flowing and your heart beating. Of course that was before I lost a lot of my hearing.
ReplyDeleteI have had that experience, also. Even with the constant ringing I have in my ears, I still could hear the roar of blood flow and the thumping of my own heart. It would be hard to go to sleep in total silence.
DeleteI imagine I could sleep after about three nights of the pounding noise from my heart keeping me awake. And it definitely is a ROAR.
DeleteMy experience was in Mammoth Cave in Kentucky years ago. No one can imagine what total darkness is like unless you have an experience like that.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite an experience, for sure.
DeleteMine was exploring a network of storm sewer pipes near my home in FTW as a kid with my brother and a friend (around 5th grade). You get far enough back into that system and it's pitch black (Glad no rain storms popped up while we were in there). We always took flashlights and bologna (sp?) sandwiches.
ReplyDeleteAnd again while on a tour through Carlsbad when they flipped the lights out for a bit.
Interesting topic, DD.
Hope you picked a dry, sunny day without any chance of rain to do that job. I once had a job cleaning out underground exhaust ducts from railcar paint booths. Not a pleasant experience, so I know what you are saying.
DeleteYeah, in Longhorn Caverns near here.
ReplyDeleteI guess that there were more of you that experienced total darkness than I thought there would be.
DeleteI have been in complete darkness couple of times. Both were when I was in a cave and the guide turned off the lights. It is kind of scary. Have a great weekend. Sorry I haven't been around, I was on vacation.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great vacation and glad you are back.
Delete