xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo EH Notebook #100 March 16, 2002 oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox Welcome to EH Notebook, the e-zine where e-friends who have attended Elderhostel programs can compare notes. EH Notebook does not maintain a web site at this time. There is an independent index to old issues at http://members.aol.com/ehindex To subscribe to the e-mail publication and/or to submit reviews of programs taken send an e-mail to the editor, Bob McAllester, at EHnotebook@earthlink.net Please keep all correspondence in simple e-mail text format. ################################################ From the Editor's Notebook ################################################ We were all surprised and disappointed when Jim Olson announced that #99 was the final issue of the Elderhostel Notebook. I just couldn't face it. The Notebook had come to be a tradition with me. I happily anticipated receiving it through the e-mail at those semi-regular intervals. We can only thank Jim for the marvelous job that he has done in editing and distributing this publication for more than five years. He has overcome many obstacles and continued to produce it. It has grown and prospered. I felt that someone had to step in and take it over and then decided that I might be able to do it, so I volunteered. Jim's first response was to discourage me. I guess he didn't want to wish the job on anyone. I was persistent and since then he has been very helpful. I only hope that I can do the job nearly as well as he has. He told me that at one point, Elderhostel Inc had objected to his use of the name "Elderhostel" in the name of his publication. I plan to avoid that issue by calling it "EH Notebook", which corresponds to its traditional user name. Please note that the ISP is changing from aol.com to earthlink.net. This first mailing is my big experiment to see how well I can handle a large mailing on my personal Earthlink account. I am including just the two queries and one review that Jim has received after #99 was assembled. Bob McAllester EHnotebook@earthlink.net ################################################ Comments and Queries ################################################ quibell@SONOMA.EDU We are thinking of participating in the Elderhostel trip scheduled for October or April that goes to Prague and Vienna with a trip on the Danube and are wondering if we could get some critiques from other Elderhostel members . Thank you, Kati and Chuck Quibell ____________ joy@fastol.com If anyone has attended the program in Santa Fe, N.M. with sidetrip to Taos, re culture, artists..... please let us know your experience, likewise the service one in Perryville, Ark @ Heifer Ranch and lastly, "Florida the way it was" type of program in the Crystal River area with snorkeling, manatees and canoeing. We have signed up for all three. Thank you. Fritz ################################################ Program Reviews ################################################ NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY __________ NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY 31337 0127-01/2002 CARLSBAD CAVERNS/ CHIHUAHUAN DESERT An all day field trip to Carlsbad Caverns was made more pleasurable and interesting with the classroom presentation Richard Bridges, an experienced international caver. Richard, who guided the class through the Caverns, has explored caves in Alaska, Mexico, and the USSR. Adding to the program was an extremely interesting follow up lecture on the Carlsbad's bats and a demonstration of climbing procedures and equipment by Tom Bemis, a National Park Ranger with 25 years experience. Mark Rosacker introduced the class to the animals and plants of the Chihuahuan Desert including a tour of Living Desert. Bill Weston gave a captivating introduction to the class of the Department of Energy's Waste Isolation Pilot Program, a program designed to dispose of nuclear waste in salt deposits some (2,150 feet) underground. We were cordially entertained with a rendition of Folklorico dances by the Corazon Mexicano Dance group. A somewhat tedious account of the history of the Lincoln County Wars was given by Dr. Doug Dinwiddie. The group was housed in a comfortable motel where ample meals were provided. Not all time was put to it's best use, some free time could have been utilized to lengthen otherwise hurried or shortened presentations. None the less, if you wish to see Carlsbad Caverns at their best, this is the program. Carl Larson Ou8j@aol.com Editor's note: I have toured the Waste Isolation Pilot Program site. When you are on the elevator that (2,150 feet) seems like miles. I provided that number for this report.