Riff: Playing it cool in Boerne Have you seen the television commercial for the Armani men’s cologne, Acqua di Gio, in which a man swims in the ocean to the sound of KALEO’s double platinum single, “Way Down We Go”? There’s something elemental about that tune and Jokull Juliusson’s haunting vocals, made even more so by the visuals of a cerulean sea and the hypnotic movement of the waves.
KALEO is the name of the Icelandic blues rock band, currently based in Austin, who recorded the song. They shot a live performance of “Way Down We Go” inside the dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano just outside of Reykjavik. It is listed at number 13 on CNN’s list of 27 “must-sees on this incredible planet.”
Thrihnukagigur, pronounced “threenuke -a-gig-ur,” hasn’t erupted in 4,000 years and is open to adventurous visitors. Outfitted with boots, helmets, glacier gear, and guides, the curious approach the volcano via ramps and catwalks and descend into its interior via a cable lift.
While certainly not the same experience as the Thrihnukagigur volcano, visitors to the Cave Without a Name in Boerne, about an hour’s drive from Wimberley, can experience a live music performance on Saturday night, July 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the cave’s Throne Room. The Belmark Trio will present a program called “American Stories” that explores American patriotic music and composers Stephen Foster, Scott Joplin, George M. Cohan, George Gershwin, Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein. Promotion for the event says the historic composers will come to life through the unique storytelling and comedy of the Trio’s entertainers.
At 66 degrees year-round, the Cave without a Name and the Belmark Trio are a very cool way to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend. Tickets are $35 in advance. For more information, visit cavewithoutaname. com.
Roam: Staying cool at Natural Bridge Caverns For my money, a cave tour is a splendid option during the overheated days of a summer heatwave. Because caves are beautiful, cool, quiet, and a relatively serene attraction, I entered the Texas Cave Trail Passport challenge in which one commits to visit five caves - Cave Without a Name, Caverns of Sonora, Inner Space Cavern, Longhorn Cavern and Natural Bridge Caverns - within the space of a year. If I meet the challenge, I’ll earn a t-shirt. While not a prize to write home about, it is nonetheless a reward. With a visit to Longhorn Cavern in April and to Natural Bridge Caverns last week, I’m two caves into my journey.
Natural Bridge Caverns is a privately owned entity 40 miles or 50 minutes from Wimberley via FM 2673 West, through Sattler and Startzville. The place has a grand entrance, good parking, and superb landscaping throughout the grounds. Online tickets are required, and tour times are pre-arranged at the time you purchase a ticket. I arrived early as instructed and perused the gift shop and snack bar menu as I waited to join my group under the “waiting” pavilion below the ticket level. The incline to the pavilion is an easy walk and only one of three that I recall during the 75-minute tour. Further on in another pavilion, we watched a short video that revealed the caverns’ history and geological significance. After that, our guide led us inside where we immediately saw stunning formations of all sizes and shapes, hanging from the ceilings, jutting from the sides, or rising from the bottom. Just when I think, “If you’ve seen one cave, you’ve seen them all,” I am overtaken by the sheer scale and alien beauty of a cave. While some people love the history, and others, the geology, I connect viscerally to the space and the deep hush of its existence.
Damp and dim in parts, most people in my small group took the advice on the website and wore shoes with good traction and support. Several people, unsure of their footing, brought canes for balance, but it’s an easy walk throughout with no stooping or crouching. The rowdy kids who began the tour in high spirits became reverent and silent. Less-mobile people showed relief tinged with pride upon the completion of their trek and the twenty-somethings came back with a boat load of images and videos on their phones. The rest of us felt like we’d gotten our money’s worth.
The departure from the cave is a challenging 15 to 20 minute incline. Strong walkers will feel their hearts pound and their breath stagger a bit from the effort. For those not interested in the cardio workout can take a huge conveyor belt called the “BAT” - a belt assisted transport - to the exit. Like a moving walkway you find in airports, it can be a bit tricky to safely get on it and off.
While I won’t ruin your experience with too much detail, I will say this cave has a large underground ballroom and a light-show with music that was composed just for them. A summer wedding would be refreshingly unique here.
Developed caves like this one are quite an undertaking once you consider the installation of electricity, sound, lighting, steps, handrails, bridges, catwalks and other systems that make their passage safe and beautiful. Read the media tab on their website and scroll through the cave’s history. For the family who discovered it on their land, the story of the grit required to explore, develop and preserve the caverns is a testament to their prudence and strength. To learn more, go to naturalbridgecaverns. com.
Rave: Cooling off in Wimberley Inn’s pool
If you find yourself undone by the heat, take a mini vacay to Wimberley Inn’s new pool. With day passes available to the public, the beautiful pool is a great getaway from work, the kids and chores too onerous to pursue.
Open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, it includes a handsome pool bar with two friendly bartenders who can help you unwind with cold drinks, delicious light fare and all the friendly banter you want.
One of the few places open on Mondays and Tuesdays, barmen Carlos and Joshua say that families, couples and guests partake of the cool waters, comfy lounges, and healthy bar bites. A favorite drink for grownups, they say, is the “Tequila Froze,” made with peach liqueur and strawberries. Draft beer, cocktails and beer in cans, as well as non-alcoholic drinks, will slake the heftiest thirst.
Call the Wimberley Inn office before you go at 512 8473750 to arrange for the passes and to get the gate access code. The Wimberley Inn is located at the junction of FMs 12 and 3237. For more information, visit wimberleyinn.com.
