What a tour!!

When we were in Redding, we got a brochure about the Lake Shasta Caverns. It was right on our way to Mt Shasta so we decided to leave Redding early so we could make the 10 A.M. tour. The brochure showed photos of happy smiling people, with spotless clothes, nary a hair out of place, posing happily for the camera during their tour.
We left Redding at 9AM and were at the site in time for the tour. We paid our entrance fee. The girl said "Enjoy".And off we went, not knowing that they had put a warning about not taking the tour if you have bad knees, bad backs or heart conditions. Granted, we did not have these conditions but all our parts can be classified as "Used".
The tour started off okay. We had to walk down the equivalent of 3 stories to get to a boat which would take us over to the caverns. Great! Nice relaxing 5 minute cruise along Lake Shasta which is 50 foot below the usual waterline level. We get to the landing on the other side and Luke, the guide, says we have to walk up this steeply inclined ramp to get to the bus to take us up to the caverns. He says," This is probably the hardest part of the trip. (He Lied!!) Tongues hanging out, we get to the bus that will take us up to the cavern entrance. Thank God. We get to sit down for 10 minutes.
Into the caverns we go. Nobody has told us that the floor is wet and slippery and dimly lit. Sorry James and Pia, the shoes you gave me took a bath. We grip the handrails with a deathgrip. The caverns are truly beautiful. We pass thru several chambers and then the guide tells us that there are 80 steps to the next chamber. Loly throws in the towel. Says she's had enough. I tell her I will stay with her. She rests for a while and then decides she can go ahead. We catch up, see more caverns. Then we need to go 60 steps up to the final chamber.
We finally made it out, downhill nwalk to the boat, ride across to the other side and then walk up the 3 stories to the starting point.
At the very end I see a place where you can give your flattering compliments about the tour. My comment reads, "You had better get a defibrillator in those caverns". Think I'll ever hear from them?
On hindsight, Loly and I had so many laughs during the trip but we came out exhausted, with muddy shoes (Loly's are disintegrating), muddy pants and with our tongues hanging out desperately trying to smile. I wonder what adventures await tomorrow. We are now resting in bed watching Judge Judy and eating Haagen Daz. Life is sweet!!!