You’ve probably seen it in the news; the ROM is restoring the bat cave. That’s right, the classic exhibit we all grew up knowing and loving is getting a face lift and going 2.0. It will be bigger, better and more bad ass. It will be epic.
And the best part of all? I’m part of the team that gets to make it a reality.
As a child of the 80’s the bat cave has always held a special place in my heart. I have vivid memories of early trips to the museum, where long lines preceded an entrance few in my age bracket dared to enter. The dark cavernous space combined with the sound of dripping water and screeching bats was the stuff of nightmares for an eight year old. Suffice to say, I couldn’t get enough.
And now I’m packing up my gear and getting ready to head south, to Jamaica, where I will join a team of curators and videographers to capture video for the updated exhibit. Dr. Burton Lim will head the expedition to the St. Clair cave, located in the heart of the small island nation. It’s a demanding hike several kilometers through thick bamboo jungle and over rushing rivers to reach the mouth of the cave. Once we arrive, we’ll use vines and ropes to descend the 15 meter drop into the cave, where temperatures rise and the air gets thin. I’m told the bats that dwell in St. Clair share their home with cockroaches, boa constrictors, rats and feral cats, not to mention a whole host of parasites. This is not a beach vacation.
No, this is the stuff of Indiana Jones.
T-minus 4 days till I touch down in Kingston. I can’t wait.
