The following is some quirky stuff we ran across on our trip to the Four Corners National Monument yesterday (4 At Once! blog).
Before we left I heard a ruckus outside. Several magpies were yacking. These are crow cousins are beautiful birds, black and white with the black areas on the wings and tail showing iridescent hints of blue or blue-green. They are one of only four North American songbirds whose tails make half or more of their total body length. The birds here are hard to catch with a camera.
As we drove to and through Durango we saw a loooong string of Mini Coopers going the other direction. As we passed the La Plata Fairgrounds and Event Center we saw masses of them parked there for Mini Friday. In all we guestimate about 300.
Driving through towns along the route we saw several murals, each depicting a bit of local history and each connected to the modern business they decorated.
Cowboys on the trail looking forward to a visit with the nearest saloon.
Gold panners
next to an open air farmers’ market
unloading kegs and boxes at a bar and grill
We enjoyed some clever advertising art—this was my favorite. I had to laugh long and loud!
horse sculptures in front of an antiques corral
We passed a couple of “roadside stands” that Duane and his Travelin’ Grannie would have been sure to visit,
especially this “Indian” themed trading post.
We found a few eye-catching signs.
On a bank for Christmas in July savings.
At a pull-off with info boards we found this historic flume. It took three boards to reinforce the importance of this bit of reconstruction and to justify its cost.
This is what it looks like. It is supposed to be finished this year. It’s basically a rainwater collector that diverts the water from the gully into an underground pipe that directs the water to whatever people want to grow.
Doesn’t look like much.
We found this ‘superfund’ site that apparently the government doesn’t consider worth cleaning. The owner seems a bit put out about that.
Back in Durango we saw a city bus,
and this sign. I’ll buy the bus since Durango is a tourist town, but I’ll be the judge of whether this restaurant can claim their bbq is Texan!
I’ll let you know.
Tomorrow, we ride.
Louise and Duane
No comments:
Post a Comment