Sometimes these posts come way out of order, in this case we stumbled into the Tintic Motorcycle Works and Museum in Eureka, Utah on our way home from Bonneville World of Speed….a blog I have still not finished writing!
At any rate we passed through the small mining town of Eureka and stopped for gas (at the Gas Hole filling station, I kid not), across from a motorcycle museum! It was Bee’s “fifth element” of traveling in full effect.
We walked across to the former US Post Office and headed inside to check it out. The first floor was pretty packed with some great motorcycles, tons of parts, and miscellaneous motorcycle memorabilia.
If you ever pass through Eureka, take a quick stop and grab a cup of coffee, and check out the @tintic_motorcycle_museum
We had a gorgeous fall weekend here in the high country of Southern Colorado, and decided to take the motorcycles out from Creede, through Wolf Creek Pass, and over to Chimney Rock National Monument outside of Pagosa Springs, CO before it closed for the season.
“This undiscovered gem is an intimate, off-the-beaten-path archaeological site located at the southern edge of the San Juan Mountains in Southwestern Colorado. You’ll walk in the footsteps of the fascinating and enigmatic Ancestral Puebloans of the Chaco Canyon, following primitive pathways that haven’t changed for 1,000 years. Archaeological structures and artifacts, abundant wildlife, and its setting in the breathtaking San Juan National Forest make Chimney Rock a must-see.
Chimney Rock covers seven square miles and preserves 200 ancient homes and ceremonial buildings, some of which have been excavated for viewing and exploration: a Great Kiva, a Pit House, a Multi-Family Dwelling, and a Chacoan-style Great House Pueblo. Chimney Rock is the highest in elevation of all the Chacoan sites, at about 7,000 feet above sea level. From the base, the hike to the top is just a half mile and it’s rewarded with dramatic 360-degree views of Colorado and New Mexico.”
360 Degree views of Colorado and New MexicoThe Great Kiva at over 7000 feetThe rock chinking is amazing
After the short hike to the Great Kiva we spoke with a docent a bit about the history of the dwelling, the construction of, and its relation to others in the area such as Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde. We also took time to watch the Peregrine Falcons and Turkey Vultures fly and dive around the chimney.
Chimney Rock from the top at the Great Kiva
You can do both short hikes as well as the visitor center in just a couple hours, and this is a worthwhile stop if you are passing through Southern Colorado!
I had heard of Legends Motorcycle Museum from other people in the motorcycle world, but never found myself south of Salt Lake City to pop in. The museum features over 120 of the rarest motorcycles, unusual antique automobiles, as well as a ton of motorcycle related art and memorabilia. We found ourselves driving right past Springville, Utah and I decided to surprise Bee! 1-18
The museum looks like an old warehouse inside and is packed to the gills with an amazing collection, in my opinion only second to the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. There is also a cafe in the museum, but unfortunately we arrived just as it closed. 19-36
We were able to take our time and look at show bikes, hillclimbers, choppers, unrestored vintage motorcycles, and rare gems such as Merkels, Thor motorcycles, Cleveland Motorcycles, and a 1907 Harley-Davidson. 37-47
If you are a motorcycle enthusiast and find yourself in the area, STOP IN! You will not be disappointed. 48-62
I went outside around 8:30, after the moon had set, to catch the Draconids meteor shower and was caught by surprise when I noticed a pink light on the horizon. I ran back inside to grab my phone knowing that it would be able to pick up more light and color than my eyes could.
When I first came out there was a more definitive line where the color started, as I took more photos in the few minutes I was outside the quality of the color was changing. I knew I was only going to capture so much, so I put my phone down to let my eyes adjust to the light. I could make out more color spreading across the northern horizon near the Big Dipper but I could tell it was fading so I spent the last few minutes outside trying to angle myself in a way where I could hide my eyes from the neighbors spotlights and let them adjust to the darkness.
I have been able to see more stars (so many sometimes that the constellations get lost), and so much astronomical activity since I’ve moved to Colorado it is mind-boggling. Seeing satellites and shooting stars on any given night is almost taken for granted at this point. It was pure luck that I got to witness this light show and I stayed outside just a little longer to catch a handful of shooting stars (and make a couple of wishes while I was at it.)
Sometimes you don’t have days to spend in a national park….but does that mean you still shouldn’t go? We found ourselves passing through Moab on the way to Bonneville World of Speed, and Bee asked if we would swing through Arches National Park in the morning. I checked the NPS website and surprisingly there were timed entry passes available! September is still prime time here due to the warmer climate, so they are still requiring a timed entry pass in addition to your parks pass through the end of October.
Crusing through the park
We got up early and headed to the entrance with our timed entry ticket and National Park Pass in hand. The lines were super short at 8am and we breezed right in, taking in the sights on the drive in, stopping for an occasional photo, and we made our way to the two areas we decided to explore further.
We arrived at the Windows Viewpoint & Trail, parked, and headed up the trail. We were able to catch the sun rising through the windows, and there were not many people this early in the morning. We connected the few short trails and grabbed a few photos, then headed back to the truck.
Everywhere you looked there are arches, desert vistas, and interesting rock formationsThe crowds were light early in the morning
We were able to spot many more of the natural features with the help of our handy map on the way to the Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail. We double timed it up the trail (to us this was low altitude!) to view the arch. You could see tons of people who hit the trails bright and early to make the hike all the way to Delicate Arch, with the heat here an early start seems the smart move!
The view from Delicate Arch viewpointQuite a few people left early to hike all the way up the Delicate Arch trail!
We made our way out of the park and pointed the truck north to SLC. So is it worth a couple hour detour to breeze through a national park? Verdict – Yes! We may not have had the days to explore the area, but even a quickly planned couple hour stop can allow you to see some of the key sights, get a couple miles hike in, and plan ahead for a (longer) future visit!
It was all hands on deck for the Creede Arts Council Steamroller Printmaking event. The show takes place yearly at the top of Main Street during the Cruisin the Canyon Car Show. The supplies and steamroller showed up on Main Street around 8:00 a.m. to be ready for action by 9:00. This was my second year submitting a piece for the event and my first year attending and attempting to lend a hand. Last year I tried doing a waterfall landscape but to be honest I prefer more irreverent pop art so this year I submitted my “Dolly For President” artwork. There are no parameters for the submission beyond using a wood board for the printing and there was a nice variety of art available from local artists.
For the print to come out correctly I have to carve the artwork in reverse. I had large areas to clean out so I used a Dremel to really get in there and it took maybe 12 hours of totally dusty work to get the wood ready for printing. The Creede Arts Council did a test print a week before and I was able to see where I needed to do a little more carving to make sure the print came out clean. I enjoyed seeing the variety of styles and subjects by the other artists and I can’t wait to put my thinking cap on and see what I come up with for next years event!
(Small prints will be available on my Etsy shop soon!)
And of course there was the Cruisin The Canyon Car Show as well, it isn’t just about the prints!
We had planned to jump on the bikes and head to Lake City, but after taking a look at the weather we decided it probably wasn’t the best decision so we jumped in the 4runner instead. It’s just the right time of year here for all the leaves changing colors, especially at higher elevations, and things were looking gorgeous even with the overcast skies.
Heading up to Slumgullion Pass we passed Oleo Ranch and spotted a moose and her calf so we stopped to watch for a bit. No matter how often we see them it is still always a sight!.
The view from Windy PointLake San Cristobal
We caught a bit of rain through the pass, but as we dropped into Lake City the sun came out and everything cleared up affording us some beautiful views of the valley.
We grabbed some brunch at Breakfast Hangout & Euphoria, I went with some white cheddar biscuits and gravy, which were absolutely amazing!
Hidden Treasure Dam on the Alpine Loop outside Lake City, CO
We decided to head out of town and go look for Hidden Treasure Dam. It was built in the 1890s and eventually fell out of service. The dam posed a higher risk for flooding due to debris so in 2019 they partially demolished the dam to allow better flow. Across the road is the Ute Ulay Mill and Town Site, which features a walking tour and tons of intact old mining buildings.
I didn’t realize it since none of this trip was researched, but we were heading up the Alpine Loop towards Engineer pass. We decided to head further up the road to check it out, but with no research or cell signal we really had no idea what to expect. It is an absolutely beautiful drive through the windy canyon, but be warned after the first 6 miles or so the wider gravel roads turn to a narrow rocky road. We hit some rain, followed by thunder and hail before the sun popped back out. We were also treated to beautiful waterfalls and yellow aspens.
Once you hit about 13 miles there are signs warning you high clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles only past this point. The scenery is absolutely beautiful but since we had not planned to head all the way to Ouray we turned around and started heading back home.
It’s funny how sometimes these random short trips turn into something else! There’s definitely a longer trip with the full Engineer Pass in our future, as well as some high altitude camping.
I have been aware of the idea of an Earthship, an off-grid home invented by Taos Architect Michael Reynolds, for quite some time. While we were in Taos, New Mexico we decided to swing by the Earthship Biotecture visitor center to check one out in person.
When you arrive, you’re greeted by the visitor center and one of the older sustainability models, however you are not permitted to go further into the neighborhood as these are all private dwellings. The visitor center itself is an Earthship, although it is set up for display purposes rather than full-time living.
Earthships are built out of recycled materials like earth-rammed tires, cans, and bottles, and the roof harvests water and recycles that water multiple times. Earthships also grow food, treat their own sewage, and collect power from the sun and wind allowing you to not only live off grid but live with the land.
The tour walks you through the different rooms and areas and explains systems used for maintaining the heat, capture and recycling of rain and gray water, electricity generation, and agriculture areas.
The tour is short, however, very informative and allows you to really get a feel for what it would be like to live in one of these earth ships. In addition to the self guided tour you can schedule guided tours, and longer seminars and academys are offered if you wish to further explore the theory or practice of building your own earthship. There are also rental Earthships available for those curious to experience what living in one is like.
I have a pretty strong interest in American history so we stopped in at the Kit Carson House and Museum located in Taos, New Mexico. The tour starts with a video about the life of Kit Carson, definitely helpful background if you’re not familiar with the man and the myth.
The courtyard of the Carson Home & Museum
After the video presentation you can exit the theatre into the courtyard of the original house and head inside to tour several rooms filled with various artifacts and displays.
Tons of items on display having to do with the era and people of the areaThe display of publications about Kit Carson published during his lifetime was really interesting
One of my favorite pieces is Kit Carson‘s Hawken rifle, it’s a replica of the original which is now located nearby in New Mexico, but is extremely well done and helpful to someone building a reproduction rifle of his own!
The museum is small, but very well done with interesting displays and good signage explaining the meaning of all of the pieces. This is a worthwhile quick stop if you’re in Taos and have interest in this era of American history!
We spotted signs for the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum on our way through the Saguaro National Park outside of Tucson, Arizona, and decided to stop in and check it out. We had no idea what to expect, but it ended up being a wonderful surprise! It is a huge museum, with approximately 85% of it outdoors (wear good shoes and bring water!), and several indoor exhibits as well.
The museum has outdoor animal displays with mountain lions, bighorn sheep, and more – all native to the desert. In addition there is an aviary, multiple outdoor botanical gardens, an art gallery, natural history exhibits, a reptile exhibit, and an aquarium to explore.
Many of the exhibits are interactive, and they also offer tours and live animal demonstrations, as well as hands-on animal exhibits such as the stingray touch. Unfortunately, we just missed that before I closed for the day, I can honestly say I’ve never touched a stingray in the middle of the desert!
We arrived a couple hours before close and were able to make it through the majority of the park although you could easily spend an entire day here, especially if you are visiting early in the morning or in a cooler time of the year and want to hike the Surrounding Desert Loop Trail surrounding the museum. As an adult this museum is excellent, but it would shine even more for children!
Ramble Around 