05/30/2006 to 06/13/2006
We decided to go up to Minnesota in early summer for a change.
Our plan was to bug the kids a while, spoil Quinn if possible, see friends and then do some touristing on the way home.
I'd say we managed to get most of it in.
We had several great days with Brian & Quinn, saw Casey & Sara (although no pictures), ate a bunch with friends and then headed toward home by a rather round-about way.
Yup, we're your ultimate tourist.
- Texas Cows
- Adventures With Quinn
- Wyoming Penitentiary
- Dinosaur National Monument
- Colorado National Monument
- Dolores Canyon & Hanging Flume
- Hovenweep National Monument
- Four Corners Monument
- Standing On The Corner Park
OK, I know this is really tacky but we just couldn't resist.
We'd stopped for lunch at a rest stop somewhere in Texas on I-40 and there they were. What else would you expect from us than to take their pictures and add them to our site?
They were very well behaved, never made a mess and did not smell.
We had a great time with Quinn. We took him to the Minnesota Zoo one day. He liked the animals but he was more interested in the mechanics of things. He walked the entire zoo and never whined. Amazing.
Next day we went to a playground for a couple hours. The energy of a 2 year old could power the world. He loved the slide
On the third trip we went to the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Bird Sanctuary. It has some beautiful flowers and lovely, quiet areas. Again Quinn walked all the trails and never seemed bored.
Quinn is trying to figure out just what George is doing
This young moose is shedding his winter coat.
Prairie dog village is a big draw for kids of all ages
Mommy & baby prairie dog
This automatic faucet for washing just facinated Quinn. The fish in the pool were OK but this faucet was WOW
There were big animals and little animals at the zoo
We left Minnesota and headed for home. Naturally we found something touristy to visit.
The original penitentiary in Rawlins is very pretty from the outside. It was opened in 1901 and closed in 1981. Lest you think it was plush remember the heating units were not original and hot water was only added to the original cell block A in 1978.
The warden did what he could to help brighten up the place by allowing prisoners to paint their cells whatever color they liked. He put a forger to work doing murals in the cafeteria. And you can still see some of the more unusual decorations on some of the walls.
Oh, yes. They had multiple of breakouts and did execute 14 prisoners. 9 by hanging and 5 by gas.
The prison entrance. It's really a lovely building isn't it?
The original cell block had 104 cells when it opened in 1901
A cell in Block A. Toilets and sinks were not original to the cell but were added in later years. Note the color.
The newer cell block
Maximum security area
The cafeteria. Note the murals on the walls. They were painted by a prisoner convicted of forgery
The gas chamber
These concrete walls and towers were completed in 1915
Since we were just going to visit the Quarry we stayed the night in Vernal, Utah. It's very close to the park and we could get an early start before the heat set in. Vernal is all about dinosaurs.
The huge uplifted bank containing the fossils is enclosed in a glassed-in building and the bones are exposed for viewing. There are so many it's a little overwhelming.
After we left the Quarry exhibit we drove around the park and looked at some of the petroglyphs. There are some here that are very unique, especially the lizards and some that look like something you'd see on an Egyptian tomb. You really have to see them to understand how unique they are.
I told you Vernal is all about dinosaurs
This is the Quarry building
Pictographs and petroglyphs. If you can enlarge it look at the elongated fingers on some of the figures
I swear there's a Santa Clause petroglyph on this wall
There's actually a vase with stalks here. Never seen one before
These are pretty faded but it looks a lot like jewely designs
Another very unique petroglyph
This is the only place I have ever seen lizard petroglyphs
After we'd finished with Dinosaurs we continued toward home but we wanted to see Colorado National Monument first. We took I-40 to 64 and then to 139. It's the scenic route and I recommend it if you've got the time.
Colorado National Monument is like a little Grand Canyon. We just saw it on the map, decided to visit and we want to go back. Since we arrived rather late in the day we could just drive through and view the major sights but we'd love to do it again and include some of the trails
Looking back down on Fruita Canyon and the road we drove up on
This is a shot from Artist's Point
These are called The Coke Ovens because of their shape
Independance Monument. It was originally part of that larger formation but now stands alone
Part of Monument Canyon
Upper Ute Canyon
They call this Cold Shivers, presumably because that's what goes down your spine when you stand on the edge and look down
We stayed the night in Grand Junction and headed out. (FYI - if you're ever in Grand Junction try Pantuso's for dinner). As usual we took the scenic route. This time it was Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic Byway, AKA US-141. Along the way we saw a sign for The Hanging Flume, so we stopped.
It was built between 1888 and 1891 along the cliffs above the Dolores River to bring water to a gold mine and was 13 miles long. You can see it still hanging on the cliff above the river. Can you just imagine what it took to build that there? Pretty amazing.
This sign lists the points of interest along the Unaweep/Tabegauche Byway
The flume is about halfway down the cliff on the right
As you can see it looks like a totally wooden construction
This was one of those places George had visited 20+ years ago and promised to take me. Back then there was no visitor center and no marked trail. Now it's very organized with a walking path, informative handouts and souvenirs. Usually I'm not a fan of progress but these ruins are fragile and need to be protected.
Hovenweep is in Utah, not far from the Colorado border. It was named by photographer William Henry Jackson in 1874 and means "deserted valley" in Ute/Paiute.
Most of the buildings that remain were constructed from 1230 to 1275, about the same time as the Mesa Verde dwellings, but Hovenweep's unique tower constructions make it special.
Called Eroded Boulder House, it sits down in the valley. You can see the bricks and a door
This is Hovenweep Castle. It consists of the square building and two D-shaped towers
A side view of one of the Castle Towers
Square Tower sits down in the valley floor. Like many of the towers here it's built on top of a sandstone boulder
Rimrock House was not a dwelling despite it's name. It has multiple small openings at unusual angles. Why? No one knows
Looking up the canyon at Twin Towers and Rim Rock House
The Twin Towers have 16 rooms between them. They sit atop native bedrock and their walls almost touch. One is oval the other U shaped
Stronghold House - called that because of it's fortress-like appearance
Looking west up the canyon to Square Tower, Hovenweep Castle and Hovenweep House
Since we were in the hood we hopped over to the 4 Corners. It's the only spot in the US where four states actually meet. And, in true tacky, tourist fashion it costs $6 to be able to stand on the plaque.
You'd think with the money they get from stupid tourists they'd at least put up a nice sign
Some folks pose on all 4s, some with arms and legs splayed. I chose to remain dignified and just stand there.
Later, we figured we'd continue the corners theme. Since we pass through Winslow on our way we finally stopped at The Standing On The Corner Park. Yup, it's the corner made famous by The Eagles. There's even a flatbed truck parked there. Unfortunately the actual park is off-limits because a fire destroyed the J.C. Penny store whose wall is the backdrop for the mural and it's not safe.
Windy Winslow. This is a store across the street from the park
That's the actual park, complete with mural, statue and fence.