Photos from the USA
June 2011

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All content copyright © David Richerby, 2011–13.

Contents

Friday, 10th June Cats
Monday, 13th June Driving in Kansas
Geographic Center of the USA
Driving in Kansas and Colorado
Tuesday, 14th June Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO
Pikes Peak Highway, CO (driving up, summit, driving down)
Driving across Colorado
Montrose, CO
Wednessday, 15th June Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO (the canyon, flora and fauna and Lobstah)
Mesa Verde National Park, CO (scenery, archaeology and wildlife)
Thursday, 16th June Driving in Colorado
Four Corners, AZ/CO/NM/UT
Driving in Arizona and New Mexico
Aztec Ruins National Monument, NM
Driving in New Mexico and Colorado
Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO
Friday, 17th June Driving in Colorado
Bent's Old Fort, La Junta, CO
Driving in Colorado
Amache internment camp, Granada, CO
Driving in Colorado and Kansas
Saturday, 18th June Dodge City, KS
Fort Dodge, KS
Driving in Kansas
Fort Larned, KS
Driving in Kansas
Rock City, Minneapolis, KS
Sunday, 19th June Driving to Omaha, NE
Monday, 20th June Durham Museum, Omaha, NE
Storm
Tuesday, 21st June Bathing the cats
Wednesday, 22nd June Cats
A train
Friday, 24th June Sunken Gardens and Hamann Rose Garden, Lincoln, NE

Updates

2013-01-02 Driving in Colorado and Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO (2011-06-16).
2012-07-29 Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO (2011-06-15).
2012-01-08 Sunken Gardens and Hamann Rose Garden, Lincoln, NE (2011-06-24).
2011-12-31 Aztec Ruins National Monument, NM (2011-06-16).
2011-12-29 Mesa Verde National Park, CO (2011-06-15); Driving in Colorado, Four Corners, AZ/CO/NM/UT, Driving in Arizona and New Mexico, Driving in New Mexico and Colorado (2011-06-16).
2011-08-11 Driving across Colorado (2011-06-14).
2011-08-06 Pikes Peak summit and descent (2011-06-14), Dodge City, KS, Fort Dodge, KS, Driving in Kansas, Fort Larned, KS, more driving and Rock City, KS (2011-06-18).
2011-07-17 Driving up Pikes Peak, CO (2011-06-14).
2011-07-16 driving in Colorado, Bent's Old Fort, more driving in Colorado, and even more driving in Colorado and Kansas (2011-06-17).
2011-07-06: Cats (2011-06-10), Garden of the Gods and Montrose, CO (2011-06-14), Driving to Omaha, NE (2011-06-19), the Durham Museum and a storm in Omaha, NE (2011-06-20), bathing the cats (2011-06-21) and the cats and a train (2011-06-22).

Friday, 10th June

Taylor Nestle Cupid

Monday, 13th June

Driving in Kansas

Lobster waiting to go Anti-abortion billboard, US-36 near Scandia, KS US-36, near Mankato, KS Grain elevator, Lebanon, KS

Geographic Center of the USA

The landmark, near Lebanon, KS, was erected in 1940, before Alaska and Hawaii became states. The centre is now in south-west South Dakota but the USGS stopped computing centre points a long time ago as it's much more subjective than you might imagine — in particular, it depends very much on which map projection you use, especially with Alaska being so far north. The actual point computed in 1940 was in the middle of a pig farm a little way from here but the farmer didn't want a bunch of tourists mingling with his pigs.

Geographic Center of the United States plaque Lobster at the Geographic Center of the US Geographic Center of the US Geographic Center of the US
Geographic Center of the US Motorcycle awareness sign US Center Chapel Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata)
Cows near the geographic center of the US American flag

Driving in Kansas and Colorado

US-36, near Norton, KS US-36, approaching Oberlin, KS Triple trailer on I-70 near Kanorado, KS Colorado welcome sign, I-70
US and Colorado flags American Robin (Turdus migratorius) US and Colorado flags Bovina, CO

Tuesday, 14th June

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO

Garden of the Gods Garden of the Gods South Gateway Rock Lobstah enjoys the view
North Gateway Rock South Gateway Rock and Gray Rock Yucca North Gateway Rock Plaque Cathedral Spires Cathedral Spires
Kissing Camels South Gateway Rock Sentinel Spires Cathedral Spires
Cathedral Spires Garden of the Gods North Gateway Rock Kissing Camels
Cathedral Spires Black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia) Kissing Camels Tower of Babel
North Gateway Rock and Tower of Babel North Gateway Rock, South Gateway Rock and Gray Rock North Gateway Rock and the Kissing Camels, South Gateway Rock and Gray Rock Balanced Rock
Garden of the Gods

Pikes Peak Highway, CO

What could be more natural than building a road to the top of a 14,110-foot mountain?

Driving up

US-24 above Manitou Springs, CO US-24 above Manitou Springs, CO Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway
Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak panorama
labelled
Crystal Reservoir, Pikes Peak Summit view, Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway
Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway
Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway
Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway
Pikes Peak Highway Marmot by Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak cog railway Pikes Peak Highway

The summit

Pikes Peak summit Lobstah at Pikes Peak summit Pikes Peak summit marker Lobstah at the Pikes Peak summit marker
Bee Cog railway train Cog railway train Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway crest

Driving down

Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway
Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway
Yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris), Pikes Peak Highway Wildfire below Pikes Peak Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway
Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak Highway
Lobstah, by Pikes Peak Highway Lobstah and friend Ford Model T Pikes Peak Highway
Big Foot Crossing, Pikes Peak Highway Trees above Pikes Peak Highway camera Point, Pikes Peak Highway North Pole, Pikes Peak Highway

Driving across Colorado

US-24, near Divide, CO US-24, near Lake George, CO US-24, near Lake George, CO US-24, near Lake George, CO
US-24, near Lake George, CO Entering South Park, US-24, CO Entering South Park, US-24, CO South Park, US-24, CO
South Park, US-24, CO Buffalo Peaks, CO Buffalo Peaks, CO Castle Rock, Chaffee County, CO
Trout Creek Pass, US-24, CO Rock outcrop, US-24, CO Mount Princeton, CO Mount Princeton, CO
Mount Antero, CO Midland Hill, CO Mount Princeton, CO Calumet Mountain, CO
Mountains above Maysville, CO Rock outcrop above Monarch Pass Monarch Pass, US-50, CO Monarch Pass summit, US-50, CO
Descending Monarch Pass, US-50, CO Curecanti National Recreation Area, US-50, CO Middle Bridge, US-50, Blue Mesa Reservoir, CO Dillon Pinnacles, Curecanti National Recreation Area, CO
Blue Mesa Reservoir, CO
US-50, near Sapinero, CO Bluff, near Cimarron, CO Power lines, Cimarron, CO Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), US-50, near Montrose, CO

Montrose, CO

Econolodge sign Unusual McDonald's sign

Wednesday, 15th June

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO

The Gunnison River has spent the last ten to fifteen million years carving a 2,000ft-deep canyon through the rock at about an inch a century. “Black” refers to the shadows at the bottom of the canyon, rather than the colour of the rock. Erosion has now mostly stopped because several dams have been built upstream, which very much reduces the flow from the spring snow-melt, to the extent that trees can now grow at the bottom of the canyon without being swept away.

The canyon

Tomichi Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Tomichi Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Tomichi Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Tomichi Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Tomichi Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Gunnison Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Gunnison Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Gunnison Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Gunnison Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Gunnison Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Gunnison Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Gunnison Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Gunnison Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Canyon floor, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Canyon wall, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Pulpit Rock, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Painted Wall, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Painted Wall, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Painted Wall, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Painted Wall, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Painted Wall, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Flora and fauna

Stemless dwarf lupine (Lupinus caespitosus) Wildflower Chalk hill hymenopappus (Hymenopappus tenuifolius) Stemless dwarf lupines (Lupinus caespitosus) Yellow wildflowers
Caterpillar Plateau fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus tristichus) Plateau fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus tristichus) Yellow wildflowers Orange paintbrush (Castilleja integra)
Remains of a wildflower Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora) Longleaf phlox (Phlox longiflora)

Lobstah

Tomichi Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Tomichi Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Lobstah at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Lobstah at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

The Million Dollar Highway, CO

Not edited yet.

Mesa Verde National Park, CO

Scenery

Mesa Verde NP Mesa Verde NP Mesa Verde NP
Mesa Verde NP Mesa Verde NP

Archaeology

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde NP Lobstah at Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde NP Mesa Verde NP Mesa Verde NP
Mesa Verde NP Mesa Verde NP Mesa Verde NP Mesa Verde NP
Cliff Canyon, Mesa Verde NP Cliff Canyon, Mesa Verde NP House of Many Windows, Mesa Verde NP Cliff Canyon opening into Soda Canyon, Mesa Verde NP
Hemenway House, Mesa Verde NP Hemenway House, Mesa Verde NP Soda Canyon, Mesa Verde NP
Spruce Tree House, Mesa Verde NP Lobstah at Spruce Tree House, Mesa Verde NP Spruce Tree House, Mesa Verde NP

Wildlife

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)
Grass Tree

Thursday, 16th June

Driving in Colorado

Rock outcrop by US-160, near Four Corners, CO Rock outcrop by US-160, near Four Corners, CO Rock outcrop by US-160, near Four Corners, CO
From US-160, near Four Corners, CO US-160, near Four Corners, CO

Four Corners, AZ/CO/NM/UT

The only place in the USA where four states meet at a single point. The marker is legally defined to be the point where the states meet and the boundaries of the states are legally defined to be the 37th parallel and the 107th meridian. It turns out that the marker is about a third of a mile too far east, creating a contradiction. I guess the last three shots go some way towards explaining why nobody's fighting too hard for the borders to be corrected...

New Mexico welcome sign Four Corners admissions sign Lobstah in four states Lobstah in four states
Four Corners monument Four Corners monument Four Corners monument
Arizona state and Navajo Nation flags New Mexico state flag Colorado state flag Mountain Ute Nation tribal flag Utah state flag US flag
New Mexico historical marker Arizona historial marker Utah historical marker Colorado historical marker about how the Colorado/Utah border is also legally accepted to be in a place where it is legally defined not to be
History of the monument Looking north-ish from Four Corners Looking north-ish from Four Corners Looking north-ish from Four Corners

Driving in Arizona and New Mexico

Navaho Nation welcome sign Arizona welcome sign
US-160, east of Teec Nos Pos, AZ US-160, east of Teec Nos Pos, AZ US-160, east of Teec Nos Pos, AZ
New Mexico welcome sign
US-64 near Shiprock, NM US-64 near Shiprock, NM Ship Rock, near Shiprock, NM
Roadside sculpture, US-64, Shiprock, NM San Juan River bridge, Shiprock, NM US-64E, leaving Shiprock, NM

Aztec Ruins National Monument, NM

... which has nothing to do with the Aztecs, though they are undoubtedly ruins and are located in the town of Aztec, NM. Lots of places round here were named in the mistaken belief that the Aztecs lived this far north — they were about 1,500 miles away.

West wall, Aztec Ruins NM North range, Aztec Ruins NM Kiva, Aztec Ruins NM West Wall, Aztec Ruins NM
North range, Aztec Ruins NM Large kiva, Aztec Ruins NM North range, Aztec Ruins NM Plaza, Aztec Ruins NM
South-west corner, Aztec Ruins NM Visitor centre patio, Aztec Ruins NM

Driving in New Mexico and Colorado

Wolf Creek Pass has had a song written about it.

US-550, north of Aztec, NM Animas River bridge, US-550, NM US-550, near the CO/NM border
US-550, CO/NM border
Yellowjacket Pass, US-160, CO US-160 in the San Juan National Forest, CO Chimney Rock, San Juan National Forest, CO Unhappy beer
US-160, San Juan National Forest, CO US-160, San Juan National Forest. CO Wolf Creek Pass, US-160, CO Avalanche tunnel, Wolf Creek Pass, US-160, CO
Wolf Creek Pass, US-160, CO Elk Sculpture, Del Norte, CO Fisherman street lamp decoration, Del Norte, CO Moose street lamp decoration, Del Norte, CO Bear street lamp decoration, Del Norte, CO
Bighorn sheep street lamp decoration, Del Norte, CO Bison street lamp decoration, Del Norte, CO Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, Alamosa, CO
Blanca Massif from US-160, east of Alamosa, CO
labelled		 Hut, by US-160 Farm, by US-160 Sangre de Cristo foothills

Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO

High Dune and Mount Herard, Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO Sand dunes Sand dunes Sand dunes
Sand dunes Sand dunes Road People among the dunes
Sunset Waves Medano Creek Medano Creek
Lobstah

Friday, 17th June

Driving in Colorado

Chilis car park sign US-50 near Boone, CO US-50 near Rocky Ford, CO
BNSF GE ES44ACs numbers 6081 and 6396 at La Junta, CO BNSF GE ES44ACs numbers 6129 and 5886

Bent's Old Fort, La Junta, CO

The fort is a modern reconstruction of an 1830s fort that mostly served as a trading post on the Santa Fe trail. The original crumbled to the ground but, thankfully, a military surveyor had spent a couple of months recuperating there and drew very detailed plans of the place to pass the time. The fort was owned by a chap called William Bent who had a great reputation for fairness with the native Americans, though “fair” should be understood in the sense of “true to his word” rather than in the modern “Fair Trade” sense — he'd buy tanned buffalo hides from the Cheyenne and Arapaho for a quarter each and sell them to traders for three to six dollars...

Bent's Old Fort Covered wagon Trading room Lobstah on a buffalo hide
Dining room Painted elk hide Blacksmith's shop Carpenter's shop
Living quarters Flagpole Living quarters Clerk's quarters
Lobstah with the signal cannon St Vrain's quarters St Vrain's quarters Courtyard
Buffalo hide press Labourers' cooking area Plant Mule

Driving in Colorado

CO-194, near Las Animas, CO US-50, near Hasty, CO Colorado Welcome Center, Lamar, CO
AT&SF no 1819 AT&SF no 1819 Lobstah railfan The Madonna of the Trail The Madonna of the Trail
BNSF GE ES44AC no 6120 and EMD SD70MAC no 9656 near Carlton, CO BNSF EMD SD70MAC no 9752 and GE ES44AC no 9342 near Carlton, CO Grain elevator near Carlton, CO John Deere combine near Carlton, CO

Amache internment camp

They still use the euphemistic phrase “relocation center” for this place where 7,300 people of Japanese descent, nearly two-thirds of them U.S. citizens, were “evacuated” for the duration of World War II. One leaflet I read described them as “virtual prisoners,” as if being placed against one's will in a camp with barbed wire fences and guard towers and not being allowed to leave somehow differs from the regular kind of prisoner.

Amache Internment Camp orientation sign Foundations and trees Barbed wire
Map No hunting sign

Driving in Colorado and Kansas

Water tower and grain elevator, Granada, CO Dead tree, US-50 near Granada, CO Kansas welcome sign Grain elevator, US-50, Coolidge, KS
Very long building off US-50, near Coolidge, KS US-50, Syracuse, KS Wheat harvest, US-50, near Lakin, KS Pipeline pressurization station, Lakin, KS
Oil well, US-50, near Deerfield Grain elevator, Deerfield, KS

Saturday, 18th June

Dodge City, KS

The first shot is actually in Sublette. Somehow, we took a wrong turn out of Garden City and didn't notice that we were heading south instead of east until we were literally half way to Oklahoma. This added 70% to the distance of that segment: an extra thirty-five miles through boring wheat fields.

BNSF GE C44-9Ws numbers 4487, 4436 and 4500, Sublette, KS Cattle drive monument, Boot Hill, Dodge City, KS Cattle drive monument, Boot Hill, Dodge City, KS Ham Bell fountain, Boot Hill, Dodge City, KS Cemetery plaque, Boot Hill, Dodge City, KS
Lobstah and Wyatt Earp plaque, Boot Hill, Dodge City, KS Cowboy statue, Boot Hill, Dodge City, KS AT&SF Baldwin 2-6-2 no 1139, Dodge City, KS AT&SF Baldwin 2-6-2 no 1139, Dodge City, KS

Fort Dodge, KS

Fort Dodge was originally built to protect the Santa Fe Trail. Since 1890, it's been the Kansas State Soldiers' Home.

Kansas State Soldiers' Home, Fort Dodge, KS Custer House, Fort Dodge, KS Lobstah gunner, Fort Dodge, KS Lobstah gunner, Fort Dodge, KS
Lobstah shell, Fort Dodge, KS Old wagon, Fort Dodge, KS Broken wheel, Fort Dodge, KS House, Fort Dodge, KS

Driving in Kansas

Grain elevator, US-50, Offerle, KS Water tower, US-50, Offerle, KS Old grain elevator, US-50, near Ardell, KS Baldwin 4-6-2, AT&SF no 3424, US-56, Kinsley, KS Grain elevator, US-56, Kinsley, KS

Fort Larned, KS

Parade Ground, Fort Larned, KS Carved graffiti, Fort Larned, KS Company squad room, Fort Larned, KS Bedroom, Fort Larned, KS
Kitchen, Fort Larned, KS Dispensary, Fort Larned, KS Hospital, Fort Larned, KS Workshops, old commissary, quartermaster's storehouse, Fort Larned, KS
Pure lard oil, Fort Larned, KS Workshops and barracks, Fort Larned, KS Cart, Fort Larned, KS Lobstah on a cart, Fort Larned, KS
Quartermaster's stores, new commissary, officers' quarters, Fort Larned, KS Food stores, Fort Larned, KS Stored weapons and ammunition, Fort Larned, KS Uniform stores, Fort Larned, KS
Parade grond, barracks and workshops, Fort Larned, KS Officers' quarters, Fort Larned, KS Carved graffiti, Fort Larned, KS
Spider Spider's shadow

Driving in Kansas

Grain elevator, US-56, Pawnee Rock, KS Grain elevator, US-56, Dundee, KS Jack Kilby sign Jesus sign, K-156 near Holyrood, KS
Oil well, K-156, near Ellsworth, KS K-156, near Ellsworth, KS Near Culver, KS Near Culver, KS

Rock City, Minneapolis, KS

Not to be confused with Minneapolis, Minnesota. The large round boulders resulted from calcite precipitating in sandstone, producing a much harder rock that remained behind when the surrounding sandstone eroded away.

Rock City, KS Rock City, KS Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata), Rock City, KS Rock City, KS
Rock City, KS Rock City, KS Rock City, KS Rock City, KS
Rock City, KS Rock City, KS Registered Natural Landmark plaque J. K. Jones carved graffiti

Given the poor light and lack of much of interest on the 175-mile journey home, I didn't take any photos after we left.

Sunday, 19th June

They're widening the interstate to three lanes in each direction between Lincoln and Omaha, which means you get roadworks for 20 of the 45 miles of I-80.

Piles of gravel by I-80 Piles of gravel by I-80

Monday, 20 June

Durham Museum, Omaha, NE

We went to the Durham Museum in the former Union Station to see the exhibition of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs. I couldn't take photos in there for the obvious copyright reasons but here are a couple from the rest of the museum.

Wall relief Union Pacific neon

Storm

While we were eating dinner, a big storm system came across Omaha and the tornado sirens went off to warn of straight-line winds of over 75mph, though there were no tornadoes. It did bring brief but heavy rain and brought down a lot of tree branches.

Storm Storm Storm
Storm Storm Storm

Tuesday, 21st June

The cats have fleas so needed to be washed with flea shampoo. Kita and Chris braved the flying claws and teeth and I made sure the bedraggled mogs weren't freaking out too much afterwards. Somehow, Comet still manages to be handsome.

Taylor after a bath Taylor after a bath Taylor after a bath
Comet after a bath Nestle after a bath Cupid after a bath Cupid after a bath

Wednesday, 22nd June

Cats

Cupid Cupid Cupid
Cupid Comet Comet Comet

A train

BNSF's rail measurement train at Lincoln Station.

BNSF GE C44-9W no 4655 with the rail measurement train BNSF GE C44-9W no 4655 with the rail measurement train

Friday, 24th June

Sunken Gardens and Hamann Rose Garden, Lincoln, NE

Red lilies White lily Lilypad Purple flowers
Blue lily Yellow lily Pink lilies Happy Returns Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Happy Returns')
Purple flower Red flower Jim Crocket Boltonia (Boltoniaateroides var latisquana) Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata)
Lobstah on a bike sculpture Lobstah on a bike sculpture Purple flower
Lobstah and frog Yellow flowers White flowers Butterfly
Butterfly Echinacea Echinacea Echinacea
Echinacea


All content copyright © David Richerby, 2011–13.