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Amargosa Opera House

SW Trip part 9

It’s been quite a road trip so far with more to come. Fortunately we were not tied to a specific schedule except to get me to the airport on time. Between the Grand Canyon and Death Valley we were able to stop for a break at the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel. We’d seen it on the map and hadn’t a clue what it was. Thinking maybe that it could be a venue for Notable Exceptions or Horse Crazy, we took a chance and stopped the coach during a hot afternoon on our way to Death Valley.

The Pacific Coast Borax Company built the adobe structures between 1923 and 1925 as a company town. Marta Beckett, a dancer, discovered the abandoned buildings in 1967 and agreed to rent it for $45 a month and take care of needed repairs. She had her first performance in February 1968 and continued to perform three nights a week until retiring in 2012! There continue to be regularly scheduled performances under the current management. The hotel and gift shop have been restored and are also open.

I was charmed by the architecture and the history. I would have loved to go inside the opera house and see Marta’s paintings and murals. Another trip.

Grand Canyon Sunset

SW Trip part 8

Sunset can be that glorious time between night and day when the light changes in the blink of an eye.

For instance, if you blinked, you missed this moment.

We stayed at the park til sunset both days and drove back to our camp site in the dark. It was well worth the effort. Easy for me to say since I wasn’t driving! These images are all from the second day of our visit.

With a background as spectacular as the Grand Canyon, the setting sun constantly changes the colors of the rocks creating a kaleidoscope effect of horizontal layers. Initially the colors are subtle with little contrast. As the sun tips below the horizon, the rocks seem to be illuminated from within and when the sun was below the horizon and the sky lit up as if on fire, the light reflected onto the rock walls was magnificent.

A Few Grand Canyon Birds

February 28, 2016 – 2:30 pm
Posted in SW trip
Tagged birds, Grand Canyon, raven, western bluebird
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SW Trip part 7

I had hopes of seeing California Condors at the Grand Canyon but it turns out that they stay down in the canyon til the weather is consistently warm. It’s a good thing I saw one last year at Big Sur.

The most common bird we saw was Common Raven. Lots of them. They begged in the parking lots. They were somewhat menacing. I wonder if they ever scare small children.

Western Scrub Jay

Juniper Titmouse

Common Raven

Raven soaring over the canyon

Common Raven looking threatening

Western Bluebird – such a beautiful little bird

Engaged at the Grand Canyon

February 28, 2016 – 2:22 pm
Posted in SW trip
Tagged Grand Canyon, overlook, proposal, sunset
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SW Trip part 6

As I was enjoying sunset on our first evening at the Grand Canyon I noticed a couple walking to the overlook dressed much differently from the rest of the tourists. They were wearing nice clothes – he was in a suit and tie and she was wearing a dress and heels with a nice coat. It was chilly for bare legs. They held hands as he led her through the crowd of folks with cameras and cell phones in hand to capture the evening’s sunset. When they got out to the wall he announced for all to hear that he was going to propose to her right there and he handed his cell phone to a complete stranger and asked her to take pictures. Of course, many, many people were taking pictures and it was quite the scene! The woman looked astonished and happy as he knelt in front of her and carefully unwrapped a scarf from around a ring box and opened it and then asked her to marry him! She wasted no time accepting his proposal and he slipped the ring on her finger! It will be a Grand day for them to remember.

The Grand Canyon

February 28, 2016 – 2:09 pm
Posted in SW trip
Tagged Bright Angel Trail, Desert Watchtower, Grand Canyon, Kolb Studio
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SW Trip part five

This was my first opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon. We spent two full days on the south rim and as you might imagine, I had way too many chances to make photos. It was hard to know when to stop. Consequently, I have more photos from the Grand Canyon than the rest of the trip combined, I think. Well, close to it.

So this first part is just some highlights or first impressions for me. Of the visitors’ centers my favorite was the Kolb Studio. Two brothers started it in the early 1900’s. Their bread and butter photo was of tourists riding the mules down the Bright Angel Trail. They built their studio on the rim of the canyon so they could point a camera out the window as the riders paused at the first switchback on the descent. And then they worked to get the film developed and prints made to sell when the visitors returned. This sounds like a business model that has repeated itself over the years. We enjoyed a ranger tour of the Kolb Studio.