ELY NEVADA

There is a railroad museum in Ely, NV. The Nevada Northern RR has a history dating back to 1880's. In 1984 the owners of the railroad who were also owners of the copper mine located in Ely closed the mine and shut down the railroad. The railroad was used to transport copper ore North about 100 miles to Winnamuca, NV to the main line railroad. The railroad was closed down, the doors locked and they just walked away. Everything was left in place, all of the office furniture was left behind, all of the tool were left in the railroad shop. There were still 7 steam engines as well as several diesel engines. The copper company took nothing. A deal was made with the copper company to turn the property into a museum. The city of Ely was deeded all of the property including all of the track rite of way and runs the museum with the help of the state of Nevada.

We were told we could walk anywhere in the shop we wanted. There are 3 full time shop people as well as many volunteers that work on the engines. They give train rides on the weekends. There are 7 steam engines with 3 of them working.

Was able to get up close and take a good look. This one was still hot from running that morning.

This railroad must have been savers. They were using this type when they closed the RR.

Now that is a snowplow.

This thing was sitting on the tracks outside. It looks like a snowplow.

Office still intact, most of the equipment dates before 1984 when the RR was closed down, but they had everything in storage and was used for the museum. Like I said, they must have been savers.

They left everything in the store room, even paper clips.

For some reason we drove out to the Ely Airport. Found out that these cloud formations are good for glider planes

And here one is. It cost $80.00 to get airborne, but with the conditions around Ely they can stay up for many hours. Apparently the conditions around Ely, NV are ideal for gliding. 

Strange looking clouds.

Downtown Ely, very old buildings.

We stopped at the American Legion in the afternoon for a beer. Very friendly people.

Then it was out to dinner to celebrate Belinda's Birthday. We had a great day touring around Ely, NV. Tomorrow morning we are off to Carson City, NV

SOME MORE PICTURES FROM KANAB AREA

Sometime some funny things happen that we have to take a picture of. These folks came cruzin into the parking lot of a museum with their sewer hose in drag. Must have forgotten to unhook.

Small tourist trap museum that someone put together in a cave just north of Kanab Ut. Really it was a bunch of old crap that was kind of interesting to look at and read about.

This was just outside of the movie set museum in Kanab. That museum was free, you just had to walk thru their tee shirt store to get to it.

We had to do it. We did the same for another couple, they were a very nice couple, I think, we had no idea what language they were speaking.

Cool

I think it was an oat planter. Not much left of it.

They had lots of old tools.

There are a lot of sheep raised in southern Utah.

NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON AND KANAB UTAH

The drive to the North rim of the Grand Canyon was the best part. Lots of forest and old growth pine and aspen trees. There was lots of evidence of past forest fires also. The pine beetle damage is also evident. We got a senior pass to all of the National Parks a few years ago when we made a trip to Colorado, it has come in handy  for this trip. We have not paid one cent yet to enter National Parks.

Bison are not natural to the Grand Canyon NP. They were brought here from Yellowstone as an experiment. The heard has had to be thinned because of the damage they do to the grasslands. It was evident here, they ate the grass rite down to the dirt.

The views were similar but not the same as the South rim, but it was spictacular.

It also was not as crowded as the South rim.

We went on a hike on this path, it was a heart check. Very steep and the elevation on the North Rim is somewhere around 7,500 ft. The walk was worth it though.

On our way back from the North rim we stopped in Kanab to look around town. Our friend Dr. Bernie had a practice there about 100 years ago.

There have been a number of western movies as well as the TV show "Gunsmoke made in Kanab. This lodge was famous for housing actors as well as feeding them. There is a free movie set museum that we went to.

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Outside of the movie set museum.

Lunch time at the Grand Canyon. We have been having lunch like this almost every day.

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK AND CEDAR BREAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT

Bryce Canyon NP was about 30 mi. from our RV site in Mt. Carmel. We found out that Zion and Bryce parks are totally different. At Zion you look up at the canyon walls, at Bryce you are on the rim looking down. Both are beautiful.

The view up close is beautiful but you can also see for miles in the background.

Lots of steep cliffs.

We saw lots of mule deer in the park, this is mom and her babies.

The views were spictacular.

These ravens waiting for a handout. You could walk rite up to them.

This camper was from Germany, I guess they think we have pretty rugged country here. We have seen several campers from foreign countries. We also see lots and lots of rental motor homes.

On the other hand, you can rent one of these, just outside of the park.

Cedar Breaks was a very worth wile drive.

Once again beautiful valleys, but a little different.

The elevation at Cedar Breaks was much higher.

The colors of the cliffs were very red.

The colors are spictacular.

We can't figure this one out, it used to be a dinosaur at Sinclair gas?? $3.69 it is creeping up.

We took a day off and played golf at a nice course in Mt. Carmel, what a deal $15.00 each, cart included.