A Birds View East

Looking east towards the Elk mountains, following the Gunnison River upstream, this bird’s eye view of north Delta shows one of the new growth areas in town. Gone are the small stores that line down town, but all is not new. If you look close, you can see where the sawdust is made…..

Invincible Egyptians?

This poster at the Egyptian theater seemed to fit well, but is it an ad for a movie, or the mindset of the guardians in silhouette?

Post Office Boxes

The Delta Post Office was built when things were done with style. Notice the intricate etching on each brass door. Not the stamped aluminum you see so often in newer places.

Early Morning on Main Street

It is a cool clear morning on Main Street, and a few cars are getting started for the day.

Tail Fins

A mile or so out of town, you come across a large field that serves as the final resting place for many a classic that were birthed in the factories of Detroit. The seem to have huddled together in groups, hoping that one of them will be selected for a new lease on life at the hands of a patient craftsman.

Back In The Valley

As we leave the canyons and plateaus behind, we continue east into the valley that Delta lives in. You can see Grand Mesa to the north, and the Elk Mountains to the east. Delta is still 5 or so miles away.

Back to Canyon Country

Leaving the plateau, we head back down into canyon country. Looking back over our shoulder on the way down, we see this canyon which acts as a sort of bridge between the high desert and Aspen covered plateau.

Aspen

As you head East from Nucla on the way back to Delta, you gain elevation and end up on a large plateau, covered with Aspen trees. The trees provide a very different feel from the canyons to the west.

Water Pressure

As you come to the end of the canyons when heading South from Gateway, you come across this rather interesting engineering project. If you look at the wall that rises above the river, you see a series of dark spots. This is actually the support structures for an old water way that was used to assist the miners many years ago. The text from a sign follows:

In need of water to work the Delores Canyon gold claims, the Montrose Placer Mining Company built a thirteen-Mile canal and flume to deliver water from the San Miguel River. The last five miles of the flume clung to the wall of the canyon itself, running along the cliff face below you. Constructed between 1888 and 1891, the four-foot-deep, five-foot-four-inch-wide “hanging flume” carried 23,640,000 gallons of water in a twenty-four hour period. Its construction dazzled mining pros with its sheer ingenuity. The placer claim, unfortunately, dazzled no one; after three years of indifferent yields the company folded, abandoning the flume to the ravages of weather and time. Now listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this engineering marvel symbolizes the twists of fate so often encountered in the pursuit of Rocky Mountain gold.

Through The Canyons

As you head south from Gateway, the highway follows the canyon floor. At some points the canyon is wide, at others it is very narrow. It makes for a very fun drive, if you have the right vehicle. That is, something that corners well, as some of the curves will test your suspension. But dont be afraid to slow down or even stop for a while on the side of the road, the views are worth it.

The Lodge At Gateway

The president of the Discovery Channel “discovered” the town of Gateway some years back, and decided to put a resort here. For all practical purposes, the resort is now the entire town. The interesting thing is that prices are very reasonable, and the atmosphere can’t be beat.

The View From Gateway

As mentioned in the description for this photo blog, Delta sits between the deserts of Utah, and the mountains of Colorado. In the next few posts, I am going to take you on a trip that forms a loop of about 150 miles and will give you a better idea of what this part of the globe is like.

If you drive North some 25 miles out of Delta, then head west another 40, you arrive in the “town” of Gateway. The views here are stunning in every direction, but this formation is perhaps the most striking. Yes, this is still in Colorado!

A Thank You

A new recreation center was put up a few years ago, funded in part by the state lottery, and the country of Kuwait as a token thank you for what the US did for them in the Gulf War many years ago. It is nice to get an occasional Thank You.

Copy Cat Sunflowers

Who is imitating who here? The iron sunflower will be here long after the others wilt. If you look closely, the seeds are made of a bicycle chain! The others don't stand a chance.

Term Limits?

I was driving home from work listening to an interview with a candidate running for Governor of Texas, and he made the comment that every politician should be term limited. Right then I came across this campaign sign. Most campaign signs are made to be put up and taken down fast. They are light weight, and disposable. This one struck me as it uses 4x4s, 2x4s, 1x2s, and plywood. It was made to last for quite some time. Now I have not gotten into Delta politics yet, but something tells me that this candidate does not share the same view as the candidate for the Governor of Texas.

On The Corner

Delta is really a clean city, and attention to detail was given to many of the out of the way corners. Just want a place to sit in the shade for a spell? This off main street intersection provides just the place, and feel free to visit one of the many churches that are close by if you are so inspired.

Workin On The Wire

Internet access in the sparsely populated west can be tricky. Cable and DSL only go so far, so the name of the game is wireless. Wire or fiber is routed to high points, which support dishes that are aimed at other high points, also with dishes. Those dishes connect to Omni antennas that direct the signal to all the houses in the area. Each of those houses must have a directional antenna that points back at the Omni antenna. Sometimes these high points will also feed other high points, and the pattern continues. A healthy number of routers, switches, surge protectors, and UPS systems are also involved. What can possibly go wrong?

Well for one thing, the high wind can move a dish, the intense sunlight can cook wires, even if they are rated for such a thing, and lightning takes it toll. Keeping all this running takes some rather unique individuals, and Kaycee Internet has its share of them. Under a house, or 200 feet in the air, it does not matter. When mother nature has taken her best shot, they do what needs to be done.

The Other Side of The Mountain

The view from the North side of Grand Mesa is completely different than the view to the south. Here the desert wins the battle, but the arid canyons are a feast for the eyes.

Cows on the Ski Slopes

Every Spring, the cows go to the high country, but what do they do for entertainment? It seems that the ski slopes are just the ticket for a lazy summer afternoon. Soon they will return home, but for now.......

View From The North

One of the interesting aspects about this area is your ability to get above things, and it is amazing how a new perspective can help you understand things. If you drive up Grand Mesa, then look back on the valley that Delta sits in, you get a better understanding of the land. You see the interaction between the hills and the ranches and the forests. This day the clouds were low, but the view was still inspiring.

Today is 9/11, and on 9/5, I posted an item that would have been better for today. When I saw it originally it struck me as very powerful, and did not even think to hold it until today. Please take a look at that one as well if you have not already seen it.

City Hall

City Hall is perhaps the one place an individual can really interact with government, and in a small town you likely know the people behind the counter. If you are going to fight city hall in Delta, you will do it on Main Street, specifically at 4^th & Main. But be nice, you will likely be going to church with the same people on Sunday!

Grazing Buffalo

Perched on a small rocky mesa on Main street, this lone buffalo eyes its next meal, but the meal will likely succumb to another fall before the buffalo makes its move.

Car Streaks

The largest fabric store for miles around has yet to open, as a lone car zips by. It will be warm today, but in the evening, the cool will return. Fall is on its way.

Grand Mesa

The view to the north of Delta is dominated by Grand mesa which rises some 6,000 feet above the valley floor. The top of the mesa is primarily basalt, created by a series of volcanoes that once graced the area to the east. The lave flowed west, and forked. This created a “Y” shaped top. There are several layers of rock under the basalt, and all of it sits on an ancient sea bed. That sea bed has been lifted up, and the water running off the hard basalt has eaten away at the old sea bed, creating a formation known as the Dobie Badlands. These barren hills are the home to all sorts of desert creatures, and a rather large population of motorcycles. They are pretty to look at, but the silence experienced during an early morning walk though them is almost overwhelming.

Delta Dawn

I won’t break into song here (sorry Michael), but the morning views looking east from Delta are rather inspiring. The sun breaks free over the Elk mountains, and perhaps the best time to view is just prior to the sunrise when you can only see the silhouette of the jagged peaks that make up the range. I see the view through my rear view mirror each morning as I head into town, and it never fails to give me a pre-coffee morning pick-me-up.

Not Forgotten

So young…..He must have just gotten his drivers license when the planes hit. How could he have known how drastically the course of his life would change as a result of what he saw on the television that fateful day? I imagine he was probably numb at first, and then angry, then determined, then he put that determination into action. It is obvious that he was loved by many and will not soon be forgotten. It may seem like a hollow over used platitude, but I am sincere. Thank you for your sacrifice. The small out of the way town of Delta is not immune from Mans inhumanity to man.

The Edge of Town

I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, and the towns all kind of merged together. You did not know where one ended and another started, unless there was a sign. That is not the case here. If I turned around and snapped another shot, you would not know you were in the same town. Immediately behind me, there is a Super Wal-Mart, a Safeway, a drive in restaurant, a gas station, a couple of banks, a bar, and many other shops, but all that stops here on the edge of town. Once you cross the edge, that is it. For now……

Waiting For The Train

We tend to live a life that is comprised of rushing around. We build bypasses around cities and we widen freeways. We build drive up banks, restaurants, and liquor stores. Our mail is delivered in seconds and our messages are instant. We pace in front of microwave ovens……. It has not always been that way. Once the train ruled, and you would wait for the train. For now anyway, that is the way it is in Delta. There is talk of changing that, but I wonder if that is really progress. Sometimes, stopping the car to wait for a train allows your body to catch up with your brain. Who knows, you might even notice something you never saw before. I always take a left at this turn, and seldom have the time to look to the right. I am not really sure what is there……..

Hay For Sale

The horse and cow population in Delta is rather large, and they need hay. Many fields are dedicated simply to producing hay, and it is time to buy. Some of the nicest views are from the hills that look over this productive land where the urban and rural areas come together. If you need hay, it is ready, but don’t forget your truck!

Flatware

If you are looking for flatware, have I got the store for you! Everything they sell is flat, and they themselves have rather flat personalities. Don’t worry about tripping on the step as you walk in, but do watch you nose, as it may end up as flat as a wall if you try to enter through this doorway. The city of murals strikes again!

The theme of the month is "Doorways". Check out other doorways around the world at the links below. Note, due to time zone differences and other factors, the theme photo may not be displayed until later if you are viewing early in the day.

If you view after the date then you may find the theme no longer accessible on some sites, but the majority will be available in archives.

Porto (Portugal) -
Copenhagen (Denmark) -
Trier/Treves (Germany) -
Hyde (UK) -
Greenville SC (USA) -

Trondheim (Norway) -
Manila (Philippines) -
Willamette Valley OR (USA) -
Cottage Grove MN (USA) -
Alexandria VA (USA) -
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) -

Guadalajara (Mexico) -
Szentes (Hungary) -
Sydney (Australia) -
Wellington (New Zealand) -
Sharon CT (USA) -
Albuquerque NM (USA) -

Washington DC, (USA) [Passante] -
Chattanooga TN (USA) -
Antigua (Guatemala) -
Rotterdam (Netherlands) -
Portsmouth (UK) -
Ryde (UK) -

Saarbrücken (Germany) -
London (UK) -
Newcastle (UK) -
Singapore -
Aliso Viejo CA (USA) -
Seattle WA, (USA) [Kim] -

San Diego, CA (USA) [Felicia] -
Jakarta (Indonesia) -
Vallauris (France) -
Brussels (Belgium) -
Seattle WA, (USA) [Susan] -
Stavanger (Norway) -

Paris (France) -
Sainte Maxime (France) -
Hong Kong (HK) -
Oulu (Finland) -
Trujillo (Peru) -
Delta CO, (USA)