Manitou Springs Volunteer Fire Department

Manitou Springs Volunteer Fire Department, 620 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs, Colorado. El Paso County. The Manitou Fire Company No. 1 was organized December 18, 1879 and changed their name to W.A. Bell Hose & Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 on February 14, 1881. A second company, Jerome B. Wheeler Hose, Hook and Ladder Company No. 2 formed December 31, 1892 on the west side of town. (What became of these two and when they became one department is unknown) Plans for a two story engine house and town hall were submitted March 14, 1882. The current station was built in 1965 and added to in 1985/86.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween, a day early.

Silverton

While we did stop and enjoy a lot of places in Colorado, some were on the 'B' List and didn't make the finals. Silverton was one of those. It went on the list when we thought that the Red Mountain Pass would be closed. CDoT opened the Pass early. So with the sunset nearing to the west and the Million Dollar Highway to our north, this was the extent of our visit to Silverton. Maybe next time.

Marathon

Marathon Farms on Piney Hill Road near Hereford, Maryland.

Royal Challenge

This sculpture sits off in the side yard at the Cabela's store in Sidney, Nebraska. I did a U-turn in the parking lot when I saw this in the rearview mirror. (sculptor T D Kelsey)

Michaux Color

I think the local Leaf-Peeping color is peaking. I took a drive around parts of Michaux State Forest is southcentral Pennsylvania this weekend and came away with a few good pictures. The mountains around here are full of mostly oaks. So what you get is yellows and dark reds changing to browns and not some of the brighter colors you get with New England's maples or the aspen out west.

Chambers Hill Fire Company

Chambers Hill Fire Company, 6400 Chambers Hill Road, Harrisburg, Pa. Dauphin County Station 456. Founded in 1954.

Calhan Fire Protection District

Calhan Fire Protection District, 725 4th Street, Calhan, Colorado. El Paso County. CFPD is an all  volunteer fire and EMS company serving 255 square miles. Calhan's apparatus includes 2 brush tucks, 2 tenders (tankers) and 2 engines, as well as EMS.

Highway 24

Highway 24, somewhere near Matheson, Colorado. The road goes on forever and the party never ends.

Colorful Colorado

And now for the biggest reason to drive to Colorado in the end of September. Welcome to Colorful Colorado. This was just the start of color for us. The more north we got the better. These pictures were all along Highway 62 from Ridgway to Placerville and Highway 145 from Placerville to Telluride.

Sleeping Ute Mountain

This picture of Sleeping Ute Mountain was taken east of Cortez, Colorado. Look closely to the right you can see his head with his headdress on. Moving left, the highest peak is his crossed arms (Ute Peak). Keep moving left you see his knees (just to the right of the utility pole) and finally his toes. 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

 

 Painted Wall

 Trail to the Painted Wall Overlook

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located about 12 miles northeast of Montrose, Colorado, and an hour drive north and east of Ouray. Like many of the places we visited there wasn't a lot of other people there, and it was Sunday morning. We drove along the South Rim Drive stopping at many of the overlooks. Some were a short walk and some were nearing a third of a mile. Not very wide, but it was 2250' deep at Painted Wall.

Switzerland of America

Ouray, Colorado. They call themselves the Jeeping Capitol of the World. There were definitely lots of Jeeps, FJ Cruisers and other expensive toys cruising up and down the main street. We stayed here two nights to relax from the constant go-mode we had been in. Neat town. The main street was paved but the side streets were all gravel. And the place shut down at 9pm. To get here from the south you need to cross Red Mountain Pass by navigating Highway 550, the Million Dollar Highway. The MDH rates high on the White Knuckle scale.

Reliance Hose Company No.1 of Rutherford Home Association

Reliance Hose Company No.1 of Rutherford Home Association, 6690 Derry Street, Harrisburg, Pa. Incorporated in 1923. This building was built in 1958.

Rutherford Hose Company No. 1

Rutherford Hose Company No. 1, 6600 Derry Street, Harrisburg, Pa. Dauphin County Station 45. Incorporated in 1923 as the Reliance Hose Company. 

Colorado Autumn

The fall colors somewhere between Montrose and Gunnison, Colorado.

Collecting Pollen

This guy is loaded up for winter.

Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Green Acres Bowling

Found in Abilene, Kansas just off Interstate 70. SOLD! What could be next?

Super Lunar Eclipse

Lunar eclipse and supermoon, Avon Colorado. In the hotel parking lot next to Interstate 70. September 27, 2015.