Touring the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque

Located in the heart of Albuquerque site sits a museum complex that has been on Ron’s Bucket List for some time, and we took time while in Albuquerque this year to visit it – the Unser Racing Museum.

    

 

As a youngster growing  up in Salem, Indiana, Ron frequented the racetrack there, and remember a racer named Unser (he thinks it was Jerry, Jr.).

The Unser immigrated from Switzerland, settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The family began making news when in September 1915 they rode a motorcycle and sidecar to the summit of Pike's Peak, a mountain previously declared to be unscalable. Soon after  this conquest, the Colorado City police hired the three Unser brothers to teach them how to ride motorcycles, and in 1916 after a road was built, Spencer Penrose officially staged a "Race to the Clouds", a 12.4 mile race to the peak, which continues as an annual event to this day. 

In 1936, the Jerry, Sr. relocated the family to Albuquerque.  In addition to having their home base there, they also owned a repair garage.  Members of the family still make their home there. 

The museum, commemorating the family’s racing history throughout 4 generations, is a 2 building modern facility with multi-media exhibits.

Out front on display is a racecar from the 20’s and another against an Indy simulated wall.       

        

Inside the two buildings, the displays range from the earliest Unser racing vehicles to the most modern.

There is even a simulator where you take a spin at being in the driver’s seat. (We both enjoyed the realistic experience.)

 

The second building contains a locked room with glass walls containing many of the various trophies collected by the family members.

    

A mock-up of Jerry’s Garage lets you get the feeling of having been there, right down to the checkerboard and stove.   

 

For more information, see the official site at Unser Racing Museum .  You can also view a virtual tour at Albuquerque Virtual Site.

The Enchantment of Enchanted Rock

The mysteries that surround Enchanted Rock in central Texas have drawn thousands of visitors over the millennia, presently drawing more than 250,000 visitors annually.  Archeological artifacts found there date back over 12,000 years.  What makes this bare expanse of stone so enchanting?  Is it the lights visitors see at night?  Is it the mysterious moaning in its depths?  Neither of these is what draws our granddaughter, Cassandra,  here.  For her, it’s the memory of a birthday spent hiking a couple of years ago, and the thrilling surprise of a wedding proposal at it’s summit.

While in Texas this spring, we decided to join her and her husband, Logan,  for a hike to the summit.  It seemed appropriate that we went on mine and Ron’s anniversary.  Good friend, Donna, accompanied us, but did not attempt the hike, electing instead to enjoy the shade of a shelter house where she could watch our progress.

   

Viewed from the base, the hike looks deceptively easy.  In an area dominated by limestone, the distinctive granite dome rises 1825 feet above sea level, with very little vegetation on its surface.  Although there are a few steps laid out, most of the hike is left to the discretion of the individual.  We chose to climb it in a switchback manner, so as to reduce the steepness.

       

Once of the largest of its kind (exfoliation dome) in the United States, it is shorter than Georgia’s Stone Mountain, and larger than Wyoming’s Independence Rock.  Although the crest is only 425 feet above the surrounding terrain, the granite descends for miles beneath the surface.  The type of granite is known as Town Mountain Granite, highly prized for architecture, and is the same type granite as was used to build the impressive state capital building in Austin.

Although most of the surface has an eerie, almost lunar appearance, there are delightful discoveries of little pools of water and green vegetation.

   

 

   

The top is smooth and much larger than appears from the bottom.

   

    

On the summit is a geographical marker, making an excellent location for a fun photo, proving you made it to the top.

    

We concluded our visit with a fun picnic.

The unchanging dome is truly unique, a monument to centuries of history.  Considered a giant archaeological site, found artifacts such as spear tips and pottery shards indicate inhabitants in the area over 10,000 years ago.   The surrounding area in the state park contains close to 100 other archeological sites.  By the 18th century, the Tonkawa tribe were here, but the Apache conquered the area.  Later, the Comanche displaced the Apache and were still in the area in 1840 when Germans established nearby Fredericksburg.

And the legends of spirit inhabitation?  The stories would have been passed down through the ages, but were lent credence by two physical attributes.  The lights seen in the moonlight at night, often spotted after rains, are thought to be reflected light from the pools of water left by rain or from the imbedded feldspar, which glitters when wet.  The groans are believed to be the rock expanding and contracting from temperature changes.

For our granddaughter and her husband, they know what makes the area enchanted, and will return often to experience that special day. 

 

Another Season at Cactus Gardens

Before long, it was time to leave Bluewater Lake and head once again toward Yuma, AZ.

One of our favorite stops along the way is at Golden Valley near Kingman.  Have to admit, one of the reasons is the frozen yogurt available within walking distance at the Maverick convenience store.  My favorite this stop was the Caramel Apple.  Too windy to sit outside, we took it home with us.

It’s always a good feeling when we get near Yuma.  It’s a feeling of coming home, and we know we’re almost there when we start to see the agricultural products and fields.

The cotton…

  

The baled hay…

and the fields being readied for the winter’s green vegetable crops.

 

Then we’re on Ave 9E and at Cactus Gardens!

Sunsets are often spectacular in the desert southwest, as these photos from October prove.

     

It didn’t take long for Ron to be back into Shuffleboard, playing several times weekly, at the park, in the Y.E.S. league and in the A.S.A. league.

Birthdays always find us somewhere celebrating with food, often ice cream as these at Dairy Queen.

    

Tiki Hut…

and these at Linn’s Buffet  are from Ron’s Birthday Celebration.

On one of our visits to Los Algodones, Mexico, I couldn’t resist getting this handpainted pottery.

  

Bernice purchased one with orange tones.

It fit well in my garden…It is bottom drilled to hold a light so that the windows of the pueblo glow after dark.

The first social event of the season is the Halloween party.  The employees were asked to make Jack-O-Lanterns…mine is the little lace trimmed one second from the left.

    

Refreshments and Costume Party are followed by Card Bingo.

   

Before we know it, it’s time to decorate for Christmas.  Mine are modest.

This year, I rode with Kathy from Desert Paradise in the Christmas Golf Cart Parade.

Morris, our resident office cat, has become a permanent fixture…He really adds to staff and customer enjoyment!

     

Ron offered a Sudoku class again this year.  It was well attended during the 8 weeks of classes.  Once a teacher, always a teacher. 

For the first time, I decided to participate in the monthly craft shows with my beading.  Bonita and I shared a table each time.  I was pleased with my sales.

Our vegetable garden produced extremely well this year.

We attended some of the entertainment shows both at Cactus Gardens and Desert Paradise.  The left photo is of the Bost Family and the right is Jack Jackson and Friends.

  

Once again this year, the Chili Cookoff was delicious and fun!

  

I don’t play much shuffleboard, but we began playing on Tuesday evenings in February.  The evenings were mild, and it was nice playing without the sun in your face.

No one has more fun than our park ladies at the Annual Ladies Tea.  This year was a “Make your Hat” event, and there were all types and sizes of hats.  As usual, Gwen and her crew prepare a fabulous luncheon.

These were the winners of the hat contest……………………………….I went as Channel 10’s Star Ace Reporter.

                                         

One of the highlights of the year for us personally was a visit from Granddaughter, Cassandra and her husband, Logan!

Ron made sure they found time to participate in playing shuffleboard and pool at the park.

 

We went hiking with them in Tumco National Recreational Area, explored the grounds at The Center of the World and picked citrus during their visit, but I’ll cover that in a separate post.

Our Quilt and Art Show was very impressive and well attended.  The talent represented in this exhibit is amazing!  I had 3 small projects entered this year

Seems like we’re only in Cactus Gardens for a month or two and it’s time to think about leaving again.  We were there this year for a little more than 6 months, but it sure didn’t seem like it as the crowd gathered for the Farewell Party.