Just outside on Canyonlands National Park, Utah,  we spy this pump.  The rich minerals of the region extend to oil.  Oil production in America is up and world-wide prices have dropped.  Part of the benefit to us is cheaper gas prices as we travel our great United States.  Canyonlands is nick-named the “Island in the Sky” for its great plateaus and deep canyons, as if islands floating in the sky.

The train that powered our steam locomotive in Durango – the little engine that could not –  was powered by coal.  I discovered it was mined just an hour away in Mancos, Colorado.  Every town we travel through, each museum and visitors center all have mineral collections of great variety, in addition to their history of silver and gold.

We leave Fairplay, Colorado and Burro Days and set off to the North for some R & R.  We hope your week is blessed.