Saturday, March 10, 2007

Old Plymouth



I love old cars. Especially the cars from the 1940s through the 1960s. I guess that is one reason I would like to visit Cuba; all the old U.S. cars that are still running all over that island.

Here is one I happened upon a while back, sitting for sale in Franktown, Colorado. It is an old Plymouth Belvedere from the 1951 model year I think. This car was for sale, and didn't seem to be in bad condition, and could be beautifully restored.

I don't have either the resources or the know-how to undertake such a project, but can certainly appreciate this fine old car. With Plymouth having joined the ranks of nameplates such as Studebaker, Nash, Rambler, DeSoto, Hudson, and Oldsmobile in the dustbin of automotive history, this car is all the more appealing.

I hope it got a good home.

Speaking of old car names that have gone by the wayside, here is a photo from a building on Broadway in Denver that once housed Franklin Studebaker. It is now vacant, but still looks ready to contain a new car showroom. I can easily imagine it.

Impending Storm



One of the most fascinating sights to me is when the weather is undergoing a rapid change. A frontal system moves through, and the skies can go from light blue to dark gray in a matter of minutes. In this picture I took a few months ago, we see such a change. The upper left still has a bit of clear blue, but it was quickly being replaced by darkness, as storm clouds moved in from the west. The gnarly chaos of the bare branches adds to the chaos in the sky behind them.

Here in Colorado, our moisture can come from several directions. Pacific storms can blow in over the Rocky Mountains, but sometimes we get moisture coming up across Texas and Oklahoma into the state. When the winds drive such water-rich air into the mountains, we get upslope weather conditions. In the winter, this results in blizzards like we had in December and January of this year. When Pacific and Gulf air collide over the Centennial State, watch out baby . . . it's gonna be a storm!