aunuts
fully equipped rock polisher
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Some days are gold, some are rocks. Either is cool.
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Post by aunuts on Sept 19, 2011 13:39:10 GMT -5
Hi Everyone,
Ok, we're on our way to AZ for the winter, but this year we're starting in Rapid City, SD. Can anyone give me any suggestions of things to see along the way? We're going to stop at the Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings in the SW corner of CO. Other than that, I don't really know what's out there. Can anyone help me out? I'm sure there will be many telling me where to go, but that's not the kind I'm looking for.
Thanks y'all, Jo
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 19, 2011 13:53:22 GMT -5
While you're in Rapid City, be sure to make a stop at the S.D. School of Mines museum. Tons of beautiful rocks, minerals and fossils to see. If you'll have time for some hounding, contact me and I'll give you some easy places to find.
You might also want to drive through the S.D. Badlands National Park. It always upsets me to drive through there. So many Fairburn agates, fossils and indian artifacts, and every bit of it off limits to collectors. But still worth seeing.
Don
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Post by mohs on Sept 19, 2011 15:27:58 GMT -5
Mesa Verde is awesome. Another stop in that general location would be Canyon de Chelly, Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. Probably stuff you know about. If your traveling southbound on I-17 Jerome is worth a stop. A little touristy but lots of mining history.
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aunuts
fully equipped rock polisher
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Some days are gold, some are rocks. Either is cool.
Member since March 2006
Posts: 1,110
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Post by aunuts on Sept 19, 2011 16:19:58 GMT -5
We're just going to wander as the mood & weather take us. I'll have to mention these places to my husband (he drives, I make jewelry). All depends on the weather & his back. Figure we'll take 2 - 3 weeks to get there. Anybody know anything about the rock hound state park in NM?
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ol3m3
noticing nice landscape pebbles
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Post by ol3m3 on Sept 21, 2011 14:21:13 GMT -5
Do not forget Monument Valley Tribal Park, Antelope Canyon, lake Powell Natl rec area and Grand Canyon Natl Park while in the N E Corner of AZ. Also Petrified Forest in Holbrook, AZ.
South of Holbrook the drive from Show Low to Globe takes you through the Salt River Canyon, nice drive but big pull from the bottom of the Canyon.
From what I've heard about Rockhounds park is that it has been well pick over, but the recent monsoon rains might have exposed some new material.
O M
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ol3m3
noticing nice landscape pebbles
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Post by ol3m3 on Sept 21, 2011 14:27:26 GMT -5
Should have thought about the area a little longer, If you are going to be in Southern Colorado you might want to investigate the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge RR, an excursion train running through the Animas River Canyon from Durango to Silverton. Further East is Taos, NM and Pagosa Springs, CO, and the Great Sand Dunes natl monument.
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aunuts
fully equipped rock polisher
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Some days are gold, some are rocks. Either is cool.
Member since March 2006
Posts: 1,110
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Post by aunuts on Sept 22, 2011 17:03:46 GMT -5
Wow! You guys are giving us lots of ideas. We're spending a few days in Cheyenne, then down hwy 25, then 161 (Terry thinks, got to check the map). I ended up buying a little Fairburn at a grossly inflated price in Rapid City. Actually, I traded some of my jewelry for it. She picked out 2 pieces of Kunzite that I was going to tear apart & redo, so guess I didn't get too bad a deal. Now we'll know what to look for the next time we're in the area. Hopefully in the spring. Don't think we'll do the Show Low to Globe trip. We're long & heavy & those big pulls are the pits. (Kind of sounds indecent, doesn't it?) In the meantime, anybody have any ideas for the Cheyenne area?
Thanks y'all, Jo
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 22, 2011 17:19:23 GMT -5
Jo, why don't you post a pic of that Fairburn. You may not have gotten a bad price on it. They're getting harder to find all the time, and any with good colors and full or almost full pattern are bringing a premium price. I looked at one a while back that was about the size of a silver dollar. It had beautiful colors, and the pattern went all the way through to both sides. The price was $1,000.00.
Don
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Post by Rockhobbit on Sept 22, 2011 19:58:33 GMT -5
Don't forget to stop at the Hassayampa Rock Shop and say "Hello" to me!! Lots of stuff this year!!
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aunuts
fully equipped rock polisher
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Some days are gold, some are rocks. Either is cool.
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Post by aunuts on Sept 22, 2011 20:40:09 GMT -5
Fantastic! We never have enough good rock shops. Jo
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aunuts
fully equipped rock polisher
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Some days are gold, some are rocks. Either is cool.
Member since March 2006
Posts: 1,110
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Post by aunuts on Sept 22, 2011 20:52:53 GMT -5
We'll sure give one heck of a try. All depends on the route Terry's got planned. I know he hates to pull this 80' "freight train" thru Phoenix. If not, we'll try to get there once we're in Quartzsite. Will you be down our way during the PowWow?
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MikeS
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Post by MikeS on Sept 24, 2011 14:49:58 GMT -5
In the meantime, anybody have any ideas for the Cheyenne area? Thanks y'all, Jo Not much in that part of the state (other than Cheyenne itself) to see....there is a Bison ranch south of Cheyenne on I-25, but it's kind of a cheesy tourist trap. All the good stuff in Wyoming is in the central and northern parts of the state. If you are coming from Rapid City SD into Wyoming, it's not too much of a detour to go see Devil's Tower...impressive and worth the detour if you have never seen it.
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aunuts
fully equipped rock polisher
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Some days are gold, some are rocks. Either is cool.
Member since March 2006
Posts: 1,110
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Post by aunuts on Sept 24, 2011 17:23:10 GMT -5
We're going to be in Cortez, CO for a week. Any hints of what to see around here (other than Mesa Verde, of course). Any cool places for rock hounding?
You guys are all great. Thanks so much. Jo
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aunuts
fully equipped rock polisher
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Some days are gold, some are rocks. Either is cool.
Member since March 2006
Posts: 1,110
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Post by aunuts on Sept 24, 2011 17:26:27 GMT -5
Don't forget to stop at the Hassayampa Rock Shop and say "Hello" to me!! Lots of stuff this year!! Hot Diggity!!!!! We're going to make it. Can't wait to meet you. Jo
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
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Post by chassroc on Oct 5, 2011 12:46:27 GMT -5
One relatively expensive, but unique and productive fossil hunts was warfields in Kemmerer Wyoming. If you are pulling an 80 foot trailer, you can ignore this post.
charlie
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