Shadow Shot Sunday, September 19, 2010

Shadow Shot Sunday was started by Tracy in Australia. To see more Shadow Shots and to find out how to participate, go see Hey Harriet.

On a recent motorcycle trip to New Mexico in America's Southwest, I stumbled across many sights like the one I posted here today. I stayed on the small two-lane roads and passed through the heart of many small hamlets. If the Interstate highway was nearby, all the commerce moved from the main drag through town out to the freeway. If the town was just on a once major US highway and not near the Eisenhower Interstate System, there isn't much left of these villages as time has passed them by.

This Shadow Shot was taken in Walsenburg, Colorado while on a morning walk before leaving my austere overnight accommodations at The Anchor Motel. Walsenburg is right on Intersate 25. There is commerce out on the highway, but not much in town. This photo takes us way back in time and shows a popular old style of architecture for what once was called a gas station.

Sandy's Service Station, a relic of a life gone by, Walsenburg, CO.

Used to be, this is the where you bought gasoline, or as it's called around the world, everywhere but the US, petrol. The pump, yes, one pump, vended the toxicant and was operated by a human being that actually managed the whole establishment. He would come out, (it was usually a "he"), and ask what you'd want. You would tell him to either, "Fill 'er up", or say a dollar amount, like, "Two dollars of Ethyl, please."

That whole Ethyl thing was a National disaster, but that is another topic for another time. It just meant they had a higher octane gasoline with an additive that was poison. Conventional wisdom thought that the higher powered gas was better for your car, so you'd splurge and get "High test" every now and again to give your automobile a treat.

These next two shots also have some shadows created by ole sol on Sandy's Service. You can see the large garage door opening where the mechanic might work on your car, perform maintenance like oil changes, replace belts and hoses and hoist the auto up to fix flats or change tires. Ah yes, those were the days.

I certainly could go on and on about the old days and gas stations as I worked at a few of them over theyears. Of course the most common mention about gasoline these days is the price. On my trip, I saw prices range from $2.34/9 to $3.14/9 per gallon. I used today's high test in my 2008 Triumph Tiger and pay more per gallon for that! (A full report about the trip coming soon on one of my Monday Mystery Tour articles for those that might be interested)



In the meantime, hope you have a great day. And avast ye, don't ferget about the day fer us old pirate souls, Aurggggggggggh Matey

Peace