Sandia Mountain Adventure

During our weekend in ABQ, we decided to take the Sandia Peak Tram up to the summit and hike the 8 miles down to house where we were staying.  The hike was one of the most gorgeous I've ever done, but unfortunately we started a little late and ended up racing against the sun toward the end.  The unexpected trail run did a number on my shins but the evening light made for great photos!

Additional photos from the Sandia hike can be found on the Photo Gallery page.

Photo by Tony Anzelmo

Museum of Nuclear Science and History

While in Albuquerque I was able to visit the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History.  It's a really fun & quirky museum with interesting exhibits featuring the development of nuclear medicine and energy in addition to nuclear weapons history and, of course, the atomic bomb.  They also have an extensive collection of missiles and planes.  These have yet to be organized into a permanent display and make up a surreal nuclear junk yard behind the museum. Here are some photo highlights:

Nuclear junkyard in the desert- feels like a scene from Tatooine.

 

 

Atomic Cannon!!

Sail without the submarine.

Little Boy and Fat Man

WWII bombsight

Bomb sight closeup.

1970s British Missile.  Of course it has the best paint job.

X-ray

Early X-ray machine.  This would make a great China cabinet.

 

Yum yum...irradiated water...

My favorite picture of the day. Irradiated milk from contented cows. :)

 

 

Bow ties are cool.

Gamma camera (predecessor to the MRI).  Imagine if your doctor told you to get into this thing!

My Lego graphite pile is more reactive than your Lego graphite pile.

No nuclear museum would be complete without an animatronic Einstein. 

 I definitely recommend visiting the museum.  More info can be found here:
http://www.nuclearmuseum.org

"Unwound Beneath the Skies"

To get things started I thought I would credit the origin of the blog's title.  "Unwound beneath the sky" is inspired by  a lyric from the song "Lay Down Your Weary Tune" by Bob Dylan.  It's a truly beautiful song and one of my all-time favorites.

"I stood unwound beneath the skies
And clouds unbound by laws
The cryin’ rain like a trumpet sang
And asked for no applause

Lay down your weary tune, lay down
Lay down the song you strum
And rest yourself ’neath the strength of strings
No voice can hope to hum"

The full lyrics can be found at: http://www.bobdylan.com/