We head south on I25 to Bernalillo. East on 165 through Placitas.
Just out of Placitas the pavement ends.
The road keeps getting narrower and narrower. Fall leaves border the road.
We are on the back side of the Sandia Mountains. We are climbing rapidly.
Soon we are amid the pines and firs. The road is very rocky with twists and turns that keep the view changing.
The map says we are at 10,000 feet. During the trip we did not meet one car. Walt did pull over a couple of times to let cars going in our same direction pass. Another amazing back road trip.
165 connects with 546 and then 14 for a nice view of Sandi Peak ski area.
We have arrived. Tinkertown, NM just out of Sandia Crest.
I have wanted to go here for several years.
Not sure how I first heard about it.
It could have been one of these or something I read.
A man named Ross Ward spent 40 years carving, collecting and constructing Tinkertown. The rambling walls that surround the 22 room museum are made with over 50,000 glass bottles.
It not only is a museum but the residence of Russ and Carla Ward.
He hand carved 100's of figures that he made into miniature displays depicting 100's of different settings.
He and his wife spent years collecting roadside relics, Old West items, and exhibits from closed down roadside attractions to add to the museum to go along with his carvings.
The wacky, colorful memorabilia was everywhere.
He carved this Cigar Store Indian in 1976.
There are hand painted signs everywhere. Many have his favorite positive thinking slogans or quotes. You will be seeing several of those on the blog in the days coming up.
There is no place off limits for displays. This one was up in the rafters. Notice the spider web in the corner. Halls are narrow, walls and floors are uneven, rooms wander willy-nilly, clutter is crammed onto every surface, including the ceilings and floors: tools, bones, horseshoes, farm and mining relics, old lanterns and license plates.
The highlight for me was his wood carvings. They were all behind glass so there was glare in the pictures but the intricacies of the displays are very apparent.
Several had buttons to push that brought them to life with action going on.
The Sheriff was his first carving.
His imagination must have worked overtime to put so much attention to detail in every exhibit.
Even Humpty Dumpty sitting on a wall.
The Law Firm of Gowgem, Hard & Deep.
My favorite was the Circus.
The display was HUGE.
It filled several rooms.
There wasn't anything in a Circus that was missed.
Look at this acrobat over a cage full of tigers. It inspired my imagination.
Many made us smile.
He must have been a very busy man. He was a show painter for carnivals for over 30 years, traveling the country painting on all the major carnival shows and in winter quarters from Texas to Florida.
In 1998 Mr. Ward was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Because of his symptoms it was unsafe for him to contine driving. His wife suggested he make an art project out of his car. His creativity kicked in and the Art Car was born. He used to say he was trying to turn his Jeep into a Lincoln. (Notice all the Lincoln head pennies)
Mr. Ward died in 2002 and I love this tribute to him. (I love ya honey but the seasons over is a book title of a Ringling Bros. circus performer) The Museum continues under the directorship of his wife Carla. We spent a couple hours there and just touched the surface of all there is to see.
Clearly I have spent way too much time watching TV.
Back on I40 west to I25 North with the other side of the Sandia's on view.