Natures G.A.S. Stations in Durango

Since our son Eric and daughter-in-law Lauren work and live in Durango, CO, we’ve chosen to make this beautiful little tourist town own home base as we continue our G.A.S. Adventure.  The Durango area has an abundant source of beautiful geographical and Natural resources that provide a wide array of outdoor activities.  According to the Durango Area Tourism Office, “Durango has many claims to fame, from Mountain Bike Mecca to Best Water Town in the West; best scenic train ride to most friendly vacation and ski town.  Our restaurants are award-winning, our scenery awe-inspiring, and there are endless ways to reinvigorate, rejuvenate, and just plain relax.  Durango is a real Colorado town with endless recreational opportunities, a rich history and countless stories to tell.”  With that said, I’ll share a few more stories of my own.   I’ve had the honor and good fortune to meet and speak with a few of the shop owners and workers that help make this little gem of a city thrive.  The first shop owner I met was Micki of “Sticks & Stones Handmade”.  She and her husband Tim are both artists and offer a unique selection of hand make art work.  Shortly after arriving here in Durango nearly five years ago, they became aware of how powerful it is to support the dreams of others.  And so, they’ve become one of two galleries in town that showcases a few of the local artists.  Micki and I shared a few magical stories of our own over a cup of tea, some of which I’ll be sharing in my current book in the works “Natures G.A.S. Stations”.  If you’re in need of a great hair cut then I suggest you check out “Incognito Hair Salon, owned by Doug Boykin, Master Barber-Stylist, a hip, Vibrant hair salon that makes every client feel like they just walked into their favorite beauty shop”.  Ask for Rosie, my personal favorite hair stylist, friendly, thoughtful and inspiring.  When you see her, tell her Pat sent you.  Since I stumbled upon this next place the first couple of days after arriving in Durango, I’ll Include him in this segment.  Folk and Finer Art is a funky woodcarving gallery found just west of Durango at the intersection of Hwy 160 and Rd 38 in Mancos, Co.  This is where you’ll find an eccentric character by the name of Dave Sipe, owner and Woodsculptor.  He like most artists, prides himself on his original and sometimes wacky concepts and designs.  I must admit, I found a couple of (Got to have) sculptures, but since our most recent home (Rosie) is on wheels, I’ll wait till we find some land and build our next dream home alongside Eric and Lauren’s own dream home.  While visiting Dave in his inspiring, creative space and considering myself a passionate artist, I shared with him and a young visitor by the name of Christopher, my own creative art design in the form of a chair that I call, “The Peace Chair”.  Once again, I’ll share my insights and aha moments about that encounter in “Natures G.A.S. Stations.”  Finally, I want to share with you a serendipitous story about the most recent, reopened Gas Station by the name of Ernie’s, or “The 11^th street Station Bar”.  While keeping with its’ long history and mirroring the various gas and food stations that have called this location home between the 1920s to 1970s, Jaime Wisner along with his son Marcos, have continued the legacy by offering fuel in the form of food and Spirits.  You can choose from a wide variety of delicious meals from local food trucks parked on site.  Plenty of seating can be found throughout the place while being surrounded by antique mementos.   A couple items worth mentioning is Jaime’s old V-8 engine block made into the patio’s fire place sculpture and a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air built into the back of the Bar.  These along with numerous other collectibles create lots of visual stimulation while you get G.A.S.ed up.  I briefly spoke with Jamie and his son Marcos and shared with them my excitement of finding and sharing this newly established treasure in Downtown Durango with my readers I’m calling a, “Transformed gas station”.  A location previously operated as a gas station, but is now a “Natures G.A.S. Station” where you can fuel up your, Mind, Body and Soul.