Kiwi Artist Adventures in the USA (part 1)

Once an artist, always an artist.

And once you’re an artist – you see art EVERYWHERE!

This blog is about a recent road trip for my husband and I which started in San Francisco, via Reno, Salt Lake City to Colorado and back again.  This is art adventure – Part One (it was an action packed trip – our usual style!).

It wasn’t just any ordinary trip to see the sights, the other half had entered a half iron man in Boulder Colorado, I was the wingwoman and chief organiser.

Circus Circus – an artist’s dream first stop!

We arrived in San Francisco, picked up the hire car and headed to Reno to get to altitude as soon as possible. We reached Circus Circus in Reno by around 10.30pm a little later than anticipated due to a few holdups along the way. It was worth the effort to get up there and Circus is the best way to describe it! I’m being kind and staying with ‘arty’.

Gambling wasn’t the draw card to staying at Circus, Circus but the affordability of the accommodation, also the rooms had recently been refurbished which was a bonus.

Two nights in Reno meant we had one full day to do something, so we decided to head to Lake Tahoe.

We drove south to Incline village which is on the shores of Lake Tahoe. I was excited to see the landscape around the lake and was waiting my inner artist inspiration instinct to kick in!

We failed however to find access to the lake & had to drive further south – the parking areas were full. Being true blue kiwis, we had expected to pull up to a half empty parking area and pull out our (my) easel and await inspiration – or at minimum pull out the tripod, but that was not to be the case. Parking was at a premium, so no easel-time.

We did, by sheer luck and good fortune, find a track that led down to the Lake & to Chimney Beach. What a hidden gem that turned out to be.

The artist’s eye was back in the game!

It is rather a steep walk down to the lake through pines and large rocks, but the effort is worth it. A small area of sand is surrounded by large boulders making it an ideal spot for swimming, picnicking and jumping off the rocks. The beach is so named due to a chimney sitting on the beach intact, remnant of a caretaker’s cottage.  Very cool.

Yes I put on my swim suit and had a swim most enjoyable with the temperatures in the 30s (Celsius) Watch out for the squirrels one was helping itself to food while the family swam!

The next day, following  a walk down to the river and stopping to take a photo of the Reno arch it was a full on day of travel to Salt Lake City.

Have you ever watched that movie, The worlds fastest Indian? Part of it is filmed on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

The story is about a kiwi bloke by the name of Burt Munro who set a speed record with an Indian Motorcycle. Well we stopped at the salt flats and marvelled at how vast and amazing they are. Inspiring moments!

A couple of highlights from Salt Lake city included seeing the Mormon temple and taking a hike up to Ensign Peak. Ensign Peak afforded a incredible view of the city – again, inspiring to view! The California fires that have become somewhere a part of summer in West Coast USA added a strange haze to the picture.

Making art happen at Ensign Peak

A short 1 mile hike round trip, it is a good climb up and its easily accessible from the city. I really recommend taking the hike.

Ensign Peak has a significant history – on July 26, 1847, two days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young and seven other pioneer leaders climbed the hill to survey the valley and made plans for the layout of the city, just like we climbed it! I couldn’t help be feel connected with them as we climbed then stood and observed, (minus the camera that I carried & had always close to hand, and my newest toy – the Go Pro 6!)

I felt inspired, awed and connected. While the trip was not about me, and not really about art – or in any way connected with my business, it felt like I was gathering fabulous material, recharging, adventuring.

Oh – and my husband did well in his event!! More about that in the next blog!