This morning, we drove into “downtown” Bishop to visit the famous Mountain Light Gallery, home of the work of Galen Rowell.  I’ve been wanting to visit for a few years and I was not disappointed.  The work on display is an inspiration as incredible photography and a promotion of the incredible landscapes of the Eastern Sierra.  This is a photo of the guest photographer room, which featured the impressive work of Guy Tal:

Leaving Bishop, we drove a bit Northeast to the historic town of Laws to visit the railroad museum there:

We learned that the phrase “Breakneck Speed” comes from what happens when a Penny Farthing rider looses control at speed:

Artifacts and buildings collected throughout the Owens Valley are on display here:

Each of the dozens of buildings was set up to be a newspaper office, doctor’s office, etc.:

This caboose was built in the late 1800s:

Like a ski lift, this is one end of a tram used to bring tungsten ore out of the Sierras:

The docent demonstrated a restored period winch used to bring ore carts out of a shaft:

In the stamp mill building, B tested out a small working jaw crusher:

The docent fired up the restored engine that runs the mill.  He demonstrated the 4 phases of a four-cycle engine’s operation, which was easy to see as the piston is partially exposed at the top of its stroke.

It really runs!  And it drives some of the belts, although they are not yet hooked up to the mill:

Outside again, we saw how train engines were turned around, as Laws was for a time the Northern terminus of the line that ran South to Owens Lake:

We got to go inside the shop to see other trains and cars being restored:

We peeked into more buildings:

The model train display had the same 1776 engine and caboose commemorative set that my parents purchased for me in 1976:

We left Laws and headed Northwest to overnight on BLM land near Crowley Lake, a few miles outside of the town of Mammoth Lakes.  The forecast in Bishop, at 4000 feet, for this weekend is in the 90s.  Here at 7200 feet we’re expecting mid 70s.  See the trip map for details.  Tonight, B made her own letterbox stamp, inspired by the Sierras:

Yep, it’s rough living with views like this.  Out nearest neighbor is about 1/4 mile away.