Fill’er up!

I spent a wonderful Memorial Day with my sister in Carmel, CA. We managed to pack in a full day and hit many of the different areas such as downtown Ocean Avenue with all the adorable Gingerbread style homes and shops (that will be another post), then we headed towards Carmel Valley, a more rural area, that is scattered with some incredible nurseries, antique stores, restaurants and so much more; our final stop was the Carmel Mission ~ my very favorite California Mission ~ to light a candle for my mom.

Whenever my sister and I are in the area, we always make a pit-stop at one of our favorite stores, Tancredi & Morgen.

While my sister was paying for her purchases, I roamed across the parking lot to check out the memorabilia located at the Baja Cantina.

In all the times I have been here, I never paid much attention to these amazing vintage gas station tanks. However, with my camera in hand, these tanks took on a whole new life to me.

This is not a gas station as it might appear but a very good Mexican restaurant that houses a plethora of incredibly fun collectibles. So you may not be able to fill your car up here, but you can certainly fill your tummy with some very yummy food and libations!

Funky Junk Fun

I have recently discovered that there is an entire “junk” community out there that I never knew about. I know there are antique dealers that refer to their items as “vintage” but the funky junk community is proud of their “junk” and aren’t afraid to call it so. The older and rustier, the better! These people hunt for it, sell it, trade it and cherish it.

So it’s no wonder that when I recently posted the picture above on my Facebook site, I received so many comments from junk collectors, and all alike, who loved it and wanted to know where the picture was taken. When another inquiry came in today, I decided it was time to write a post on it and provide the wanted information along with some additional pictures.

The Classical Gas Museum in Embudo, NM

This is Johnnie Meier’s Classical Gas Museum in Embudo, New Mexico. I came across it when driving from Taos to Santa Fe. I kid you not when I say that I practically skid the car off the road in coming to a halt when I spotted this place.

What is it about these old rusty tanks and gadgets that get us so excited? Is it because they bring back a certain nostalgia of a bygone era that we miss? I don’t know what the answer is but I absolutely love this junk!

Apparently, inside the museum which I did not see, there is a room that houses Johnnie’s collection of antique signs, oil cans, maps, globes, clocks, neons and other vintage memorabilia. So if you ever find yourself making the drive between Taos and Santa Fe, be sure to make a pit stop here for your nostalgia and junk fix.

The Classical Gas Museum in Embudo, NM

I wanted to reference a website but I couldn’t find one but I did find this, very short, YouTube video. Happy Junk Hunting!

Johnnie Meier’s Classical Gas Museum
Hwy 68, Embudo, NM
Admission: Free
Hours: May be seasonal. (Call to verify)
Phone: 505-852-2995