Sunday, July 29th - Church, food, Stony Pass

We went to the 8:30 church service in the park and afterwards watched the Olympics for a while.  As usual we got hungry early so around 11:00 we went to the Cottonwood Restaurant in order to beat the church crowd.  Who would think there would even be a church crowd way out in the middle of nowhere but we have learned there is.  Worst thing is, we forgot to drive about a half mile farther down the highway to Blue Creek to get pecan/cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow.  We are such eatists!

After lunch we watched the Olympics a little more and decided to go check out part of the Stony Pass trail and re-visit the 30 mile campground that we stayed in about 27 years ago.  Boy, it is 12 miles of dirt road driving off Highway 149 to get there.  We got within about 12 miles of Silverton but it was too late in the day to go on over.

We drove a long ways up the road, past the Rio Grande Reservoir and took the following pictures.

                                   The Rio Grand Reservoir.

At church this morning, it was mentioned to the group that two ladies rolled their vehicle on the trail near Equity Mine yesterday, totalling it and putting one of them in the hospital.  Gerald, Wanda, Christi, Toni, and I drove that same trail earlier in the week and found it to be much harder than anything we had been on before.  Prayers for these two.

July 27th - Current & Future Location

I realized today that I haven't posted any pictures of this fancy wancy RV park.  Of course though, we are in the ghetto side.  You will soon see what I mean.  This is our location.

View down the "street".

OK, now a few shots of the big shots!

This place has so many rules that it is totally no fun!  They don't even want the children or a dog walking on ANY of the grass. 

Now to pictures of the place we reserved for June of 2013.

This is our site!  Plenty of shade and lots of room!

Lots of room in front of the site and the view is fantastic!

They even have a playground for our grandchildren, who are sure to come as well!!!!!

They have cabins to rent as well as rooms so it is a great place for families.  This is a view of the Rio Grande River from the front of the property.

View of the front office/restaurant.  The location is 8 miles out of Creede.

Here is one of the dining rooms.  We ate lunch here today and it was the best food since coming to Colorado, and reasonably priced.  After the main meal, we each ate one of their pecan/cinnamon rolls and OMG, we will be coming back for more!  Can you say ballooning back out again?!

This is a picture of the upstairs sitting/lounge area for customers.

The back dining room is the "John Wayne Room" since he used to come here and play cards.

Large covered picnic area for group gatherings

An old rail line runs along the river and people can take rides on it.  It was stopped at this site so the folks could come in to get a bite to eat and use the rest rooms.

Taken from inside the rail car looking down the track.

We are really looking forward to coming back next year!  Our plan is to stay at this site for a month then take the MH on up to Washington State for another Alaskan cruise.  Afterward, we hope to be able to spend a week or so at Glacier National Park before heading home.  Everyone is invited to come along with us!!

July 25th - Bachelor Loop

Gerald, Wanda, Christi, Jesse, Molly, Toni, and I decided it was time to do the Bachelor Loop North of Creede.  Gerald and Jesse were on one four wheeler and Wanda was on her four wheeler and Christi and Molly started out riding with us in our Jeep. 

                  I reckon this was the only full day without rain and the trip was really good.

                     Wanda on her trusty Polaris four wheeler.

        After a while, Christi got on with Wanda and Toni moved to the back seat of the Jeep to help entertain Molly.  BTW, in case I didn't previously introduce two year old Molly, she is the great grandaughter of Wanda and Gerald.  She didn't so much as whimper the whole day (six hours in the Jeep)!

         The 4X4 loop we were on had some pretty tough spots but Gerald and Wanda made it fine.

    After making the loop, we went back to the Last Chance Mine for Gerald and Wanda to see.

          Road back to town.

July 24th - To the ice cave!

We made a run today guided by Wayne and Diane Ford's friends Lucky and his wife.  I asked them twice what their last names were but, alas, my pea brain couldn't remember it.

     After driving waaaaay up the mountain, here is a picture of the ice cave from a distance.

                    Toni standing at the entrance to the cave.

     Me, Molly, and Toni by the ice.

                                                    View from near the ice cave.

           
                    Lucky took us up to a remote miner's cabin after we left the ice cave.

                                           Found some really pretty flowers!

           Lucky then took us over to a Ski Yurt.

   We never would have found all of these neat things today without Lucky's help!

July 23rd -- Creede Off-Road

Wayne, Diane, Gerald, Wanda, Christie, Molly, and I took a trip up the mountain for a short trip.

                   This little bird was sitting in a tree beside the trail and was still as a mouse.

A very pretty group of flowers beside the trail.

There is a nice mule deer buck ahead.

We visited the Last Chance mine on our way back to camp.

A view from the Last Chance Mine site.

A shot of the museum at the mine.

This is Toni with Jack Morris, owner of the mine. He also played a part as a Sargent in the Army in the new Johnny Depp movie, The Lone Ranger.

Jack Morris, Christie, and Molly.

Restored miners cabin at the mine.

Inside the miners cabin.

Inside of another cabin the Morris restored.  This one can be rented on a nightly basis.

Other end of the same cabin at the mine.

Look closely at the names.  This was a picture of a hunting party in Montana.

This is a swing at the front of the museum and Molly wanted me to sit down.  I always obey the ladies!

Old out house on the front of the mine property.  I really needed to "go".  ha

Creede in the distance.

The following pictures were taken on the road that leads north out of Creede.

Underground location of the Creede Fire Department.