Mother Lode of Glass Balls

These are on display at Union Station, Denver Colorado. The net floats nest between two panes of glass. Sharie, eat your heart out!!

Miners's Days - Double Jack, Women's Wood Splitting, Snow Board Fence

These women were strong. The women stand back from the start line, when they yell GO, they grab their ax, drop it at the stump, dash to the wood pile, grab two logs, then make at least four splits of the big log. Then toss split logs into a pile and run like crazy (with the log splitter) back to the finish line. The winner did all this in around 1 minute. I believe she had experience.
Love the snow board fence, this is what they do with all the old skis and boards, colorful.
Double Jack is a two person procedure where one person holds the chisel, while the other person whacks with a heavy sledge hammer. You must have extreme faith in the person with the sledge hammer. This technique was used in mining to make holes in the rock for the dynamite. They do this in teams and take turns.

Miner's Days - Gold Panning

Weather became a bit nasty, this kid took cover in a sleeping bag. Andi got into a Miner's pan.....there was a gold panning demo, unfortunately no real gold, just BBs.

Miner's Days - Watermelon Eating

Kids watermelon eating contest, women's and men's sawing contest.

Queasy Riders

Had a nice mini-vacation at Marcia and Ricks. They even have paved roads. Friday night we hit a concert of the "Fake Eagles", they were great! Then Saturday this little bike ride and next luxuriating by the pool, very upscale for us rustics.

Bear Scare Biking

Not really, went biking at Anthem Ranch, nice paved trail, easy!

Meditterean Fix

But not very good food, the decor was nice. Next McGuckens.

Pinecliff Hike

First time for this hike. You park by the tracks at the tiny town of Pinecliff, walk down a dirt road past cute little cabins by the tracks, then cross the tracks and head down the river.

Pinecliff Along South Boulder Creek

Pretty easy hike, except for the huge boulders you have to scramble over.

De Train De Train

Corny, was cool watching the train pop out of the tunnel at Pinecliff.

Propane Tank - Before & After

Andi told me to paint mushroom cap of propane tank, I misunderstood and painted mushrooms on the cap. Kind of cute!

Hiking & Biking

Followed the river and railroad tracks into Rollinsville, very quick from Animal House, only problem is the uphill climb back to the house, I have to rest several times - hate all these warnings on the tracks.
Yesterday I did my first bike ride since San Pedro de Atacama. No matter what you do, steep hills are encountered. I headed out toward the Moffat Tunnel. Met this adorable guy on the road, he insisted on following me back to the Stage Stop. Ended up calling his owner, while waiting for his owner we let him rest in the car, a big mistake. When his owner showed up, Bud did not want to get out of the car. Not easy to budge, He's an Akbash Shepherd Dog, weighing over 80lbs. His owner had to push him from one side of the car, while I tugged on his leash from the other side, eventually he moved. Then he didn't want to get in his truck to go home. I'm certain I'll see him again at the Stage Stop.

Return to James Peak

I have new strategy to cope with the HORRIBLE road to this place, I don't look at it. Andi wanted to return and check out the numerous lakes and waterfalls. With windchill factor it had to be in the 30's. At times it was actually pleasant, when the wind let up and the sun came out.