SOLD!

Can't believe its time to sell our car! It really has been a great car taking us over snowy mountain passes and hot, hot desert areas. This time last year we were selling our camper van!

Lots of enquiry and sold straight away!

Ghost town..ooooooooooooooh!

Finally managed to visit this little ghost town which is just down the road from us.Ohio City started in the early 1860s and shut down when the placer gold ran out. No one bothered to find the lode that was the source of the nuggets and Ohio City was no more.

The silver boom of 1879 brought miners back to what was left of the town. A sizable vein was found and Ohio City was re-born. That lasted until 1893 when the boom collapsed and so did the town.

In 1896, some prospectors found the lode that was the source for the nuggets found in the '60s. Ohio City was again re-born. Mining operations continued until about 1916 until costs exceeded revenues.

Looking at the town someone has obviously put some money into the store and bar, new carvings on the verandah, but sadly inside was deserted. It looked as if they had just walked out, leaving goods on the shelves and coats on hangers. Just about every house in the little town was for sale.

On Guard!

One of the bi annual events is the Medieval Night at the school. Students get dressed up for the evening, parents provide delicious food of the era and there is a demonstration of martial arts. Students display their castles and there was a stunning demonstration of a trebuchet!

All organised by Duke Mark (Social studies teacher) and his lovely Duchess.

Gunnison Middle School rocks!

As always lots of things happening at the school. Went to a great choir concert and heard the band at the homecoming parade. Homecoming is a National celebration where alumni of schools and college return. Fab march through Gunni with bands from Middle and High Schools. Kids lined the streets, waved flags, sang and cheered. Luv It!!

Crested Butte is cool!

Had a lovely lazy day in Crested Butte. Amazing to see the snow transforming the town once more. Most places closed as it is between seasons............only thing to do was eat yummie food at McGills.

Its September and winter is a coming!

The streams, lakes and waterfalls are starting to freeze. Everyday is different..........love having seasons again.

Go Cumberland Pass

Realise that if we are going to see some places its not long before the snow comes and so the time is now. One of our first trips when we arrived was out to Tin Cup. Of course we didn't get very far because all of the passes were cut off by snow. So off we went.

Tin Cup got its name from one of the prospectors that carried out his gold dust in a tin cup. The underworld ruled Tin Cup and there never really was any law. Every time an honest sheriff would arrive, he would be told what to do by the leaders of the underworld. If he didn't comply, he was killed. And so the cemetery at Tin Cup is filled with honest sheriffs and other good people that did not comply with the underworlds demands. Around the turn of the century there was said to be about 2000 people here and shortly after that the population dwindeled. Now its a popular place to have a cabin in the summer months.

We set off over Cumberland Pass - confident we wouldn't see snow............mmmmmmmmmmmm fantastic scenery and scary roads... that's Colorado. Loved seeing the streams starting to freeze up for winter. Mountain tops covered in snow. Roads, suddenly narrowing with precipitous edges and icy patches, conifers with snowy branches. Fabuloso!