#19 Continental Divide and Aspen, CO

We drove to Buena Vista, CO on Tuesday 8-12-08 and stayed at Arrowhead Point Camping Resort about 5 miles out of town. This was a really nice campground. It covers 23 acres and is a historic site where there was once a Pony Express stop. The people who own the campgound are really nice and helpful. They suggested to us that we have dinner at Quincy's in Buena Vista. This resturant only serves steak and prime rib. It is Filet Mingnon Monday through Thursday and Prime Rib on the weekends. The only choice you have is the size of the steak. A 6 oz filet Mingnon is $7.95 with baked potatoe, salad and bread. It was a good meal, with good service and a really nice old building that has been restored and decorated very nicely.

That evening before we went to dinner we visited the museum in town. There were lots of mining antiques and many other artifacts of the time when the town was a big mining area. But the neatest thing of all was when we drove up we were surprised to see a buck deer crossing the sidewalk and going into the yard of the museum. Here is the picture I took after he layed down by the old log cabin. The museum is in the old courthouse, which was also used as a school. It was quite a nice place, with lots of history just in the building. The lady who greeted us showed us which room was the court, and then where the classes were held in later years.
In the second story of the museum there is a minature railroad set up depicting the area when mining was the main employer. The display was well done and we even got to see the little train run. The upstairs big room is used by the repertory room that is used to put on plays during the summer.
The following day, Aug. 13, we drove up to the Continental Divide on our way to see Aspen.
Even though Frank is in short sleeves, beleive me it was really cold. There is still snow on the ground and when we walked out to the view point the wind was blowing and I thought my ears would freeze.
We are out at the view point looking at the Continental Divide. Maybe those sticks laying in a row are the actual point of the divide. There is still snow in them thar hills! From the view point you can see seven mountains that are over 14,000 feet tall. Amazing and spectacular. A true "Rocky Mountain High." Here we are in Aspen, CO. John Denver country. I did get out my John Denver CD's and play them as we were driving over some of the high mountain passes. Only seemed right! There is a two square block area of downtown that is walking only. Lots of bicycles, dogs and children. If you look closely in back of the bicycles there are dancing waters coming out of the sidewalk. It was a really nice town. All the bricks look like recycle bricks and make it look old.We had to get a picture of this. We were roasting in our jeans and long sleeve shirts and they are selling furs. The sculpture was pretty nice also.An old high mountain mining ghost town. These were tough people who mined and lived in the mountains of Colorado.

Well the signs kept saying that we were in bighorn sheep country and to watch out for them. I kept watching, but by the time we got stopped and I took a picture, all we could see was three white hind ends walking away from us. At least we did get to see the sheep. None of them so far have had the big curled horns. So I guess this is "the end" of this blog #19.