SW COLORADO, SILVERTON

We bicycle into town for breakfast and then break camp.  That's easy to do in a motor home.  We then drive up to the Old Hundred Gold Mine.  This is a hard rock mine accessed by a 2,000 foot train ride.  At the ore site we are shown how all the air tools work and the history of the mine.  We learn about the 'tommy knockers,' little spirits that live in the mine and play tricks on you.  Next we visit the Mayflower Gold Mill.  Here the ore is brought down by a 10,000 foot aerial tram.  At first it was put through a hammer mill which turned it in to powder and then mixed with a liquid to make the minerals float. Mercury was then added to attract the gold.  It was then processed to remove the mercury.  Even though there is no placer mining here we are given the chance to pan for gold.  I'm pretty good at this but all I come up with is pyrite (fools gold).

We return to Silverton and tour the museum.  I don't think I'll ever get tired of looking at old stuff.  We now go to the Shady Lady again.  We want beer-soaked chilly dogs for lunch.  Peggy visits the Weathertop, a weaving studio and store, and comes back with a treasure.  We drive up the dirt road beside the Animas River.  We find a wide spot and park for the night.  Sleeping beside running water is always nice.

Old Hundred Gold Mine, Silverton, Colorado

Entrance to Old Hundred

Bailing buckets used in the mine.

Inside Old Hundred

Jack hammer used to drill into rock.

Bell signals meant different things inside the mine.

Cage Used to transport workers

Shaft inside the mine.

Muck bucket used to pick up rock .

The 'ole' honey bucket.

Mayflower Mill

Tram used to transport rock to the Mayflower Mill.

View from the Mayflower Mill.

San Juan County Historical Society Museum in Silverton, Colorado.

Restored Jail next to museum.

Mitch wishing he had bought Peg that necklace.

Weathertop Wovens in Silverton, Colorado.

Linda Davis, weaver and owner of Weathertop Wovens.

Preparing warp for loom.

Above warp is wraped on this beam and put on back of loom.

Peggy's future fiber studio in Silverton, Colorado.  Just needs a little TLC.

Lupine