August 1, 2014 Creede, Colorado

It was cool, dark stormy day today. Probably did not get above 60 degrees and it rained all day off and on. It is supposed to get into the 40’s tonight.

For those of you who are not on permanent vacation like we are I found these pills at the chamber of commerce here in Creede. We started the day at the Rock and mineral show in the community center, which is a huge cave dug into the hillside.

I may have to go back and buy this cane frog coin purse, it is the most unusual thing I have ever seen! Then we embarked on the 17 mile  scenic drive of the Bachelor historic tour just north of town. Here we are the Commodore Mine. This mine was active from 1891-1976. There are almost 200 miles of tunnels underground.

More of the Commodore Mine up the hill. The remains of the burro bridge that was built across this section of the canyon because of the vertical canyon walls there was no place to build a road. It was before they blasted out the road we are driving on.

The Amethyst Mine is one of the two richest silver producing mines in the Creede district. Remnants of a log cabin at the Amethyst. Uphill approximately 350 feet are several building of the Last Chance mine that we will see when the road switchbacks around to the other higher side of the canyon.

The rails into the mine at the Midwest  Mine.  This fence is around a private ranch called Emerald Ranch-I suspect they named it that because it is such a green place.

The Last Chance mine is the second of the richest silver producing mines in the Creede District.  It had a 1,400 foot incline shaft with 13 levels. It is now owned by a man who is restoring it. He is also making beautiful jewelry from the amethyst  and other cool minerals from the mine.

Last Chance mine.

There is a free museum here and 2 cabins that you can stay in for  just a donation.  This is one of them.

The Bachelor Town site of  more than 12,000 people flourished here  between 1892 –1908. Here is a description of what town was like.

View of Creede from above on our way back down-still raining. Our last stop was the Creede Cemetery. The outlaws were buried laying north to south. The good God fearing people were buried east to west so they would face the rising sun on Resurrection Day. The not so God fearing people were sometimes buried the other way or as they lived, crossways with the world.

A couple of modern day houses seen on the way back into town. One with a rocket and who knows what silver building and a hay bale home under construction. There were tons of these purple penstamen blooming along the road and by the mines.

Back in Creede, it was still raining. We had dinner in the Tommy Knockers bar. They are having live music tonight, but we can’t stay up till 9 pm when it starts.

The new moon is setting with the sun this evening. I walked into the TV suspended from our ceiling by the door, and have a huge goose egg on my forehead.