Crazy, occasionally scary, dramatic ride on 285 to Mesa Verde. OMGoodness, how does anyone do this without their stomach doing flip flops? Cliff drop offs, winding roads, elevation gains....the stuff of thrills and chills. We stop in Silverton for a break and discover a tour deep into a gold mine that operated through 1992. We drive the backcountry, dirt road ride in time to take the last tour. And, how cool it was! Riding this mine car down into the mine - 1500 feet in. The tour led by a miner who worked at the mine through its closing and we learn about mining techniques past to present. I thought about how 'real' this was...definitely not Disney. We were in a real mine, water flowing through, tunnels and shafts actually used -- not just an amusement park ride.
Afterward, we 'pan' for silver outside of their shop. They close up and go home, leaving us to pan away to our hearts' content. We each find a little piece of silver -- should have shouted "Eureka" but we didn't. :-)
Dan played "Hard Rock Miner" (Cowboy Junkies) on the CD player as we leave Silverton and push on towards Mesa Verde. Get there as things were shutting down but find a campsite without any problem. Meet our camp hosts, Jeannie and Ken with dog Ginger :-) Great tent site under Juniper pines. Can't wait to see Mesa Verde.
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