It’s that time of the week! Throwback Thursday – when I finally get around to sharing photos from past trips. This week, it’s a day trip on my 40th birthday, which I am disturbed to think is already more than a decade ago. For that birthday, I decided to do some photographing in a couple areas that I had driven through many times, but never stopped at. And if you don’t like the fact that I ended that sentence with “at” (or that I started this sentence with “And”), then please read this. Once you’ve completed your reading assignment, here are some pictures to look at:
First stop: Gennessee Park, home of the Interstate 70 bison herd. No zoom here; just a bison-proof (I hope) fence – a nice close encounter.Baby BisonThe herdBison on the right, continental divide in the distance, and a No Ambulatory Humans sign.
I seem to be posting an inordinate amount of bison pictures this year. So, how about I take a few pictures of something else. Any requests? Yes, you in the back! Roads? Sure, I can snap a few pictures of some roads! Check these out:
You will never see a better view that includes a 6-lane freeway.The vastness of the Rocky Mountains makes I-70 seem out of place.Central City Parkway was paid for by casino owners in Central City.As you can see, they tore the hell out of the mountains to build this road.Looking up the parkway towards more rock cutsHuge rock quarry on the left, Interstate 70 on the right.Hard to believe they spent so much money to build this road, when State Highway 119 is RIGHT DOWN THERE!But despite all the destruction, it is quite a scenic road.
Construction of the Central City Parkway brought previously hidden pieces of Colorado history into public view. Like this stuff, f’rinstance:
The parkway mostly passes through ranch land. Here’s a livestock pen.As you approach Central City, you go from ranches to mining areas.Big ol’ gold mineI believe this was called the Meeker-Success Mine (MSM).Tipple at MSM, with wood retaining fence underneath, still doing its job.Whoa! The ore cart “bridge” is still in place at the back.Looking up through one of the tipple’s two gold ore hoppers.Ore carts (mine cars) once crossed this bridge. Rails are long gone.I was amazed how much red paint there still is on the tipple.The MSM hoisthouse and headframeThe headframe is remarkably intact – even the ladder looks good.MSM hoisthouseThe view through the hoisthouse (not much is left of the sides)It seems the hoisthouse wants to collapse, but headframe won’t let it.Despite the state of its sides, the front of the hoisthouse still looks OK.Mine shaft entrance, clearly sealed in modern times. “Hatch” still “open” on the left, still on its hinges.View from the Meeker-Success MineWe have moved a little closer to the continental divide.A final look down on MSMAnother old hoisthouse, this one a little closer to BlackhawkThis hoisthouse’s headframe has been torn down……and now lies beside the hoisthouse.This building is in much better shape than the MSM hoisthouse.Looking down at what appears to be the Hidee Mine.Big ol’ building at the Hidee MineSometimes I feel like I’m beatin’ a dead house…
The time has come to end this game. Come back next week. Maybe I’ll get to that Ferris Wheel in Vegas that I mentioned last week. Later!
Voyages with Parkinson's 