Past and Present

While in Cripple Creek, CO this weekend, I found that I walked into the middle of a war zone. Ok, a re-enactment of one. Cripple Creek honors the United States Armed Forces with their military appreciation weekend, during which there were a number of WWII battle re-enactments. This photos shows spectators and actors between battles.

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Is that a camera in your pocket?

One of the first things we did during our recent vacation was to take my parents to the Mollie Kathleen mine near Cripple Creek, Co for a tour. You can ride down a very packed elevator car down 1000 feet (305 meters) and have a guided tour through the mines. And I do mean packed. We had 6 people crammed into this tiny elevator. Luckily I knew three of the people already. The other two, I soon became acquainted with during the two minute descent.

It was really an interesting tour. I found the demonstrations of the machinery really interesting. They also played a recording of how the blasting would sound in the mine. Very spooky. I've been on a number of mine tours, and this was by far the best.

Even through I drive by it fairly often, I have never before stopped at the Mollie Kathleen. It's funny how one ignores local attractions until visitors arrive.

This photo is an old truck left in the mines lot. According to the paint on the door, it once belonged to the Woodland Garage of Woodland Park, CO.

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Old Sign

Wordless Wednesday

Up on Cripple Creek

This weekend, a buddy and I drove up to Cripple Creek, Co to play in a poker tournament. We go up about once a month.

Cripple Creek is small town about a hour's drive from Colorado Springs, just southwest of Pikes Peak. The town came to be after gold was discovered in 1891. In modern times, Cripple Creek almost died out. The town was revitalized when the state legalized gambling there in the early '90s.

The surrounding mountains, the old Victorian buildings, the scars from past mining and the leftover dilapidated mining equipment makes for a picturesque little town. Mind you, most of the houses in Cripple Creek are in much better shape than this sad little shack.

You may wonder how I had time to take any photos if I was playing poker. I was knocked out by a 3-outer on the cusp of the final table...

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