While still waiting on the Motor home we decided to do some exploring. I found an area of Colorado that my grandmother was raised in. We took a few days to explore the area. We based our trip on a book of memoirs my grandmother wrote, Down Memory's Lane with the Beaver Creek Folks.
We stayed in Carr Manor a Bed and Breakfast in the Cripple Creek converted High School built in the late 1800's. The Inn was beautiful. The staff were instant friends. We had a great 3 days enjoying the sites of the area and resting in the comfort of Carr Manor. The breakfasts were amazing!
The Inn's foyer.
We stayed in the Principal's Office. The Inn left the chalk boards in the rooms for you to write on.
We took the Jeep out for some 4 wheeling on Shelf Road. The road is an old railroad path from the Gold Rush days. Cripple Creek is famous for the original gold mines discovery in Colorado.
Some of the road was a little scary. It was good to be on the mountain side of this one lane.
We saw 3 big horn sheep right by the road.
Time for ice cream at the Soda Fountain in Cripple Creek.
OK you win. Monster Float!
We visited the local Cripple Creek Cemetery.
Old grave sites.
Cripple Creek and Victor are home to a massive modern Gold Mine.
Cripple Creek was a fun place to explore.
Yep,that is Dave at tea! We met the most wonderful people in Cripple Creek.
I found information on the internet about my grandmother through a wonderful historian in Penrose, CO. Sherry Johns has written a book; Pioneer Women of Beaver Creek and quoted my grandmother's Memoirs in her book. We met her one day on our journey and she showed us around Beaver Creek. This area was first settled in the 1800's. My grandmother writes of growing up on Beaver Creek. Sherry took us places we would never have found without our Jeep and her navigation.
My grandmother writes of two baby brothers that died while they lived on Beaver Creek. We were able to locate the grave stones. Amazing given the cemetery does not have a caretaker or map to graves. It was sad to think of my young great-grandmother standing by the graves of her infant sons.
Sherry then took us to the old school house ruins. Just the foundation is visible.
Standing in the school house.
Beaver Creek Stage Coach Inn ruins. We found some old plate pottery chips here.
Standing in Beaver Creek where my grandmother played.
Sherry was able to provide us with a map of the homesteads purchased on Beaver Creek. We believe this to be my great-grandfather's land. We are so grateful to Sherry for all of her research and touring. It was sobering to stand on this ground and think of the hardships my family endured. Just to feed your family and stay warm in the winter would have been an amazing feat. How grateful we are for our daily conveniences.
Sherry with Bev and the quilt made in honor of the Pioneer Women of Beaver Creek.
We ended this leg of our trip with a ride up to the top of Pikes Peak. I was white knuckled all the way. I was shaking by the time we reached the top and it was not due to the 14,000 ft altitude.
As Rowen would say, "to infinity and beyond."
We made it. WOW, you could see forever.
Life on the edge.
Remember that golf mine? Here is it from atop Pikes Peak.
There are so many wonderful places to visit and explore. However...Something special happens when you find yourself walking the very ground you know your family once walked.
