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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Down By the Old Mill Stream

Now the refrain from that song is running through my head.

Anyway, how cool is this?



It looks fake, but it's not.

Eamonn came across this old mill when he was out mountain bike riding on Saturday. It was built in 1892. When I asked if we could get to it, Eamonn said, "Not in our car." Meaning some sort of 4-wheel drive massive thingy is probably required. He said the road isn't a road at all--more like a goat path.

It's too bad I'm not a mountain biker--I pretty much only ride around the neighborhood--because this is a good exaple of What's Out There That I Can't See From Here. Yes, I do some hiking. In fact, there's an amusing story from the first year we lived here. Access to the mountains around us is restricted during the season when the elk are migrating, which is usually mid-October through mid-April. So on the first day the trails were open in April '07, I headed up into the hills above our house. I got to the top of a climb and, because I am a flatlander originally, I expected to have this huge panaoramic view. And what did I see? The other side of the mountain of course--just more and more mountains going on before me. I climbed up to the top of the next one, just to see if maybe there was a panoramic view from there. Nope. More mountains.

But it just goes to show me how much is out there that you can really only see unless you get waaaay on out there. Like on a mountain bike. Eamonn has seen all sorts of stuff. Elk, deer, bears, etc. No mountain lions, which is a relief. They freak me out.

Anyway, I thought this mill picture was way cool. When I Googled it, because Eamonn told me the mill was located in Crystal, Colorado, and I didn't know where that was, and I found out it's one of Colorado's ghost towns (we visited one near Aspen last spring).

It's also called Dead Horse Mill. More pictures.

According to my friends at Wikipedia, it's one of the most photographed historic sites in Colorado.

Almost makes me want to start mountain biking.

7 comments:

Kristie said...

It's beautiful! Although I am strongly averse to sweating, I might even be willing to hike a little for a view like that. :)

Anonymous said...

WoW! So when I come out to visit I can ride there? I am in shape now...looks like an awesome place to ride to!

lMnop

Cate said...

Do it! I mountain bike like a mad woman (and I'm a klutz naturally), but you see the most amazing things out there.

Leeann said...

That is just the COOLEST!!

I would say that is a blow-up and frame-it picture there too. Have someone photoshop it to make it bolder and then you have a great framed piece of art!

1dreamr said...

Awesome pic -- very cool! I love stuff like this!

Jane Copes (Professor Sepoc) said...

I thought the road restrictions would be because of snow, not ELK! How totally exciting!

sportzmom said...

Very cool...you just might have to take up mountain biking...then again, you might have to contend with the bears,elk,deer and mountain lions. Better idea, just give Eamonn the camera!

Two of my five start school tomorrow. Can you see the happy dance I am doing? Happy Sunday!