SILO

Being currently located in the home of the world’s largest harvest you might think that this blog entry might be about farm silo’s.

But it isn’t, many of us lived and served during the cold war era. You will remember this type of silo, though, like us, you may have never been near one. Today Betty and I went for a look. Click on pix for larger view.

Located near Cooperstown North Dakota.

For size perspective, here is Betty standing atop of the hardened facility’s blast door.

Here is a look at the top of that door.

Explanatory overview photo below.

Personnel entered the silo facility through this hatch.

This is the N-33  site, the Oscar Zero site is open to the public for tours, but not open on this day.

Now a historical site, but once a very deadly place.

I remember being on the Charleston South Carolina naval base when it was locked down when President Kennedy was assassinated . We were all on edge, but not , I expect, as on edge as these silo crews !

The pre pile and much of the training is completed. We are to soon start the regular harvest season.

THIRTYFOUR

Thirtyfour years ago, Betty’s family visited Lookout Mountain just West of Denver Colorado. Located near I-70, the area has grown up and now has many businesses and residences.

The picnic shelter where they ate a water melon, was nearly unchanged.

Betty and Poco enjoy the view from the picnic table where Finis Green, Betty’s Stepdad, had his photo taken.

We visited the grave of Buffalo Bill as Betty’s Family did that day thirtyfour years ago.

There is a Museum there now.

ROCK

Hard Rock Mining operation.

 

 

 

 

 

PANNING

The pan’s that are used come in many forms. Here Betty looks over a steel smooth sided pan.

Here is a plastic single rib pan with some color in the bottom.

Here is a smaller 10” double rib plastic pan that is also showing color.

Here is a look at our sample bottles with a few gold flakes in them.

GOLD

Jessie Petersen arrived in the Blackhawk/Central City area in the 1970’s. He has been mining for gold ever since. We met him when he put on an interpretive program at our campground.

After the program Betty and I were invited to tour Jessie’s mining operation on our next day off. Here is Jessie taking a break and talking with us about the mine.

The main mine has been worked by early Spaniards and Chinese as well as Jessie’s crew.

Jessie at the main mine entrance.

Entrance warning sign.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

PEAKS

Our campground management job is conveniently located within day trip distance of quite a few of Colorado’s tallest peaks.

The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum  is located in Leadville Colorado. The highest incorporated town in the USA. Elevation 10,200. Senior admission price $6. A very cool place to visit and learn.

Golden age passport free admission into Mount Evans access highway, North America’s highest highway. Many wonderful sights all the way to the top.

Pike’s Peak has always attracted folks. At the summit we ran into a group of BMW motorcycle riders that included a NASA Astronaut.

Our sharp eyed buddy Pete was doing the driving that day and he was the first to realize that we were in the presence of an authentic spaceman. We were all at the summit sign taking photos. 

PIKE

Pike’s Peak, another one of Colorado’s 14’s, or mountains that reach above fourteen thousand feet of elevation.

The air is a bit thin here at the summit. Note that Poco is showing some anxiety in the rareified air.

Many twists and turns as we climb and climb for miles.

We drove up out of the trees into the alpine tundra.

Soon we drove into the zone where the air is so thin that nothing grows and just under the surface there is permafrost.

Clever sign that we just had to photograph.