Taken a week ago at the Continental Divide on Loveland Pass.
At the time we were hosting Bob Sims, a Servas traveler from New Zealand, and he had planned to book a tour for almost $100 to take him to Georgetown and Loveland Pass--two of our favorite places. So we took the day and thoroughly enjoyed showing him our Colorado mountains. The Continental Divide is a place where, hypothetically, a rain drop falling on the West side would flow into the Pacific Ocean and one falling on the Eastern side would make its way to the AtlanticTo my knowledge it has never been confirmed but it makes a great story and photo opportunity. It is also a really beautiful place with spectacular views above timberline in all directions.
After the pass we retraced our path back to the Georgetown Depot and arrived just in time to see the Georgetown Loop Narrowgage train pulling in. We waited until it had re-boarded so we could get photos of it as it switched the engine and then went over the trestle. The loop trestle was an engineering marvel at the time as the "doubling back" over the trestle enabled a smaller engine on a smaller track to gain the speed and altitude necessary to carry machinery and silver between Georgetown and Silver Plume Mine. It is now operated in conjunction with the Colorado Historical Society. I was busy taking photos but when I turned around I saw Bob Sims in an animated conversation with the woman who had just helped board the passengers on the train. It seems she lives a half year in Colorado and the other half in his home country of New Zealand. Instant kinship is created by a familiar accent.
Afterward we walked in Georgetown, got caught in a rain storm and took shelter in a museum I might not have entered otherwise: a water and energy museum. It was actually quite interesting and we met our first "character" of the trip. The guide was a woman who was formerly a mechanical engineer--now retired. She told us she had been the only woman in her graduating class of engineers. She also let it slip, in a hushed voice, that she wasn't supposed to be political in her job but she really couldn't stand what Bush was doing to our country with his anti-environmental policies. When we assured her that we agreed with her, she really opened up and vented against him. When the rain stopped she was still venting. We did learn a lot about hydrology, however, before the venting began. I love eccentrics. Usually their opinions are honest and without malicious intent.
Comments