Picked up dad this morning and headed up Four Mile Canyon to have coffee and a muffin at the Gold Hill Store. This ride would offer nice views of Boulder and the Rockies, but also a a view of a tiny bit of burned area from the Four Mile fire that was a little more than a year ago.
Unfortunately, the Inn wasn't open yet though we got a chance to see the tiny town. And we got to watch some silly Black-Billed Magpies. They are like black and white and shimmering blue macaws. When they fly, their tails flow behind them like long streamers - just like Macaws do.
It was a clear day so the view of Longs Peak and other mountains in the Rockies was nice. Just a little outside of Gold Hill, I spied a marker that had a Masonic emblem so we stopped.
Turns out it is a marker for the site of the Rocky Mountain Lodge and it discussed Chivington who was the First Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Colorado. Later in the day we'd learn more about Chivington and his leading at the Sandy Creek Massacre. Not a bright day in the history of Colorado or man.
We headed to our next stop - a tour of the history of Boulder. En route, we stumbled on the aftermath of an armed robbery at the US Bank on North Broadway. Officers were still scrambling around with weapons drawn. We saw many others in the crowds in downtown looking for the suspect - male, business clothes, in his 30-40s. Second robbery in two days.
The one yesterday happened two little shops over from where dad and I grabbed lunch at the Pharmaca on South Boulder. That guy just wanted drugs.
We next went to the Boulderado to wait for our tour bus. The Boulderado is a beautiful old hotel in downtown and was opened 102 years ago. It was here that our tour vehicle arrived from Banjo Billy's. I think dad approved.
The photos are cool, but what I couldn't capture was the bus' horn that could do a wolf whistle, a horse whinnying, and a dog barking. These were used frequently as we drove through Boulder. When a pedestrian yelled at the bus, all the riders yelled "YEEEE HAWWW!!" Good times!
The inside of the bus had all sorts of crazy music, the seating was upholstered chairs, and the decor whimsical. Our drive, Glen, was excellent. We made numerous stops to learn about different parts of Boulder's history. Some I knew from Silvia Pettem's books, some I didn't.
One of the first stops we made was the first house in Boulder with an indoor toilet, hot and cold running water inside and a ghost. Seems there are a lot of ghosts in town.
We passed what was recently Tom's Tavern (now Salt) and the driver informed everyone this was the cities morgue for decades. Now a restaurant. :/
The other places we stopped were generally haunted and the driver shared stories about it (including the Boulderado). Everyone had a great time.
They do a similar tour in Denver - going to have to hop on that bus when I get a couple of free hours.
After the tour, we headed into Eldorado Canyon so dad could watch some climbing. It was a perfect day so there was a fair amount of activity. Dave was out there, but on the West Ridge out of our view.
By then, it was time to make the drive to Casa Bonita in Denver. Dad was last there in 1974. Yes, 1974 - the year it opened. We had dinner then listened to Mariachis sing spanglish Happy Birthday several dozen times as some actors screamed and repeatedly dove off the cliff into the water.
There was excellent people watching to be had. By the time the last sopapilla was devoured we were both tired so we came back and dad checked his email at the house. With Dave out of the house, and a guest in the house, Pente did what Pente does....she hopped on the dining room table to beg for some loving. It never fails to work for her.
Tomorrow is Estes Park and perhaps heading up Trail Ridge Road (weather permitting). Maybe we'll see some critters.
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