Palm Tree

I always love palm trees as I've never lived anywhere warm enough for them to grow. For Skywatch Friday, here's one from the Charleston area.

Cripple Creek Views

I've been showing some photos of the area's mining history. Here are views around the town of Cripple Creek, one of the main gold-mining towns. These days it survives mainly on legalized gambling - here's a view of the town itself.

It's situated in a very pretty, hilly area on the Western side of Pikes Peak.

There are only a couple of roads into town, but it's only a little over an hour from Colorado Springs.

Our World Tuesday

Grey Golden Gate Bridge (1998)

Scenic Weekends

The Weekend in Black and White

Vintage Weekly

Misty Swamp

Skywatch Friday

Theresa Mine

I don't have a lot of information about this mine, the Theresa Mine, in the Victor/Cripple Creek area.

It operated from 1895 to 1961.

The buildings are still standing but decaying. This is the change house.

At one time it would have been a hive of activity. Can you imagine getting in that cage suspended by one cable to go hundreds of feet underground?

Here is the hoist mechanism, still intact but I'd guess not functional.

I'll continue my series on local mining next week.

Our World Tuesday

Denver Fish (2)

Camera Critters

Saturday's Critters

Yet Another Summer Sky

Today's high temperature: 67 °F (19.4 °C). Tomorrow night's expected low: 9 °F (-12.8 °C) That's quite a difference! For Skywatch Friday, let's look back to summer before it takes a break (it will be warm again by Sunday).