TUESDAY, August 19

At breakfast in Golden we overheard some folks talking about the trails (hiking? biking?) around Pike's Peak closed because of numerous bear attacks.  Years ago Echo and I pulled off on a side road at the top and spent the night in the truck.  Luckily there didn't seem to be any furry bears around, although the police did come by and shine their light into the truck. (Overnight parking was not allowed.) I stayed in my sleeping bag pretending to be asleep, and they left.

In Golden we window shopped while we waited for the quilt museum to open at 10:00.  It turned out to be small, but very, very nice.  (I'd worn my quilting t-shirt today 'in honor of' the planned visit, and the woman at the front desk noticed it right off, and commented.)  Another woman and I had our own personal tour of the quilts with the docent, so I got more background than was written on the blurb by each quilt.  I especially liked the quilts in the Evolution challenge, and took a bunch of photos to share once I get home.  Afterward I hit the quilt store across the street (had admired their window displays earlier) and bought a yard of Colorado-ish batik.

Headed out of town and backtracking a little through that pretty canyon we did in the dark last night. Clear Creek afforded me many opportunities for nice pix.  The creek is rocky and looks shallow, but we saw a number of rafts heading down.

At the heritage museum in Idaho Springs we viewed an artifact collection that included an animal skull with an arrowhead embedded in it; first time I've ever seen that.  We also got hailed on coming out from a store where we did score something for Alex. Saw lots of fun stuff in a store that carried "unique gifts and selfish necessities".  Lunch was less than stellar; Tom found a piece of plastic in his gyro that turned out to be from their veggie slicer. We got a refund.

Stopped in Frisco (Colorado) for gas, and took that opportunity to mail off a birthday card (a little early) to Lily in San Franciso. <g>  Then up to Leadville, where I browsed the quilt store and Tom visited the rock shop.  Pretty nippy - Tom was tempted to turn on the heater in the truck.  (We did see smoke coming out of someone's fireplace!)  Gwen (owner of the quilt store) says it never got up above 80 there this summer... and told us that it also snowed on July 1st.  She dyes her silks, and used a beautiful blue/purple piece to make a stunning purse.

We're spending the night in Buena Vista, and had dinner at Quincy's.  They only serve filet mignon (4 different sizes), with a salad (only one dressing), baked potato, and bread; their limited menu is the reason their prices are so reasonable.