Hey, thought I would toss a recent ride in here! Colorado 9 entertains those on two wheels just about its entire length. Enjoyed a scoot this week (not bad for December) following 9's lonely journey through southern Park County. Just me, the bike, and the road. Me thinks you would like the same, eh?
Here's the map of where the images below are from... https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...IdUQy2-Q&gl=us&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=11&t=m&z=10
At the "A" on the map the bike sits still for a portrait under a low December sun. The 13,000 ft. monarchs of the Mosquito Range are in the distance. We're not far below timberline here. Oh look at that scant snow up high. Been mostly a dry winter so far. Good for riding, not so good for many reasons. Fortunately, as I type this, snow is smothering these peaks...
Now, just a few miles SE of the image above is the ghost town of Garo. Perhaps more accurately... the ghost building of Garo. The town site of Garo was named after Adolph Guiraud, a nearby homesteader. I suppose it was easier pronouncing and spelling "Garo" versus "Guiraud". The old Garo school was moved to a museum. The other structures succumbed to the high altitude winds and weather.
Chub Newitt founded the general store in Garo, and its decaying remains can be seen easily from Colorado 9 between Fairplay and Hartsel. The store actually thrived for a few decades from the late 1890's to the 1920's. Chub didn't fare as well, or as long. I believe it was some ranchers who came into the store looking for some guns to buy. A shotgun was given to them to examine; it fell to the floor and it happened to have a shell in the chamber. The gun discharged, peppering Chub's rear end with buckshot. According to historical archives, he died of "blood poisoning".
Here I am pausing in front of the old Garo General Store...
Some of you know I sometimes find old pictures of a place, stand where the photographer stood many years ago, frame the image as close as patience and cold fingertips allow, and let the pics tell the tale.
Local residents stopping by the store between 1890 and 1910...
Here's the map of where the images below are from... https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...IdUQy2-Q&gl=us&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=11&t=m&z=10
At the "A" on the map the bike sits still for a portrait under a low December sun. The 13,000 ft. monarchs of the Mosquito Range are in the distance. We're not far below timberline here. Oh look at that scant snow up high. Been mostly a dry winter so far. Good for riding, not so good for many reasons. Fortunately, as I type this, snow is smothering these peaks...
Now, just a few miles SE of the image above is the ghost town of Garo. Perhaps more accurately... the ghost building of Garo. The town site of Garo was named after Adolph Guiraud, a nearby homesteader. I suppose it was easier pronouncing and spelling "Garo" versus "Guiraud". The old Garo school was moved to a museum. The other structures succumbed to the high altitude winds and weather.
Chub Newitt founded the general store in Garo, and its decaying remains can be seen easily from Colorado 9 between Fairplay and Hartsel. The store actually thrived for a few decades from the late 1890's to the 1920's. Chub didn't fare as well, or as long. I believe it was some ranchers who came into the store looking for some guns to buy. A shotgun was given to them to examine; it fell to the floor and it happened to have a shell in the chamber. The gun discharged, peppering Chub's rear end with buckshot. According to historical archives, he died of "blood poisoning".
Here I am pausing in front of the old Garo General Store...
Some of you know I sometimes find old pictures of a place, stand where the photographer stood many years ago, frame the image as close as patience and cold fingertips allow, and let the pics tell the tale.
Local residents stopping by the store between 1890 and 1910...