Are we there yet? 2013: Touring Westcliffe!------A visit to Historic St Elmo's

July 13, 2015-Monday- This morning we're going on a tour of Westcliffe, Colorado with Rich Dumont as our Tour Guide & Joanie as back up, as they once lived in Westcliffe for a 5 year period. Even tho it's been quite awhile since they lived in Westcliffe, they both still have great memories of living there. Westcliffe was only about a 45 minute drive from Howard, we didn't have to take off too early, actually we should time our leaving Howard to coordinate with having lunch in Westcliffe! If I was the Tour Guide, that's how I would work things out!?!

We arrived at Rich & Joan's old homestead. 102 S.Loma Linda, the house they built!

What a view they had!

No wonder they enjoyed living here in Westcliffe. When they built their house, they were the only ones living on the bluff! We rode around their old stomping grounds & they pointed out different places they went & some of the houses that were still there, a lot of new houses had sprung up since their days living here!

When the Dumont's lived in Westcliffe, Rich worked in house construction & Joan ran a restaurant & a book store. We went to her old restaurant & yes....it is time to eat lunch!?!

This was the LOCATION of her old restaurant, but no longer her restaurant!?! Her Restaurant was an old house.

This sign was the only original piece left to her restaurant. The old house restaurant, had been torn down & now a new Mexican restaurant stood in it's place. We came to eat, & I LOVE Mexican food, so let's eat!!!

While we ate our lunch, Joan told us all about the old house restaurant, Bobbie's Silver Bell Cafe. I enjoyed my lunch but while listening to Joan talk, I could envision myself eating Home made Meatloaf!!!

They can tear the restaurant down, but they can't take the memories away, right Joan???

Continuing our tour, we went to "Uptown" Westcliffe where Rich & Joan pointed out Joan's bookstore, which is now a bar!?! Boy....lots of changes in that little town!

They couldn't wait to show us the little historic 2 cell jail!

I think this was Rich's home away from home back in the day!

(Just kidding!)

Not a very cozy stay!

This building, now a Bar/Restaurant, Rich & his crew refurbished the inside. It was closed, so we couldn't see inside it. Joan told us, the place was haunted by the ghost of a little girl....good thing it was closed....???

Like every typical afternoon, it looks like the rains are coming in! We're NOT running for shelter, we're heading for ICE CREAM!?!

No ice cream pictures....people might think that's all we do is eat ice cream!

Rich & Joan still had a good friend here in Westcliffe, a couple that owned a gift shop. We went in their shop earlier for a look around & a quick visit from the Dumont's. Now they wanted to go back in the shop to say "Good-bye" to their friends. Lennie & I waited out in their vehicle, it was raining REAL GOOD by now!

I think there's a mountains out there!!!

We're heading back to Howard, who knows....maybe the rain hasn't been there yet?

July 15, 2015-Wednesday- Yesterday was one of those days we didn't do anything except take it easy, we had our typical afternoon rain, but today we are going to drive to St. Elmo's ( a ghost town!) with Rich & Joan. Both of us have been there before, for the Dumont's it's been awhile, for us....just last year. No dogs are coming on this ride!?!

It was a nice drive to St Elmo's & just before we reached our destination, we stopped for a necessity stop. Good thing too!!

I guess there's always Mother Nature if there's no public potty!?!

We are now at historic St Elmo once a very prosperous mining town, now without a doubt a......GHOST TOWN!

You definitely get an eerie feeling walking down the old streets of St Elmo, & if you look close, you may actually see a ghost or two!?!

This old homestead belonged to a Williams who was a shoemaker. Lennie is certain it must be an old relative of his!?!

Looks like there is another chance for a potty break!?!

Outside & inside St Elmo's Town Hall.

I think St Elmo is known first for the fact that it was a historic mining town, & secondly for all the little ground squirrels that are running all over just waiting to be fed sunflower seeds by all the visitors! Or it could be the other way around!?!

Either way St Elmo's is a fun historic place to visit.

We could not picnic in St Elmo's.....no picnic facilities in the ghost town, but just a short drive down the road was a pull off, big enough we could have a tailgate picnic....& so we did!