Boulder Colorado Retreat

A view at Peaceful Meadows Retreat
A four day visit to the Peaceful Meadows Retreat was the core of our sojourn to Boulder, Colorado. Shortly after we arrived, we were escorted to our little room at the head of the stairs, which I excitedly noticed contained, not only our own personal robes & slippers, but also baskets. Joy of joys - the baskets included toiletries, but most notably lovely dark chocolates! The beds were only twins, but it wasn't like there would be much time for lolling around.


Who IS that in the mirror over there?

The Retreat gardens
There is a lovely veggie garden which supplied us with nice super-fresh veggies for every meal - yes, that included a few veggies at breakfast.


Veggie Garden
We ate quite well at the retreat, all of our meals provided by the lovely lady below. I will definitely trying some of the retreat recipes, which are conveniently on line, for myself.


The Chef presents our din-din! Yum!
Two mornings there were hot air balloons floating by, at some distance. I wonder if there was a balloon race or demo going on?


Hot Air Balloon wafted by
I was tickled to find several great garden areas, including the mineral inspired "Angelic Gateway of Grace" shown below.


Mineral Crystal meditation area

Top of a mineral post
There were loads of interesting things inside the retreat's main building also. We attended spa treatments (think acupuncture energy stimulation - sans needles, crossed with chakra treatments) in a room featuring this lovely little stained glass window. I was intrigued by the window's colorful reflection on the rug.


Stained glass
There was also a little chapel upstairs, which holds Sunday services. It used to be the balleywick of a famous holy woman, Reverend Hanna Kroeger, master herbalist and healer. She was known throughout the world as the “Grandmother of Health.” Of course her healing powers irked the crap out of the medical profession so she was often sued for having the audacity to help people achieve better health.


The chapel

Ascended Masters surround wishes
Our classes began within an hour of arriving at the Retreat site, late Friday afternoon, and continued on through Sunday night, 10PM. Barbara and I were exhausted! We did complete the program however, and on Monday night there was a celebratory dinner in the honor of all class participants. The music played was the sort played at British Royal coronations, which needless to say, made me all giggly & happy.


Our celebratory feast
Our numerous classmates were all delightful to meet and get to know. Many had amazing life stories that to me seemed worth the price of the classes in themselves; stories of survival, stories of woe and triumph.


Some classmates pose at Graduation

A toast to our progress & excellence!

Oh, and did I mention how yummy dessert was graduation night?
As special ordered, there was a beautiful pink and blue sky our last night at the retreat.


A memorable sky over our retreat on Grads night

Doing Time in Rawlins, Wyoming

So Long Winnemucca!

Monday morning, leaving Winnemucca behind, Barbara and I were on the road to Salt Lake City, part II of winding our way to Colorado. We've driven the route to Salt Lake City a few times over the years with Barb's boys Eric and James, on our way to Yellowstone National Park. But this go-round after a night in Salt Lake City, instead of north, we headed east towards Wyoming.

The road between Winnemucca and Salt Lake City would be totally devoid of interest if it were not for the white alkali desert.

Utah Alkali Salt Flats

The only other note of interest is the weird mirages that make the highway look as if it dissolves into a patch of water in the distance ahead. How there are mirages when the daytime temperatures were in the 80s is even more amazing.

Highway Mirage in the distance

The night we spent in Salt Lake City was uneventful, and next day we were headed further east toward Wyoming. I was amazed by the high number of wild Pronghorn antelope that browsed and laid along side the highway. I bet we saw at least 10 herds of antelope between Salt Lake City and Rawlins. However with a 75 miles an hour speed limit, and a jillion massive semi trucks, not to mention a nearly non-existent road shoulder, we didn't dare stop for any photos, least we wind up a greasy spot on the byway.

First of a zillion mesas along Highway 80

Even without the fun of seeing wildlife, the highway was far more interesting once we left Salt Lake behind. Mesas, sheer rock cliffs and amazingly artful rock outcroppings were around every corner.

A mirror surfaced lake - Utah

We were going so fast whomever was driving shotgun had to get most of their shots through the windshield or passenger side window. That necessity made some of the shots borderline awesome.

Lots of steep cliffs handy for drive by photo ops

After a fairly short driving day, we were checked checked in and snug in our motel suite in Rawlins. As soon as we were we were off to explore what there is of Rawlins, Wyoming.

There are several pretty Victorians in Rawlins. The Ferry Mansion is the showiest.

The Ferry Mansion, a Queen Anne Victorian - now a B&B

Rawlings is chock full of beautiful old Victorians

We soon discovered the pride of Rawlins is it's old time Wyoming Penitentiary. The old Pen held prisoners from the early 1901 on to 1981. 'If the walls could only talk - and also plunder, rape & pillage - the stories they could tell!

The Rawlins Penetentiary

Click on the picture below (or any photos here for that matter) for a closer look at the Pen's history.

To read the sign, just click on the photo

On first sight of the cold stone walls my first thought was 'Oh joy! I bet this place is haunted!'. A quick web search proved me right in that assumption. Too bad this the prison is so far from home, it might be a nice place to tour around Halloween - I mean, there were loads of creepiness and hangings here!

The prison barber shop, where nice shaves were had with dull blades

The prison has been closed for prisoners but is open for visitors to its museum. There are daily tours and I ought to have gone on one but I too bushed. I was up for a walk around the museum...

Note to self: next time SKIP the prison's display of deadly weaponry produced by prisoners from plastic cutlery/toothbrushes and such. Eeeeww...

Loads of law enforcement & creepy prison artifacts

Nearly obligatory 'License plates through the ages' exhibit

Aw geez... you can be certain that George "Butch" Cassidy was just a low down thief when he checked into the Wyoming Pen, but one cool movie and he is now an old time honored guest. Not complaining... just pointing out the facts there Butch.

Proof that ole Butch Cassidy once cooled his heels in Rawlings

If you're interested, you can peruse this display of
those who were executed at the penitentiary

Model of a ghastly gallows, famous for it's lingering deaths

So, like I have to go on to Colorado alone now?

The museum is interesting if not down right disturbing. Around the time Barbara noticed the proudly displayed photos of those hung at the Pen. Then Barbara noticed the eagerly displayed lengths of rope, each labeled with the name of the man the rope was used to hung. That was it! She was OUTTA there on the spot, but due to unfortunate circumstances involving her screams disturbing the peace...

Oops. I guess I put up too much of a fuss about having to leave Barb behind in the pokey.

GAK! Talk about your low down law breakers, just have a look below.

I swear, you steal one stupid horse, and the bush-poppers are all over yer arse!

Front door to the Penitentiary Museum

By the time we secured our release - we traded Snickers bars for our freedom - we were rarin' for some grub. We found a little dinner at the end of town and had one of the most memorable bad meals we've had in a long time. I wonder if there are any chefs in Wyoming's history that did time for serving crappy salad?

I guess I really did!

First stop: Winnemucca Nevada

Semi-early, kinda late on Sunday morning, Barbara and I started our journey to Colorado with a drive over the Donner Pass and on to Winnemucca, Nevada. To pass the time we listened to a cassette touring tape that covers the history of the Donner Pass - its geology, peoples, history and even the icky bits about the infamous Donner Dinner Party.


Storms in them hills

I used to drive back and forth from Sacramento to Winnemucca Nevada when I worked in Winnemucca for the BLM in the summer of 1981. So it is nice to have a short visit to my old, state income tax free, home in the desert.


Winnemucca Nevada Country

After a few hours of barren seeming stretches we made it to Winnemucca and checked into a nice little motel. Settled in we were off for a drive so I could tour a bit and try to perhaps see some desert birds. No luck was to be had on the birds; I only managed to scare up some California Quail and some Eurasian Collared-doves.


Why did the Quail cross the road
Who cares! Where were the Sage Sparrows?

A motel room pamphlet stated Winnemucca has more Basque restaurants per capita than any other town in the U.S.A. Will have to hit one on our way home. Meanwhile, as I looked at the mural of a Basque herder and his sheep I thought of lamb chops, lamb shanks... *drool*


Winnemucca is Basque Country

All the northwest desert Nevada towns have their initials on the mountains behind them, to guide air pilots. This one on a hill behind Battle Mountain has been making me giggle since the summer of 1981 when I worked for the BLM out of Winnemucca for 4 months.


BM on the Mountain *giggle, giggle*

I drove around town seeing how it's grown since my last visit in the 1990s. The tiny Humboldt Museum is no longer a fading wooden building in the foreground. It's grown into this 2 story brick building.


The new Humboldt Museum


Part of the old Humboldt Museum

Two Fat Ladies touring the West

Barbara and I got a big laugh out of this pair of piglets outside an eating establishment in downtown Winnemucca.

The start of big sky country


There are green things in the desert


So! We ended the first day of vacation in Nevada. Tomorrow it's on to Utah.