Travels With Connie #33 Leadville Again
Sometimes I know exactly where I am going. In that case it’s easy, pick a route and go.
More often I have an idea where I’d like to end up, and generally speaking a direction to go.
Once in a while I just follow the front wheel and see where it takes me.
Manhattan Bar and the Grand Hotel
Leadville is a small and sleepy town most of the time. Population is less than 3000 people and tourism is almost the sole source of income one way or another.
It wasn't always that way. By 1880 Leadville had a population of over 15,000 and was probably the second largest city in Colorado all due to the Silver mining in the area.
A lot of money flowed through Leadville, and some impressive buildings were built including the Hotel, the Opera House and some a couple of churches. Today, the mines are Federal Superfund sites and the town is much smaller.
The spirit of old Leadville lives on. Their annual "Boom Days" held in August is a 'Local Legacy Event' as certified by Congress. The annual 'Leadville 100' is a high altitude ultra marathon of 100 miles. It is one of the premier such events in the US.
The business district is mostly quiet, but there are more bars and restaurants than the local population would require. It might not be 'foodie heaven' in the classic sense, but I've had some good solid meals there.
Leadville is right in the middle of an area of stark beauty and is mostly above the timber line. It's a glorious part of Colorado and it's history well worth going back to. I think I will.
Thanks for coming along for the ride!
All words and photographs in this post are mine. For better or worse
You want some real motorcycle travel? Check out Velimir. That’s some kind of motorcycle writing.
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Leadville seems most develope city. Population is just about 3000. It means they have a good governance system. Amazing. @bigtom13 you are sharing quality content and real stuff. Thank you for all this. Thank you forshowing me daily new part of the world.
this is really nice thanks for sharing @bigtom13
Thank you!
@bigtom13
Nice, really cool pictures my friend! Reminds me a bit of that movie "Easy Rider"...
Leadville kinda has that feel. It's like it could be anyplace, but in this case it's at 10,000 feet :)
high elevation...
following and upvoting! like your work..and thanks for your suppoort,
Thanks. I just love riding and taking pictures. Makes it pretty easy...
You ( and Connie) always have the most scenic trips and rides!
I love those small towns! I used to live in one years ago- population was about 600... yeah.. teeny-tiny for sure!
Wow. My smallest (I grew up there) was about 1000. But I just love visiting. It's like the people don't change, just the place.
Ho man! I love the pictures! This is a typical little town from the USA, like the ones we see on some movies here in Europe ahah
It is like a movie town. Pretty darn cool little place.
What a cute little suburb of Colorado, history in those buildings makes you want to find out the story's they hold.
I know that most of the old buildings were built in the 1880s. Other than that there are a lot of questions in my mind. I'll go back...
Just Thank You!