|
|
|
|
We've
Been Sleighed!
"An Unforgettable
Family Experience," is what the brochure said. We're
beginning to think so and we haven't even seen a sleigh yet!
The directions looked simple enough, but as we zigzag up the snowy
hill, the road narrows, the woods thicken and the romance of a sleigh
ride to dinner begins to look ominous.
Eventually, we find a turning point, and after a few skids,
which require a little rocking to get us going, we're headed back down
the hill toward civilization. Miraculously, the turnoff is just
where the map indicated, but the sign is obscure and the heavy snow
didn't help.
|
Although there are many dinner
Sleigh
Rides in Summit County to choose from, we have decided on
The
Country Boy Mine for our
sleigh ride in Breckenridge, because it's just two miles from downtown
Breckenridge and if it's recommended by The New York Times, (as it says
on their website) it must be good.
|
|
We park the car in a
pasture (or so it seems), and wade through the fresh snow to a weathered
old wooden building where we meet our cheery host. A pot-bellied stove is radiating the kind of heat that pours
into your cells and heats you all the way through, so we huddle around
it and gorge ourselves with cups of hot chocolate and marshmallows.
|
Hanging on the wall
above rusted picks, axes and mining tools is this message to miners...
1
Buzz - DO NOT
BLAST - DO NOT PULL
2 Buzzes - OK - YES - GO AHEAD (No one will OK a request
to blast other than those crews directly involved in the
blasting procedure. When shooting ore passes with more
than one (1) connection, only one (1) OK will be given from each
connection
3 Buzzes - REQUEST PERMISSION TO BLAST
4 Buzzes - WANT MUCK OR START LOADING
5 Buzzes - ORE PASSES FULL AT LEVEL BEING PULLED
7 Buzzes - DANGER - ALL WORK MUST CEASE UNTIL RELEASE IS
GIVEN BY SUPERVISOR. |
|
| You have to wonder if
counting buzzes all day slowed them down any. And what happens
when there are 6 Buzzes? |
|
During the day, the Country Boy Mine conducts tours 1000 feet
underground where miners still work, and if you are so inclined, you can
even do a little gold panning.
Their reputation for being one of the best preserved mines in
Colorado extends to the facilities! An outhouse is the only choice
for private matters, but there's a sign hanging on the door that
"hopes you're comfortable," which I guess applies to their
efforts to keep it clean and neat.
|
|
Eventually everyone that's coming has arrived, a total
of eight on this wintry night, although the sleigh will hold 20
passengers. We pile into the big red sleigh,
snuggle into our caps and earmuffs and cuddle up with blankets, to begin
our 'dash' through the woods.
|
|
|
Barney and Pat, two 4000 pound draft horses, provide the fuel for our
trip. It's a slow steady ride, and within minutes they are pulling us up
a hill and deep into the forest.
When we get to the top, they halt knowingly, and our guide explains
that it is important not to over exert them in the altitude. They
are susceptible to a disease called Blue Lung which translates into too
much cold air too fast.
|
|
|
She informs us that they are capable of pulling up to five times their
weight. It seems mean, but she assures us they are treated very
well at the Country Boy.
Soon evening turns into darkness, but the snow lights the scene with
a dim glow. The soft silence is broken only by the couple in front
of us who are smooching and cooing, but we are not distracted.
It's just too beautiful.
|
|
|
I'm enjoying the sleigh ride, but it's not what I'd expected. Somewhere I
got the idea that we'd be dashing through the snow, and I don't
suppose Grandma will be meeting us either.
After about 45 minutes, we reach the last lap of the journey; it's
all downhill from here and that seems to excite Pat and Barney.
Our guide is working the reins hard and shouting commands like whoa
or whatever it is you say to slow them down.
Dinner is next, and we're all looking forward to ending our romantic
interlude and filling our tummies with hearty, country food fare.
|
|
Dinner is provided, buffet style, by a caterer (again, not what I
expected; where are the calves on a spit with barbecue sauce dripping to
the floor.) in the old Blacksmith's shop.
On the menu is a tossed green salad, roasted barbecue ribs, chicken
breasts, jalapeno cornbread, miner's beans and for dessert, homemade
cinnamon apple crisps. It's all warm (not hot), and I think they
may have forgotten to take the meat out of the oven on time. I
liked the beans and the salad. Oh, where is Grandma?
A friendly guitar player serenades us as we eat, playing John
Denver's Rocky Mountain High, Wildflower, Urban Cowboy and a little
Johnny Cash. The four couples are sitting at four picnic tables so
there's not much mingling. I expected that from the lovebirds.
|
|
Here we are enjoying
the entertainment!
|
Here we are, all at our
separate tables.
|
|
Well, we're just sleighed out. Dub's muttering something
about how he'd rather have spent the money on shoes that didn't
fit. I'm wondering if the critic from the New York Times has ever
been in the West. Just an opinion.
|
|
More about Breckenridge
|
| Have you been
Sparkstötting
lately? Get your chance tomorrow! That's NEXT! |
 GO! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sign
up for Lisa's monthly ski tips and more on Summit County. Read the latest issue
here. |
|
Meet Lisa |
Got a question
about
Colorado Ski Country?
Ask Lisa
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
