Author Archives: kathousekelli70

Manitou Springs

Posted on by kathousekelli70

I jumped the gun a bit, we won't be in Fort Collins tonight we are heading for Manitou Springs on the western edge of Colorado Springs. Jack worked out for us to see the Cliff Dwelling Museum, Cave of the Winds and Pikes Peak Cog Railway.

We visited the antique stores in Walsenburg this morning after breaky at George's Drive-Inn Diner. Found a nice shaped key for the 'liquor cabinet' for future wearing of my Victorian 1886 Reception gown and found a pair of shoe clips for another gown.

Ever wondered where the saying “when your numbers up” came from? Well in Walsenburg all is explained. It was from the mining era and when the miners did not return that had been caught underground in a blast etc.

Coming in to Manitou Springs, the historic district is absolutely beautiful and looking forward to exploring this place. I could just imagine how picturesque it could be during winter and the snow!

We managed to get onto the Pikes Peak Cog Railway on standby for the 1.20pm ride. The cog railway system is actually a Roman invention. It pulls up the mountain quite well considering the elevation. Manitou Springs sits at 6,412ft and at Pikes Peak, finishing at 14,115ft at the summit. At the beginning of the trip it was a little cloudy and 64F/17.7C we had a slight snow flurry on the way up with it gradually clearing to blue skies and sunshine.

After the switching at Minnehaha it hits a 25% grade incline.

Pikes peak at 'The Half Way House' where you could stay for $10 a week and had a post office and a one lane bowling alley in the hotel. Was there in the early 1900's however was burnt down in the late 1800's early 1900's.

The small power plant (a hydro electric plant) used to have a caretaker living in the house, you can just see the plant through the trees, it still serves 200 homes in Manitou.

Pikes Peak is the 31st highest of the 55 'fourteeners' in Colorado. 1.4mill acres forms Pike National Park.

It was a $5 trip in 1895. The original idea for the railway after Zalmon Simmons made a 3 day trek up the peak on a mule to enjoy the views and to see how his invention of insulators for the telegraph were going for the Army Telegraph to the summit. He thought it was so beautiful that no one would want to ride up on a burrow and within 3 years had funded the idea and had the railway built. There've been running the train for 121years now and is still the original tracks. The first train run to the top was August 16, 1890.

At a certain point the trees will not grow, it's due to turbo frost where the ground is always frozen and all you can see is bare hill AND it's claim to fame is the hill in the Sound of Music where Julie Andrews twirls around atop of it. (The hilllllls are alive, with the sound of music – although my version in my head is the Moulin Rouge version)

There is also a gold mine situated here but you can't see it from the tracks, it is owned by foreigners and produces $800,000 worth of gold a day! It is one of the biggest gold mines in the US.

There is only one naturally occurring lake on the side of Pikes Peak. The others are all man made. This is the longest and highest cog railway in the US. The top of the train as it pulls up is 3 stories higher than the bottom. And we are now at 12,129ft at Windy Point. The grass only grows 1-3″ every 100 years. Guess you wouldn't have to mow very often! Lol!

And we thought we had fun just making a dam larger in Canberra, try making one at around 13,000ft! This one is man made. Would have been a job just getting the machinery up here!

Check out the snow too, and a few mountain goats just hanging out!

We finally reached the summit and got a short break for their world famous donuts, recipe perfected at that altitude apparently and I must say the chocolate vanilla cappucino was divine! We felt a little bit 'floaty' due to the altitude but otherwise fine. Fantastic experience and highly recommend it!!! 42F/5.5C with wind chill of 36F/2.2C.

The braking system for the trip back down is good and if the driver goes a little too fast the computer kicks in with the assisted brakes. Phew! Nice to know, although the girl doing the commentary said “if that doesn't work we have two springs at the bottom to stop us – Manitou and Colorado.” Comforting? Not! Lol!

The cloud really rolled in as we were leaving and as the next train pulled up, so we caught a lucky break, maybe it will be sunny at the bottom now.

Found a spot to sleep, Pikes Peak Inn, within walking distance of the shops, shops and more shops and restaurants. We stopped at The Keg Bar and Grill and had a Boulder Beer – Shake Chocolate Porter for me, yum! Hints of chocolate and caramel, like a Guinness thickness. Jack had a Buffalo Gold Premium Ale.

Wandered a few more shops that were open, haa! And just had to take a pic outside the hemp shop, don't worry it's only an unlit cigar Jack has.

Wandered back down the road and we are at the Stagecoach Inn for beers and dinner and only have to stumble spittin' distance to the motel. We have jazz in the park across the road while we sit here as well.

What a great day!

Kat xo

 

 

 

Hit The Road Jack!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

After cleaning the car last night and Jack doing final internal touches while I did laundry we are heading through Santa Fe and stopping in Taos (pronounced touse – thanks Melody!).

Views of a very dry looking New Mexico.

Through Santa Fe and Espanola just outside of Taos and landscape is changing again. It's a little greener and the gorge looks spectacular! Called Horseshoe Bend ?? We didn't go out to Rio Grande gorge and the bridge though.

In Taos, we had a nice lunch at the Gorge Bar & Grill out on the deck overlooking the plaza and then walked some of the many, many shops before heading out to check out the Taos Pueblo.

What an interesting place that is, the current church, which we thought looked a bit new gets taken care of each season like the rest of the traditional adobe buildings and the church has been there since 1850!

The original site for the San Geronimo Church was where the cemetery is and was built around 1619. It was rebuilt a couple of times after conquests and revolts in 1680 and 1706 and then after the 1847 overthrow when Governor Charles Bent was slewn by natives it was reconstructed on the site where it is today.

The Taos Pueblo is a world heritage listed site known as the first living world heritage. In the confines of the original walls they still maintain age old traditions, no electricity and no running water, drawing water from the Red Willow Creek that breaks up the North and South.

Tonight we are in Walsenburg and will head onwards to Fort Collins tomorrow.

Night!

Kat xo

 

Tales of End of Trail

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Founders Ranch, Edgewood, NM, where games are won and lost in the world of cowboy action shooting. The 33rd Annual End Of Trail 2014 World Championships have been held under a clear blue New Mexico sky, hot and dry conditions with plenty of the usual fine powdery dust.

(That's why I'm sitting in the laundromat now – trying to get dirt and dust out of white petticoats!)

 

This year we were on Posse 22 – Apostle Charlie, Bordello Baz, Doc Rankin, Downunder Undertaker, Ex Sighted, Jackaroo, Kathouse Kelli, Johnny Behan, Max Montana, Pious Player, Shanley Shooter, Tejon Buckaroo, The Bandit, US Grant, Whiplash Whitey and the lovely Singin' Sue stayed to do scoring for us!

A few new faces, a few from Australia with us and a few we already knew. Fun, fun, fun!

Three days of fun at that! Thursday through Saturday were the main match days where I finished clean!!! Jack was clean……….with a P. Dang!

It was an interesting match, targets were up close and speedy, and THAT's what made it interesting for the faster shooters! The top 16 shoot out was again, as always, fun to watch (Savage Sam from Aus and Ruby Redsmoke and White Lightning Jack from NZ in it) watching the Wild Bunch shoot out as well which R C Shot from Aus was in. (Alvira Sullivan Earp was too but didn't shoot)

Scores were done, rank points added up to see who'd be the best in the world. Congratulations to all 539 shooters who attended EOT, and 127 clean shooters this year, I hope you had as much fun as I did!

Jack finished 12th in Senior category and 108th overall, I finished 4th in Lady Wrangler category and 145th overall.

There were 23 Australians and 8 New Zealanders this year which was pretty cool, with half or just over half placing in the top 10 of their category and receiving a buckle. A very credible 2nd place to Savage Sam in the Cowboy Category and 3rd place to Alvira Sullivan Earp in Ladies Senior category and to Ruby Redsmoke 1st and World Champion in Ladies B-Western!

Top honours this year and your 2014 World Champions (I thought I was T-Bone Dooley and Ringo Fire announcing then!lol!) are Men's – Cobra Cat and Ladies – Sasskicker, who I might just add is only 16 years old!

Besides all the fun with the shooting Friday evening was the saloon night “Daggers and Derringers”. Five of us contested the saloon girl/soiled dove competition with Diamond Blaze taking first and a derringer, the rest of us received a Damascus blade dagger!

Saturday night was the party night and yes I did manage to be able to dance in an 1887 bustle dress with reasonable ease from boot-scooting to two-step. BUT the best part of all is seeing everyone dressed in their finest and seeing all who go in the Best Dressed Costume contest. This year I won 1st place Best Dressed Lady! Yes! I finally got it right with my 1887 walking dress for day on the streets of Tombstone!

 

Cheers!

Kat xo

 

 

EOT Opening Ceremonies

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Not much done today, we didn't go shoot side matches but headed out after lunch and strolled through the vendors and visited with many.

Opening ceremonies were on at 5pm. Italy, France, New Zealand, Canada, United States and Australia were all represented with 2013 World Champion, our own Aussie and friend, Savage Sam bearing our flag for the parade of colours.

There were SASS Scholarship presentations, new Regulator presentations and a stirring speech by Coyote Kay for an additional scholarship presentation for the Coyote Calhoun Scholarship Fund.

2014 End Of Trail was declared open by SASS #1, Judge Roy Bean.

The after party with supper hosted by the Dooley Gang and Margaritas were happening again down at Hot Tamales.

Tomorrow is the first day of Main Match, we are on Posse 22 and start on the mid rotation but will be out there for the day. Let's go!!!

Good luck to all the Single Action Shooters attending 2014 End Of Trail, we wish you all the best of luck for great competition and most of all FUN!

Yeeeeee haaa!

Kat xo

 

Warm Up EOT

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Headed out to range today for Safety Meeting at 9am, then wandered the range checking out the set up, catching up with old faces making our way back down all 12 stages to the car to grab our guns and gear for the 1pm warm up session.

We shot with Savage Sam, RC Shot, and Kiwis – Ruby Redsmoke, White Lightning Jack, Wild Willie Kiwi, Tuscon the Terrible and a whole heap of other cowboys n cowgirls. Had a great time and shot stages 9 thru 12 but different from main match.

Jack and I both shot some good times but both had a fumbled stage each.

Now it's beers and cheers! I've added to the farmers tan today and yes I did put sunscreen on – I just forgot to start earlier because we are closer to the sun here at 7000ft above sea level!!! 🙂

Here's a few happy snaps from today.


Cheers Kat xo

 

End Of Trail Bound

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Well I didn’t make it ‘sunny up in my eyes’ this morning – something I used to say as a kid if we were going on a holiday. Mum would say, “we aren’t going if it’s raining!” Now I don’t actually know if she would have ever followed through with that but I would dream to make it ‘sunny up’ for the morning so we could go.

Thank goodness I don’t wait for it to be sunny up now! A ripper of a thunderstorm at 3am this morning and light rain as we left at 6.45am, we are headed for Edgewood, New Mexico for the Single Action Shooting World Championships.

On the I40 heading west it’s overcast with some cloud.

But onward through Texas and then into the enchanted land that is New Mexico! We gain an hour and it’s clear blue skies and dead straight roads.

We’ve unpacked and set up for the week in a little Motel in Edgewood full of cowboy shooters, now it’s out to the range to check in, catch up with some Cowboys n Cowgirls from US, AUS and NZ at least!

See ya on the range!

Kat xo

Meanwhile a few hours later, (Couldn’t get internet when we first arrived) been to the range, checked in, lots of vendors and more to come by the looks, met up with our mates and met some new people as well. Yee haa!!

Bring on Warm Up tomorrow!

 

Half A Day Hat

Posted on by kathousekelli70

I took an online class back in January? Or earlier to make an 1880's Bustle Era Hat with Historical Sewing. Well never did get it done but kept my resources so I could get round to it one day.

Well the day has come, I needed a hat for my new Victorian gown for End Of Trail next week and ta dah! Have done it!

A half a day studiously working away, hand sewing every piece into place while watching re runs of Justified Season 3 and I now have my first hat!!

Thanks Jennifer (from Historical Sewing) your instructions are so good I was able to get it done!

For information about Historical Sewing classes go to their website, you will find heaps of interesting facts, techniques and online classes.

http://historicalsewing.com

For millinery bits for this project – Hatters Millinery, Melbourne Australia

http://www.hattersmillinerysupplies.com.au/on/millinery-supplies/

Cheers

Kat xo

 

 

St Joseph, Missouri

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Heading into Missouri now and for St Joseph where we will be exploring places like The Pony Express Museum, Patee House and Jesse James House.

Skirting the city limits of Kansas City, some old buildings amongst the new skyline, an interesting bridge and a casino taking on the appearance of an old steamboat.

Lots of trees in this part, thick groves of them.

St Joseph is just over an hour away from where we were staying in Overland Park, Kansas – so for those who live close by in the north east quarter of Kansas you could do this as a day trip or a weekend. The St Joseph website even has a couple of guided tours listed and gives you an estimate of time in order for you to plan a short trip.

We got into the older part of St Joseph and found our way to the Visitor Centre/Library in the newer business district. Not open Sundays but self serve on any of the brochure’s and maps required.

Heading back to old town we stopped at the Pony Express Monument. Oh, I’m sorry, you mean you don’t know what the Pony Express was? Well here’s a little bit of info to get you up to speed.

The Pony Express was an idea for getting mail, overland from St Joseph, MIssouri to Sacremento, California. Mail could possibly take weeks to go by sea and now it could go by horse rider and be there in 10 days! Wow, what a breakthrough. Horses were positioned along the route, so the rider could change horses and would have another rider to hand off to if need be.

The first ride of the Pony Express began on April 3, 1860 at 7.15pm. One lonely rider with monchila (mo-chee-la) loaded with mail heading out across, plains, desert and high country to get the mail through. The first Pony Express rider to set out on that day is said to be “Johnny Fry”.

Enjoy a couple of pics here, rest on Facebook and check out the website link below for more about the Museum.

 

Then it was on to Patee House Museum, used to be a hotel 3 times, a girls college twice and a shirt factory for 80 years prior to being turned into a museum. It is huge, 4 floors of heritage, well 3 they aren’t restoring the top floor and you can see in the stair wells winding up to the other floors – the original staircases, banisters, the timber batons and horse hair plaster detail.

There is so much to see in here it is mind blowing, two and a half hours easily spent there.

Travelling and arriving……

….and going out in style.

Or maybe you just want to take a train?

Or pretend you are still in your childhood riding the unique “Wild Things” carousel. (I’m betting put a kid on the mako shark and they will have nightmares!! I didn’t take a pic of it!)

Patee House was opened by John Patee as a luxurious hotel in 1858 to serve travellers. It is most famously recognised for being the Pony Express Headquarters where Russell, Majors and Waddell had their office starting April 3, 1860. It was also the US Provost marshal’s office and the Union recruiting office during the Civil War era, holding grand balls and court in the ballroom as well.

 

The Jesse James Home is situated on the neighbouring grounds of Patee House, the home Jesse bought for his wife and children and where he was shot whilst straightening the hanging needlework picture.

The bullet hole in the wall has been covered with glass but before this could be done there were many that would enter the house and chip out toothpick sized pieces of timber both from the wall and from the blood stained floor.

There are some original pieces of furniture from the house still there. An exhibit of the exhumation that took place in 1995 holds pieces from Jesse’s casket – handles, scripted plate/plaque, the broken viewing glass, his tie pin etc.

Well all done and dusted, a full day of museum history, pretty much done what we came to see, so cancelled motel and headed back for Oklahoma.

Good day. Over and out.

Kat xo

http://www.stjomo.com/discover-st-jo/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Visitor-Info&gclid=CjkKEQjwiPWcBRCTj_-Vz8fE3cMBEiQAZIMSUmDIL9tW8eWHTKp0iZhXTnbqWBQ-TLWTrXoPzo5wZOXw_wcB

http://www.stjomo.com/see-do/museums/pony-express-national-museum/

http://www.stjomo.com/see-do/museums/patee-house-museum/

http://www.stjomo.com/see-do/museums/jesse-james-home-museum/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PoP Day 2

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Another gorgeous day with a slight wind made for a comfortable shooting day. Last 5 stages, with only 1 miss today for me and none for Jack. So overall that's one a piece.

We will see how it all turns out at the Banquet tonight!

Had a great Posse, made some new friends, got to shoot with some we haven't shot with before as well and was good getting to know them better.

 

 

Great shoot, recommend a visit!

Well it's hours later and all out in the wash Jackaroo finished 1st Place Senior and 4th place overall. I won Best Dressed Saloon Girl, came 1st Place Lady Wrangler, 6th place overall and 1st Lady overall!

Kudos to a great number of people that ran the shoot, Ansolutely had a blast. Great trophies too!

Top 20

1 Doc Hurd, 2 Hondo Tucker, 3 Rowdy Buckshot, 4 Jackaroo, 5 fort Hays Preacher, 6 Kathouse Kelli, 7 Croaker, 8 Mace Bishop, 9 Silent Thunder, 10 Boomstick Jay, 11 Titus A. Gnatsass, 12 Trego Kid, 13 The Brisco Kid, 14 Buster Jack, 15 Shootin Newton, 16 Digger John, 17 Flint Hills Dawg, 18 Jayhawk Jerry, 19 High Plains Hud, 20 Marshall Halloway.

 

Kat xo

 

 

 

PoP First Day Main Match

Posted on by kathousekelli70

It's a clear sky start for a great day at the Powder Creek range, nice mild shooting weather.

Pledge of allegiance and safety briefing prior to starting.

Our Posse, Jackaroo, Kathouse Kelli, Petticoat Chaser, Flint Hills Dawg, Anvil Al, Titus A Gnatsass, Goldie Lu, Daisy Dee, Dirt Dart, Rowdy Buckshot, Cash Profitt, Shady Willie Brown, Cap'n Highpockets, Quirt Dunn, Trigger Happy Kid, Buster The Kid, Lynch M Two, Lynch M Sag, Boomstick Jay, Irish Tom, Trudy Mae. Hopefully I haven't missed anyone.

Five stages done today, smaller targets than the last few shoots, but good stages and reasonable times nonetheless. I'm clean for the day (one shotgun reengagement/fumble), 1 miss for Jack and a rifle jack out.

Pic with Chantilly today. So much fun.

Five more tomorrow yet!

Had a quick meal at the range this evening, fun with friends and side match awards of which I picked up 4!! Woo hoo!

Worn out, looking forward to tomorrow and Banquet tomorrow night.

Night!

Kat xo