The Gypsy Wagon rolled into Denver at about 11:30 pm, and the traveller's took up residence at Mrs. Corman's Tourist Home.
The following morning, they were up an ready to see the City, so they enlisted the services of "Davie", who they described as "the human talking machine". The group was picked up at 8:00 am by their guide driving a "roofless Pierce", and were shown Denver in all its glory. Below is a picture of the group, along with Davie, their guide.
When they returned to their Tourist Home, Mrs. Corman told them about a Rodeo in Estes Park. The girls piled in the Gypsy Wagon and drove the 67 miles to Estes Park to see a real western Rodeo. The highlight of that trip was one of the riders being taken away in an ambulance! Following the Rodeo, they did some shopping in Estes Park, where Grandma bought the scrapbook, and had their fortunes told by a palm reader - all four determined that 1940 would be a very good year.
The following morning, the open air Pierce with Davie at the wheel arrived at Mrs. Corman's Tourist Home for another day of sightseeing. Today's sights included Buffalo Bill's grave on Lookout Mountain, where the Jolly Dutchmen tossed coins as a donation at the monument of his favorite horse, and visited a museum established by his adopted son, Johnny Baker, and run by Mrs. Johnny Baker.
After paying their respects to Buffalo Bill, the Pierce drove on and took the Dutchmen to Mt. Evans, where they climbed to the summit at 14,260 feet (all in dresses, might I add!). They described it being so cold while they were driving up Mt. Evans that the four of them huddled in the back seat of the car until Davie rolled up the roof and closed the windows to keep the snow out . . . the girls were amazed that they were driving in snow on August 6!
Once finished with Mt. Evans, they stopped for lunch at Echo Lake Lodge, where they ate, warmed up, and learned to dance the Beer Barrel Polka under the guidance again of Davie, who apparently doubled as a dance teacher as well!
Next stop was the first Gold Mine discovered in Colorado, then on to Denver Mountain Park, where they viewed the red rocks, and met a "thoroughbred Sioux Indian". He let one of the girls wear his headdress, allowed his picture to be taken, and then charged the girls a dime for the privilege.
On the way back to Mrs. Corman, they stopped again to Polka in Evergreen, and viewed Dinosaur foot prints on the side of a rock.
Following their first day of sightseeing, my Grandma wrote a long letter home:
"Dear Folks:
I've thought a lot about you today wondering how you made out on Saturday with all the extra order. (Note - her father owned a bakery, so they must have had something extra going on that day).
We have had a pretty busy day. Stayed in Denver last night and are staying in the same place tonight. We have a grand big room with two double beds with inner spring mattresses. It really is the nicest room we have had so far, and it costs only .75 a piece. We got up about 8:00 am and took a sightseeing tour of Denver. Got back to the house about 12:30 and took the car and drove about 67 miles to Estes Park, through the mountains to see a real western rodeo. Today we saw the mountains for the first time, some of them are snow capped.
We are now one mile above sea level (we're kind of getting up in the world don't you think?).
Tomorrow (Sunday) we are going to take an all day trip through the Rocky Mountain National Parks and to Mount Evans which is higher than Pikes Peak. We think we will stay in Denver again tomorrow night because it will be almost dark by the time we get back from our mountain trip.
Last night (Fri) we got into Denver about 11:00 pm. We drove about 640 miles yesterday. We crossed the plains and was it hot!! That is why we came all the way through - it cooled off beautifully in the evening and there isn't anything to see crossing the plains. We drove one stretch of about 30 mi. in which there wasn't even the slightest turn in the road - and we think Transit Road is straight!
The scenery is really very beautiful around here now, but it was very monotonous when we crossed the plains - there weren't even any trees. Nothing but fields and sun.
I hope you've been getting some mail each day. I've sent something every night.
Well, I guess I'd better get to bed because I'm tired and we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.
Love - Alberta"
I am finding that I am truly enjoying this project - I have almost finished the text of the journal which I will put together as a book, and will be available soon ( shameless self promotion - I know!), and I feel like I have learned so much - not only about what our country was once like, but about what my Grandma was like as a young lady, just getting started in her life. I have often told my own daughter that she had a very strong, independent and adventurous Great Grandma, but I am getting the feeling that I only know a part of that story!
