Distance = 3 Miles; People Met = 11
Because we descended so low in trying to find a suitable tent spot we had a very short day into Georgetown. In essence we had a rest day for our 25th anniversary. Our biggest concern coming into town was where to camp. We had to be near the post office in order to meet up with a high school classmate who would be walking with us the next day.
We stopped Adam Springer on the street as we entered town and asked his opinion. As county planner for Clear Creek County he recommended we check in with folks at the county courthouse. He also marveled at what we were doing to an uncomfortable “Aw shucks” extreme. I thought Adam’s recommendation for the courthouse strange, but the same one was made by the woman at the community center.
Finding a place to stay in a town is perhaps the most iffy and stressful part of such a journey as ours. The courthouse did not pan out for finding a place near town to camp, and neither did the town hall office where I asked if we could stay in a warming hut owned by the town. Fortunately, our early arrival into Georgetown meant plenty of time to stumble upon a solution.
We noted a small patch of lawn behind the public library, virtually surrounded and hidden by a fence, and they gave us permission to stay there. We were just a stone’s throw away from the post office, almost an ideal turn of events, as has often proven to be the case on this trip. Susan at the information desk was quite helpful and John, the branch manager for the library, gave his official approval.
While we will buy a Coke frequently when we enter a town, mainly to get a conversation going with a local clerk, we seldom “eat out” due to our budget. However, this was our anniversary so why not? Upon the recommendation from Susan at the library we went to the MountainBuzz Cafe and Pizzeria in Georgetown. Lots of good things happened there.
The pizza crust was particularly good. Brett Bauer, the proprietor, revealed that he used ingredients like sea salt and honey instead of sugar. Brett was an avid outdoor enthusiast with several degrees related to the outdoors and substantial student loans to pay. He had hoped the cafe would be a means of accomplishing that, but it was slow going. He also faced possible arthroscopic surgery for his knees.
Rob App gave us the low down about the Georgetown area, particularly in regards to its status as an old railroad town. They were part of a race to get a rail route over the divide, at Argentine Pass, but came out on the losing end. Having been at the pass I could see why. The route up to the pass from Georgetown would have been manageable, but a bit of a problem dropping down into the valley on the other side. Both Rob and Brett also shared their local knowledge of the Saxon Mountain Road we would be taking out of Georgetown to make for Idaho Springs.
The best thing that happened at MountainBuzz was meeting up with Mike Hinckley, our good friend who hiked the Continental Divide in ’85 with us. We would be staying with him a bit once we reached Denver, but he met up with us at Georgetown and shared our anniversary “celebration” with us.
Approaching Georgetown, Colorado
Adam Springer
Susan at the desk and John at the far corner of Georgetown's library
Brett Bauer and his MountainBuzz Cafe and Pizzeria
Rob App filling us in about Georgetown's railroad and backcountry roads
