Worked on Bell Mountain

Hiked up to Bell Mtn yesterday to help Bruce Bell to use his new smartphone and to help him move dirt to fill in pot holes on his jeep trail.

We filled in the worse holes which had sustained damage from the constant rains this past month. Then we worked on his new phone after which we hiked up to his terraced garden. We then hiked up to the summit where Bruce showed me a pile of scattered white quartz chips the Utes and Arapaho used to make arrowheads and knives.

Bruce fixed a simple lunch and spoke of how he is coping with his wife's recent passing. Bruce has a great attitude of gratitude in that he is so grateful God gave Chee Chee to him for 63 years.

At 5:45 pm we went to Thursday night service at Clear Creek Neighborhood Church.

Really enjoyed the day especially getting together with Mr Bell. The 4 mile hike along the banks of Clear Creek to get to his ranch was very satisfying. Love watching Clear Creek rising due to rain runoff and snow melt.

Unfortunately, a 47 year old lady died last Friday while rafting on the Creek right along where I hiked. Clear Creek is treacherous to say the least.

Last Tuesday while Bonnie and I were perusing the Visitors Center we heard a conversation between a young man and the ladies running the Center. Apparently, the young man was on a bicycling tour and needed a place to bivouac that night. When I heard the ladies informing him there were no campgrounds around here I interjected and offered the use of the lawn at the Lucas house where I am staying. Young Zack agreed quickly so we all went back to the house where he set up camp.

Zack is 20 years old and a college student majoring in Construction Management at U of C in Fort Collins, CO. He is touring around the state and had just rode up from Breckenridge.

We invited Zack to attend Celebrate Recovery that night at First Baptist which he graciously accepted. We all had supper consisting of Chicken soup and bread. Zack contributed much to our discussion that night. After the meeting Pastor Dawit invited Zack to spend the night at his home where he could offer him a warm bed and a hot shower.

Then at 630am the next morning Zack came over to my place and we cooked him scrambled eggs for breakfast and off he went headed to Nederland 50 miles north. He was to meet up with his dad at Estes Park.

Zack texted me that day Wednesday to let me know he made it to Nederland.

Tomorrow Bonnie and I are planning to hike the 12 miles to Georgetown and camp overnight then hike back home Sunday.

Monday we are planning to hike to Bill Lee's ranch to discuss the burro situation.

Alrighty, talk to you folks later! Bless all of you mightily!

BR Schoenbein
May 29, 2015 - Friday

Supper with the Gooches in Georgetown CO

Supped with Bill and Lisa Gooch of Georgetown CO which is 12 miles west of Idaho Springs and about 1000 feet higher in elevation. The Gooches may take Rudy, Bonnie's rat terrier, and watch him for a time while we are out going door to door. They have a 14 year old female cocker spaniel named Lady. We all wanted to see if the two would get along---- which after initial suspicions they adapted well to each other.

I met the Gooches when I started attending the Clear Creek Neighborhood Church on Thursday nights.

Bill owns and operates his own lawn care business and also works as a ski instructor. Lisa, Bill's wife also works as a ski instructor.

We grilled shis kebobs and tossed a mean salad.

We walked around the neighborhood visiting the old Presbyterian Church built in 1874. It was built of native stone and is a beautiful structure both inside and outside.

The Gooches home was built in 1872 and has been recently updated and remodeled.

Bonnie and I will be using Georgetown as our base of operations when we trek into southern Clear Creek County in a week or two. So, we will be seeing more of Bill and Lisa.

Pastor Josh and Emily Nelson of my home church, Mercy Church, drove up yesterday morning as well to visit and to meet Bonnie. We discussed our plans and logistics for canvassing the county. They took us out to lunch at Beaujos Pizza.

Well gotta go. Have our Celebrate Recovery meeting tonight at First Baptist.

Pics show the 1874 Presbyterian Church and the 1874 Public School Bldg

Hiked up Spring Gulch and met with Bill Lee the mule trainer

Bonnie and hiked 6 miles or so yesterday to Bill Lee's Laughing Valley Ranch in Spring Gulch south of Idaho Springs.

We went there to look over Bill's donkeys and mules. The hike itself was about 1000 feet up from town with the hike being moderately difficult. It was cloudy and overcast.

On the way there we stopped to rest on the side of Spring Gulch Road. While we were sitting there talking about what we would do if confronted by a mountain lion or a bear a mule deer jumped off a small bluff above us and down on the road and ran away possibly being chased by something what we don't know. Scared the bejesus out of us!!!

Met Brad and his wife Amber they help run the ranch. Met Bill and we discussed the particulars of using pack burros as part of our missionary travel throughout the 400 square miles of some of the most rugged landscape in Colorado.

We didn't discuss cost as Bill's not sure what he would charge. He charges $150 for a 5 day hunting trip. He's never run across a situation like ours so he needs some time to think about it.

As we walked down Bill's lane a pack of dogs ran up to us barking but turned out to be friendly. One was a chocolate lab the other a husky, a Shepherd mix and a couple of little yappy dogs one of which bit Bonnie on her shin and calf...didn't hardly break the skin.

Bill is reserved and introverted at least in the beginning when doesn't know you yet. The longer he and I talked the more open became. He thought we were Jehovah Witnesses but we quickly dispelled that notion.

He and I talked about home back in Illinois. He's from Schaumburg and Elk Grove Village. Told him I'm from Peoria but lived in the City of Chicago then in the suburbs including Schaumburg and Elk Grove Village. I told him Bruce Bell recommended him to me. He and Bruce and Chee Chee were good friends. Tony the homeless guy worked at one time for Bill.

We also discussed Bonnie and I pitching our camp on his ranch so we wouldn't have to board the burro in town which would annoy the neighbors due to the braying. Bonnie could drive her RV/van up and live in that while I would live in my tipi. Bill seemed amenable to that idea.

Bill also advised using 2 burris not 1as 2 works as a team encouraging each other.

Of course that would necessitate a higher cost.

We agreed to come back in a week to discuss cost and other details including whether we could bivouac on his land.

As we said our goodbyes we began the trek down to Idaho Springs. We got maybe halfway down the mountain when a storm dumped copious amounts of rain on us. Fortunately, Rick and Gina, from First Baptist saw us walking on Rt 103 and graciously offered to pick us up and take us home. We were soaked!

Bonnie and I are looking forward to going back in a week to meeting with Bill again.

May 22, 2015- Greetings to the Bickhaus Family!!

Hello Michael! Got your message. I'm planning on going door to door visiting the residents in the backcountry of Clear Creek County here in the mountains of Colorado.  I'm anticipating this will last until the first of October. Then the plan is to winter in Ocala Florida until January at which time I will start walking from the east coast of Florida all the way across America to San Francisco. Then I will take the train back east to the Appalachians and walk town to town as I did in Colorado.

As with all plans I recognize that I need to be fluid and change the plan where needed.

Wish we all could meet up on your way to the Northwest but it doesn't look like its very likely.

I admire your family's sense of adventure in traveling across the USA as a family!!! You are instilling in your family a critical sense of love of God, family and country!!

Bonnie Coffey from Florida decided to give up her all to come out to help me. She and I will be setting out for the backcountry of Clear Creek County in the next week or two. We will be camping for two weeks at a time then come back and stay in Idaho Springs during the weekend to attend church and meet with the local clergy.

I will be calling you soon Michael. Thanks for all you do and for your support!!

Pic is of the town of Silver Plume close to where we will be camping in Clear Creek County.

BR

Monday May 18, 2015

Rainy and cold 33 degrees. Rainy all the way through the end of the month!

Sat at the coffee shop updating my journal and writing other articles. Talked to Tony and Donna.

Not really feelin it today. Tired and down. Probably the weather. Oh well.

Supper at the Horners

Had a nice supper at Mike and June Horner's home last night. Great conversation and equally great food!

Mike showed off his only vice, model railroading. Very impressive. Mike was a high school Shop Teacher and has a very developed skill set!

June sews quilts. It was a very relaxed evening. Walked home.

May 17, 2015- Sunday

Attended church at First Baptist this morning. Lunch provided.

Found silver ore

Silver ore I picked up at the abandoned silver mine, the 730 mine above Silver Plume, CO.

May 12, 2015- Tuesday

Held office hours at The Frothy Cup coffee shop this morning with Pastor Bill Robertson of Clear Creek Neighborhood. Church.

We talked about logistical support for the Mission to the back country of Clear Creek County starting this June. He is willing to drive his 4 Runner at various times to pick Bonnie and me up so we can attend Core Group meetings and to provide us with safe drinking water as well. Bill will also bring up the issue of backing us up financially too with his church staff.

Other issues concerned how to appeal to people in the County to attend our services. We are looking to possibly starting house churches up in the mountains with a loose affiliation with Clear Creek Neighborhood Church (CCNC).

Discussed how counter cultural radical Christianity is. How doing first century church and community runs counter to American individualism. It will be especially difficult to penetrate this thinking and way of life in these isolated mountain areas of the Arapaho National Forest.

But, we feel that the pot needs stirring from time to time.

BR Schoenbein
May 12, 2015
Tuesday

May 11, 2015- Bonnie's in Kansas

Bonnie Coffey is battling stiff westerly winds on I-70 in Kansas. She should be here tonight or tomorrow.

I spent last night with the Watson's at their home in Lone Tree. I slept ad usual in the spare bedroom in the nicely finished basement. Used their steam room/shower twice.

Glenda drove me back to Idaho Springs late this morning.

Glenda and Randy own The Frothy Cup here in town.

Mike from Clear Creek Neighborhood Church called me today to invite Bonnie and I to dinner next Sunday evening.

Tomorrow I have office hours with Pastor Bill Robertson at The Frothy Cup and then Celebrate Recovery at 630pm but not sure if I can make it considering Bonnie's arrival.

Wednesday is Breakfast Club at the Sunshine Cafe and then night services at First Baptist.

Thursday night is Clear Creek Neighborhood Church Core Group.

A check from sister Marty Zimmerman came in today so Mercy Church will be cashing it for me soon. I have completely run out of money.

Bill Lee the mule rancher emailed me back asking me to call him which I did today. He could not answer so I left him a message. We are looking into leasing a pack burro for our journey into the Clear Creek wilderness.

Called my mother yesterday to wish her a happy mother's day but she did not answer the phone. Oh well.

I'm ready for another week here in Idaho Springs. Bonnie will be a huge help in kicking the 2nd phase of the Colorado Mission.

Pics show the mountains around Silver Plume. Behind those mountains is where Bonnie and I will be headed in June. Other pics show the town of Silver Plume. Remaining pics are of Father John Lewis Dyer Colorado mountain circuit preacher and Peter Cartwright another famous 19th century circuit rider from Illinois. Both Dyer and Cartwright were circuit riders in IL.

BR Schoenbein
May 11, 2015
Monday

Additional pics from previous post

Spring Gulch Road south of Idaho Springs, CO