We have made it to Colorado! The trip was easy and uneventful and we are settled into our campsite outside of Boulder until we move to Granby on Sunday. I had made reservations for a Thursday tour of Schacht, a company that makes looms and spinning wheels, so yesterday we drove into Boulder. What a pretty view of the mountains this town has.
We arrived at Schacht a few minutes before our tour was to start, and we were greeted by Jane Patrick herself. I wish I had gotten a photo, but I always feel funny about asking for a picture of a total stranger. She showed us the office area and we waited for the other two tour folks to show up. There were some very nice displays to peruse while we waited.
Schacht is celebrating their 50th anniversary next week and we were kind of glad we came when we did because of all the personal attention we received. It’s going to be crazy around here next Friday! Our tour guide, Caleb, was wonderful and he answered all of our many questions.
We got to see the different steps of how a spinning wheel is made, plus some assembled looms.
Once the loom parts are made and finished, the person who assembles it can put it together in 35 minutes.
We left Schacht and grabbed a yummy lunch at a nearby Whole Foods before heading over to another Boulder company, Celestial Seasonings (the tea company.)
I’ve been drinking their tea my whole adult life so seeing where it is made was a thrill.
Bob and I sampled some teas while we waited for the tour to start, enjoying the art work on the wall that has been featured on tea boxes over the years.
Celestial (as the locals call the company) is also about to celebrate their 50th anniversary. 1969 was a very good year for new companies in Boulder.
Unfortunately, on this tour we were not allowed to take photos, but our guide led our group through the different plant areas where the teas are stored, mixed, and packaged. They work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week producing a half million boxes of tea every day. We learned that Sleepytime tea is their biggest seller everywhere in the world except Canada, with Bengal Spice tea holding the #2 spot. In Canada, Bengal Spice is #1 and Sleepytime is #2.
We were ready to chill out after this tour so we headed back to Auggie who was waiting patiently for us. On Friday we will probably just relax.
We really enjoyed the Celestial Seasoning Tour. You should have seen Tom in his head and beard nets - Head nets were white, beard nets were black. His white beard made quite a contrast!
ReplyDeleteNext time I'll try to get in on a Schacht tour!