July 4, 2014 Walden, Colorado

We left Big South campground and headed west. The hummingbirds almost followed us. After John took down the feeder they flew around the bus and kept looking in the windows.

We stopped at the Moose Visitors center in Gould, Colorado. This barb wire moose was in front of it. They reintroduced moose to north park, here is a photo of them bringing one in.

John tried out the moose ears in the visitors center. Our next stop was Walden, Co. It is the home of the 1990 nation’s capitol Christmas tree and the moose viewing capital of Colorado.

We had reservations for the 4th weekend at the Granite Corner RV park. It only has 3 spaces. The owners were out of town and left a message that said just take spot number 2, and they settled up with us later.  Walden is a cute, small mountain town at 8,000 feet. One of those step back in time 50 years places.

We stopped at the North Park Pioneer museum. It had a huge collection of everyday items from life in the area, donated by residents. From ranches, cars, kitchens, to toys. Each item had the name of the owner and told a little about it. Very interesting. The view to the west of town-toward Steamboat.

The town court house. To the left of the porch is a prisoner having a smoke with a guard. He is wearing striped pants and had leg chains on. Not sure when the last time I saw striped prison pants. The Antlers hotel. Very old western looking.

John having lunch at the Antlers, while I spent lots more time at the museum. This sign was by the door to the Antlers. John asked about it and the woman said that the town voted not to have any marijuana stores, but when people stepped out to smoke cigarettes, some were smoking pot too. She said it was the most photographed sign in town. As I took a photo. . .

The mural on the side of the Sweet Grass Market (you would think they sold pot-sweet grass??), a garage in town, it had a plaque that said it won the best garden award in 1998.

Nice old fashioned town. The only thing out of place is the Dollar Store-to the right of the photo.  This rig stopped and asked us if there were any RV parks in town. John asked why they had an extra trailer on the back and they guy said his wife refused to sleep with him, so it was an extra bedroom!

They say you can tell how cold a town gets by the size of the firewood piles at the homes. This must be a really cold place-look at all the wood! Really nice log house too. Rainbow after the rain.

Walden’s 4th of July fireworks display, sunset, rainbow and flag. I asked at the museum if they had fireworks and the gentleman told me they used to, but the town was broke so they stopped having them. Steamboat was the closest display, but neither of us felt like driving 130 miles round trip to see them.