Wednesday in Colorado

Last Wednesday, we got up early to explore Lamar before heading to Bent's Old Fort outside of LaJunta.   The visitors center has a large statue of the "Madonna of the Trails, " one of 12 erected by the D.A.R. to honor the women who traveled the Santa Fe Trail.   As you can see, it was a bright, sunny day (as many Colorado days are), so I couldn't get her features.  Paul said her face looked a little like George Washington's and she had combat boots on (which I would wear, too, if I had to traverse that trail!).

The Visitors Center in Lamar is an Amtrak train station that has been very nicely renovated, and the volunteers there are very enthusiastic about sharing their town which has a somewhat sad downtown with many closed shops.  Up the street, a large truck stop is being built and, they said, will employ 90 people, a welcome economic improvement perhaps.   Also up the street is "the oldest building in the world," a former gas station made of petrified wood.

From there, we headed to LaJunta and Bent's Old Fort.  Along we the way, we passed a farm with a number of zebras feeding.  They were protected by some emus or ostriches (I don't know the difference), and there appeared to be a number of smaller critters (zebra babies?) walking about.  Jenny took a picture, but my phone wasn't up to the task.  When we arrived at the old fort, which has been lovingly renovated, we were greeted by a horse and an ox grazing in the field.  The path recommends watching for rattlesnakes.  Yikes!

At any rate, Bent's Old Fort is the oldest settlement in Colorado, having been built in the 1840s as a trading post.  Our tour guide was in costume and told us about preparing buffalo hides, the experiences of various guests who stopped for the night, and life on the plains.   Two hours flew by.  

From there, we drove to LaJunta for lunch at a small café that seems to attract locals and specializes in home cooking.  The pies sounded great, but we opted for salads.  This sculpture greets visitors, and Paul really liked the dog in the center.  I'm sorry my picture doesn't do it justice.  From there, we headed home to Golden.  More later!