Lil Blue takes a trip to Colorado Part 2

Another of our day trips in Colorado was to a town my folks mentioned would be worth visiting,  Nederland.   We took hwy 119 out of Boulder, and this is definitely a road Lil Blue was designed for.  Canyon walls on one side, the river/rapids on the other.  Speed limit was only 45 (we did 50), but lots of curves warning you to slow down to 30 or so (which I didn't).  Lori had rolled down her window to hang onto the outside of the car because I was having fun.

 Now, coming into town I slowed down to a little under the posted speed limit.  Highly recommend this, and glad I did because there was a local cop running radar just in the town limits.  The town sits on one end of a lake, but didn't see any boat traffic, and they may not allow motorized boats on the lake.  Just canoes and kayaks and such.

And of course mountains on the other.

The town was lovely, with a small town feel to it still.  Our first stop was at a place called The Carousel of Happiness.  http://www.carouselofhappiness.org/  Story is the actual mechanics are from an old turn of the 20th century amusement park in Washington, that ended up in a barn in Colorado for decades, when they ended up being bought by the guy who rebuilt it here.  All the actual "animals" he hand carved himself, and the building he and some of his friends built to house it.  We got to talking because he's a veteran also, plus he rented a hard top Fiat in Florida and loved it, just hadn't seen the convertible version before.  We chatted, he got in and got a feel for it, and was highly impressed (we get that alot).  Lori and I went in and took turns on the rides.

Afterwards we donated some money (I got on for free being a veteran, and it was only like a buck for Lori.  Felt that since he had such a good message (about happiness) with what he was doing, it was well worth it.  We went into a "store" that they're trying to get going that was more about the environment around the town, and the different types of critters and such, then proceeded to the old part of town.  This is a "must visit" kind of town.  Not so much touristy, but filled with local arts and crafts type stores, decent "mom and pop" bar and grills, an italian deli, etc.  We ate at a bar and grill for lunch which was really good, and very reasonably priced.  While munching, a local was talking to the bartender about how another local guy was streaking thru the middle of town (mind you this was Memorial Day weekend...so the town was full), but the police finally caught "Bob" and made him put his clothes back on and go home.  Here in Kansas you'd probably be thrown in jail and charged with being a sexual deviant or something.

Thought I took more pics of the down town area, but guess not.  Wish I had, this one doesn't do it justice.  Lori and I just fell in love with the town, and wish we could move there someday.  It had such a good feel to it.  Warm and inviting.  The people there were nice.  Maybe some day.