One day in NH, Chunguita and I were browsing the tourist brochures at the train station. Chunguita pulled out the brochure for Clark’s Trading Post and announced, “I want to go there!” So we loaded up the minivan and headed north to Lincoln.

Bear in a barrel.

When I had broached the idea of going to Clark’s, Linda expressed the opinion that “you’ll be disappointed; it’s just a store.” I pointed out that there was a $15 entry fee, so I hoped there was a lot more than just a store. Linda admitted that she hadn’t been there in decades.

We lucked out with the weather. It was sunny and warm, not hot and humid. Ha, ha, if I were rating that temperature from home, I’d say it was a sunny and cool day with a high in the mid80s.

We started the day with the bear show. DH wanted to get good seats, so he climbed up to the balcony and saved seats for us. They use positive reinforcement (strawberry ice cream) to work the bears. Do the trick; get some ice cream. The bears seemed to want to work, and they certainly like the ice cream. I know that I’d do tricks for strawberry ice cream.

Model T

I think my best parts of CTP were the museums. They’ve collected a lot of americana. Some of it is very kitschy (e.g. a two headed lamb that was very freaky), but some of it is stuff that you would see in any historical museum.

My particular favorite was the sewing and sewing machine display.

Of course, we rode the train.

I love this sign.

I didn’t take very good pix from the train, but it was a scenic, if short, ride.

The Clarks moved a covered bridge from Vermont and restored it over the little river that flows thru their property.

We saw the wolfman, his car, and his unobtainium mine.

Part of the museum atmosphere is a main street, rather like Main Street in Disneyland. It’s much smaller, but it’s very cute, and they’ve taken the trouble to rescue little treasures like the stained glass windows.

What post would be complete without a couple of pix of my cute kids?