Month: August 2013

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Denver’s Mile High Marketplace

We went to the Flea Market!  Of course, now it is called Mile High Marketplace.   Just a few miles east of Denver on I-76 and 88th Avenue, we shopped, looked and ate.  Great place.  I love funnel cakes!

Mile High Marketplace Denver Colorado

Mile High Marketplace
Denver Colorado

We talked to Mo at my favorite electronic store.

Bouncy Balls Mo's Electronics Store

Bouncy Balls Mo’s Electronics Store

He even has a machine to sell bouncy balls.  And they sure do bounce.  Never saw so many baseball caps.  My mom and Soapy’s mom wear them sometimes.  JB’s dad wears them too.  Human behavior I guess.  No hats for this duck!  Thousand of caps available there.

We sampled kettle corn and bought a small bag.  Sweet and crunchy.  A definite hit with mom and me.  We looked at new stuff in some stores and booths. Also looked at lots of used stuff from other sellers.

It is like a giant garage sale at Mile High Marketplace.  They sell everything.  I saw kitchen stuff, garage stuff, rugs and carpets, clothes, cosmetics, weights (some really heavy), flowers, hair stuff and lots of movies and books.  This is an amazing place.

One of my favorite things is all the fresh produce.

Fruit & vegetables

Fruit & vegetables

Melon, lots of fruit and vegetables.  Some I never heard of–guess mom needs to try a bigger variety of vegetables.  We bought strawberries.  We ate some when we got home.

More fruit and Vegetables

More fruit and Vegetables

They were so sweet and delicious.  She only paid $1 for a pound. Mom said it was a great deal.

Before we left, we bought a funnel cake with powdered sugar.  It is a little messy, but it sure tastes good.  Hope we go back soon.  We did not see everything in the 80 acres.

How many hats??

How many hats??

If you are planning a garage sale, this is the place to have it.  Lots of shoppers and you can shop too.  Even carnival type rides for the kids.  It only cost us $3 to get in and I loved it.  I will be looking for you there next time we go.  Can’t wait!  Visit http://www.milehighfleamarket.com for more details.

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To The Top of Pikes Peak

Zeb here.  I love living in Colorado.  Colorado Springs is home to Pikes Peak and many other incredible attractions, but Pikes Peak is the adventure for today.

Cog train car

Cog train car

Take I-25 to Colorado Springs, exit on US 24 to Manitou Springs.  At the west end of Manitou Springs, find the Cog Railroad Station.  We purchased tickets at the window.  We could have made reservations, which is highly recommended, especially on weekends.  The entire Cog Train trip to the top of Pikes Peak and back takes about 3 hours and 10 minutes.  Great for an afternoon.

The cog train consists of enclosed train cars with large windows that open.  The large windows insure a great view no matter where you sit.  I sat by the aisle on the way up and by a window on the way down the mountain.  I saw so much both ways.  Leaving the station  you wind through tree covered mountains.  Just beautiful!  A couple times on the way to the top, we pulled over to let a descending train pass.  Most of the trip there is only one set of tracks, so the passing of trains must be well timed.

Wildlife is abundant in the mountains, but we saw only marmots today.  Cute large rodents.  Just happy they were outside and I was inside.  They were playing on a wooden platform at one of the train passing locations.  By that point on the trip up, it was quite cold and the humans closed windows and zipped up their jackets.

Marmots on train platform

Marmots on train platform

At the top of Pikes Peak we all scurry off the train.

Arrival at the top of Pikes Peak

Arrival at the top of Pikes Peak

Some humans hurried to the restrooms, none available on train.  Some rushed to take pictures by the sign and some of us walked to viewing areas, admiring the lower surrounding mountains and the sight of Colorado Springs so far below.  In 1893 this is the view that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write “America the Beautiful”.

Through the restaurant and gift shop building, where they make very tasty donuts, something about the altitude and frying process, we saw the parking area for those that drove to the top.  A drive that will not soon be forgotten, but my humans loved the train.  So did I.

We stayed at the top of Pikes Peak for about 30 minutes.  It is beautiful but windy and chilly.  The temperature in Colorado Springs was a sunny 90 degrees.  A cool 40 degrees and strong cold wind at the top; so bring jackets and, of course, cameras.

As you see from the picture by the sign, Pikes Peak is 14,110 feet above sea level.

Zeb and Alaska uncle at the top.

Zeb and Alaska uncle at the top.

This is not Colorado’s highest peak, but one of the most famous.  It was discovered by a human with my name, Zebulon Pike.  Wow, we are both explorers!  This is my Alaska uncle holding me.  Don’t wait.  Experience the top of Pikes Peak.  We prefer the cog train, but the road is also great.  Local or visitor, you will love and remember your time at the top of the world.  For more information on the cog train visit http://www.cograilway.com

Zeb at the top

Zeb at the top

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Colorado Ducks become our family

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Soapy, JB and Zeb join our family

Three ducks alone on the store rack.  Purchased together they seemed destined to float down the Frasier River with messages of luck to the finders.  However, these ducks bonded with the new owners and the idea for this blog was born.

Duck races in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado inspired the original duck purchase.  The ducks sit on the condo railing by Frasier River.  Their first home was in Twin Rivers Condo Complex in Frasier, Colorado.  Frasier is a few miles out of Winter Park.  The Colorado Traveling Ducks enjoyed hiking along the Frasier River.  Perfect weather and majestic mountains for our first family outing.  The trio of ducks even watched Miami Heat defeat San Antonio Spurs on TV.

Ducks love basketball

Ducks love basketball

The Heat continued to win the championship in a closely contested series.

The ducks enjoyed meals at Smokehouse BBQ and Azteca Mexican restaurant in Winter Park.  We liked the Kentucky Fried Chicken during the basketball game.  Better than roast duck!!

The ducks went to different houses back near Denver.  Three generations of humans, all related, each gave a duck a home.  We ducks will accompany our humans as they visit Colorado and other locations in the world.  We are the Colorado Traveling Ducks and we hope you will follow our travels.

Named for another explorer, I am Zebulon (Zeb) Pike.  There is Jefferson Randolph  (Soapy) Smith II, explorer, scoundrel and philanthropist, and JB Duck completes the duck trio.

Ducks by the Frasier River

Ducks by the Frasier River

Sometimes we will travel together and sometimes we will travel separately.  We will report our activities to you, our readers.  Please tell us what you think, like, want, and offer suggestions for improvement.