Month: October 2013

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Love Those Golden Aspen

Yesterday we saw more golden aspen!  Turning on Squaw Pass Road, we saw this huge meadow.  IMG_4346It is Jefferson County Open Space property.  Often the elk herds graze and lounge here.  So glad this place is safe for elk now and in the future.

There were beautiful gold aspen trees, fabulous among the evergreen trees, on the mountain side beneath the Colorado’s sky.  Here are a few photos of aspen.

Gorgeous aspen and energetic biker.

Gorgeous aspen and energetic biker.

Also, many of the aspen leaves are falling, so mom put me in some leaves.

Me, sitting in aspen leaves

Me, sitting in aspen leaves

The mountains also had many pine needles.  Yep, pine needles and pinecones also fall.  The ground feels soft and spongy with all the pine needles.

Me sitting on pine needles with pine cones

Me sitting on pine needles with pine cones

It was fun to sit on the ground with pinecones and pine needles.

Rocky Mountains sure are rocky

Rocky Mountains sure are rocky

I love Colorado.  We can take a few hours and see so may different things.  A trip to the mountains is like a mini vacation.  Please try some of these mini vacations.  You will love them.  We return to town feeling relaxed and eager to enjoy the many offerings of the city.

We took I-70 west from Denver to Evergreen Parkway.  Then Evergreen Parkway to Squaw Pass Road.  This road goes to Idaho Springs and then you can return to Denver on I-70.

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South Park, Colorado has cabins

Zeb here.  I just returned from South Park.  Yes, it is a real place in Colorado.  My friend, Dee, has a vacation home there.

Mountain cabin

Mountain cabin

It is an A frame on 10 acres.  There are lots of trees, cool rocks, and lots of space.  So peaceful and beautiful!

We took highway 285 south to South Park from Denver, stopping at a Subway in Conifer.  No restaurants near Dee’s retreat.  Walking around the estate, I sat on dead trees, in the fork of live trees

A duck in a tree

A duck in a tree

and even on huge rocks with great shapes.

Kids make shapes from clouds and I made shapes from rocks.  This looks like a giant iguana head to me.

Iguana rock with aspen in background

Iguana rock with aspen in background

I sat in a bristlecone pine tree.  These are hardy trees, growing near timber line when most other vegetation has given up because of severe climate.  These trees get really old.

Bristlecone Pine with a duck

Bristlecone Pine with a duck

The University of Colorado at Boulder says in Colorado they found a tree 2435 years old.  Many are over 1600 years.  That is old!

Also I found a tepee

Great place

Great place

and a fort made from branches.  Tepee and fort were really strong.

Cool fort and I am there

Cool fort and I am there

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I think Dee should call this place “Many Aspen Mountain Estate”.  There are many pine trees and pine cones make the ground feel spongy, but I believe I saw thousands of aspen trees.  Love the small shimmering aspen leaves.

It was so peaceful and beautiful in the mountains of South Park.  Many Aspen Mountain Estate is about 9200 feet above sea level.

Thin, fresh air and the sun is really intense.  Eating, hiking, talking and laughing are great.  Makes humans relax and have fun.

So peaceful. So many aspen

So peaceful. So many aspen

Ducks have fun here, too.  We had a wonderful day.  Thanks Dee!

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Zeb at Home in Colorado

Now that September is over, I wonder what my home life will be.  I became part of the family in the summer, so season changes are new to me.  This is what my summer home life was like.

Hot days require cool water for ducks.  My humans agree, so we spend much time in the swimming pool.  Here I am swimming alone;

Zeb swimming

Zeb swimming

sometimes I swim with human friends and with my duck relatives.  A distant relative duck was swimming,

Distant relative swimming

Distant relative swimming

before the human swimmers arrived.   I did my part to keep this duck out of the pool.  Sometimes I lounge under this palm tree.

Palm tree in Colorado

Palm tree in Colorado

Humans need food and cold beverages on hot days, so we have both available for us and for guests.  Very convenient!  Floating on rafts, swimming with help from foam noodles treading water while visiting with friends, or harder exercise swimming is a favorite way for my humans to spend hot summer days.  I, of course, join in and am usually the star of the day.

To conserve energy and money, we have solar panels on the roof to heat the pool.  Works well and keeps my humans happier.  For all our pool needs and questions, we see Peg at Marina Pools and Spas in Lakewood, Colorado.  Our pool owner friends love her too.   Visit her at www.marinapoolspaandpatio.com

Our garden certainly is no a farm, but it is large for a city garden.  We planted tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini,

Zucchini Plant

Zucchini Plant

parsley and bell peppers of various colors.  These were purchased as small plants.  We also planted green beans, purple string beans, beets and radishes from seed.  The raspberries and strawberries come back each year.  The humans say corn takes too much space, so corn was purchased from various farm stands.  Picking and eating fresh vegetables were enjoyable, but hours of weeding were not what I expected.  Hot, back breaking labor.  This duck is anxious to get back to the pool.  I, of course, am willing to pose for photos as the garden progresses.  I am in the raspberry plant, next to some of the first raspberries.

Fresh raspberries

Fresh raspberries

A rather prickly situation.  After this picture, we sampled a few.  Very good!!  Gardening in the Denver area is a challenge, since this is a semi arid climate and gardens, especially the raspberries, require a lot of water.  We use straw and grass clippings as a mulch to retain water and discourage weed growth.  Here I am in a tomato plant.

I'm in a tomato plant

I’m in a tomato plant

Don’t leave me here!!

In my backyard, there are small cracks in the cement between flagstone.  Marigold seeds get in the cracks and soon the marigolds take over.

Lots of marigolds.

Lots of marigolds.

They are much taller then I am.

Marigold invasion

Marigold invasion

Remember where I am mom!!

This is my Colorado home, and I love it, but I also love seeing new places and having new experiences.  My fellow Colorado Traveling Ducks and I will show you travel from the duck’s point of view.  Please keep reading and commenting on this blog.  Thanks.  See you again soon.

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Georgetown and Guanella Pass

Zeb the duck here again.  Thursday mom and I went to Georgetown and then up Guanella Pass.  Georgetown is on I-70 west of Denver.  Like many mountain towns, they have festivals during the year, so maybe we will visit again.

Remember I told you yesterday that the aspen leaves are turning red and then gold for autumn.  And, I thought we might go for another leaf peeking drive.  We did.  I love it.  Summer was perfect, but the autumn is beautiful in a different way.  Guess I like the changing of seasons.  This is my first year, so I am just guessing.

First stop was the Georgetown Visitor’s Center.

Georgetown Visitor's Center

Georgetown Visitor’s Center

This place has everything.  Lots of information for tourists, but also a museum.  There is a big gift store.  And, the television monitors had real time traffic toward the tunnel.  This is very important, especially with winter approaching and driving in the mountains.  There has already been snow on these roads this year.

We drove through town towards Guanella Pass.

A few minutes toward the pass looking back at Georgetown

A few minutes toward the pass looking back at Georgetown

This is another place with many aspen and the gold on the mountain with green pine trees is fabulous against the bright blue Colorado sky.

Aspens and mom left me on the road

Aspens and mom left me on the road

These are some of the gorgeous golden aspen leaves.   The water is part of a hydroelectric plant.

Aspen, water and mountains. Perfect

Aspen, water and mountains. Perfect

The creek is always refreshing and after the recent heavy rain, the rivers

Water rushing through the aspens

Water rushing through the aspens

and creeks are full and running fast.

We returned to Georgetown and visited the Art Gallery.  Very nice.

Colorado Art

Colorado Art

All the art is created by Colorado artists.  Many talented people live in Colorado.  The Happy Cooker is a nice place for lunch.

Happy Cooker. Good food

Happy Cooker. Good food

There is outside and inside seating.  They serve breakfast and lunch all day.  We love the sandwiches.

My favorite stop was Georgetown Valley Candy Company.  They have been here many years.

Sweet and delicious. Gifts also

Sweet and delicious. Gifts also

We had black cherry ice cream.  Yum!!  Their fudge is also wonderful.  Next a little shopping at the Santa Fe Trail shop.

Unusual jewelry, clothes and gifts. Hurry in

Unusual jewelry, clothes and gifts. Hurry in

They are celebrating 53 years in business and most items are on sale—50% off.  Hurry!!!

Leaving town we stopped at the First Presbyterian Church.

Really old and still used today.

Really old and still used today.

This church was built in 1874.  Colorado wasn’t even a state until 1876.  That is old!  They have added to the building

See you Sunday

See you Sunday

and have church services every Sunday.

Next we saw a park.  The playground equipment was great.

Loved the slide

Loved the slide

Makes me wish I were human.  This was paid for by the Colorado Lottery.  So, buy some tickets!  The ground here looks like street pavement, but is feels like foam.  Very nice and probably very safe.  A great fountain

Love all water

Love all water

and a crazy bench.  This bench is made from a tree trunk.  I love it.

The best bench!

The best bench!

Come to Georgetown.  It took us less than an hour to get here and I know you will love it too.  I’m coming back!

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PINE, COLORADO AND KENOSHA PASS

Wednesday mom and I, Zeb the duck, took I-70 west to C470 and then south on Highway 285.  We were going to have lunch at Pine, Colorado and then drive to Kenosha Pass to see the Aspen Trees.  It was a beautiful, sunny Colorado day.

We met our friend, K-rad, and then headed to Pine.  We decided to have lunch at the Historic Colorado Saloon, the BuckSnort Saloon.  To get there, we drove into Pine, then turned left on 4th Street, then right on Elk Creek Road.   This mountain road is very scenic.  Even a small waterfall in Elk Creek.

Elk Creek

Elk Creek

When we arrived, ready for lunch, we discovered the Bucksnort is closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The historic BuckSnort Saloon

The historic BuckSnort Saloon

And this is Wednesday.  Mom…you picked the wrong day.  These might just be winter hours now, but check before you come.  We took some pictures here.  The log building is over 100 years old.

Entrance to BuckSnort with my friend K-rad

Entrance to BuckSnort with my friend K-rad

It is from the 1890s when this was a stage stop and general store.  The BuckSnort Saloon is very popular with motorcycle riders.  One even arrived while we were there.  He was looking for lunch too.

Log buildings near BuckSnort. I am at foot of flag pole

Log buildings near BuckSnort. I am at foot of flag pole

Leaving the Bucksnort we drove back to Pine and had a very nice lunch at Zoka’s Restaurant and Bar.

Zoka's restaurant. I am on K-rad's arm

Zoka’s restaurant. I am on K-rad’s arm

Zoka’s is family owned and has a large deck also.  And, Zoka’s is open 7 days a week.  We all had the pork sandwich.   It is house smoked and has hwy 126 BBQ sauce.  It is usually served with cole slaw on top, but we wanted the cole slaw on the side.  Then we could choose French fries, cole slaw or purple potato salad.  We had French fries.  It was delicious!

Going to Zoka's. I am hungry!

Going to Zoka’s. I am hungry!

Pine is a pretty town with the river and surrounding mountains.  I want to come back here!  And, each of these restaurants allows well-behaved dogs on the patios.  If they like dogs, they must like ducks too.  We are coming back.

We left Pine, drove to highway 285 and south toward Kenosha Pass.  In Colorado we have lots of aspen trees and this time of year (autumn) the leaves turn red for a very short time and then a beautiful gold.  The leaves are rather small and turn and shimmer in the wind.  I love the quaking aspen.  They look so pretty on the side of a mountain, with green pine trees and Colorado’s bright blue sky.  Of course, I love yellow—it is my color!  Kenosha Pass is famous for its aspen trees and gold leaves in the fall.  Can’t wait to see it.  Hope this is the right week for us to be here.

These photos were taken as we approached Kenosha Pass.

Golden aspen leaves

Golden aspen leaves

More gold aspen

More gold aspen

Here is one at the pass.  It shows so many aspen trees on the side of this mountain.

Many aspen and many tourists

Many aspen and many tourists

Then we went over Kenosha Pass to South Park and into the town of Jefferson.  At Jefferson we saw our only bear,

This bear I like

This bear I like

and it was at Jefferson Real Estate, Inc.  Mom said we didn’t really want to see a bear today.  I can agree with that.

I hope you will check out Colorado’s aspen trees in the next few days.  They are beautiful.  I think we will go to another place for more leave watching.  I will let you know.  Even if the leaves are not gold, go to Pine for lunch.  For information visit www.thebucksnortsaloon.com and www.zokas.com.   See you soon for food and beverages.

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ESTES PARK, COLORADO after the flood

WOW!  What a great day.  Mom and I and Soapy, his mom and Steve, his dog went to Estes Park.  You probably heard that Colorado had severe flooding in October, but now the town of Estes Park is open to tourists.  So, we went.  Approaching downtown Estes Park, we were greeted by several young deer.

We were greeted by these deer

We were greeted by these deer

Estes Park is one of my favorite Colorado mountain towns.  They have a lot of festivals, so I probably will be writing about Estes Park many times.  This weekend was Elk Fest.

Elk Fest and we are. We are under the last t

Elk Fest and we are. We are under the last t

Estes Park is one of the towns that borders Rocky Mountain National Park.  There are lots elk in the park, and lots in town now also.  This is their rut, or mating time.  The males bugle to attract the females and chase away other males.  We saw lots of elk in a city park.

Male elk ready to defend territory and his females

Male elk ready to defend territory and his females

In town, we walked along Elkhorn Street, the main tourist area, and things had been cleaned up and almost every business was open.  The main thing our moms missed were the huge pots of flowers.  Soapy and Zeb loved everything.  If necessary, our moms can go to the Botanical Gardens soon. We went to our favorite snack stores.  First to the Taffy Shop.  They have machines that pull taffy.

Taffy. Looks good and tastes better

Taffy. Looks good and tastes better

It is so great.  The moms came out of the Taffy Shop with several boxes of taffy.  Then we went another block or more to Laura’s Fudge and Candy Store.  Again, lots of boxes.  This time fudge and white chocolate macadamia toffee and huge cookies.   I have tried it all this week.  I decided my favorite is every one.  Try them soon.  YUM!! The river goes through Estes Park and it is beautiful.  The moms took lots of pictures of us by the river.

Soapy & Zeb by water wheel and Nepal shop

Soapy & Zeb by water wheel and Nepal shop

Admiring the river

Admiring the river

Soapy has a blue tie on and Zeb is casual and without a tie.  Steve, she is really a girl dog, has a blue collar and pink leash.

Don't think this is usually in the river.

Don’t think this is usually in the river.

We all had to really watch Soapy as he is a scoundrel, just like his namesake Soapy Smith.

Soapy pushing Zeb to take boy's apple

Soapy pushing Zeb to take boy’s apple

We walked to the end of the street to the Elk Fest booths.

Some visitors and booths

Some visitors and booths

There were some booths, and some tourists, but not like previous years. After wandering, we stopped at McDonald’s for another snack.  What a surprise.  When we entered, they had two large yellow ducks on the counter.  Of course Zeb and Soapy had to have pictures with them.

Could be family reunion

Could be family reunion

They could have been our duck mothers.  McDonald’s employees told us that they sponsor the rubber duck races in late May, so that is why they have the big ducks.  Like we said:  Estes Park has lots of festivals. On the way out of town, we saw lots of elk in a park.

Elk relaxing

Elk relaxing

Some standing, many resting and some walking.  We have seen lots of elk since we became the duck family, but each time they are so majestic and wonderful. To get to Estes Park from Denver, you should get to Black Hawk.  You can do this by taking I-70 to Highway 6.  Heading toward Black Hawk, you will come to Highway 119 that goes past Black Hawk.  Continue past Black Hawk on Highway 119 to Nederland.  At the round about in Nederland, take Highway 72, also known as the Peak-to-Peak Highway.  This road will dead-end at Highway 7.  You must turn left.  Highway 7 will take you to Estes Park.  Estes Park is a favorite Colorado town and the main income is from tourists.  We love the town; they need us now, so let’s all go to Estes Park.  It is still fun!