October 19, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Boys Town in Omaha with Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck

Near Omaha, Nebraska we entered Boy’s Town.

Welcome to Boy’s Town

Of course, our first stop was the Visitor’s Center.

Visitor’s Center for information

After talking with the helpful lady at the desk and doing our souvenir shopping, we wandered to the back of the store. Wow! This is the largest ball of stamps in the world.

World’s largest ball of stamps!

This is a solid ball of postage stamps, built one stamp at a time. Most of this ball of stamps was completed years ago when collecting postage stamps was a more popular hobby. Many of the boys and girls at Boy’s Town were stamp collectors. They have a penny slot and a box of postage stamps. Humans can look through the box of stamps and purchase whichever they want. And each stamp costs one penny. Put your penny in the slot and take a stamp. This ball of stamps has a diameter of 32 inches and weighs 600 pounds. There are 4,655,000 postage stamps that make up this solid ball of stamps. Now we see the Hall of History.

Museum inside

The Boy’s Town Museum is in this building. The statue of two brothers is a famous Boy’s Town Landmark.

Brothers statue

The slogan, He’s not heavy, he’s my brother encourages caring for each other. Nearby is the Garden of the Bible.

Restful garden

This is very restful place.

Looks so peaceful

Boy’s Town teaches Christianity and the Ten Commandments and The Beatitudes are carved in stone and displayed here. The Dowd Memorial Chapel is a special place at Boy’s Town.

Dowd Memorial Chapel

The inside of the Chapel is beautiful.

Inside Dowd Memorial Chapel

The special part, the round part to the left, holds the tomb of Rev Monsignor Edward J. Flanagan.

Tomb of Father Flanagan

Father Flanagan was the founder of Boy’s Town. His mission, simply stated, was to care for the boys and girls that needed to be cared for. The children who were abandoned, unable to care for themselves, or just needed someone to care. The monument, with the US flag honors those from Boy’s Town that gave their lives serving the United States.

Monument to Boys Town Military Heroes

Boy’s Town is a wonderful place and after visiting here, we know mom will be sending bigger checks to help them even more. We hope you can visit here and see the amazing things that happen at Boy’s Town.

October 18, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Denver’s Zombie Crawl with Zeb and Soapy

I, Zeb the Duck, and Soapy Smith Duck went to Denver’s 10 Annual Zombie Crawl. Yesterday on 16th Street Mall, we saw thousands of human zombies.

So many zombies and humans

We saw Zombies fighting in the street. This guy looks fierce.

Zombie street fighter

Check the teeth on this zombie.

Zombie teeth

Anybody know a good zombie dentist? This can’t be.

Can it really be??

Mr Trump. . . Look at two sets of Ken and Barbie Zombies.

Ken and Barbie are zombies?

Why not? So many Ken and Barbies already. There was music and some were dancing.

Music and dancing

What are these pretty girls doing?

Lady zombies

So much blood. Are zombies taking over? Humans are in jail.

In jail

Guess you should Beware of Zombies.

Beware of Zombies

A really tall zombie here.

Really tall zombie

Is this a happy zombie bride and groom?

Newly wed zombies

At least this one is not scary.

Friendly, for a change. We hope!

Unlike other festivals, the Zombie Crawl does not have food booths. Denver’s 16 Street Mall is a great place with many wonderful restaurants.

Great restaurants here

Isn’t this a great pedestrian mall?

Wonderful pedestrian mall

We like 16th Street, but we never saw it with so many zombies. We hope you have some fun experiences like this for Halloween. We liked the Zombie Crawl.

October 16, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Zeb and Eider at Cable Beach Australia for Sunset

Zeb, Eider and the humans arrived in Broome, Western Australia. After getting a place to sleep, we headed to Cable Beach.

We are at Cable Beach in Broome, Western Australia

Broome is on the Indian Ocean and well known for beautiful sunsets. We did not want to miss it. Cable Beach is a very wide beach.

Wide beach and you can drive here

Cable Beach pleases swimmers, sunbathers, and even sailboats.

Sailboat and people on beach.

Zander’s is the main restaurant on the beach.

Zander’s on Cable Beach

As you can see, this is a popular gathering place to watch the sunset.

This is the place to be for sunsets in Broome

At Zander’s you can eat in the main restaurant and watch the sunset. Of course, you will pay for this option. We sat in the restaurant, since we wanted the full experience. Hamburgers cost about $20 US, but the location was well worth it to us.

Zander’s restaurant. Eat inside or get take away

The part on the far right, is for ordering take away food from Zander’s, at a lower price. You can eat your food while sitting on a few benches outside. Everyone is ready to watch the sunset.

Anticipating the sunset

The sun is now setting.

Sun beginning to set in Indian Ocean

From the time the setting sun touches the water until it is completely gone is only 90 seconds.

Almost gone

Now, even with the sun gone, this is still a beautiful place and the weather was perfect, so many people still linger here. It is difficult to leave.

Still warm and beautiful

We are so happy that we ate at Zander’s and we able to see the famous and beautiful Cable Beach sunset. We hope you will visit here soon. It is wonderful.

October 14, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Zeb and Eider Duck Enjoy Western Australia’s Eighty Mile Beach

Zeb and Eider Duck and the humans arrived at Eighty Mile Beach.

Welcome

We stayed in a cabin at Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park.

Our home for a couple days

In the U.S. we do not believe the RV parks have self-contained cabins for rent. But in Australia, many of these parks have places for your tent, your camper, cabins with shared facilities and self-contained cabins. They are great. As we approached the park, we admired these Australian greeters.

Hello

Isn’t she adorable? We love these wallabies. You may remember that a wallaby looks like a smaller kangaroo. Our park has this Memorial for Vietnam Veterans.

Vietnam Memorial

It was officially opened August 18, 2010. We like memorials that honor those that fought for freedom. Eighty Mile Beach is the longest uninterrupted beach in Western Australia. The beach comprises 220 kilometers of coastline between Cape Missiessy and Cape Keraudren. Let’s see the beach.

Our beach is wide and long

We enjoy the soft sand and the really wide beach. Many migratory birds come here in the spring to feed. Also between June and October humpback whales pass near this beach heading north. This is the Indian Ocean, but the sea is rather gentle. Humans can drive on this beach.

Driving on the beach

Fishing from the shore is popular with many humans.

Fishing on Eighty Mile Beach

There are many kinds of shells on this beach. We ducks like beaches, sand, water and shells. This is the path to leave the beach and return to our cabin.

Heading back to our cabin

One time when we left the camp, some of the residents did not want us to leave.

Please don’t leave

We waited patiently for them and soon they moved for us. This road sign certainly made us look twice.

What?? Turtle crossing?

Someone altered a speed bump sign. Flatback turtles do come ashore between October and April to lay eggs, but by the ocean. Not on the road. We are enjoying the view from our front porch. This proud, colorful bird really got the attention of our humans. Of course, being a fellow bird, we liked him also.

Our bright eyed feathered friend

As you can guess, the sunsets here at Eighty Mile Beach on the Indian Ocean, are beautiful.

Beautiful Indian Ocean sunset with a lone fisherman

A great finale to our time at Eighty Mile Beach.

Just beautiful

October 13, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Zeb and Soapy Love The Archway

Driving through Nebraska, we stopped at The Archway, 3 miles east of Kearney. The Archway, previously known as the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, (sure glad they shortened that name), is an arch, or bridge, over I-80.

The Archway over I-80 in Nebraska

This is a museum featuring the westward expansion of the United States and the American people’s fascination with the car and road travel. Before entering The Archway, we admired this buffalo, a symbol of the American West.

Large buffalo

Here is a statue of the Martin Brothers.

The Martin Brothers

This sign explains their unusual circumstances.

About the Martin Brothers being pinned together

We enter The Archway, purchase tickets, receive our included audio program, and ride the long escalator and we are among covered wagons heading west.

Covered wagons were hard work

Soon the buffalo herds begin stampeding toward us.

A buffalo stampede

Along the westward trail, we stop to visit some of the Forty-Niners, hoping to find gold in California.

Hoping to get rich in California

Many wagons did not complete the trip west.

Disaster struck many wagons

The Mormons were a little more organized.

Mormons traveled from Illinois to Utah

Now we see a Pony Express rider.

Pony Express Rider

He delivered news of the Civil War from the east coast to San Francisco in only 10 days. The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and the driving of the Golden Spike in Utah are also celebrated in The Archway. The popularity of the personal automobile and the completion of the Lincoln Highway is shown.

The Lincoln Highway changes America

The Lincoln Highway, or US 30 allowed Americans to drive from New York City to San Francisco. The road trip was instantly popular.

Ready for the American Road Trip

It still is popular. We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks, are taking a road trip now. The drive in movie was a great hit.

The drive -in movie was an instant success

Another result of the American drivers was the Roadside Cafe.

Roadside Cafe is born

We could not imagine a road trip without food available, and so many choices. The Archway is a great place to stop. We really think you would enjoy visiting this museum. And enjoy driving across America.

October 12, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Paxton and Gothenburg, Nebraska with Zeb and Soapy

I, Zeb the Duck, and Soapy Smith Duck are taking a road trip. We love road trips! We never know exactly where we will go. This time we drive to Nebraska.

We are in Nebraska

As we expected, there are farms and rolls of hay here.

Farms are pretty

We think this farmland looks pretty and peaceful. We entered Nebraska from Colorado on I-76. That road is now I-80. We leave the highway at Exit 145, and drive across the South Platte River

South Platte River

and into the town of Paxton.

This is Paxton

In the middle of the afternoon during the week, there are not many people there. Mom says we are going to eat a little now. We stop at Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse.

Ole’s in Paxton, Nebraska

This is not like our usual lunch stop. First we look at the side of the building.

We like murals

We like buildings with murals painted on the side. As soon as we enter, Soapy and I know this is a different decor.

A rustic appearance

We like the wagon wheel suspended from the ceiling. And look at our lunch companions. These guys are looking right at our booth.

Dining companions

OK Mom. . .What is the story behind this restaurant? From the front of the building we know the bar opened in 1933. The menu tells the rest of the story. Prohibition ended in 1933 and Rosser O. Herstedt or Ole as he was known, opened a bar on Paxton’s main street. The bar soon became the main gathering place and hunting the main topic of conversation. In 1938 Ole had a trophy deer mounted and displayed in the bar. That was the beginning… Over a period of 35 years Ole hunted on all continents and brought trophies from every trip to display in the bar.

Not many of these in restaurants

Soon Ole’s bar was home to one of the most extensive private collections of mounted big game animals in the world.

A different collection

Ole made his last hunting trip in 1973, but the legend lives on. In 1988 the bar, or lounge, was purchased by another native of Paxton, Tim Holzfaster. The lounge and the adjoining restaurant are now combined as Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse. The food is very good and diners view over 200 mounted trophies. This moose watched us eat.

He is big

There is more to Ole’s than great food and hunting trophies. You can shoot pool while admiring photos of local school teams. Ole’s is in a small Nebraska town and the entire town is important. The school teams are recognized and supported here. There are also video games for your enjoyment. You will enjoy a unique dining experience here. Visit http://www.olesbiggame.com for more information. Our next stop was Gothenburg, Nebraska. This is an original Pony Express Station.

Original Pony Express Station in Gothenburg, Nebraska

We are looking in the window. This is the original building, but it has been moved a short distance to this location. Gothenburg also has a Sod House Museum.

Sod House Museum, Gothenburg, Nebraska

This giant plow is dedicated to sod house settlers.

To Sod House Settlers

We really liked these buffalo sculptures in the field.

Where the buffalo roamed

Nebraska was part of most of the trails to the west. The Oregon Trail passed through Nebraska, as did Lewis and Clarke. The gold rush to California used Nebraska as part of the route, as did the Mormon Trail to Salt Lake City, Utah. And, of course, the Pony Express delivered mail to Nebraska. Nebraska has many interesting museums and monuments to honor the courageous pioneers.

October 10, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Driving from Exmouth to Point Samson, Western Australia with Zeb and Eider Duck

Driving north from Exmouth, Zeb and Eider thought this was one of the best signs ever!

One of the greatest signs ever!

Further north, we spotted these rocks.

Pile of rocks

They are just all piled up. Rather unusual. We continue to see the many termite hills.

More termite hills

There are thousands of hills, so there must be millions of termites?? Arriving in Onslow, we decide to spend the night here. Our rooms are on the shore of the Indian Ocean.

Indian Ocean by our cabin

Aren’t these flowers beautiful?

Flowers in front of our cabin

They are growing by the front of our cabin. How can these trees grow and not fall down?

Growing sideways?

Leaving Onslow, still heading north, we find an Iron Ore mining area. The real mining area is fenced, but we see this plaque.

Plaque for Mr. Algy Patterson

The nearby bridge over the road is the Patterson Bridge, named for Mr. Algy Patterson, respected elder of the Kuruma and Marthudunera people. Much land in this part of Australia was owned by the aboriginal people and now Australia calls them traditional owners and they are involved in the use of the land. This is the case at the iron ore mining site. This is the Mesa A/Warramboo mine. Red dirt shows the work being done and the heavy red color of the soil, an indicator of iron ore.

Iron Ore being mined

Further north, we observed this unusual sculpture.

Unusual sculpture

We stop at Point Samson and admire the lighthouse near our room.

Lighthouse at Point Samson

These ships are lined up for the docks at Port Hedland.

Ships lined up for Port Hedland

The ships will take iron ore to Asia. We use this path to get to our beach on the Indian Ocean at Point Samson.

Path to beach at Indian Ocean

The next town, heading north, is Roebuck. We really liked these memorials for Australia’s military heroes. This one is for those that perished during World War I.

Honoring World War I Veterans at Roebuck

This one honors all fallen veterans.

Honoring all veterans. Roebuck, Western Australia

At a rest area we again were amazed at the way trees can grow.

How can they grow like this?

We also love the white bark. Here is another sculpture by the side of the road.

Unusual road side sculpture

We don’t know what it is, but it captured our attention. Today we have shown you some of the scenery we liked driving up the coast. Next time we will take you to 80 Mile Beach on the Indian Ocean.

October 9, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Exmouth Australia During World War II with Zeb and Eider

During World War II Australia and the United States often worked together. Remember that the United States entered World War II after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. The US declared war on Japan. In 1942 the US had ships docking in Fremantle, Australia which is southwest, near Perth. A refueling port further north was needed for the submarines. The US and Australia each built bases near Exmouth.

Operation Potshot Monument

The US stayed here from 1942-1944. The two countries worked very close in this area.

Balls of Steel

These balls of Steel, or ball float, were anchored in the nearby Gulf and used as a mooring point by boats or barges involved in Operation Potshot.

Zeb and Eider visited the site of the former US basis, called Operation Potshot. At this monument, there are several signs explaining the differences and similarities of conditions for the soldiers from each country.

Operation Potshot Monument

We think you would find these signs interesting. During this time the Japanese military was very aggressive in southeast Asia. Japan had moved through Thailand, into Malaysia and Singapore. Singapore is very close to northern Australia. During World War II Japan bombed northern Australia very heavily.

Australia attacked by Japanese

Broome and Darwin were frequent targets. Operation Jaywalk, a joint effort of 14 men from Australia and Britain, left Exmouth from the US base, September 2, 1943.

Tank Float

Tank floats were steel pontoons hitched together to form floating docks.

These men conducted a raid on the Japanese ships in Singapore. As result, 7 Japanese ships sank or were seriously damaged. All 14 men returned to the US Base at Exmouth October 19, 1943.

From Operation Jaywick

From Operation Jaywick also

The US base was heavily damaged during the Cyclone of February 3, 1945. We, the Colorado Traveling are not history experts, but we are happy to see that both countries were able to work together to help end World War II.

Operation Potshot

These monuments are very interesting and informative.

Submarines need refueling port

We think they would be worth some of your time when you are in the area of Exmouth, Western Australia. Standing by the monuments, the Indian Ocean in on one side and sheep grazing in a pasture are on the other side.

We love this guy

We like seeing all the sheep.

Grazing sheep

More peaceful now than during the war.

Operation Potshot Monument

October 7, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Exmouth on the Ningaloo Reef with Zeb and Eider Duck

From Coral Bay we continued north to Exmouth. We made it!

We are in Exmouth, Western Australia

Turtles are born here. However it was not turtle season when we were there, but this is the path to one of the nesting beaches.

Turtle Rookery

Looks like a nice beach.

Turtle nesting beach

Further along the beach we liked this turtle sculpture.

Turtle Sculpture

The small town was very nice and the people friendly. This is the Koobooroo Oval, and sports field.

Koobooroo Oval in Exmouth

We liked the trees planted around the oval. In Coral Bay we showed you the beaches, so today we will show you the Vlaming Head Lighthouse.

Vlaming Head Lighthouse

This lighthouse is 17 km from the town of Exmouth. Since it is built on the northern most tip of Cape Range, it is one of the few places in Australia where you can watch the sun rise and also set. Building the lighthouse had been under consideration for few years, but in 1907 when the SS Mildura sank here and many good men were lost, the lighthouse building date was accelerated. The lighthouse was completed in 1912 and was a welcome addition to this coast. This is the anchor from the SS Mildura.

Anchor from SS Mildura ship

The view from the lighthouse is wonderful. Many people report seeing the migrating whale shark from here. The ocean current here made an unusual pattern on the Indian Ocean.

Unusual currents viewed from lighthouse

From the lighthouse 13 tall towers are visible.

13 tall towers

During the 1960s the US Navy was granted permission from Australia to build these towers to aid in the US communication network. During our visit to Australia, we learned about many joint military efforts between the United States and Australia. We will show you more of these sites soon. Leaving the Vlaming Head Lighthouse, we saw this friendly emu.

Friendly emu

Emus are very common in and around Exmouth. We are still enjoying our road trip up the western coast of Australia. We hope you enjoy some of our explanations and photos also.

October 5, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Zeb Loves the Lego Exhibit at the Denver Zoo

I, Zeb the Duck, visited the Denver Zoo. The zoo is a great place. I love all the animals, but this time we enjoyed a Lego exhibit. Look at this lion made of legos.

Lego Lion

And then, look at this real lion.

Powerful Lion

Almost like being in Africa. We headed to the snow leopard.

Lego Snow Leopard

This one is made from 63,379 legos. We love this polar bear with her cubs.

Lego Polar Bear with cubs

There are 133,263 legos in this sculpture. The live polar bear is taking a nap.

Live Polar Bear taking a nap

This red rose is great.

Lego Rose

We really liked this whooping crane.

Lego Whooping Crane

Check out this bumblebee

Lego Bumblebee

and this gorgeous butterfly.

Huge butterfly

The germinating acorn is very nice also.

Lego acorn germinating

The Koi and Lily Pads seem so tropical.

Lego Koi and Lily Pad

It takes a lot of work to keep the zoo nice for visitors. This honors a man that keeps things is great shape for our visits.

Honoring those who work to keep the zoo nice for us

Of course, a lawn mower is a necessity.

A lawn mower of Legos. Looks so real

We liked the bison and calf of legos.

Bison and calf made of Legos

We also liked these live cape buffalo.

Cape Buffalo and Baby

The baby was born July 24, 2015. We love the zoo anytime, but these legos are spectacular. They will be on display at the Denver Zoo until November 1, 2015. We recommend that you visit the zoo and see the animals and the legos. We have seen them three times and will definitely go back again. We always see something new at the zoo.

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