Uncategorized

by

It is Natioinal Chocolate Covered Raisin Day–Let’s Go to a Movie

Today, March 24 is National Chocolate-Covered Raisin Day.   This information comes from http://www.punchbowl.com   Click on Reasons to Celebrate at the bottom of the page.     Nestle Raisinets are one of the most popular candies for movie-goers.   Raisins are an excellent source of fiber, potassium, iron, calcium and certain B vitamins.   Add some dark chocolate into the mix and you’ll also get a healthy dose of antioxidants and important minerals.    So, let’s eat some Raisinets for our health!   And they taste good, too.

We have Raisonets with Dark Chocolate and also with Milk Chocolate. Yum!

We have Raisinets with Dark Chocolate and also with Milk Chocolate. Yum!

The photo is over.   Let’s eat them!

by

Petrified Forest National Park with Zeb, Soapy Smith and JB Duck

Here we are, entering another National Park.   Remember this is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, but several parks are older than 100 years.

Petrified Forest National Park in Northern Arizona

Petrified Forest National Park in Northern Arizona

But, what is petrified wood?   This is the explanation from the National Park Service.   Approximately 216 million years ago, these trees died and fell in a river.   They were buried beneath layers of silt, mud, sand and volcanic ash, which protected them from decay.   Mineral laden ground water percolated through the layers,carrying silica from the volcanic ash and other trace minerals.   The absorbent dead wood became saturated with the minerals.   The silica, or quartz, crystals slowly bonded with the cells of the tree replicating the organic material in perfect detail.   Eventually, silica replaced the old material.    Wow, that is pretty involved.   The short version is a log is petrified when all the original plant material is replaced by minerals.   First stop for us was the museum and Visitor’s Center.   This is a petrified tree stump.   We love the colors in the petrified wood.

Colors of petrified wood

Colors of petrified wood

Check out this long log.

35 foot long log weighs 44 tons

35 foot long log weighs 44 tons.   Don’t we look little?

This log, sometimes called “Old Faithful”, is 35 feet long and weighs 44 tons.   Big and heavy.   We are still in the northern Arizona desert and we loved this blooming cactus.

Blooming cactus

Blooming cactus

This is Agate Bridge.

Petrified log forms Agate Bridge

Petrified log forms Agate Bridge

The bridge is formed by a fossilized tree, 110 feet long.   This tree flourished in a lush tropical forest 217 million years ago.   The supportive concrete span was built in 1917.

There is a river bed under the bridge

There is a river bed under the bridge

It was very windy when we were here, so we rubber ducks had to be protected.   We did not want to go in the river under the Agate Bridge.   There are really two parts to the Petrified Forest National Park.   Interstate 40 divides the park, with the petrified forest part south of the highway, and the area north of I-40 is the Painted Desert.   These great colors are in the area of transition.

Colorful

Colorful

Years ago, before interstate highways were built, Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles was a favorite road.   Route 66 came through this part of Arizona.

Route 66. An American favorite

Route 66. An American favorite.   Route 66 crossed the Petrified Forest National Park.

We also saw this 1932 Studebaker by the road.   This is a real piece of Americana.

1932 Studebaker

1932 Studebaker

So many people drove this road and there are so many great memories here.    Aren’t the colors of this Painted Desert beautiful?

Looking at painted desert in the canyon

Looking at painted desert in the canyon

There are many such lookouts into the canyon.   We stopped at several of them.   This is the famous Painted Desert Inn, now a National Historic Landmark.

Painted Desert Inn

Painted Desert Inn

We went inside.   The old soda fountain is still there.   We really liked this petroglyph.

Petroglyph

Petroglyph

Everything in this park is so wonderful and colorful.   This is a panorama from the overlook of the Painted Desert Inn.

Panorama view of Painted Desert from Inn

Panorama view of Painted Desert from Inn

What an incredible view to watch the sunset and sunrise.   We hope you stop to see the Petrified Forest National Park and also enjoy the Painted Desert.     The gift shops here are wonderful also.   We brought home some heavy bags.   Petrified wood plaques are very heavy.

by

50,000 Years Ago A Meteor Landed in Arizona

Several hundred thousand tons of rock, traveling 26,000 miles per hour, collided with the earth 50,000 years ago.   What a fiery explosion, a force greater than 20 million tons of TNT there was in northern Arizona.   We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks, visited Meteor Crater.

Let's go inside and learn about the meteor

Let’s go inside and learn about the meteor

Entering the building we examined the Holsinger meteorite.

Holsinger Meteorite

Holsinger Meteorite

This is largest fragment discovered from the 150 foot meteor that crashed into the earth.   Much of the meteor vaporized on impact.   First we watched a short movie about the impact of the meteor and the resulting crater in the earth.   Our crater is not the oldest, nor is it the largest, on planet earth.   But it is the best preserved.   The isolated location and the dry Arizona desert, with only 7 inches of moisture annually, has not allowed much erosion or change to the site.   Our crater is 550 feet deep.

Meteor Crater

Meteor Crater with monument to Apollo astronauts at bottom

That is deep enough for a 60 story building to stand inside the crater and not reach over the top.   The hole is more than 4,000 feet across, with a circumference of 2.4 miles.   This hole is big enough for 20 football stadiums with games being played and 2 million spectators to fit comfortably within the crater.   That is big!   It was a very windy day; the tours around the crater rim were cancelled due to wind.

Meteor Crater

Meteor Crater

We ducks were outside, but we had to sit by this trash can so we didn’t blow away.

Meteor Crater with Zeb, Soapy Smith and JB Duck

Meteor Crater with Zeb, Soapy Smith and JB Duck

But we had to be outside to see everything.     From 1964 to 1972 the Apollo astronauts trained here at Meteor Crater.   The surface of the moon has meteor craters and the astronauts learned how to move on the surface and what types of materials to bring back to earth.   This is a test capsule for the astronauts.

Apollo Test Capsule

Apollo Test Capsule

Can you imagine living in a capsule this size for several days?   This capsule is really small.   Let’s talk about the speed of the meteor when it collided with the earth.   We said it traveled at 26,000 miles per hour, but how fast is that?   If you left New York, traveling at 26,000 miles per hour, you would arrive in Las Angeles in FIVE minutes.   That is fast.   When you visit Meteor Crater, remember that it is on private property, and there is a real ranch here.

This is a working ranch. Be careful.

This is a working ranch. Be careful.

The cattle are free range cattle, no fences, so they can cross the road.

Free range cattle next to road

Free range cattle next to road

Be careful.   If you hit a cow, nobody wins.   This is a National Natural Landmark.   For more information visit http://www.meteorcrater.com

by

Joshua Tree National Park with Zeb, Soapy Smith and JB Duck

In the desert of southeast California, we entered Joshua Tree National Park.

We are entering Joshua Tree National Park

We are entering Joshua Tree National Park

As you know, this is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, so we are visiting some national parks this year.    The desert has so many types of vegetation and pretty cactus.

A silver color desert plant

A silver needled desert plant

This silver one caught our attention.   The western part of Joshua Tree National Park is in the Mojave Desert.   This desert is more than 3,000 feet above sea level.    This is a Joshua Tree.

We are in front of the Joshua Tree

We are in front of the Joshua Tree

Joshua trees are really a species of yucca plant and are a symbol of the Mojave Desert.   The waxy, spiny leaves expose little surface area, efficiently conserving moisture.   Joshua trees can grow over 40 feet tall–at the leisurely rate of an inch a year.   Our Joshua Tree has flowers.

Joshua Tree Blossom

Joshua Tree Blossom

Joshua Trees bloom February through April.   The flower is pollinated only by the Joshua moth, and branching occurs after flowering.   These trees are not scarce in Joshua Tree National Park, nor in the Mojave Desert.

Many Joshua trees

Many Joshua trees

They are referred to as the Tree of Life, similar to the Saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert.   The rock formations here are great also.   This is Skull Rock.

Skull Rock

Skull Rock

You know how it received that name.   The rocks were formed by underground volcanic activity eons ago and have evolved to todays rock formations.

Formed from underground volcanic activity

Formed from underground volcanic activity

We love them.   The eastern part of Joshua Tree National Park is in the Colorado Desert.   This desert is less than 3,000 above sea level.   The Colorado Desert is a lower, hotter and drier desert than the Mojave Desert.   The Colorado Desert is a sub division of the Sonoran Desert.   Of course there are no boundaries between the deserts, just a subtle, gradual change and the appearance of lower creosote bushes.

Creosote bushes

Creosote bushes

There are many Cholla Cactus here.

The Cholla Cactus Garden

The Cholla Cactus Garden

This fenced area is called the Cholla Cactus Garden.   Let’s go explore.

Let's go see the cactus garden

Let’s go see the cactus garden

The signs say not to touch the cactus, or even get too close.   The needles cause pain–going in and coming out of your body.   Here is new growth on the cactus.

New growth on the cholla cactus

New growth on the cholla cactus

When the needles turn brown and fall off, the remaining cactus arm resembles woven, hollow stalks.

The arms look hollow without needles

The arms look hollow without needles

Even though this is a sub division of the Sonoran Desert, the large cactus do not appear.   We did like this desert plant with the huge flowering blossom.

Desert plants blooming in March

Desert plants blooming in March

The desert is just so full of different vegetation and so many surprises.   We hope you visit Joshua Tree National Park, or some national parks in this, the Centennial year, of the National Park Service.

by

The Colorado Traveling Ducks Visit the Mojave Desert

We are driving into the Mojave Desert.

Mojave National Preserve

Mojave National Preserve

Looking around, there is not much vegetation, dry mountains around us, and 57 minutes with no other humans in sight.

Low vegetation in the desert

Low vegetation in the desert

These are Joshua Trees, also known as yucca palms.

Joshua Trees

Joshua Trees

There is a national park featuring Joshua Trees.   Very tall mountains add to the feeling of isolation.

Tall mountains add to isolation

Tall mountains add to isolation

A town on the horizon.   This is Kelso Depot and Visitor’s Center.

Kelso Depot and Visitor's Center

Kelso Depot and Visitor’s Center

The visitor’s center is not open yet this morning, so we just look.   From the mid 1940s until 1985 this was the jail for Kelso.

Kelso Jail with Soapy

Kelso Jail with Soapy

A 2 cell, strap-steel jail to confine drunks and other unruly individuals for a night or two.   The jail was originally west of Kelso Depot on the far side of Kelbaker Road.   That rascal, Soapy Smith Duck, better be careful…he may have to stay in jail in Kelso, California.   Kelso Dunes are the largest field of eolian sand deposits in the Mojave Desert.   They cover 45 sq. miles and reach heights of  600 feet.   Humans can walk to the dunes and climb to the top.  The dunes were formed 25,000 years ago.

A path to the Kelso Dunes

A path to the Kelso Dunes

Well, mom, let’s go.

Let's walk to the Dunes

Let’s walk to the Dunes

OK Ducks.   Let’s walk a little way in the sand, but not to the top of the dunes today.   Leaving Kelso Dunes, we pose for a photo with these wildflowers.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Remember, wild flowers in the desert were the reason for this road trip.   We are out of the Mojave National Preserve, but still in the Mojave Desert.   We like these trees with the bright orange.

We like the orange here

We like the orange here

We are not sure, but we think the lower plants turn orange when they die, and blew into the tree.   But it is pretty.   The Mojave Desert does have vegetation, but not very tall.

Mojave Desert. Rather barren

Mojave Desert. Rather barren

We like the harsh look of the desert.

by

We loved lunch at Denver’s oldest Italian Restaurant

Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck anticipate lunch at Patsy’s.

Let's eat at Patsy's

Let’s eat at Patsy’s

Patsy’s, opened in 1921, by Mike and Maggie Aiello, is Denver’s oldest Italian restaurant and is still owned by the same family.   We went into the main restaurant, but there is another section, Patsy’s Pizzeria.

Patsy's Pizzeria. With new patio

Patsy’s Pizzeria. With new patio

Joseph greeted us at the door and let us pick our table.

We can sit where we want

We can sit where we want

Joseph took care of us while we were there.   We like Joseph.

We like Joseph

We like Joseph

He is very friendly and brought us food and lots of beverages.   Our food was delicious.    We ordered cavatelli with original spaghetti sauce.

Yum. Great flavors but not overpowering.

Yum.   Great flavors but not overpowering.

We also ordered Patsy’s speciality of homemade spaghetti with a meatball.   Each human also enjoyed a bowl of homemade minestrone.   Fresh bread was included.   Everything was very tasty, fresh, and the portions were huge.   Along the wall of the dining room, we admired this hand painted mural.

Hand painted mural

Hand painted mural

So many famous scenes from Italy.   After eating, we walked to the bar.   Behind the bar is a bullet hole.

There is a bullet hole in the wall between us

There is a bullet hole in the wall between us

The story says that a married man came to the bar with a woman that was not his wife.   His wife knew.   The wife came into the bar, fired two shots, injuring no one, and walked out.   The husband understood what he needed to do.   We believe actions do speak louder than words.   Recently the patio by Patsy’s Pizzeria was added.   During the work, the owners went into the dirt basement that had been filled with mud.   They found bottles, glasses, photos and other item previously used in the restaurant.   Rumor says that there is also a body buried 8 feet under the restaurant.   We don’t know, but upstairs, we decided not to go through this door.

Door to somewhere

Door to somewhere

You just never know what you may find.   Another dining area?   Stairway to a body?   We stayed upstairs by the bar.   The other patrons talked to us and told us stories about Patsy’s.

Friendly bar

Friendly bar

We really liked Patsy’s and we will come back again.   When you are in Denver, head to 3651 Navajo Street, Denver to enjoy a great meal and a fantastic experience at Patsy’s.   When you visit Patsy’s, tell Joseph we will be back soon.   For more information visit http://www.patsysinn.com

by

China Ranch Date Farm in California with Zeb, Soapy Smith and JB Duck

We are going to a farm today, but a farm in the Death Valley area.   The date farm is 2 miles away.

China Ranch is 2 miles from here.

China Ranch is 2 miles from here.

Look at this road.   This will not be a farm like we usually see.

Is there really a farm down this road?

Is there really a farm down this road?

But even here, we see some cheerful wild flowers.

October rains brought flowers here also

October rains brought flowers here also

In previous years, mines were in these rocks.

Former mine

Former mine

You can see where the miners went in to get silver.   This is a date farm, but what do we, the Colorado Traveling Ducks, know about dates.

We did not know this

We did not know this

This sign tells us that dates are the oldest tree crop.   We did not know that.   These date trees are palm trees.

Date palm trees with Colorado Traveling Ducks in the grassy road

Date palm trees with Colorado Traveling Ducks in the grassy road

We are in the grassy road here.   Can you find us?   There are many types of palm trees.

Now we are sitting in the tree bark

Now we are sitting in the tree bark

We are sitting on the tree trunk, held up by date palm bark.   To move the dates from the date groves to the store, this truck can be used.

To move dates

To move dates

We like this truck.   How did a farm get here in death valley area?   Ah Foo started it.

How did a farm get here?

How did a farm get here?

This farm is possible because there is a river near here, and that is the water source for the farm.   The modest museum has some history and some items used on the farm in the earlier days.

A modest museum

A modest museum

This is a cute museum.   There is a gift shop here and a bakery.

China Ranch gift shop and wonderful bakery

China Ranch gift shop and wonderful bakery

We love bakeries.   We bought date cookies with white chips and date bread.

Let's eat!

Let’s eat!

This is a good place to sit and enjoy our treats.

Sit here and enjoy date treats

Sit here and enjoy date treats

We like China Ranch Date Farm.   For more information visit http://www.chinaranch.com  If you are near Death Valley in Tecopa, California we hope you visit the date farm.

by

It’s Gone

Today only has 23 hours.   What happened?   Mom says Daylight Savings Time began at 2 a.m. today, Sunday March 13.   We will get that hour back November 6.    Humans do strange things. It will not get light so early in the morning now.   The best part though, it will not get dark so early in the evening.   Maybe more cooking dinners outside and eating outside.   Summer will be coming soon.   Of course, there may be more winter first, but it will be light later in the evening, so everything will be good.   Did you remember to change your clocks?