Today is May 5, or cinco de mayo. This is a holiday in Mexico and is also celebrated in many places in the United States. May 5, 1862 the French army was defeated at the Battle of Puebla in Mexico. The smaller Mexican army was able to defeat the French. This was a great victory for Mexico. However, the French did eventually win and ruled Mexico for several years. This festival is also a celebration of the culture of Mexico. If you go to a festival for cinco de mayo we believe you have great time. Enjoy this holiday.
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Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao with Soapy Smith Duck
These two phenomenal fighters accidently met at a Miami Heat basketball game. Both were sitting courtside in Miami. They met after the game and committed to having this fight.
Pacquiao favored by many. Mayweather favored by Las Vegas
The fight was delayed because so many people ordered pay per view television coverage; the networks were overloaded. But the fight did begin! Manny Pacquiao entered the ring first
Here is Manny
and then stopped to take a selfie. Floyd Mayweather then entered the ring. Manny Pacquiao was born December 17, 1978 in the Philippines and still lives there. In May 2010, at age 32, he was elected to the Philippine House of Representatives. He has been involved in basketball, acting and is a retired singer. Pacquiao is the current WBO welterweight champion. Floyd Mayweather, Jr was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan into a family of boxers. He is currently undefeated. He is also the current WBC, WBA and Ring welterweight champion. This fight has been called the fight of the century. Soapy is watching the fight at home with his mom and dad. They ordered pay per view and they will have a good time watching the fight and yelling at the television. The television announcer are discussing the fight.
He enjoys his job
Let’s turn our attention back to the boxing ring.
The lights accentuate the boxing ring
It is time for the fight to begin!
Ready to begin!
This is exciting for Soapy. He sometimes watches fights with his humans, but this is THE FIGHT.
Round One. The spectators and officials decided this round is Mayweather’s.
After twelve full rounds, the judges have made their decision.
Floyd Mayweather is the winner and champion!
Floyd Mayweather is the winner in this unanimous decision. Congratulations Floyd!
One of the first people in the ring after the fight was Fred Sternburg. Fred is Manny’s promoter and Fred lives in Englewood, Colorado. Englewood is a southwestern suburb of Denver. Fred has been to the Philippines numerous times and has gone on world tours with Manny Pacquiao. Fred was responsible for Manny being on Jimmy Kimmel Live last week. That was Manny’s 9th appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live since 2009. Fred wants to broaden Manny’s appeal to an audience that doesn’t necessarily watch boxing.
Floyd Mayweather won the boxing match with the unanimous decision from the judges. Mayweather had planned to retire soon and Saturday after the win, he said his last fight is in September. Soapy and the humans hope he can retire undefeated. Soapy Smith Duck likes to watch a good boxing match. These two fighters were talented boxers, not street fighters. Soapy congratulates Floyd on a great fight!
The Kentucky Derby 2015 with Zeb the Duck
I, Zeb the Duck, watched the Kentucky Derby on television. The first Saturday of May, the 1 ¼ mile (2.0 kilometer) Kentucky Derby happens in Louisville, Kentucky at Churchill Downs. In Kentucky, they have two weeks of celebrating before the race. Humans get dressed up, many wear hats and many drink mint juleps. This is the 141st Kentucky Derby. The first was in 1875 and the race has been held every year. Look at this view outside Churchill Downs before the race.
Look at all the people
There are so many people. Look at all these people.
Such a crowd
Many of them have hats. I know people wear big hats, but look at these reporters.
Kentucky Derby hats
He is wearing a hat with roses similar to the roses given to the winning horse. Before the race, some of the jockeys were interviewed. This is Victor Espinoza.
Victor Espinoza, a jockey, is from Mexico.
He won last year while riding a horse named California Chrome. He also won in 2002 riding a horse named War Emblem. This year he is riding American Pharoah, the favorite. Before you notice and get distracted, this horse was named in an online contest. The name, Pharoah, was spelled wrong, but that is the official name of the horse. Now the official photo is being taken.
18 jockeys, all want to win
This is the photo of the 18 jockeys for the 2015 Kentucky Derby. Before the race, the band plays and the crowd sings My Old Kentucky Home. The jockeys mount the horses and ride to the starting point. Here is Victor Espinoza again, riding American Pharoah.
Victor Espinoza riding American Pharoah
See how his leg is bent and high on the horse. That is not what I see in movies when people ride horses. But this is an important horse race. The horses are out of the starting gate
The race started!
and the race is on. They are racing
Who is leading and who will win?
and you can see that American Pharoah is not leading. They are still running and American Pharoah is in 4th place.
So many spectators. American Pharaoh is in 4th place
Look at all the people watching the Kentucky Derby. The race is getting toward the end and American Pharoah is now in the lead.
American Pharaoh and Victor Espinoza are in the lead
Can he keep the lead?
The winner!
Yes, American Pharoah and Victor Espinoza just won the 2015 Kentucky Derby! An official time of 2:03.02. This is two years in a row for Victor. In two weeks the horses will go to Baltimore, Maryland and run in the Preakness Stakes. The third race for the Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978. Will American Pharoah be able to do it?? Here is the proud owner of American Pharoah holding the Kentucky Derby trophy.
The trophy and trainer, Bob Baffert front left
I, Zeb the Duck, think horse racing is exciting. Some humans even call the Kentucky Derby the fastest 2 minutes in sports. Or today, 2 minute and 3.02 seconds. Do you think American Pharoah will win the Triple Crown?
Fairbanks in the Winter with Eider Duck
I, Zeb the Duck, asked my Alaska cousin, Eider Duck, to show us a little about winter at his home near Fairbanks, Alaska. Eider brought us some photographs. Eider said this was a rather mild winter at his house.
These photos were taken in early January 2015. At that time, the temperature was about 20 degrees below zero. Eider, some people do not consider that a mild winter.
Dark and cold
Winter at Eider’s house
These photos were taken more recently in March. The wind blew and the snow really fell.
Blowing snow near Fairbanks
Eider could not see the house across the street very well.
Neighbor’s house
This snow had fallen during a warmer time.
Snow on trees
The temperatures were close to 15-20 degrees above zero. We love the snow clinging to the trees.
Fresh snow
Eider said there was between 2 and 3 feet of snow on the ground.
Near Fairbanks in March 2015
Previous snowfall did not melt the way it does in Denver. Eider said some evaporates and some just compacts as it waits for the spring thaw.
Waiting for spring
Eider said that this winter he did experience temperatures of 40 below zero, but not for extended periods of time.
Perfect day to be inside looking out.
Well, Eider, we in Denver, would not consider this a mild winter. Stay warm and stay inside, Eider. But we certainly appreciate your photographs. Thanks for sharing with us!
Cousin Duck Goes to Topeka, Kansas
None of the Colorado Traveling Ducks have visited Kansas. Mom’s friend, Tom and his son, Mike, took Cousin Duck to Topeka to the 140th reunion of Topeka Lutheran School. Tom was a teacher there from 1971-1974. They checked into a motel in Topeka, near the school, and Cousin Duck found something new.
What is on the pillow?
What is this, he asked? This is a mask for a CPAP machine.
Now I can sleep better
Cousin Duck says he breathes better with this mask. Driving around Topeka they found the house where Tom, Mike and the rest of the family lived in Topeka.
The humans lived here over 40 years ago.
Big yard here. They are now in the school, the home of the Topeka Lutheran Wildcats.
Am I a Wildcat?
Cousin Duck now thinks he is a Wildcat.
A trophy
Some of the former students are holding a trophy, won when they were teenagers. Wildcat Duck likes Brad and Pam, his new friends.
Brad and Pam are Wildcat Duck’s new friends
They were Tom’s former students. Now what is this?
Paddles?
In the early 1970s students could be paddled if they misbehaved in school. Mmmmm. Sometimes a little persuasion teaches students valuable lessons. The students that were paddled realized that maybe they deserved it and none were angry about things now. For more information about this school, visit http://www.TopekaLutheran.org Sunday, Tom and Mike, with the newly named Wildcat Duck visited Washburn University.
Wildcat Duck at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas
Across from the University is a great store. They went into Time Machine Records and More. Another former student, Brent, was there. Look at this album from Freak Brothers.
Ducks love vinyl!
Wildcat Duck really like the figures behind him. This is the immensely popular band, KISS.
Wildcat Duck is with KISS
That is so perfect. Everybody loves KISS. For more information about this store visit http://www.timemachinerecordstopeka.com We think Wildcat Duck had a great trip. But it was time for them to leave Kansas and come back to Colorado.
Goodbye Kansas
Thanks for the trip Tom and Mike. I, Wildcat Duck, had a great time.
Zeb and Eider Duck in Glenwood Springs, Colorado
After Rifle, Colorado, we got back on I-70 returning to Denver. We stopped at Glenwood Springs, Colorado. You might remember that Doc Holliday was with the three Earp Brothers during the shoot out at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. Shortly after the shoot out in Arizona, Doc Holliday moved to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. That was a great place for treatment if you had consumption, or tuberculosis at that time. We went to Doc Holliday’s saloon.
We like Doc Holliday
Good painting on the window here. This guy invites us in, so in we go.
Come in!
Friendly place. This is the sign from Doc Holliday’s office.
John Holliday, Dentist
Remember, he was a dentist. There are some great photos on this wall.
Old photos from Doc’s past
This one is labeled Gunfight at OK Coral Aftermath, October 26, 1881.
From the OK Corral…Aftermath???
On the left is Gunfighter Doc Holliday with U.S. Marshall Wyatt Earp. In the center are U.S. Marshall Virgil Earp and Mrs. Allie Earp. On the right, we see U.S. Marshall Morgan Earp and Mrs. Lou Earp. This photo is from Tombstone, Arizona Territory. This is a later photo of Wyatt Earp.
Wyatt Earp in 1926
The caption says Wyatt Earp as he appeared in 1926. The Budweiser Beer Wagon at KD Hughes Wholesale Liquor at 824 Grand Avenue, here in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is a favorite of ours.
Budweiser Beer Wagon
The saloon is great and so are the food and beverages. We think you would like this place and hope you will stop in when you are in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Hope you visit Doc Holliday’s Saloon, but don’t argue
Zeb and Eider Duck in Rifle, Colorado
We did go to Rifle, Colorado to eat at Shooters Grill,
Shooters Grill is awesome!
but we really liked the town. The people were so friendly. This street reminded us of the old west from countless movies we have watched.
Could be a movie set with the blue Colorado sky
Zeb and Eider really thought this horse was great.
A horse ducks can love
Ducks can sit on the feet of a horse and not be afraid. The Big Kids Corner Bar also looked inviting.
Maybe another time we will visit the Big Kids Corner Bar
We drove out of town to visit one of the many parks. The lake is so refreshing. Just like you would expect to see in the Rocky Mountains.
Love the lake
The name, Walleye Parking Lot, made us smile. The humans used to fish for walleyes in northern Wisconsin when they were kids. The blue color of this mountain lake is just beautiful.
Incredible blue lake
We love our Colorado lakes. Some of our distant relatives are swimming out there.
Swimming ducks
We tame ducks like our water a little warmer for swimming. Isn’t this some of the clearest water you have ever seen?
Clear Rocky Mountain water
We can see all the rocks and smaller pebbles on the bottom of the lake. As we left this park heading back to I-70, this mailbox caught our attention.
Great mailbox!
We loved it! You should visit Colorado soon. It is a great state.
Shooters Grill in Rifle, Colorado with Zeb, Eider and pistols
Shooters Grill in Rifle, Colorado
Shooters Grill in Rifle, Colorado
is a friendly restaurant, but it is a little different than most restaurants we have visited. The waitresses all carry guns on their hip. Really! Let’s go inside. Everybody here was so nice and so friendly. We admired this welcome sign.
Welcome to Shooters Grill
Jessica took our drink order. Jessie is our new friend.
Our new friend Jessica
They do not serve alcohol at Shooters, but our soft drinks were big and ice cold. We wandered around this restaurant. This picture of a man taking a bath in a tub is so typical of the early west.
We love this picture
Isn’t it great? Zeb and Eider believe them when they say No Trespassing.
We believe
These signs are serious! Zeb and Eider like this sign saying guns are welcome.
Guns are welcome. But, be responsible
Shooters is a friendly restaurant, not a rowdy, crazy place. Signs indicate a belief in the Second Amendment rights and a strong Christian belief. If you want great food in a peaceful environment, served by friendly waitresses, this is your place. Brooke is another new friend and waitress.
Brooke is another new friend
And, look at this food.
Yum!
The portions are big and the taste was perfect. Whenever you are near Rifle, Colorado, stop at Shooters.
Come in for great food and a great experience
Take exit 90 from I-70 and you are almost there. For more information visit http://www.shootersgrillofrifle.com You will be glad you stopped for a meal.
Snow at Vail Pass Summit with Zeb and Eider Duck
Leaving Nederland and unseasonably warm temperatures, we west drove on I-70 to Vail Pass. We stopped at the rest area and look at this snow. This sign is buried in snow.
Sign is about buried in snow
This shows the bright blue Colorado sky that we love.
You can almost see the sign between the snow and bright blue sky
Isn’t this beautiful? Even the stairway and path are closed due to snow.
Stairway closed due to snow
In the summer we hike up this hill and the view is spectacular. We love this sign.
Great sign and snow as tall as the building
They need to tell us not to take skis and snowmobiles inside the rest area building. That is great! We went inside the building, but we could hardly see out the window.
This is the view through the window
The snow is piled almost as high as the building. Here we are, Zeb and Eider Duck, sitting in a snow bank.
Zeb and Eider back in the snow
Hey mom, this snow is cold.
Nederland has the only 1923 Panama Canal Steam Shovel
On the way out of Nederland, Zeb and Eider stopped at the Nederland Mining Museum. The humans wanted to see and show us a 1923 Panama Canal Steam Shovel.
Zeb and Eider are on the shovel
This shovel is huge compared to small rubber ducks.
Twenty-five of these 1923 Panama Canal Steam Shovels, Bucyrus Model 50-B were sent to the Panama Canal to build bridges, roads and drains. Also to remove massive amounts of dirt and rock cut from the canal bed.
This shovel can move lots of stuff
In Panama, after the jobs were completed, 24 of these steam shovels were destroyed. This lone survivor was shipped to California and then brought to Denver. Early in the 1950s, Roy and Russell Durand transported this steam shovel to Rollinsville. They operated the Lump Gulch Placer, 6 miles south of Nederland. This shovel was used there until 1978. This Steam Shovel weighs 130,000 pounds and is rated at 75 tons.
October 21, 2005 the shovel was moved from Lump Gulch to the Nederland Mining Museum.
At Mining Museum in Nederland, Colorado
Steve and Laurel Higgins donated the shovel. Today it is the largest operating steam shovel in the United States.
The museum also has a smaller version of the huge shovel.
Large shovels are needed for mining
Even this smaller one is so big for little ducks. This is a great museum. Look at this other cool stuff we found.
Heavy cables
The Colorado Mountains supported many mines in the earlier years.
Gears
We find lots of mining museums and equipment as we travel around Colorado.
Mining Museum in Nederland. Colorado has many mining museums
We know you would like to see some of this stuff also. We hope you will visit many of these former mining towns in Colorado. This is the way to make history fun.
Colorado Traveling Ducks 