Today begins the Chinese New Year.
Happy Chinese New Year
This year, 2016, is the Year of the Monkey.
Happy Year of the Monkey 2016
We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks, wish you all a very Happy Chinese New Year.
Happy Chinese New Year 2016
Super Bowl 50 February 7, 2016
Today is the Super Bowl between our Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. Let’s go Broncos!
Winter Park, Colorado supports the Denver Broncos
Our favorite football team.
WOW! Broncos
Winter Park with the Colorado Traveling Ducks
Winter week in the mountains for Zeb, Soapy Smith and JB Duck. It is after Christmas so the Colorado Traveling Ducks hurry to Winter Park, Colorado for a week. Back to Twin Rivers Condos, we check out this snow pile.
Snow pile and swirling clouds
The clouds swirling in the sky are interesting to us. Let’s head to Winter Park Resort.
We are here!
The skiers and snowboarders test their skills.
Skiers and Snowboarders
We enjoy their fire pit.
To warm your feathers, or hands
Getting warm is always a good idea. Winter Park Resort is a highlight of our week here, but let’s return to town and visit one of our favorite restaurants. Today it is the Smokehouse BBQ for us.
SmokeHouse BBQ
This small locally owned restaurant specializes in smoked meat sandwiches, platters and baskets. Featuring pork shoulder, chopped chicken thighs, homemade hot links, turkey breast, brisket and burnt ends, our taste buds begin to dance. We decided on the Liftie, a sandwich of smoked, pulled pork shoulder, with cole slaw and french fries.
Liftie sandwich on Texas Toast. Delicious pulled pork
On the table we see the six sauces. We try a few, all good, but Bucky’s Mild is the preferred today. This is a really big sandwich. This is one of the best pulled pork sandwiches we ever had. Great pork flavor, mild sauce, warm and fresh. Half of the sandwich comes home with us and our waitress, Bethany, also includes some Bucky’s Mild sauce. Thanks Bethany. Smokehouse, we will return.
Smoke House
Another day we enjoyed dinner at Randi’s. Randi’s served us fresh trout with almonds. Delicious. We also had a turkey sandwich; also delicious. At Twin Rivers Condos, the icicles are removed from the roof as is a couple feet of snow from the edge. Thank you maintenance crew. If the snow or icicles fell on us, it would hurt. Here, in town, people are not usually walking along this building, so the icicles are not removed.
Huge and abundant icicles
There are so many! Beautiful to see and not a danger. We love them. Returning to our condo, we stop at the tubing hill. Here come some people tubing.
Here they come!
This is a group of humans, each with individual tubes, but they hold hands to keep together.
Group of tubing humans
Now Zeb and Soapy Smith try a tube.
We love tubing
Every year we return to Winter Park for a week. Every year we do many of the same things. Every year we love it! We hope you have favorite places which draw you back every year. Familiar and fun are great!
Snow Sculptures: Finished and Judged
Freezing my rubber duck feathers with a temperature of only 4 degrees, the snow sculptures in Breckenridge, Colorado were the focus of our trip. I, Zeb the Duck, showed you sculpting in process last week. Now you will see the winners. First place to USA Team Vermont with Rhonda and her Recycling Robo-Octopus.
Team Vermont: Rhonda and her Recycling Robo-Octopus
My friend, Tom, is holding me. Team Switzerland captured second place with Converse. However, after Saturday’s judging, half of the sculpture fell off.
Team Switzerland: Converse After the fall
Fortunately, it was after the judging. My friend, Tom, is holding me so I don’t become part of a snow sculpture. USA Team Loveland received the third place ribbon with Bolting From Extinction.
Team Loveland: Bolting from Extinction
The elements of nature can destroy the best efforts. Unfortunately Team Germany fell victim this week. The creation, Metanoia, was progressing nicely last week,
Team Germany: Metanoia
but this week, just a pile of snow.
Team Germany: Metanoia, after the crash
That is so sad. We want to show you more snow sculptures. Team Ukraine presents Love Wins.
Team Ukraine: Love Wins
Depicting a fist symbolizing brute force, violence and war, that is stopped by an open palm. The open palm is a metaphor of peace and love. The artists hope that peace and love, with negotiations and compromise, will return peace to Ukraine. Team Breckenridge shows The Widow Maker, referring to the pneumatic drill once used to mine gold.
Team Breckenridge: The Widow Maker
My friend, Tom, is holding me again. Team Great Britain created Tale of Two Dragons.
Team Great Britain: Tale of Two Dragons
Team Mongolia, Bayanmunkh, sculpted the Lion and Butterfly.
Team Mongolia Bayanmunkh: Lion and Butterfly
Thanks again, Tom. The slide and tunnel in this snow sculpture is great for small humans to play and have fun.
This one is for fun and sliding
Remember Budweiser is the sponsor of this competition. This is by Budweiser, not for competition, just for fun.
Busdweiser, the sponsor, presents this beer stein.
Mom, I hope you know that I, Zeb the Duck, fell in the cold snow. Don’t forget me! Now you know why I am so grateful to my friend Tom. The snow is cold and I could get lost in all this white stuff. All of these are wonderful works of art by very talented artists. And, the Artists’ Choice Award goes to Team Wisconsin for their representation of Dia de Muertos.
Team Wisconsin: Dia de Muertos
The Colorado Traveling Ducks appreciate all the talented artists, and we will eagerly await next year’s creations. These are great! These snow sculptures will be destroyed Saturday evening, so if you have not seen them yet, please hurry!
Denver’s Snow Storm February 2016
I, Zeb the Duck, woke up to a foot of snow in my backyard yesterday. Just to be sure, I live very close to Denver, not in the mountains. The snow is to be in the mountains on the ski slopes. I am sitting on a foot of snow here.
Sitting on 12 inches of fresh snow
And the snow is cold. But, it is pretty also. Isn’t this park gorgeous with the fresh white snow?
Park with new snow
Now I know how the humans and ducks in New England experience winter. If you get snow from this storm, have fun with it.
Ground Hog Day 2016
Punxsutawney Phil will forecast the arrival of spring today. Punxsutawney Phil, the ground hog, will emerge from his burrow in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania this morning. If he sees his shadow, we will have six more weeks of winter. If Phil does not see his shadow, we will have an early spring.
Happy Ground Day.
We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks, hope it is cloudy this morning and Phil predicts an early spring. Winter and snow are nice for awhile, but we are ready for warm weather and sunshine. Ground Hog Day is a Pennsylvania German tradition from the 18th and 19th centuries. Happy Ground Hog Day to all of you!
Tabernash, Colorado with The Colorado Traveling Ducks
We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks, will show you another small Colorado mountain town today. A few miles from Winter Park, Colorado, a major ski destination, is Tabernash.
Welcome to Tabernash
This is a rural Colorado mountain town. There are no suburbs here.
We love the open spaces here
Just beautiful open space. One of the major gathering places is the Tabernash Tavern.
Tabernash Tavern
Open for Happy Hour and dinner, it is the place to be. We think this store has the perfect name.
The Warm Store
The Warm Store was very inviting last week; it was 9 degrees when we were there. About 2 miles east of Tabernash is Devil’s Thumb Ranch.
Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Colorado
Across from the lodge at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, we noticed these solar panels.
Solar Panels
Colorado has more days of sunshine than Miami, Florida, so solar energy is often used. In addition to the lodge, humans can rent cabins.
Several cabins but much privacy
There are several here. This one even comes with icicles.
Cabin at Devil’s Thumb Ranch Colorado
Guests can head to the stables for horseback rides.
Stables. Want to ride?
Often the horses are pulling sleighs through the snow.
Getting to pull a sleigh
These horses are getting ready for a sleigh. This resort has much flat land and many cross country ski trails.
Cross country skiing
Devil’s Thumb Ranch is a great place to visit and when we were there, it was not very crowded. What a great place for cross country skiing, and only a few minutes from Mary Jane Mountain at Winter Park Resort. You may also snowshoe, ice skate and going tubing here. For more information, visit www.DevilsThumbRanch.com The Colorado Traveling Ducks hope you enjoy much of what Colorado offers.
Ms Ducky Visits Ireland
I, Zeb the Duck, was so excited to hear about Ms. Ducky’s trip to Ireland. This is Ms. Ducky’s second trip to Europe this year. I asked her to tell you about it and show you what she did. I, Ms. Ducky, flew to London and then flew to Ireland.
Ready to fly from London to Ireland
When I arrived in Ireland, I took my humans to see this ancient church.
Ancient church in Ireland
Later we toured Guiness.
Going on a tour of Guiness with mom
Guinness produces alcohol, and of course, the Guiness Book of World Records. Today we were more interested in alcohol than books. Let’s go inside. This is a nice place.
Guiness. I like it here.
Next we visited Belfast, Ireland. Ireland has a troubled past. The city of Belfast has 17 peace walls.
Peace Wall in Belfast, Ireland
They were built to protect neighborhoods during times of trouble. These walls are painted by the citizens.
Peace Wall
My humans and I visited the Shankill side where we were encouraged to sign the wall. As a peaceful duck, I eagerly added my signature.
Signing the Peace Wall
Next I take my humans to Northern Ireland’s northeast coast. This is Giant’s Causeway, an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea.
Basalt columns make steps at Giant’s Causeway
The tallest columns are about 12 meters (39 feet) high. The solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 meters (92 feet) thick in places.
Tall columns at Giant’s Causeway
Legend says that the columns are remains of a causeway build by a giant. All this exploring makes a duck hungry and thirsty. We enjoyed lunch at The Nook, here at the Giant’s Causeway.
The Nook refreshes after exploring
Soon we returned to Dublin. I, Ms. Ducky, am very smart, so I head for the Book of Kells at Trinity College Library.
Book of Kells Trinity College Library Dublin
Now I am inside the Long Hall in Trinity College.
Long Hall Trinity College Dublin
What a great place.
Long Hall Trinity College. I like Harry Potter.
I sit at the feet of George Salmon, Provost 1888-1904.
George Salmon, Provost. Trinity College Dublin
George Salmon graduated from Trinity College Dublin. He was a highly regarded mathematician, and also an Anglican Theologian. He spent his entire career at Trinity College Dublin. This is my new friend, Molly Malone.
Molly Malone, Dublin
The song “Molly Malone” was based on fictional tale of Molly, a fishmonger by day, and part time prostitute by night. This statue of Molly was unveiled in 1988 on Grafton Street. June 13 is Molly Malone Day. The statue was relocated to Suffolk Street in front of he Tourist Information Office. According to Wikipedia, Molly Malone is also portrayed as one of the few chaste female street hawkers of her day. I certainly find very interesting friends when I travel, don’t I? We visited and supported the Temple Bar Dublin. It was really fun. Of course, I made another new friend.
New friend from Temple Bar Dublin
I really like Ireland. Everyone was so nice, and a new friend came home with me.
Ms. Ducky and her Irish friend. They both live in Colorado now.
Sculpting Snow with Zeb the Duck
Let’s sculpt a 20 ton block of snow. January in Breckenridge, Colorado brings the Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships.
26th Annual Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships
We usually go to Breckenridge to see the finished sculptures. However, this year mom is not working as a tax preparer, so we can go more often. We watched the artists carve the 20 ton snow blocks.
20 ton block of snow. 12′ x 10′ x 10′
When a team wants to compete here, they must submit a drawing of their sculpture and a description. These are displayed during the competition. Team Germany’s entry, Metanoia, represents the journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self or way life.
Team Germany: Metanoia
Mongolia shows The Happiness of Family.
Team Mongolia: The Happiness of Family
Motherhood is the most invaluable intervention for the personal developments and skills of any animal/person in the world. The sculpture reveals the moment in which a mother teaches her babies how to swim. Estonia sculpts Human Space.
Team Estonia: Human Space
This sculpture from Budweiser is not entered in the competition. There was no drawing or explanation, but maybe… This Bud’s for You.
This Bud’s for You
Mongolia won the position of two sculptures.
Team Mongolia: Lion and Butterfly
The Lion and Butterfly was being created here. Team USA Wisconsin presents Dia de Muertos.
Team USA Wisconsin: Dia de Muertos
The sculpture represents the holiday of Mexican origin from October 31 through November 2, honoring and remembering those who have left this life. Team USA Vermont presents Rhonda and her Recycling Robo-Octopus.
Team USA Vermont: Rhonda and her Recycling Robo-Octopus
We loved all of these sculptures. There are many more on display. The judging Saturday, January 30. The sculptures will be on display through Sunday, February 7, weather permitting. We hope you can go to Breckenridge to see these elaborate snow sculptures. While we were in Breckenridge, we saw the horse cart.
Horse team
Also, near the Visitor’s Center, I sat on this wagon.
Historical wagon
Humans cannot climb or sit on the wagon, but I, Zeb the Duck, am small enough that I was allowed to sit here. We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks, love Breckenridge and hope to see you there to view the completed snow sculptures of the 26th Annual Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships.
Channel the Bear in Trinidad, Cuba
Today, I Zeb the Duck, want to show you where my friend, Channel the Bear, has been. You may remember that Channel and her mom go to Cuba frequently. Channel’s mom is a tour guide for Friendly Planet trips to Cuba. Channel sent this photo from Trinidad, Cuba. Often animals from towels are left on the beds, but look at this. Channel also received a rose and more rose petals on her towel.
Trinidad, Cuba highlights a rose and rose petals for Channel the Bear
This is beautiful, Channel. Thanks for sharing this photo with us. We love to hear and see what you experience in Cuba.
Colorado Traveling Ducks 