Boulder Colorado

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Boulder Creek Festival

Zeb the Duck, and the rascal Soapy Duck, went to the Boulder Creek Festival in Boulder, Colorado with their moms.  We first decided to go for the duck races, but last time we told you about that.

Ducks can be so helpful. Creek to dangerous for duck races

Ducks can be so helpful. Creek too dangerous for duck races

This festival had so much!

This is a great place for kids.  These kids are inside plastic bubbles that float on water.

Walking on water in a bubble

Walking on water in a bubble

Try to walk in there.  Looks like so much fun!

Zeb and Soapy were on the kayak.

Kayaking today

Kayaking today

This is a big pool.  We were in the water also.

And more water fun.  Kids could slide down this huge water slide.

Fun for a hot day.

Fun for a hot day.

Yes, we did get wet sitting on the edge.  And we liked it.  Again, we wish we were human.

This train is great.  We are on the engine.

We love trains

We love trains

Kids were smiling and having fun here.

The climbing wall is really tall.  We look so small on the ground.

Climb high

Climb high

Don’t think this is for ducks to climb.

These girls have hula-hoops.  And they know how to use them.

Hula-hoops!

Hula-hoops!

The section of the festival with rides had this crazy roller coaster.  These humans are upside down.

Roller coaster

Roller coaster

Scary for ducks and humans.  The assortment of carnival games on the midway was fun.

Carnival fun at Boulder Creek Festival

Carnival fun at Boulder Creek Festival

All these people liked it here also.

Festivals always have so many things to see and buy.  This booth has a variety.

Great shopping at festivals

Great shopping at festivals

We are sitting on the rack of belts.

Walking and laughing makes our moms hungry and thirsty.  We had nachos, funnel cakes, and lots of diet pop.   So many food choices at festivals.   We hope you visit festivals this summer.   The music is so nice and they have a great variety of musicians.

Outdoor festival in Boulder. Great music

Outdoor festival in Boulder. Great music

We like Colorado festivals, but visit some wherever you are.  You will have fun!

Visit a festival this summer

Visit a festival this summer

 

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Duck Races in Boulder, Colorado

We love duck races. But these duck races were changed to a duck event. The ducks were dropped in a plastic pool, without water.

So many rubber ducks!

So many rubber ducks!

Then the ducks were scooped out with a net.

Ready to scoop out some winners

Ready to scoop out some winners

I, Zeb the Duck, went to Boulder with Soapy Smith Duck, his mom and my mom. We had a wonderful day at Boulder Creek Festival.

Quacky, the giant duck, supervised this duck event.

Quacky could be my big brother

Quacky could be my big brother

Quacky helps get ducks out of the pool to determine the winners.

Ducks can be so helpful

Ducks can be so helpful

Today about 3,500 sponsored ducks competed for 114 prizes.

After this duck event, the pool was removed, the bands played,

Outdoor festival in Boulder

Outdoor festival in Boulder

people danced, and a light drizzle began to fall.

Soapy and I and our moms walked along Boulder Creek Trail

Appropriately named trail

Love the fish

to see Boulder Creek.  The duck races were to take place in Boulder Creek, but the creek was too dangerous.  We decided to look.  Boulder Creek is very high.

Close to capacity

Close to capacity

Wow!  This water is too rough for ducks or humans to navigate and race.

Only May and much snow in mountains

Only May and much snow in mountains

We remember duck races in Estes Park in May

Swim little cousins. Estes Park early in May

Swim little cousins. Estes Park early in May

and also duck races in Breckenridge last September.   Maybe the next duck races will be in the river again.   Rivers are fun, but we need to be safe.

Ducks racing in Blue River. Breckenridge Colorado September 2013

Ducks racing in Blue River. Breckenridge Colorado September 2013

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Nederland, Colorado with Zeb

Zeb visits a mountain town

 Quaint and quirky describe Nederland.  Now adored by tourists, humans and ducks, Nederland was just a tiny mountain mining town; then in the ‘60s it became popular with the hippies.  Now Nederland is a popular mountain town near Boulder, Colorado.

We visited the Nederland Visitors Center, located across from the Blue Moon Bakery, one of my favorite stops.  We didn’t enter the souvenir shops today, but we have other times.  I like the shops.  We entered the pedestrian bridge,

View of river from bridge

View of river from bridge

crossed the river and continued to the Carousel of Happiness.

Entrance to Carousel of Happiness

Entrance to Carousel of Happiness

It was a lot of work restoring the antique carousel.  All the animals were hand-carved by Nederland resident Scott Harrison.

A rabbit on carousel sign

A rabbit on carousel sign

Everyone has fun here.  Ducks, too.

We had mini donuts at Buffalo Bill’s Coffee and Confections.

Up ramp to train car and a snack

Up ramp to train car and a snack

This snack shop is in train cars that have been adapted for customers.  My first time in a train car.  Other train cars are also used.  The donuts were very tasty.  We had the ones with cinnamon and sugar.  Yum!!  Is all food from train cars this good?  While eating we chatted with a few people.  Everyone seemed happy.  Definitely not a complaining group.  We enjoyed the stop.

Other side of Buffalo Bill's Coffee and Confections

Other side of Buffalo Bill’s Coffee and Confections

When we left it was raining.  With a longing look at the Alpaca store, we headed back to our car.  I love the rain, but mom prefers dry days to wander around towns.  Back through the pedestrian bridge, which really is a covered bridge over the creek.

Covered bridge over Boulder Creek in Nederland

Covered bridge over Boulder Creek in Nederland

Nederland has several festivals, including High Peaks Arts Festival the last weekend of June, Miner’s Days the third weekend of July, Nedfest Music & Art Festival the last weekend of August and Holiday Mountain Market the first weekend of December.  But the most famous is Frozen Dead Guy Days the second weekend of March.  I’m looking forward to this one, but only with mom’s protection.  I don’t want to be frozen or dead.  You will enjoy the many activities and festivals of Nederland.

I like Nederland and you will too.  It is in a beautiful location in the Rocky Mountains, has shops, a variety of restaurants, even a few featuring food from the Himalayas and outdoor activities for all seasons.

We visited Nederland last week, before the flooding arrived in the area.  We went on a road trip this week, so I will tell you about it on Monday.  Nederland is a wonderful town and you will enjoy your time here.  Please check the road conditions before you go.  It is still raining as mom types this, so all damage is not yet known.  Go in a few weeks and you will have a great time.  Look for me Monday and see where we went.

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Boulder Canyon, Colorado with Zeb the Duck

Boulder canyon is beautiful.

Boulder Canyon

Boulder Canyon

We just returned from a drive today.  We live near Denver, but within a short time we are vacationing in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.  Today we drove through Boulder, Colorado, took highway 119 and enjoyed Boulder Canyon.

The mountains are tall, rugged and majestic.

Road cut through steep mountain in Boulder Canyon

Road cut through steep mountain in Boulder Canyon

Boulder Creek flows through the canyon.  Traffic was light; it was a Thursday afternoon, so we pulled over often to admire the mountains.  A walking or bike path was separate from the road in many places.  Much safer for all.  We often looked from the road, saw Boulder Creek and bikers pedaling.  Many riding uphill.  I never will understand humans.

We came to Boulder Falls.

Welcome to Boulder Falls

Welcome to Boulder Falls

Like many others, we parked, took pictures,

Boulder Falls

Boulder Falls

and headed to the hiking trail.    The water, falls and tumbles, over rocks for 70 feet.

Ready to hike Boulder Falls

Ready to hike Boulder Falls

And there is no entrance fee.  Unfortunately the trail was closed.  The sign said too many rocks falling.  That seemed like a good reason to close the trail.  Back into the car we went.  Continued driving through the canyon and eventually back home.  Ducks love these trips and humans seem relaxed and energized after the drive.  Hope you try it soon.

Hi  Zeb again.  We were in Boulder Canyon a couple weeks ago, before the rains and flooding.  If you go,  wait a few days, and be sure to check on road conditions.   It is beautiful and will be again soon.  We were on a road trip this week and this was set to post while we were gone.   Loved the canyon!