fudge

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Grand Lake, Colorado with Zeb the Duck and Channel the Bear

We love visiting Grand Lake, Colorado.   I, Zeb the Duck, and my friend Chanel the Bear, took our moms to Grand Lake.

Entering Grand Lake, Colorado

Let’s visit my favorite store, Quackers.

Quackers in Grand Lake, Colorado

This store in Grand Lake features rubber ducks!   Yes, an entire store dedicated to me and my duck relatives.

Giant duck in Quackers

Meet my largest relative.   Chanel and I invited some friends to pose with us.   As great as ducks are, we also enjoy the fudge.

We love fudge

And there is more.   Roasted nuts.

Yum. Roasting nuts taste good and smell delicious

Of course some came home with us.   While rubber ducks are the stars of this store, Martin the Moose is pretty great also.

Martin the Moose on skis

Remember we are in the Colorado mountains.   Moose do live here.   However, Martin is the only moose I ever saw wearing skis.   We purchased new family members.

Purchased at Quackers

And some fudge and roasted nuts.    Then headed out for lunch.

Lunch at The Sagebrush

Today our choice is The Sagebrush.   Here are some new friends.

New friends at The Sagebrush

Aren’t we an attractive bunch of friends?  Our table has a complimentary bucket of peanuts.

Peanuts and cow tablecloths here

We are to toss the peanut shells on the floor.   That is the sign of a fun place to eat.   Notice the cow pattern table cover?   Our lunch was delicious and the portions were large.   A good place to eat when you are in Grand Lake.  Now to the adjoining bar.

Old West bar here

Looks like it is from an old Western movie.   We enjoy the hats and license plates as part of the rustic decor.   Our next stop is Studio 8369, an art studio in town.

Studio 8369 in Grand Lake, Colorado

The 8369 refers to the elevation of the town of Grand Lake.  That is about 2550 meters above sea level.   The Rocky Mountains in Colorado are rather high.   Inside Studio 8369 we admire the Gourd Art.

Gourd Art by Ivy Howard

This is by Ivy Howard of Grand Lake, Colorado.   Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, Studio 8369 has some beautiful photography.

Stunning photography here

You would love this place.   A couple weeks later mom and I returned to Grand Lake.   This time there was more snow.   A few miles from Grand Lake is Lake Granby.

Lake Granby with low clouds

We loved the partially frozen lake and the low clouds.   Driving through town, past Quackers, we went to Grand Lake.   Grand Lake is the largest and deepest natural lake in Colorado.   It is also part of the headwaters for the mighty Colorado River.   Remember the Colorado River heads southwest and continues to carve the Grand Canyon.

Rent boats here in the summer

In the summer tourists can rent boats to explore and enjoy the lake.   Now snowy and frozen, we enjoy a winter landscape.   Back into town, near Quackers, we spotted these snowmobiles, or snow machines.

Snow machines today, mom?

Mom said we were not renting them today, but we had to try them for size.   These are big.   The employees at Spirit Lake Lodge rent these machines.   They were very nice to us, the Colorado Traveling Ducks.  A drive into Rocky Mountain National Park was next.

Rocky Mountain National Park, West Entrance

Grand Lake is at the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.   The road had been cleared.

Driving in Rocky Mountain National Park

Isn’t this a beautiful winter drive?  However the road is only cleared for part of the park.   This road ascends to over 12,000 feet (3657 m) and is closed during the snowy winter months.   We did enjoy many beautiful winter scenes.

One of many spectacular views in the national park

As you know, we love our mountains.   Both in the summer and in the winter.   We hope you explore a little and enjoy our mountains during the winter, or explore your part of the world and enjoy all the seasons.   It is a new year, so enjoy and discover new things and places.   And tell us about your adventures.

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Buffalo Bill is in Colorado’s Lookout Mountain

Buffalo Bill Cody loved Colorado.   He especially love the view from the top of Lookout Mountain in Golden, Colorado.    Let’s go the the top of Lookout Mountain.

Buffalo Bills Museum and Grave

Buffalo Bills Museum and Grave

Buffalo Bill told his wife Louisa, daughter Irma and foster son, Johnny Baker that he wanted to be buried up here.

Final resting place for Buffalo Bill Cody

Final resting place for Buffalo Bill Cody

When he died in 1917, he was buried here.   Later his wife joined him in this final place.

Bill and Louisa rest here

Bill and Louisa rest here

This is a popular area to visit, so the bars protecting the graves are necessary.   Along the path to the graves, this buffalo greets the visitors.

This buffalo is watching

This buffalo is watching

Here is the museum honoring Buffalo Bill and the Old West.

Come this way to visit the mseum

Come this way to visit the museum

As you enter, you are greeted by these early Colorado residents.

Welcoming committee

Welcoming committee

Since this is a popular place for tourists, and locals, you can have your head on Buffalo Bill’s body.   We three Colorado Traveling Ducks all sat on his body.

Three duck heads for Buffalo Bill

Three duck heads for Buffalo Bill

Why did Buffalo Bill love Lookout Mountain?

Beautiful from the top

Beautiful from the top

This view explains a lot.   Looking down to the city of Golden, you will see Coors Brewery.   This brewery, started by Joseph Coors has been famous in Colorado and all over the United States.

Coors Brewery of Golden, Colorado

Coors Brewery of Golden, Colorado

Now Coors has merged with Molson Canadian and Millers Brewery of Wisconsin, but still the original Coors beer formula can only be brewed here in Golden, Colorado.   This beer is made with pure Rocky Mountain Spring Water, that is only found here.   Other Coors beer can be brewed at other locations, but not the original Coors.   Pahaska Tepee is the gift shop here.

Pahaska Tepee

Pahaska Tepee

Pahaska means ‘long hair” and that was the Lakota nickname for Buffalo Bill.   All good gift shops also have snacks.   The fudge here is so smooth and creamy.   Mom and I prefer chocolate pecan, and Soapy Smith and JB Duck prefer chocolate peanut butter.   And, we all love mint chocolate chip ice cream.

So Good

So Good

Such yummy treats.   Well, now we will head down from Lookout Mountain.

Time to head home

Time to head home

We need to go home to cut the grass.

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Bass Pro Shop

More sporting supplies, more mounted animals and more fudge.  Life is really good for us.  Last time we went to Cabelas sport store.  Cabelas is new in Denver.  Now we are talking about Bass Pro.  Bass Pro has been in Denver a few years and we love this store.

Bass Pro has all the normal sporting supplies required to be a top sporting goods outfitter.

Love this entrance and welcome greeting

Love this entrance and welcome greeting

They have so much fishing gear and so much hunting equipment.  Here I am with many duck decoys.

I am with all these duck decoys

I am with all these duck decoys

Bass Pro also has guns, ammunition, a special gunroom and a gunsmith.  But one of the best things, besides the restaurant is more wonderful fudge.  Fabulous!

Let’s see what we found.  Furniture, such as these lamps, made for the sportsman.

Clever lamps

Clever lamps

Also for the ice fisherman, place these shelters on the ice for your comfort and protection.

Comfort on the ice

Comfort on the ice

This stuffed bear looks so alive and ready to pounce.

Slightly frightened

Slightly frightened

This is new.  Bass Pro has a great aquarium by the elevators, and now a pond with these live ducks.  The sign said they are Ruddy Ducks and as they are new to Bass Pro they are a little frightened.

Ruddy ducks behind me

Ruddy ducks behind me

More duck relatives in Denver!

My Alaska cousin and I spotted great toys.  The ATV would be so much fun in the mountains.

An ATV would be so much fun

An ATV would be so much fun

But the humans said no.  Then we found the boats.  We learned to love boats in the Caribbean.

So many boats at Bass Pro

So many boats at Bass Pro

But again, the humans said no.  Now we do feel like human kids.  But, since the humans do take us places we are very happy ducks.

Enter this store

Enter this store

Before enjoying the great outdoors, visit Bass Pro or any of our exceptional sporting stores.  For more information about Bass Pro look at http://www.BassPro.com