January 8, 2019 by coloradotravelingducks

Eldora and Nederland, Colorado with Zeb and Chanel

I, Zeb the Duck, and my friend, Chanel the Bear, took three humans to the mountains today. Chanel and I had a plan. It was cold in the morning and driving through Coal Creek Canyon we loved these frosted trees.

Trees frosted on drive to Nederland, Colorado

Isn’t it beautiful? Just like a post card. Shortly before our destination of Nederland, we turned and found the small town of Eldora.

Eldora. Glimpse of the past

And we mean small. Look at that population. Only 170 full time residents. Here is the Gold Miner Hotel.

Gold Miner Hotel in Eldora

We think it would be fun to spend a night here and explore this town. Look at that bright blue Colorado sky. We would wander along the river, look for moose, and appreciate the scenery. Maybe in the summer, said our moms.

Building, probably private residence across from hotel in Eldora

Across the street from the hotel you can see that the old buildings are well maintained and still used. We love that. The road is parallel to the river, as usually happens. The river is frozen with a light cover of snow.

Frozen river in Eldora

So peaceful and quiet here today. While we were driving, we were watching for moose. We have seen them here before. However, no moose for us today.

Coyote in Eldora

But this coyote was fun to see. Coyotes and humans don’t always get along in town, but here, in the mountains, we loved seeing this one wandering along. Driving further, we arrived in Nederland, just in time for lunch.

Lunch at Pioneer Inn in Nederland

Nederland has several restaurants, but we returned to Pioneer Inn, a favorite.

Our food looked and tasted delicious

We ordered three sandwiches; all were delicious and the portions were very generous. Yum! After eating, we wandered into another dining room, usually just needed in the evening.

We love fireplaces

We love fireplaces. Especially in rustic mountain restaurants. Maybe some evening? Next stop was a great “rock shop”.

Geodes, Crystals and Fossils here. Fascinating store

The geodes, crystals, fossils and jewelry were beautiful. But none of the humans were shopping today, just looking. Next stop, the Carousel of Happiness.

Carousel of Happiness in Nederland

This is the stop Chanel and I planned. We love this carousel. Here we are.

Zeb and Channel riding ostrich

Riding an ostrich is great. Remember that we have been here before. There was a young Marine, Scott, that served in VietNam, received a music box from his sister. While the war was around him, the music box inspired him to create a Carousel of Happiness when he returned to the US. Scott choose the mountains near Nederland, Colorado as his home and also the home for his Carousel of Happiness. Scott learned to carve, purchased the necessary parts, and what you see here today, is the result. Scott had carved all the animals here. Now look at this one.

Zeb and Chanel on Kangaroo

Zeb and Chanel are riding a kangaroo. This is not a normal carousel animal. This kangaroo has her baby, her joey, and is holding a globe of our world. If you look carefully, you will see that the globe is showing Australia, the home of the kangaroo. This place is so much fun. And the Carousel of Happiness is for everyone. The price of a ride is only $1.00. Now that is a bargain. And Scott is still carving. Here we are, on a tiger.

Perching on a tiger. Not even on the carousel

And this tiger is not even on the carousel. There are great carvings all over this building. Whenever we go to Nederland, we always stop for a ride on the Carousel of Happiness. We hope you will also. We love this place.

November 23, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

Back to Nederland and The Carousel of Happiness

I, Zeb the Duck, went with mom and a friend to The Carousel of Happiness. I love this place. The Carousel of Happiness is in Nederland, Colorado.

Carousel of Happiness in Nederland Colorado

A couple years ago I told you about this and showed you photos, but it is so great, I want to do it again. It was a snowy day and the roads had more ice under the snow than we expected, but everything was fine and we had fun. Let’s go inside! Tickets to ride are only $1.

Donations are gratefully accepted

But donations are gratefully accepted. We love this carousel, so we donate. Entering the carousel area, we are greeted with a guest book.

Have you ever seen a moose on a carousel? Or a flying pink pig?

I am on the moose, near a pink flying pig.

Here they are. When Scott Harrison was a young US Marine in Viet Nam, he received a music box from a friend. Listening to the music, he visualized a carousel in the mountains. He moved to Nederland, Colorado, a small town in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. He learned how to carve, and look what he carved.

My first dolphin ride

I, Zeb the Duck, am riding a dolphin, next to a mermaid. Scott carved all of these animals. The main carousel animals, the small birds and other animals, the carvings decorating the carousel, and this room, all carved by Scott. The carousel came from Utah. Here I am on a lion.

Riding on a lion

Don’t you love the rooster with pearls? That giraffe has a snake riding on him. Puff the Magic Dragon is also here. The rides cost only $1 so all can ride. See this gorilla?

Gorilla, waiting for a friend

The chair next to him can be removed. Under the chair a ramp can be pulled out to allow wheelchairs on the carousel. Anyone in a wheelchair can sit and ride next to the gorilla. This carousel is suspended from the ceiling, it is not sitting on the floor. When the animals were placed on the carousel, weight and balance factors were important. Scott is still carving.

Scott keeps carving and we are happy!

These animals are just for fun. And I, Zeb the Duck, think they are all fun. While riding the carousel, we enjoy the music from a fully restored 1913 Wurlitzer Organ. This is the first kangaroo I have ever seen on a carousel.

Kangaroo and joey

And she has a baby, a joey, in her pouch. The kangaroo is holding the world in her front feet, and she is showing her home, Australia, to us. Every animal is my favorite.

Frog playing with a ball

A frog with a ball, a zebra and a cow are all together here. This Carousel of Happiness is fabulous, but there is more. John has been telling us about this carousel, and now he says we can see more. We go upstairs. On the stairs we are reminder of normal carousel horses.

Traditional carousel horse

I like the horse, but the other animals have my ducky heart. Wow!

Puppet stage

A puppet theater. And inside is a place for human kids to play.

Play area behind the puppet stage

Humans can reserve this area for kids parties. For more information visit http://www.CarouselOfHappiness.org And, visit Nederland and The Carousel of Happiness, take a ride and have a marvelous time.

April 22, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

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.

April 20, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Grandpa’s in the Tuff Shed with Zeb and Eider Duck

Zeb and Eider Duck visited Grandpa Bredo Morstoel in his Tuff Shed. Brad, the man that keeps grandpa supplied with dry ice, took us to grandpa Bredo’s house and into his Tuff Shed.

Grandpa’s in the Tuff Shed

This house was built according to the directions of grandpa’s grandson, Trygve Bauge.

Trygve’s house in Nederland, Colorado

This house is built to be earthquake-proof, bombproof and fireproof and have room for cryonically preserved body storage, as well as be sustainable and economical.

This end of the house was to hold cry frozen bodies.

This end of the house was to hold cryonically frozen bodies. Trygve was deported before it was finished.

Before the house was finished, Trygve was deported to Norway for a visa violation. Brad took us into the Tuff Shed

Zeb and Eider on box holding grandpa and lots of dry ice

and opened the box holding grandpa’s coffin, or sarcophagus. The box contains dry ice to keep grandpa frozen.

Grandpa’s coffin is suspended to allow dry ice under, around and over the coffin

The coffin, or sarcophagus, is elevated or suspended in the box. This permits the dry ice to be under, around and over the sarcophagus. Brad delivers about 1500 pounds of dry ice every two weeks. The ice is paid for by Trygve, in Norway. Zen and Eider Duck are sitting on the coffin.

Zeb and Eider sitting with grandpa. This is cold!

But not for too long. This is really cold.

Let’s go into the house. It is constructed of reinforced concrete and steel beams. This is the living room, with the wood burning stove. We believe this stove is the only source of heat in here.

Trygve’s living room. We liked the teddy bear by the window.

We really like this painting.

Grandpa was a hunter and avid outdoors man in Norway.

Brad said that grandpa Bredo painted it years ago. This house is build in a very nice area. The view from here is great.

View of Continental Divide and Nederland from Grandpa’s Tuff Shed

We are on a mountain looking down at the town of Nederland. This is certainly a beautiful spot for grandpa to wait to be reanimated, or brought back to life. We were told that was the purpose of cryonics. To freeze grandpa until a cure for his heart attack is found and then to bring him back to life. We wonder, will that work?

March 28, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Human Foosball and Remote Control Cars with Zeb and Eider in Nederland

Frozen Dead Guy Days festival sure has a lot of different activities. Today Zeb and Eider Duck saw human foosball. This game uses people for foosball. The humans must hold on to the pipe as they try to kick the ball and score a goal. The referee here is ready to toss the ball into the foosball court.

Ready to start the game

You can see the ball on the ground,

Kick that ball

while humans, holding their place on the pipe, try to kick a goal. Zeb the Duck, and Eider Duck, really like watching this game.

We like human foosball

Now we go back to Chipeta Park to watch the remote control trucks race and jump over snow banks. First Zeb and Eider want to race with these trucks.

We are on the trucks!

Wow! We feel like really could drive these. These cars can climb rocks.

Up to the top of the rock

They also race through the mud.

Through the mud

They even race up and down these snow banks.

Here they come

Now the cars and trucks will jump over the snow banks.

In the air

Some of these jumps clear the snow, and other do not. The trucks now try to jump over the snow bank and the boxes on top of the snow.

How high can they go?

Zeb and Eider are fascinated with the jumping.

Can trucks really fly?

They must come down.

Great display of trucks

They do not want to ride on a jumping truck. They prefer regular racing.

This is safer for ducks

You really have to visit Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, Colorado during March 2016. Be sure to keep reading about our adventures. Our next post on Frozen Dead Guy Days is really going to be special.

March 23, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Coffin Races in Nederland, Colorado 2015

Zeb and Eider Duck are still in Nederland, Colorado at Frozen Dead Guy Days. Now we are ready for the coffin races. The racing teams pay their entry fee, build the coffin, design their costumes and choose a person to ride in the coffin. The racing route is usually snowy with some ice, but today it is mud and water.

Muddy track

This warm weather has melted the snow, and mud is flying everywhere.

Teams carry the coffins up the first snow pile, run down the hill, race around the track and up the next snow pile. Here comes a coffin racing team now.

Starting the race

This team is the Cereal Killers. Tony the Tiger is in the front.

Now we have the Pink Socks.

The Pink Socks. The defending champions

This team has won 5 times and is the defending champion of coffin races. The Harlem Globetrotters are racing now.

Do they race as well as they play basketball?

They slipped and dropped the coffin.

Running fast!

With these costumes, they are fortunate that it is warm.

Person doing well in coffin, but runners sliding and falling

Get up the second snow hill is difficult, and slippery

Very slippery

Like the green shirts

Help is near–just in case…

The Pink Socks

The Pink Socks seem to be going up the second snow hill with little problem. These guys must train for this event. They won again. The Pink Socks are now six time coffin racing champions. Great race Pink Socks! Congratulations! The Cereal Killers won second place. Congratulations to Tony the Tiger and the team.

If you wondering where Zeb and Eider are during this race, they are right in the front. The mud was flying and here we are after the race, sitting on mom’s mud splattered jacket. Her jeans, hat and sunglasses also were covered in mud. Our humans are muddy messes, but they are smiling.

Mud splattered!

Guess all the mud and dirt means we had a great time. I hope you go to the coffin races in Nederland, Colorado next March and enjoy Frozen Dead Guy Days.

March 21, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Polar Plunge in Nederland, Colorado 2015

Zeb and Eider Duck are in Nederland, Colorado for Frozen Dead Guy Days. Yesterday we showed you the parade. After the parade, we went to Chipeta Park

Welcome to Chipeta Park. The Polar Plunge takes place in the pond behind the park

for the Polar Plunge. That reservoir is frozen. The human plungers wear costumes for this event. Here is a grandpa look alike ready to take the plunge.

In costume for Frozen Dead Guy Days

These humans are also waiting for their turn to jump into the icy water.

These humans will take the polar plunge.

A large rectangle has been cut through the pond and the ice removed. The humans will jump into this icy water. The fire department water rescue men are in the water to help if there is a problem.

One jumper with the rescue team

You can see that being ready to rescue humans can be a very wet job.

Big splash

These two humans are dressed as bacon and eggs.

Bacon and eggs costume

They are scrambling as they jump into the icy water. Behind the water, you can see the warming tent for the human participants. This is a great way to enter the cold water.

Great presentation

This really looks cold.

Brrr

But these two scientists checked and didn’t think the water was cold enough.

Scientists or crazy?

They are adding more ice to the pond. And now they are in the water.

They are in the icy water

This is like swimming, but bikinis in icy water?

Bikini bottoms

We ducks did not go into this cold water. We like warmer water. Keep reading our blog to see more of the fun at Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, Colorado.

March 20, 2015 by coloradotravelingducks

Welcome to Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015 with Zeb and Eider Duck

I, Zeb the Duck, and my Alaska cousin, Eider Duck, went to Nederland, Colorado for Frozen Dead Guy Days. And, yes, Nederland does really have a frozen dead guy in the mountains above the town. He resides in a Tuff Shed, packed in dry ice.

The festival opened Friday evening, with the lighting of the Frozen Dead Guy Days sign at the traffic circle in town.

Welcome to Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Zeb the Duck and Eider Duck are sitting in the top D. We did not participate in the parade, so this is our only photo today.

The lighting of the sign ceremony was followed by the Blue Ball, featuring live music and dancing.

Saturday the Parade of Hearses began at noon.

Hearse with live people on hood

Many participants come in costume.

This passenger is a little thin

Check out that passenger!

Another unusual passenger

This parade includes hearses, of course, and the coffin race teams.

5 time champion Pink Socks Coffin Racing team

Each coffin racing team must have a person in the coffin. This team, the Pink Socks, are the defending champions.

Harlem Globetrotter Coffin Racing Team

These guys can make baskets, also.

How can he spin a baseball on one finger?

How can he spin a basketball on one finger?

This is a pretty fancy coffin

Sponsors and non-profits are also invited to participate.

She can walk on stilts!

The wild bear for Nature Discovery

Learn more about this bear and the Nature Discovery Center at http://www.wildbear.org

These remote control cars are tough and do amazing things.

These remote control cars will race and jump later in the festival. They are great!

This is a parade and festival unlike any others that we have visited. You really should plan to visit Frozen Dead Guy Days in early March in Nederland, Colorado. We will show you may of the events in the next days. Hope you follow our adventures. We had a great time.

March 15, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, Colorado

Zeb and Eider Duck here. We returned to Nederland, Colorado on Sunday for the last events of Frozen Dead Guy Days of 2014.

Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, Colorado

We did not go back Saturday, the main day due to human error. On the way down Friday, one human driver hit ice and slid into the side of the mountain. On Saturday the other human was sick and stuffed up. No injuries, but no Saturday festivities either.

We arrived at the park in Nederland as men were putting up the volleyball net. We watched the remote control trucks race over the snow. They almost fly and sometimes crash.

Remote control truck

We went to the frozen t-shirt contest. New t-shirts, still folded, are soaked in water and then frozen—really frozen! The men, without shirts, must put the new frozen t-shirts on as fast as possible. It required several minutes to unfold the frozen shirts. The shirts are bent, karate chopped, folded, pulled and anything they can think of to break ice and unfold shirts to put them on. We could not see very well, but took a few photos through the crowd.

Trying to unfold frozen t-shirt

We watched videos later on You Tube. This looks very cold.

Putting on a frozen t-shirt. Brrrrr

Then we watched frozen turkey bowling. This was easy to see and fun to watch. Unlike regular bowling, you throw the turkey at the pins.

Frozen turkey bowling

Children threw small game hens and adults had 2 sizes of frozen turkeys. As the bowling progressed, one of the turkeys became unwrapped.

Throwing frozen unwrapped turkey

There were a couple of beer tents with live music and heaters.

Inside warm tent

Next we watched snow volleyball. Some men had no shirts.

No shirt and a bikini top. What a guy!

This girl worn no shoes.

Where are her shoes?? Girl with yellow shirt is barefoot???

Finally she put shoes on. Cold snow and ice here. After the game Zeb and Eider met some volleyball players.

Our new friends are very nice!!

We enjoyed all at various times during the day. Near one of the tents a man had carved wooden animals and one ice sculpture.

Wooden turtle and ice turtle

Soon he had a new block of ice and began carving the ice with a small chain saw. The saw roared, the ice shavings flew and soon this sculpture was in front of us.

Carved from ice with a chainsaw

Beautiful work of art with only ice and a chain saw!

We liked the activities Sunday, so maybe we can see it all next year. You would enjoy Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, Colorado. Oh yes…there really is a frozen dead guy in a Tuff Shed in the mountains of Nederland. For more information visit www.frozendeadguy.com or visit Nederland, Colorado the second weekend in March.

March 14, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Carousel of Happiness in Nederland, Colorado

Last Friday Zeb and Eider Duck and two humans went to Nederland, Colorado. We wanted to see where the Frozen Dead Guy Days events would occur and look around this quaint mountain town.

There is a Carousel of Happiness in Nederland and we want to tell you about it.

Carousel of Happiness in Nederland Colorado

This carousel is open year round. The enclosed pavilion contains the carousel, a fully restored 1913 Wurlitzer Band Organ, a puppet theater and a gift shop.

There are a variety of animals on the Carousel of Happiness.

Riding on a peacock

All 58 of these animals were hand carved by Scott Harrison. Zeb and Eider rode on several.

Riding on an ostrich in Colorado

The carousel is a restored 1910 Looff carousel.

We can sit anywhere

There are also paintings of animals on the walls.

Painted pandas on the walls

You have to see this!

When Scott Harrison was a Marine serving in Viet Nam, he envisioned building a carousel in the mountains.

Zeb and Eider with a new friend

And he really did it!! He is still carving and each new addition is wonderful. This is one of the recent additions to the pavilion.

Polar bear and others on and through wall

We don’t know what will be next.

We talked to a nice man named John that explained everything to us and then started the carousel so we could ride.

Riding on a bear followed by a zebra and dog

The rides cost just $1 per person. If you can, give them a little extra to help meet expenses.

The Carousel of Happiness is a 501 © (3) non-profit organization dedicated to spreading joy to those who visit the carousel. Profits go to charities that benefit children and people with special needs. For more information and more photos visit www.carouselofhappiness.org This place is fantastic and fun!

Carousel of Happiness serves smiles

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