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May 30
This morning we woke to a beautiful sunny day with high to be 72. After breakfast we went for a walk and let the dogs enjoy the sunshine. Afterward we loaded up and headed 12 miles to Dinosaur National Monument. This is one of the few National parks and monuments we have not been too so we were excited to head out today. We headed east out of Vernal. We drove the last 4 miles of the 12 right along side the swollen, fast flowing and beautiful Green River. We stopped for a few pictures of the river.
We arrived at the park visitors center and put the shade panel in the truck windows and left the dogs while we ran in. The weather was cool yet we always worry about leaving the dogs. Inside we bought a self guide auto tour pamphlet and of course a souvenir magnet!! Unfortunately we couldn’t be away from the dogs long enough to take the shuttle tour to the dinosaur dig exhibition. So we just said that leaves something for next time.
Back at the truck all was well and we started the auto tour. The area is much like
what we’d seen on this trip, sandy sediment. In this area there has been a lot of uplift which has exposed the dinosaur fossils in the area. While we did not go to the fossil exhibit center, we did have an appreciation for the area and the geological events that were on display in the mountains around us. David was wishing his mother was with us. David’s Mother has a wealth of scientific education, geologically from her attendance at the Colorado School of Mines. A rarity in those days as she was a woman. She was knowledgeable in biology as well. She had been my high School science teacher and had introduced me to David while in high school. Unfortunately she passed away many years ago but most people who had gone to the University of Wyoming Prep school would remember her. On this trip we have often wished she was with us to explain the specifics of the beautiful geography we’ve been seeing. David said: “I sure wished I’d paid more attention to all the things she would tell us on our family vacations!” I think most of us wished we would have paid more attention to what our
parents told us, instead of learning the hard way! LOL David’s Mother was truly a marvel at science and both of us miss that, and our kids do too!
As we drove on we once again were confronted with the Green River coming through the rugged canyon. The campground here and boat launch are popular with rafters putting in at this point. I bet it is a wonderful trip floating along. It was a very busy area.
Later down the road we were able to see petroglyphs from what was believed to be from Anasazi tribes who lived in the area. Very interesting. Unfortunately we were not able to take any of the hikes in the park as our dogs were not allowed on the trails. A Ranger told us the dogs could only go were a car could go. Strange, cows and horses wandered the area so why no dogs on a leash? Oh well.
Since we’d completed the auto tour and it was now 2pm, we headed back to the trailer. We let the dogs romp in the dog park for a while then David and I headed for a short trip to the grocery
store and we’d get diesel before we hooked up again tomorrow. David couldn’t resist a few cookies, and KFC on the way home. I must admit the chicken was terrific. My little Dottie is absolutely crazy for chicken tenders. She ate so much, a tiny piece at a time her little belly was sticking out like a barrel. It’s so funny because she is such a picky eater anyway. Sometimes she will eat, the next time not a bite, but for fried chicken she is always hungry! A true southern belle!!
Back home we enjoyed a restful evening, a little TV. Tomorrow just 65 miles to Flaming George Reservoir in Wyoming. I’m somewhat worried however as once again it’s a scenic byway. I’m behinding to think that means mountains!!! Yikes!
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