Jul 18, 2012 - Dinosaurs!

July 18, 2012 Fruita seemed busy and probably is growing.  The campground was maybe the nicest state park we have ever stayed in.  Nice, clean facilities and landscaped campsites.  They are building a bike path to Grand Junction, but for now, there is not much place to ride unless you like to ride some fierce mountain bike trails!  Ummmm, I'll pass. Then off to Dinosaur National Monument.  Highway 139 was through amazing country!  Fertile river valley to dry mountains to desert canyon country to pure dry dirt and slick rock.  Rangely,...

Aug 12, 2010 - Dinosaur NM in UT / CO

The park is located in both CO and UT. The campsite in Dinosaur NM at Green River was across the river from a rich agricultural area. We drove back to Dinosaur, CO and followed the Harpers Corner Drive to the end of the road for a beautiful hike out to the point. The canyons on either side of the trail drop 7500 feet below the rim. At the point, you can see the Yampa and Green Rivers merge into one. The dynamic view of the multicolored upturned layers of the Mitten Park Fault reminds you of the Grand Canyon. On the road to Box canyon, we...

Jun 12, 2009 - Dinosaurs!

After I bragged on the cellphone and internet service on Thursday night, last night I couldn't download pictures or journal. We arrived at the temporary visitor's center (for Dinosaur National Monument) about 10 minutes before 10 a.m. and learned the first-ever ranger-led walking tour to the active dinosaur quarry was to begin at 10. Hurray! I put an extra band-aid on my sore toe (remember the scooter accident?) and we were ready. We took plenty of water, used sun block, and wore hats. The first of the tour was through sticky mud and...

Jun 11, 2009 - Utah, finally!

We were on the road about six hours today, with only stops for lunch, bathroom, and the visitor's center of Dinosaur National Monument. The boys entertained themselves by drawing, and Tanner telling stories he was "inventing" off the top of his head. They giggled and laughed all through the day. We climbed to the top of Rabbit Ears Summit, a spot on the Continental Divide, and then down to the other side. There were periods of rain showers most of the day. The closer we got to Utah the more the terrain changed. We are now in high plains...