Dinosaur

Day 47:  We decided if we return back to Flaming Gorge, we need to bring a boat. The record trout and salmon fishing is all deep water and the beautiful canyon would be incredible for cruising, waterskiing, and tubing.  We left our campsite and drove the beautiful scenic byway 70 miles south to Dinosaur National Monument

We pulled into our lovely remote campsite nestled in the Cottonwood Trees on the Green River and knew we were in for a treat!

We unhitched and immediately set off for the Visitor Center and shuttle up to the Quarry for the 2:30 pm Jr. Ranger Program.  

I must say, this place is AMAZING!!!!  To see, touch, explore these dinosaur fossils  in their natural environment is absolutely incredible!  I learned that if you go to Perot Museum or Science Place, you are not seeing the real fossils, but casts of the bones.  The reason why so many dinosaur bones were preserved in this location is because millions of years ago, these sandstone cliffs were once a low lying river whee dinosaurs would come to find water.  Many would be sick in search of water or fight to the death.  The dinosaurs would collect and be washed over with sand that preserved the bones. The low lying river eventually dried up and the movement of tectonic plates shifted the sandstone riverbed up.  What was once a flat riverbed is now a quarry mound of incredible dinosaur fossils...pretty cool!  

I must say, of all the ranger talks we've attended this summer, these Rangers were exceptional!  They were educated, informed, and very interesting story tellers.

After our program, we took the shuttle back to the Visitor Center to work on the boys first of three Junior Rager badges here at Dinosaur.  It was a scorching 109 degrees in the truck so we opted to work in the air conditioned Visitor Center.  By the way, we have had 47 days of no hook ups....not one!  Curtis has become a propane cooking officianado...one to make Hank Hill proud.  No hook ups means no electricity...no microwave...no a/c.  Dinosaur was the first place where we really needed a/c during the day, but we know with the beautiful desert that it always cools down at sunset.  Anyways, we headed back to the campsite, put on our suits, and hit the fast moving Green River to cool down.  We spent the evening working on the boys Night Explorer Jr Ranger Packet and searching for stars.  

Dinosaur National Monument has almost zero light pollution, so the stars are unbelievable!  Curtis and I saw the hugest, most intense shooting star!  It had a separate fireball and the spray shot across the entire sky!  Magical!!!

Day 48:  We rose for a 5 mile sunrise run around the campsite then relaxed until the heat started rising.  We set off for the Shuttle and the 10:00 am Fossil Discovery Trail Ranger Talk.  

We saw evidence of 150 million years from Celiopods to the fresh water clams the dinosaurs would feed on to the prehistoric fish, and eventually to the dinosaurs!  It was HOT, but what amazing and educational experience for the boys!

The boys were sworn in for Ranger Badge #14, Night Explorer, and we cruised back to the campsite to take a dip in the river and eat lunch.  The heat started roasting above 97, so we hit the Visitor Center to work on the 3rd ranger badge, Paleontologist!  Thankfully, and storm blew in...the rain dried before it hit the desert floor, but between the clouds and wind, our campsite cooled down to a comfortable 85 degrees.  We set off for the evening Campfire Ranger Program about Hugh Glass, Fur Trappers, and Mountain Men.

Our Ranger was dressed in full costume and the boys were even able to hold his rifle!

Yes, Dinosaur NM is on the top of the list for me!  We played a quick game of Up and Down the River, read our Spirit Stories book and went to sleep dreaming of dinosaurs and fur trappers.

Good night, Dinosaur!