65 degrees and what started as overcast skies turned to blue with puffy clouds. Departure time 10:40am after a full complimentary breakfast (Norm's favorite) at Penny's Cafe ( looks like a Mel's cafe).
First stop of the day - the local Harley Dealer. Norm settled for a "pointing-at-the-dealer-sign" memory rather than biting for a $36 T-shirt to join all the other Harley ones hanging barely used in his closet.
The huge, arid basin behind us once contained enormous Lake Gesiute with a large island in its center. It formed 50 million years ago and existed for 4 million years. At one edge of the island was located land upon which, millennia later, was to sit the town of Green River, where we spent the night. Also read the "Ancient Lake" sign below.
We've driven back into Utah.
We bought a selfie stick yesterday. Not too experienced using it. Can you tell?
The landscape looks like a beautiful painting.
Cart Creek Bridge on the way to the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Dam
Flaming Gorge Dam visitor center above.
This is how Folsom Lake used to look.
Construction of Flaming Gorge Dam began in 1958 and was completed in 1964. The reservoir is 91 miles long and actually contains water.
Can you find our car in the lot? Now, can you find Waldo?
There are two entrances to Dinosaur and they do not connect inside. We chose the Quarry Entrance because that portion of the park is the only one where one can actually see dinosaur fossils.
We called this "Hokey the Dinosaur" because the black and white colors made it look more like a misshapen cow. Our selfie action is improving, no?
The modern visitor center.
Inside the visitor center.
This relatively plain sign marked the beginning of the dirt and gravel road leading to the "back country" where ancient petroglyphs are located.
Most friends know that Norm really "loves" dirt roads 'cause they keep cars and motorcycles so clean. In this photo we have yet to reach our first petroglyph. Sob!
This is one of several stops at which to view the petroglyphs. You should be able to expand the view of the sign to read more. As noted, the Fremont artisans who created them, are long, long gone.
We climbed a narrow path to get close.
Mountain goat Pam climbed even higher to get this detailed closeup.
The rock formation containing the petroglyphs in the background, between us.
The world class centerpiece of Dinosaur National Monument is the Quarry Exhibit Hall, shown here. In high tourist season visitors have to leave their cars at the visitor center and take a shuttle to the Hall, about a mile away uphill.
The wall to the left is sandstone in which are exposed a mass quantity of dinosaur bones painstakingly uncovered and left as they were found. The Morrison Formation sandstone was laid down between 147 to 154 million years ago, although this time frame is considered totally whacko by the folks at the Kentucky Creationism Theme Park. Setting that view aside for later discussion, it should be noted that exposed bones closest to the floor can be touched by just reaching out to them. Signs encourage touching. A mystical experience perhaps, assuming that the bones were not placed there by the devil to deceive us.
Norm, pondering something. Probably wondering what happened to the Reubens nudes.
This guy was quick, too.
This is the balcony level from which to better view fossils higher up on the wall.
This young adult skeleton was found 99.9% complete, an amazing find. His face and posture suggest that he did not go gently into the night.
A local town gets in on the dinosaur act. Is nothing sacred? Pink??
Driving to our motel as the sun slid behind the mountains.
Our mileage for the day was 384 miles.
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