One of the most fascinating things we have seen out west here is in Vernal, Utah. It is called the Dinosaur National  Monument. Current thinking about the area is that 150 million years ago ( I was in elementary school :-)), the area was a river bed. Due to natural occurrences, the river bed, and the dinosaurs that were there, were buried deeply in mud. As the earth shifted over the ensuing years, the river bed was pushed up to an angle of about 67 degrees, bringing a treasure trove of  fossilized dinosaur remains to the surface. The fossils were discovered in 1909 by Earl Douglass according to one web site. Although the area continues to be excavated to this day, a part of it has been set aside and enclosed to form the Dinosaur National  Monument. This large slab of rock was excavated extensively for many years, with its yields sent to museums all over the globe. The slab, which actually comprises one wall of  the building is no longer under excavation. The remaining fossils are left exposed for the public to view.

Robert had found the place on a weekend that he was out here alone, and brought me there as part of my birthday weekend surprise. He knew it would be a place that would take my breath away, and indeed, he was right. It could be described as stunning, but that would not do it justice. That a glimpse of the past would still remain for us to see is nothing short of miraculous. The pictures we took look great if you know what was there, but can be hard to make out in a picture.  So look hard. The picture of myself and the dinosaur bone, although not a very flattering picture of me, gives you some idea of the scale of these bones. I am 5'7" and the bone was identified as a leg bone. As can be seen clearly, the dinosaur was quite big, I have a weight problem, and Robert will live a pretty short life if he doesn't learn to take more flattering pictures of his wife!!!

The weather out here is pretty extreme so we may or may not make it back to see it again. So without further ado, here is are the Dinosaur National  Monument!!!!