July 10-11

Before leaving Glenwood Springs, CO we stopped at their fish hatchery and to feed the fish. An employee came out to refill the food dispenser and gave us a big cup full, more than the quarter worth we paid. The kids really enjoyed feeding them and watching them disturb the water's surface jumping around.

We had quite the drive to Colorado National Monument and stopped in Grand Junction for some gourmet cupcakes-peanut butter cup, old school chocolate, and we 3-way split a Captian Crunch Berry cupcake. In hindsight, this was not a good idea for my oldest.

We drove into the park and stopped to hike the first of a few short hikes. It was hot again but we had brought water and sports drink. We made it to devil's kitchen and were very thankful for stacked rock trail markers the last bit. It's a cool area in formation and shade.

We explored a bit and headed back. There was not shade, she ate sugary garbage and hadn't drank enough water so she was toast the rest of the day for the most part. We got her filled with sports drink, let her rest in the back between overlooks, cancelled all our other short hikes (which worked out pretty good given the time we had). She really wasn't herself until we made it to the visitor's center at the end of our drive and she cooled off completely in the air conditioning while we watched their cheesey short films.

Poor Sophie, fingers courtesy of Rhys

Trying to make her laugh

So Otto is the name of some guy that really got the area on the map and in a condition for people to visit the area in the 1800s. He married an artist and she left in like 10 days or something saying she couldn't live with a man who felt a tent was an inconvenience. I thought that was so funny. He really was fine doing without some basics, and a wife.

Saw these Minions from Despicable Me as we left Colorado National Monument

We drove north to Vernal, UT going over another pass.

July 11

We grabbed our hiking packs and headed north of Vernal and took a dirt road out to Moonshine Arch, there was one car at the trail head. We set out but soon were not sure if we were on the right trail. It had rained the night before so the only well defined tracks were of the people that came before us that morning. We started to follow them, but then we met up with them as the were returning saying that was not the right way either. They were Dutch and we were immediate friends. Their 28 year old son went bounding off looking for the trail ahead while we made our way more slowly and cautiously. I had to call Rhys back as he was climbing higher as I didn't want to lose sight of him. Finally the young man pops up way above us saying the arch was not there but we saw things coming together down below and told him to come down that it was below him.

We stayed a while drinking, taking photos, and rushing to a unharmed Rhys who had and unplanned slide down some rocks some 7 to 8 feet. We came back together and said we would see each other perhaps later as we both were planning to hit Dinosaur Quarry that day.

We backtracked the tail end of yesterdays route to take in Dinosaur Valley because it was closed by the time we passed the day before. Let's just say there were lots of bones of lots of dinosaurs all together. It was impressive and learning about he geology was interesting. The colors that are exposed from so many layers being tilted is just amazing. We continued by taking a drive to two sets of petrogliphs.

Acting like dinosuars

Another long drive and another mountain pass and we made our way into the Salt Lake valley to Fruit Heights to stay and visit with family.

Cousins!