Vernal or Bust

So I say to Mary - "You want to go on a two day motorcycle ride?" - "Where?" she asks. "Why to Vernal, Utah - hotspot of the state! We can visit the temple and see dinorsaurs". "I guess". Sounded like a fun trip - but all did not go well. We left Tuesday morning about 10am. The weather said - 30% chance of rain. Ah - no problem. We will just ride during the 70% section. So we headed north by way of Colorado and Douglas Pass. But the clouds were gathering on the Bookcliffs. Hmm-bad weather on the pass? But no the pass was clear, but farther north we could see showers - but there was an obvious open area between the showers right where the road goes. No problem. "Dave-it smells like rain" she says. "No Problem it won't last long." And then out of what seems empty sky - RAIN!!! and not just rain, but HAIL!!!. Do we stop and put on heavy coats or just punch on through? I could see sunshine ahead. Bend low behind the windshield and punch on thru. But it took longer than expected. It hurt - we were wet. But finally we were out of it. "That was the worse I have ever been in" I tell Mary.

So the wife had a great idea - just keep going fast and I'll get my clothes dry. So she "flashed" everyone down the road as she tried to dry various parts. I didn't want to know what was going on behind me. Finally into Vernal. We swing by the temple to get a card to tell us times. But what do we see, but carpeting spread out on the parking lot. Two guys in suit coats standing there. "Is the temple open?" - "No sorry - closed for two weeks". Bummer.

So after a short nap we went down to the new state run Dinosaur Museum recently built in Vernal. Sorry we are closing for the day. So we went to the Daughters of Utah Pioneer museum. Sorry we closed for the summer. So we went to Wal-Mart - sorry - we are open - come on in. So the trip had a rough first day. We did have chinese for dinner which perked up Mary.

The next morning we tried the Dinosaur Museum again. This turned out to be a pretty cool place. They did a really nice job. Below are a few pictures from the place. I was impressed. Then we rode out to Dinosaur National Monument. Sorry - the main display is closed, but you can take a little walking tour and maybe see something. So we did and we did. Not too impressive though. Such an exciting trip. We even went on a dirt road to see an old ladies cabin. The story behind this lady is impressive, but dirt roads on the Goldwing make me nervous.

Eventually we headed south. No rain this time. Just heat. We were both hot and tired by the time we got back to Moab. Not the best trip - but I enjoyed the ride.


At the Dinosaur Museum, Vernal, Utah


Mary and Manny (Ice Age movie)


Whos ancestor is this?

At the monument.