Field House of Vernal, Utah

Great exhibits!

We had on our agenda yesterday to go to two different museums here in Vernal, however, we could only find one which was fine, we got sensory overload on the one we did find.  The place we went to had so much information about the geological aspects of Vernal as well as what and where living things were 250 billion + years ago and to the present how things evolved.  Again, can't even grasp how long ago this was - the beginning of earth's life.  As we drove into Vernal on US 191 we kept seeing signs saying something like - sea clams from 223 billion years ago was found here, or, X dinosaur skeleton found here, or, fossils from X years ago found here.  Would have meant so much more by coming to the field house in Vernal first, then drive the 80 mile loop around the area.  But as it was, this Utah Field House is a gem.  Very kid friendly, had so many exhibits to explain who lived where, what they looked like, how they excavate a find, how the area was a vast lake then floods, then lifting of the mountains, extinct period, etc.  We both felt we learned alot, but dinosaurs eduction is definitely not something I am going to go after.

I didn't know this!

We think that the people in 2 campsites over are out on a dig.  There are currently 3 digs going on in the area, sponsored by universities and/or institutions.  What we did learn is that Andrew Carnegie was very interested in dinosaurs and he financed the original excavations back early 1900's.  I guess what is most fascinating is that in this 80 mile loop around Vernal there are the most skeletons of dinosaurs found in the world.  When we look out at some of the rock formations in the area we now realize we are looking at rock from 250 billions of years ago - the earth has pushed up this lowest level of rock to the surface when the uplifting of the mountains occurred.  And we understand now the red rocks of the area and the golds (Yellowstone) and greens and purples of the rocks.

Very hard life!

Lazy - stretched out and looking out window

On the lighter side - Grace is keeping herself busy - sleeping.  What else do cats do?

Today, as normal before move day, we clean, laundry, start putting stuff away for the move tomorrow to Arches National Park area - Moab, Utah, about 220 miles south of here.  This is in the south eastern area of Utah.  Will be our last time camping in Utah, then swing into the north east section of Arizona and begin the last 45 days of our trip to get to our last stop, Tombstone, and then back in Picacho for the winter.