Today we started in the ski town and summer home of rich kids spending daddy’s money, Steamboat Springs, CO. It was gorgeous there. We got a relatively late start today, not leaving the hotel around 0845. After 40 or so miles we stopped in Craig, CO to add cold weather gear. It was 45 degrees when we left Steamboat and were not fully prepared for 45 degrees going 70 mph. The disparity between Craig and Steamboat Spring is stark and startling. Steamboat brings in millions in tourists dollars, but only 40 miles to the west the town of Craig is ramshackle and nearly deserted. The people in the town were friendly though. At the gas station we met two guys from Birmingham who’d just picked up one of the brand new 2009 BMW motorcycles in Denver for one of the guys and were riding back to AL via Yellowstone. There was another guy on a big ole Hawg, who was local and very helpful with directions (even though we’ve had the route planned, had a map out and the Garmin was visible on the handle bars, nice guy all the same). Inside the gas station we had our first critter encounter of the day. Pipsqueak, a 12 week old Chihuahua, miniature dachshund mix was prancing around the store. (We were told that Teddy was the same mix, but in fact they are NOTHING alike). After gassing up we were off to Dinosaur National Monument.
Dinosaur National Monument is a random out of the way national park where all sorts of dinosaur fossils have been unearthed. From what we read, more intact and nicely preserved skeletons have been found there than anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see any of the bones. The dig site has been closed since 2006 and we were not up for a mile hike up the canyon (in full gear) to see the alternate sight with a few bones. Instead we took a two hour round trip ride on the same road to see several beautiful vistas. As you’ll see from the slideshow, I got a bit carried away taking pictures. The camera was strapped to my wrist so I felt inclined to snap away.
By the time we left DNM it was almost 1400 and we were starving. We got into Vernal, UT around 1430 and hoped to find a great mom and pop place for a great Sunday afternoon meal. Apparently, that’s not possible. No local restaurants were opened for business, so we had KFC and watched a thunderstorm roll through. From Vernal we turned north on 191 toward Flaming Gorge National Park.
Flaming Gorge National Park is a canyon of red rocks. There is a dam that made a 66 square mile, 438 feet deep lake. There are camping areas and trails all over the place. We passed many a ski boat and RV. Every ski boat we passed, Ryan would remind me that he wants a ski boat. (Maybe someday, but for now that is something I don’t want to deal with moving.) From Flaming Gorge we continued on to Wyoming. On the way out of the park we saw something I didn’t believe to exist. There on the side of the road was a 5’7” 145lb hairy beast known as Bigfoot. He was a lot smaller than I expected. We spend past him and continued on to Wyoming.
Wyoming is beautiful. However there were miles of nothing but high plains pastures. Most of the area we rode along 191 was open range, free stock land. Ryan had to slam on the brakes a couple times to avoid antelope. One was particularly close. The antelope was right on the side of the road. Instead of continuing on his merry way into the field, he dashed back across the road in front of us. My heart was beating fast. Ryan commented that he wouldn’t want to ride those roads at night. You might end up with 200 pounds of venison in your lap. After a short mileage day, but long touring day we stopped in Rock Springs, WY for the night. The city has 187,000 people or at least half the population of the state! We did a load of laundry at a Texaco truck stop (one of the downsides of packing light) and had dinner at a Taco Bell wannabe that was 100% better, than called it a night.
Check the slideshow for today’s pictures. Tomorrow we are off to Yellowstone, after a quick stop at a Kawasaki dealership to check some funny tire wear and a battery in the tire pressure sensor gauge.
Dinosaur National Monument is a random out of the way national park where all sorts of dinosaur fossils have been unearthed. From what we read, more intact and nicely preserved skeletons have been found there than anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see any of the bones. The dig site has been closed since 2006 and we were not up for a mile hike up the canyon (in full gear) to see the alternate sight with a few bones. Instead we took a two hour round trip ride on the same road to see several beautiful vistas. As you’ll see from the slideshow, I got a bit carried away taking pictures. The camera was strapped to my wrist so I felt inclined to snap away.
By the time we left DNM it was almost 1400 and we were starving. We got into Vernal, UT around 1430 and hoped to find a great mom and pop place for a great Sunday afternoon meal. Apparently, that’s not possible. No local restaurants were opened for business, so we had KFC and watched a thunderstorm roll through. From Vernal we turned north on 191 toward Flaming Gorge National Park.
Flaming Gorge National Park is a canyon of red rocks. There is a dam that made a 66 square mile, 438 feet deep lake. There are camping areas and trails all over the place. We passed many a ski boat and RV. Every ski boat we passed, Ryan would remind me that he wants a ski boat. (Maybe someday, but for now that is something I don’t want to deal with moving.) From Flaming Gorge we continued on to Wyoming. On the way out of the park we saw something I didn’t believe to exist. There on the side of the road was a 5’7” 145lb hairy beast known as Bigfoot. He was a lot smaller than I expected. We spend past him and continued on to Wyoming.
Wyoming is beautiful. However there were miles of nothing but high plains pastures. Most of the area we rode along 191 was open range, free stock land. Ryan had to slam on the brakes a couple times to avoid antelope. One was particularly close. The antelope was right on the side of the road. Instead of continuing on his merry way into the field, he dashed back across the road in front of us. My heart was beating fast. Ryan commented that he wouldn’t want to ride those roads at night. You might end up with 200 pounds of venison in your lap. After a short mileage day, but long touring day we stopped in Rock Springs, WY for the night. The city has 187,000 people or at least half the population of the state! We did a load of laundry at a Texaco truck stop (one of the downsides of packing light) and had dinner at a Taco Bell wannabe that was 100% better, than called it a night.
Check the slideshow for today’s pictures. Tomorrow we are off to Yellowstone, after a quick stop at a Kawasaki dealership to check some funny tire wear and a battery in the tire pressure sensor gauge.
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