Vernal Is a Dinosaur of a Place

It's not often that a place really disappoints. Vernal, Utah, does. We had spent the day traveling through beautiful scenery in the mountain country, drinking good coffee, and enjoying snow and rain, to arrive in Vernal, home of the Dinosaur National Monument, expecting a wonderful Indian dinner at a local well-regarded spot. No deal.

Not only did the motel not have wi-fi—a major sin nowadays, but the Indian restaurant was “closed for restaffing.” Our second choice, a brew pub, posted a sign outside saying it was not serving any alcohol. In desperation we went to JB's right next to the Best Western Antlers where we're staying. Yech. Service was good, but the salad bar was bare, my liver was cooked to the consistency of shoe leather, the waitress said they served no beer or wine, and the iced tea I got in exchange was watery. The only saving grace was Ben's melon for dessert and the bill. $20.01. Nephew Matt Cross warned us.

But we can look back on an exciting day. It began by finding a wonderful coffee shop in Kremmling, Colorado, with wi-fi (the BnB did not have wi-fi) where we enjoyed our capuccino and latte, and put together today's version of the blog. Also travelling throughthe rain soaked sage covered fields and mountains, we found the scent of the air intriguing. Ben has come up with an idea for a new very masculine-scented cologne. It will be called RainSage.



We had passed over bridges spanning the Colorado, and later spanned bridges over the Green and the Yampa, all in flood from the heavy snowpack.

And the snowpack is not yet finished. Between the coffee shop and Steamboat Springs we passed through a snow storm with fog that slowed us at one point to 10 mph. It's been a day of difference. The highest temperature, this evening, was about 70F in Vernal, but the lowest in the mountains was 34F (1C) and even in Steamboat it was only40F. Cold.

One of the best things was arriving in Utah, and just as we crossed the border, there rising in the distance were the snow covered Uintas we'll see tomorrow.




And with nothing going on this evening, we can even do the laundry. Friday we visit the Stewart Ranch, daughter Anne's favorite summer place, and then to Salt Lake City. Having spent only the admission to a state park for a picnic table under an shelter today for lunch (we had leftover sandwiches and Ben had a smoothie from Steamboat Springs' Safeway ) and the basic victuals we had for dinner, we will splurge.

We may even wash the car. 2400 miles to date.