a two dino visit day

Nearly two weeks ago now, the day after our newly discovered hike at a nearby park, I visited Dinosaur park twice in one day. When it rains it pours. Except there was no raining that day. Far from it.

The weather was simply too gorgeous not to go out and mountain bike. So when Denise asked if I could come out and play, I answered her call. We began on the west side of Skyline Drive at West Fulton Street, something I had never done and had been eager to try. It was quick but such fun. I used my new watch to track and map our progress, which was exactly what I hoping for when I got it. 

Later that evening it was still so lovely and bright out (the clocks had just recently sprung forward) that again we (okay, I) wanted to get out under the open sky. We decided to take a drive up to Dinosaur Park to take in the sunset and dinos. 

Just the day before Terry had taken the Chrysler out on a successful drive all the way to church, out to dinner, and back home again so we figured it could handle this small trip. That previous day there had been just three passengers, but this night we all crammed in there. Actually, there was so need for cramming as there was more than enough room for the six of us plus Luna. 

Next time we'll put Samuel in front. Noah is too big for that!

Such fun! 

Littles.

Noah cannot take a smiley photo anymore.

Unloading at the park.

The east clouds turned out being more colorful than the western sky.

Dino number one with a cute Samuel and pretty clouds.

All four on the Stegosaurus though you can't see Samuel.

Noah and Ezra took off but Terry and Luna peeking around the edges cracked me up.

I pulled Terry over to the exact place where Denise and I had taken a selfie earlier that day.

Up on top!

They scooted up the tail as far as they were able.

I was hoping those clouds would light up!

While we waited on the sun we went down to the remaining two dinosaurs. Ezra felt so big and proud when he climbed up there.

One, two, three, four.

M hill with a touch of orange and pink across the gap.

We walked around to the north and west of the last dinosaurs, to the edge of the cliff and took a look where Denise and I lowered our bikes down since the path dead ended here and we didn't want to turn around.

Zooming in to the switchbacks that Denise and I rode up earlier.

This was about as good as the color got. Bummer, but still a lovely night.

Evie, cool tree roots, and a bit of sunset.

For our remaining time the kids scrambled around and etched on the rocks. When I took a step back I could see some poor sap had asked a girl, presumably, to prom right there. See PROM carved into the rock? Gag. Ha! Anyway, it was a fantastic day.