Echoes of Memory and Fossils of Time: From Vernal to Glacier
September 11th always brings a pause—a moment of reflection. Twenty-three years have passed since the tragic events in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C., yet the memories remain vivid. On this solemn day, we honor those lost by living fully, embracing the beauty and wonder the world still offers.
Arrival in Vernal, Utah
Our journey next led us to Vernal, Utah, a hidden gem and one of North America's premier dinosaur destinations. After a long day on the road, we settled into our campsite, letting the quiet of the evening wash over us.
Dinosaur National Monument Fossil Bone Quarry
The following morning, we ventured to the Dinosaur National Monument Fossil Bone Quarry. The experience was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Inside the visitor center, a massive wall of fossils greets you—not an artificial display, but a preserved cliff face encased in a building.
On the far left, the rock remains untouched, gradually transitioning to areas where over 1,500 fossils have been carefully excavated. From Allosaurus to Apatosaurus and Stegosaurus, the wall tells a story millions of years in the making. Some fossils are even close enough to touch, connecting you physically to Earth’s ancient past.
After exploring the quarry, we took a bus to the top of the mountain and hiked back down, soaking in the stunning vistas and spotting fossilized clams and mussels along the trail.
Swelter Shelter and Scenic Ride
Back on the motorcycle, we continued deeper into the park, stopping at Swelter Shelter, an ancient cave adorned with petroglyphs and pictographs left by the Fremont peoples, who lived in the region between 300 and 1300 AD.
The landscape shifted from river farms to rugged mountain views, each turn revealing a new facet of Utah’s natural beauty. It was easy to imagine the extremes of summer heat and winter cold that shaped life here.
Before returning to camp, we made one last stop—a photo with the iconic pink dinosaur that welcomes visitors to Vernal.
Breakfast and Diamond Mountain Highway
The next morning began with breakfast at the charming 7-11 Ranch Restaurant, a local favorite we were glad to discover. Fueled up, we headed out along Diamond Mountain Highway, climbing in altitude and watching the valley unfold beneath us.
As the gas gauge dipped, we turned back toward town, refueled, and wandered through Vernal’s streets before resting up for the next leg of our adventure: Glacier National Park, with an overnight stop in Shelley, Idaho.
Overnight in Shelley, Idaho
We got up on Saturday the 14th, filled up the RV, and got on the road. I was a little nervous since we were not on the interstate but climbing up and over the mountains on a two-lane road. However, as usual, Jodi had picked out a safe route for us.
We pulled over to a turnout around midday to make lunch—and of course, Jodi had to get a picture of her jumping in the road. We made it to Shelley and into our campsite in the late afternoon. Hungry and ready to explore, we headed into town and found a cozy Mexican restaurant in this cute little town just south of Idaho Falls. By the time we got back to the campsite, we were tired and decided to load the motorcycle onto the trailer the next morning.
Unexpected Trailer Trouble
That’s when disaster struck again. Somewhere along the way, a weld had broken on the motorcycle trailer. If we loaded the motorcycle, the trailer would have dragged and eventually given out. Our hopes of being back on the road by 9 a.m. and getting to Glacier were quickly dashed.
I started making calls to mobile welders in the area—on a Sunday morning. After several calls, I finally found one who was willing to come out once he was out of church. He reached us around noon but didn’t have the pipe he needed to fix the trailer.
So off I went, first to Lowe’s and then to Home Depot, trying to find a pipe that could be used to weld the trailer back together. I found one, but all they had was a ten-foot section when I only needed a foot. Fortunately, they were able to cut it down so I could carry it on the bike and the welder could use it.
By the time I got back to the campsite, he had taken the trailer apart and was ready to start welding. It took him about an hour to complete the weld and get the trailer back together. By now it was about 2 p.m.—the time we’d hoped to be pulling into our site in Glacier.
Late Arrival at Glacier National Park
We loaded the bike on the trailer and got on the road. By the time we arrived at Glacier, it was well after dark and we were exhausted. We’d missed seeing the scenery we’d hoped to enjoy on the drive in. We quickly set up the RV, fixed a bite to eat, and went to sleep.
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