Dad, Daughter, and Dinosaurs...

[mph]

Well, I finished up with my 13th year of teaching last week. Summer is here...
Free time? Yes, but I also have "daddy duty" since my daughter's preschool closes down for the summer as well. What to do? My daughter has probably camped 100 days already in her 4 years of life. Always with mom and dad...She has never been out with just daddy. It seemed like a good time. We (I) packed up the cruiser and headed east towards Dinosaur National Monument.



Always have to start out a trip with a little lunch



Made our way to the Rainbow Park/Island in the Park area in no time. The access road is a smooth, graded road. There are some old ranching settlements in the area. Parked just outside the Rupple Ranch homestead...



Nice view...



Nothing like a juice box! Always stay hydrated





Not bad artists...I do say so myself! Rock art was everywhere. Some of the nicest I have seen in Utah. These were created by Freemont people around 1000 years ago! Crazy!



Lilly love to be "line leader"! I gave her props for line leading uphill!



There is always time to say, "cheese"! Lilly was having a blast!



We were off to the area around Rainbow Park camping area.



It was time to watch the desert come alive as the sun set in the West. Favorite time of day!

More to come...

 

[john101477]

Thats awesome!!! She looks so happy. Just doesnt get much better than that IMO

 

[mph]

We caught the final rays of sunshine on the cliff above Rainbow Park! The following day brought us to the new quarry.



The new quarry is just basically a new building in my opinion...Not much in the way of new things to see...
Lilly hadn't seen the old...So in with the new!





After the visit to the quarry...We jumped back in the LC and went looking for rock art again...We were successful!



There were some awesome "lizard" glyphs...some were close to 3 feet in length...





It seemed that these Native Americans were artists in a dry, harsh environment.



After talking with Lilly...We decided on a new direction of our travels. Lilly wanted the mountains. So, I looked at the map and made a 2 hour drive west...



Lilly did an awesome job of map reading and helping me find my way...

 

[mph]

I had always heard about Wolf Creek Pass in the Uinaths but hadn't checked it out...One of those places that is so close to home; maybe 40 miles that I always said some other time, etc. Well, my mistake...We got to the summit and found a forest road; turned off it and went to look for a campsite. A short, dirt road led to our site and passed a small pond.







Lilly was eager to help with the fire but the Utah mountains are bone dry! So, I was watching her very carefully! However, she did get to throw a log in--eventually.



I have to say...nothing like some humus, crackers, and Fat Tire to enjoy the evening!



Lilly was enjoying the area and making wishes from each dandelion she picked and blew...



The next day we awoke to clear skis and picturesque landscapes all around!



We followed a road...Not sure where it went but it was so beautiful..we took it!



The road traversed a ridge line that was awesome! We reached a junction...We decided to head down the mountain...



A stroke of luck...We ran into a friend with his children...The showed Lilly how to throw a line in the water...



She didn't catch anything...But, she had a grand time. So did I...It was the first of many Dad-Daughter trips to come...

 

[Honu]

great fun to read and see

 

[mph]

Thanks for the kind words...Fun to get out with my daughter

 

[Honu]

yup mine is already 8 !!! where does the time go !!

 

[Haggis]

What a nice tale you've spun here. thanks for the smiles. Stuff like this makes me miss having itty bitty kids, though they're just as much fun to get out into the woods with when they're teeenagers. Of course when they're bigger they eat way more, take up more room and want to drive your heep down the trails.

 

[4x4x4doors]

I'm subscribing in hopes you document more of Lilly's summer!
Great stuff, thanks for sharing!

 

[mph]

Will do...We are off to Colorado for 2 weeks! Should be entertaining!!!! More to come!

Thanks for the kind words...

I'm subscribing in hopes you document more of Lilly's summer!
Great stuff, thanks for sharing!

 

[joelclark]

Smiling Irish

Thanks for this Mike. It seems like only yesterday you were serving me Crown and waters in God's Country. You truely are living the dream. Lilly is truely precious !!! I can't wait for Sandy to get home so I can share your travels. This Irish family is smiling thanks to you.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Good on yah man. I'm hoping to have some "Daddy, Daughter(S) " trips in the near future. Keep her traveling! She will be better from it and you'll cherish the memories!

 

[mph]

Joel,
Great to hear from you! We need to talk...Give you a shout soon

Thanks for this Mike. It seems like only yesterday you were serving me Crown and waters in God's Country. You truely are living the dream. Lilly is truely precious !!! I can't wait for Sandy to get home so I can share your travels. This Irish family is smiling thanks to you.

 

[mrwizard]

Looks like an awesome time with the kiddo. I can't wait until mine is old enough for some solo camping...but now he's only 10 months. We're picking up our RTT in a week and a half so we can keep overlanding as a family...the two man backpacker tent just isn't enough an more. Thanks for the inspiration, such a cool trip.

 

[timh]

Love it! My daughter is coming upon 4 real soon and its looking like mommy might be out of town next weekend so we may have our first daddy daughter only camping trip.:victory: