On this day, I had one stop only: Dinosaur National Monument in Jensen, UT. The Monument spans 2 states, so I was also in CO during that visit.
The drive began on a sad tone, as I witnessed two playful dogs bouncing around the back of a speeding pickup. Don’t tell me, let me guess: The owner loves and trusts their dogs. The owner wants to treat them like free beings, not vulnerable children. If so, that owner should let them roam out in the yard—not in the back of a moving vehicle.
Like 99.9% of all the drives on this journey, driving to Craig, CO was awesome.
Amazing things happened in Craig, CO. I pulled out of my hotel to into town and noticed a large elk eating lunch/grass at the side of the road. I pulled over, of course. This was my first elk encounter. He was very casual and unthreatened, eyeing me every so often. I truly believed he would go away before me, but this was not the case. He was completely unfazed by me. I observed there was something wrong with him. I don’t know elk male behavior or societal norms, but suspect he was shunned and prevented from eating (and, I suppose, socializing). He was woefully underfed, his ribs clearly visible in spite of his powerful musculature.