Today I packed camp and Tyler and I reviewed our map book, which showed Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument within driving distance. We will try to make that a target.
The Jeep needs attention also, the right front has become badly worn from poor front end alignment. I will make that a goal today. While I am on the Jeep I suspect our gas mileage will stink for our time in the Rockies. The engine is screaming on the climbs as I am often in third gear just to maintain a reasonable speed. I can’t even coast on the descents as everyone in this state seems to be in a hurry. This state definitely has the most traffic we’ve encountered so far. My theory is that there are so few roads through the mountains we all are sharing them. We crossed some beautiful high valleys and stopped at Wilkerson Pass so Tyler could work on a badge.
Florissant Fossil Beds is among the largest occurring sites containing fossilized insects, plants, fish and small mammals. It also has several fossilized sequoia tree trunks. The largest of which is estimated to have been 900 years old when it was buried in volcanic mud flow.
I found a tire shop in Woodland Park and pulled in to see if they could take us today. They could and set to work while Tyler and I walked back to a Dinosaur Center we saw a short distance away.
Repairs came to just over $200; a new tire w/balancing and rotated in with the others and a front end alignment. Hopefully it will roll a little smoother now.
From here we set out in an attempt to find the ghost town of Independence. We failed as it seems the town has vanished. No worries though, as our search for ghosts brought us to Phantom Canyon Road and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property. This means free camping! Bonus! We found a spot a few miles later approximately 70 yards off the road on a small road. It was washed out and off camber but we carried on to find a nice wide, level turn around to camp at. Only in a Jeep.
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| Somewhere along Phantom Canyon Rd. |
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