Fossil Butt Adventure

"What should we do today"

"Um I don't know, wanna go to Wyoming?"

And with that, we set off on our adventure. Now, Wyoming - particularly Evanston which is right on the border, and like all good border towns, sells all of a deprived state's vices like firework liquor store combos at an alarming rate.  However, like many, beyond the instant infatuation with explosions there is little else to do, and the seediness of strip clubs quickly seeps in.  So we kept driving through with no plans at all; that is until we passed a sign stating that Fossil Butte National Monument was up ahead. Now, it wasn't really that we were interested in Fossil Butte, but it was as good a destination as any.  Before we knew it we were heading off of the highway onto a two lane road heading 50 miles north.

Along the way we passed Skull Point Road, and the absurdity of the name itself was enough for us to turn onto the small dirt road. This is where we found the abandoned train in the pictures above, and let me tell you, I never in my life would have thought that train cars were actually that big! I actually needed a boost to get into the box car.  Did I mention that it was WINDY!!! I mean, hold my hat, steady my steps, try not to blow over windy. After a short exploration for my bf to find hobo graffiti, we were on our way.

As we were approaching our destination another hokey tourist trap caught our eye. The J.C. Penny Mother Store and Museum was coming up in two miles. Um what? We're in the middle of BFE and they claim to have the world's first JC Penney? That's just too weird not to witness so we pulled off and headed towards a little gem of a town named Kemmerer/Diamondville. And sure enough, the first JC Penney store was located in this obscure town known to the rest of the world as the Fish Fossil capital of the world, and that is a direct quote from the old timer at the Antique/Fish Fossil store we wandered into. (I was very skeptical and actually looked this JC Penney claim up on wikipedia and sure enough:

James Cash Penney began his career in retail management when he opened The JCP Store, a partnership with Guy Johnson and Thomas Callahan, in 1902 in Kemmerer, Wyoming

They weren't kidding! I do have to say Kemmerer had the most amazing old timey signs scattered throughout the town.

Our next destination was the allusive Fossil Butte National Monument!!! I was so hyped up on this weird national treasure that when we happened upon it my heart dropped. This stupid wooden sign is it. Seriously? Why would you even bother to advertise this piece of junk on the highway??

Afterwards, we turned back and headed for home.  Apparently, 4:30pm is the time where deer come out to play - as we saw around 20 different herds along the roadside.  This was good, because we were both getting distraught that we saw 13 dead dear along the road in under 1 mile (I hate that part of rural roads).  The rest of the drive graced us with Utah's famous red rock formations, sheep and sore throats from laughing at our very mature pronunciations of Fossil Butte and Kemmerer (Fossil Butt and Kemmer-er-er-er).

All in all, today was a good day, and a fine example of living on a whim with a dash of care-free abandon.  Hope that you're all having a great weekend.