Beyond This Place, There Be Dragons

Goodbye Delicious Food

2011-04-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

We spent our last few hours in Paris eating everything in sight. It was a good choice to end our trip.

Tiny House

2011-04-09T23:17:00.000-07:00

Our place in Corniglia was this peach little house pictured above, two tiny stories with a bathroom, kitchen, and dining area downstairs and bedroom upstairs. This is the second time on the trip where the original room we booked wasn't ready so they upgraded us to something even better.

We just checked out and are on our way back to France.

Last Meal in Italy

2011-04-09T22:29:00.000-07:00

On saturday night, we decided to go back to our town for our final meal and found it the most "crowded" we had seen yet which meant about twenty people total. The area is known for its pesto, and beef oddly enough, as it is just south of Genoa so we had to try some.

Into the Vineyards, pt. 2

2011-04-09T11:20:00.000-07:00

An old stone staircase. The bridge. Fog over the vineyards.

In the Vineyards, pt. 1

2011-04-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

We had been hearing the sound of frogs in the vineyard every night in Corniglia and decided to finally find them. After sneaking through a vineyard and down an old flight of stairs past a farmhouse we found a river that ran all the way to the ocean. We followed it as it snaked through the rows of vineyards and under an old bridge, then we broke off into an abandoned stone house and decided it was the end of the line for tonight as the sun was going down. I guess we'll have to come back someday soon and find out where the pathway ends.

Monterosso

2011-04-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

This was our favorite town to visit as it was the largest and had a great beach. Unfortunately, as you can see in the photos, the fog rolled in on us and it was quite cold so we didn't go in the water. Instead, we hiked on a rocky trail away from town that looked like something out of The Two Towers. The trail dead ended into a nude beach (not the reason it was our favorite town).

Vernazza

2011-04-09T07:42:00.001-07:00

Today we went to the next town north called Vernazza. It is much bigger than the previous three towns with a larger commercial district, more restaurants and Americans. At lunch, we lucked out and saw a wedding at the church pictured in the photo. Originally the plan was to walk between all the towns but one of the trails was washed out in a rockslide and the other hikes are well over two hours long. We decided to take the train.

Super Cinque Terre Brothers

2011-04-08T23:56:00.001-07:00

Apparently Mario and Luigi live across from us. I really want this to be true.

A Cantina de Mananan

2011-04-08T23:54:00.000-07:00

We ended up back in Corniglia for the night at a very highly recommended and reviewed restaurant tucked away in a nearby alley. The food was so good, it was gone before we could take any pictures of it. As per usual, Lindsey drew on the placemat which the locals and owner liked so much he added it to the restaurant's collection in a big book by the door.

Manarola

2011-04-08T23:49:00.001-07:00

This town was built very similarly to the last but at its base emptied into a protected lagoon. After running around all day, and two weeks prior, we finally decided to just sit by the water and watch the fishes. And drink.

Via Dell'Amore

2011-04-08T23:42:00.000-07:00

Known as the "Lovers Walk", this pathway carved out of the mountain connects Riomaggiore to Manarola and is filled with various signs of love along the way. Initials carved into stone, names written on walls, and locks attached to railings and fences. Being nerds, Lindsey and I kept remarking that the pathway reminded us of the videogame Myst.

Riomaggiore

2011-04-08T23:36:00.001-07:00

This is the first town we visited, the southernmost one of Cinque Terre called Riomaggiore. It's built within a valley that channels down the mountainside to a harbor. Lots of good seafood here as you would imagine. Also lots of cats.

Sunset

2011-04-07T23:52:00.000-07:00

Corniglia

2011-04-07T23:34:00.000-07:00

This is Corniglia, the middle-most city in the Cinque Terre chain, a group of five small towns built along the northwest coast of Italy. As you can see it sits high up on the mountainside but is linked to the other cities via a pathway which we're going to walk the entire length of as it's only 10k total between all five. We hiked several hundred stairs down to get to this private lagoon which was very worth it even though the trek back up was painful.

Genius.

2011-04-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

The best part of our meal was discovering that they make sprayable balsamic vinegar that you spray directly onto your bread.

1 Drawing = 1 Meal

2011-04-06T10:14:00.001-07:00

While waiting for a nearby pizza place to open, we grabbed a snack at a small cafe tucked away in an alley. The waiter's eye was caught by this drawing Lindsey did in her sketchbook. In exchange for the bill, Lindsey gave him the drawing. Instant free lunch.

Lindsey <3 Florence

2011-04-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

Lindsey loves pizza and gelato. She's happy.

Mercato Centrale

2011-04-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

This is Florence's central market which is filled with the freshest food selection I've ever seen. Meats, fishes, cheese, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and a wide variety of olive oil, vinegar and wine. We bought a little of everything and quickly ate it all.

Porcellino

2011-04-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

The Porcellino is a bronze statue of a wild boar on the road to the Pontevecchio which, if you rub its snout, will bring you good luck. Naturally, I had to try the wild boar ragu at a nearby restaurant.

Il Duomo

2011-04-05T13:26:00.001-07:00

After a two hour train ride from Venice, passing through Bologna and Modena (I wish we had stopped here as it is where all good balsamic vinegar is from), we finally arrived in Florence. The city feels much more open and modern than Venice, complete with Segway tours of the old market (pictured, sadly). We spent the afternoon perusing the street vendors and eating pasta with two hilarious German men who had just driven down from Munich for the sole purpose of drinking wine for a week. We're in very good company here.

Oh ya, Lindsey also got to see the Duomo but I think was more impressed by the nutella gelato.

Arrivederci, Liam

2011-04-05T13:20:00.001-07:00

The photos say it all.

The Tide

2011-04-05T13:19:00.001-07:00

On our long walk back to the hotel, Liam sang us gondola songs as we wound through the rainy, sleepy streets of Venice. During our three hour meal, the tide had come way in and threatened to flood the streets. You can see it in the photo nearly up to the sidewalk. Once again, the bedroom next to ours was vacant so Liam joined us for our last night in the city.

Dinner for Gondoliers, pt. 3

2011-04-04T15:06:00.000-07:00

The final course was a big plate of meat (turkey, sausage and beef) and vegetables which we somehow almost finished. To top it off Carlo gave us a free tiramisu which he claimed, and we agreed, was the best in Venice. The coolest part was that the bill was like a puzzle straight out of Indiana Jones or Myst. We were handed a hinged box which opened to reveal a smaller oval box which contained a folded up piece of paper that was our bill. In return for such a memorable meal Lindsey graciously gave the picture she drew of the canal to Carlo who was so moved he swept her up in a big hug and said he would hang it over his bed. Laughing, he nodded to me and said I was "a very lucky man." It's very true.

Dinner for Gondoliers, pt. 2

2011-04-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

Our waiter, Carlo, was the coolest guy in the world, allowing us to bring in outside wine and recommending one of the best meals I've ever eaten. To start, a plate of meat (salami, mortadella, prosciutto) and cheese (parmesan, Brie and another yellow cheese) followed by a sausage and raddichio pasta.

Dinner for Gondoliers, pt. 1

2011-04-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

On the recommendation from one of the main gondoliers, Liam found this incredible restaurant tucked away from all the tourists, perched right on a small dock overlooking the grand canal. It was a place for locals and gondoliers only... and Liam.

Letting the Wine Breathe

2011-04-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

Liam bought Lindsey and I a bottle of wine to welcome us to Venice and we finally opened it the last night. As we waited for our dinner reservations, Lindsey drew the canal, Liam wrote up notes from his recent adventures, and I took photos of the nearby church, all three of us documenting the beginning of our last night.

Where Gondolas Come From

2011-04-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

A gondolier Liam met was having a party for his newly christened boat and we somehow managed to join in on the fun. All the food was local Venetian cuisine such as pasta with sardines and tasted unlike anything I had eaten before. The boat shop where the gondolas are created is a sight to behold and felt like peering behind the curtain of an ancient brotherhood as gondoliers have inhabited the city and passed down their trade for over a thousand years.

Giudecca

2011-04-04T14:39:00.000-07:00

We left for a nearby island called Giudecca this morning and after getting quite lost in the abandoned city found the harbor where all gondolas are built. Lindsey also befriended this giant dog.

Cicchetti

2011-04-03T23:38:00.000-07:00

Cicchetti are just like tapas, pieces of bread with a little appetizer on top, and cost only a euro each. We've been finding them all over Venice and they've always been fantastic, usually topped with fresh seafood or meat.

The night ended at the northern most tip of Venice in a small residential neighborhood where it seems all the families on the island actually live, far away from the tourists. Lindsey drew a picture of us to commemorate the day.

The Last Crusade

2011-04-03T23:34:00.000-07:00

You may remember this church from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, which, in the film, is a library with a catacomb beneath it where Indy encounters rats, the tomb of a knight, and subsequent boat chase through the canals of Venice. Right now, the inside is a Leonardo Da Vinci museum. We decided to spend our money instead on caffeine and alcohol.

Sigh

2011-04-03T23:30:00.000-07:00

This is the Bridge of Sighs that I mentioned, covered by a Toyota ad. Apparently Venice does this to raise money for its reconstruction projects but it kinda ruins the view...

Gondolier's Bench

2011-04-03T23:28:00.000-07:00

After a not so filling lunch of seafood risotto split three ways, we smuggled a bottle of wine out of the restaurant, bought two pizzas, and ate them right by a canal. Liam made friends with the gondolier, Marco, who worked the bridge and he allowed us to sit on the gondoliers bench. In the background is the famous Bridge of Sighs which is covered up by a Toyota advertisement.

Roberto

2011-04-03T23:23:00.000-07:00

This is Roberto, the gondolier Liam had been trying to find for a week. After learning Spanish worked as well to speak with gondoliers as Italian, Liam made much more headway and was invited by Roberto to come out with him that night and go to Giudecca, the southern Venetian island, to watch the launching of a new gondola.

San Zaccarias

2011-04-03T23:20:00.000-07:00

This first church is San Zaccarias which is probably the best named church in Italy. For our second day in Venice we met Liam again at the exact center of Piazza San Marco and spent the day finding gondoliers and learning about their tradition. It was a wild goose chase from one gondolier to the next that took us the entire way around the city.

Hotel Al Piave

2011-04-03T01:19:00.000-07:00

We're staying in a nice little hotel right behind Piazza San Marco so we're very central to everything. It was incredibly difficult to find the first day and we still get lost making our way back there. The streets honestly seem to change every time we walk down them. We have a very nice view into the neighboring building's laundry facilities.

Liam Makes His Exit

2011-04-03T01:15:00.001-07:00

The suite next to our room is vacant and after a long day and night of nonstop walking/eating/drinking Liam didn't want to go all the way across town to get to his hotel. Instead, he snuck into this vacant room and got up before the maids came in, immaculately remade the bed, and disappeared into the early Venice morning.

Sketching

2011-04-03T01:11:00.000-07:00

An old Italian woman was checking out this sketch Lindsey did of a row of buildings on the canals and she very sweetly gifted it to her. Hopefully next time we go back we'll get free gelato in return.

Lost

2011-04-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

Venice is a very confusing city. You're lost until you arrive at your destination. Liam heard about the best pasta in town so we backtracked for a good thirty minutes to find a tiny restaurant off of an even tinier canal. The pasta was as good as they said, some of the best I've ever had, and topped off with gelato made it even better.

As it's Saturday night, the city was swarming with people everywhere and had a completely different feeling from the daytime which was mostly older tourists. Tomorrow we set out to find a gondolier who has eluded Liam for the past four days.

Grand Canals

2011-04-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

After traveling all day all we wanted to do was eat and drink so we made a quick lap around the city with Liam as our adopted guide stopping at a tapas bar right off the canal.

Ciao, Liam

2011-04-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

At the geographic center of San Marco Piazza, exactly where I told him to meet us, Lindsey and I came across one of my best friends from the Bay Area, Liam Pierce. He was a welcome sight and harbinger of all the fun to come.

On the Canals

2011-04-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

We had to take a 1.5 hour waterbus to get to San Marco Piazza... It was beautiful but tiring to go from taxi -> plane -> waterbus -> foot. Thankfully Lindsey had her sea-bands because the sea was quite rough.

Rouge et Bleu

2011-04-02T14:46:00.001-07:00

Lindsey spotted these two who looked surprisingly like Red and Blue.

Bread and Cheese

2011-04-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

For our final afternoon in Paris we decided to get some bread, cheese (Brie and Napoleon), saucisson, and fresh grapes for a picnic in the Jardin du Luxembourg. The sun finally came out too, right on time.

A Big French Tower

2011-04-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

We found a nice little cafe right next to the Eiffel Tower where we had another huge meal (I honestly don't know how our hearts haven't given out yet) before heading over to the tower itself. We didn't stay long as we hadn't eaten in 15 minutes and were likely to die of starvation.

Versailles

2011-04-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

Most incredible house on the planet. We should have stayed here.

Lindsey attempted several sneaky ways of cutting us to the front of the line like pretending to be students and joining a random Italian tour group but none panned out so we had to wait like everyone else. The chateau is incredible inside and out, especially the science museum (where we couldn't take photos) and the exhibit on thrones. As always, we packed several pastries to eat as snacks along the way. Also, Lindsey stepped in a huge puddle.

Afoot

2011-03-31T09:31:00.000-07:00

Since Lindsey has been at her Gobelin test all day I've just be touring the streets of Paris from Pont Neuf, Saint Severin, the Latin Quarter, the Seine, Saint Germaine Des Pres, and various bookstores, restaurants and cafes in between. No money spent on art, all money spent on food.

At one church they were cleaning the organ by holding each note successively up the scale which filled the room with an overwhelming, and ominous, sound. Or someone is just really bad at playing the organ.

Avez-vous Beamish?

2011-03-31T09:22:00.000-07:00

Irish bars in Paris are surprisingly good, and one even claimed to have Beamish. Sadly, it did not. I should have told them to change their sign so there wouldn't be any more disappointment.

Eglise Saint-Suplice

2011-03-31T01:46:00.000-07:00

This church is massive, it takes up several city blocks. From the outside it appears ominous and perpetually locked but thankfully, as it is pouring outside, most doors in Paris are unlocked and I was able to get inside to do some writing. I've already been caught sneaking into several places I shouldn't and my limited French only further implicates me.

Jardin du Luxembourg

2011-03-31T01:40:00.000-07:00

Lindsey left early this morning to take her Gobelin animation test so I've spent the day wandering around the area. Here is a massive garden in the center of the city and coincidentally right behind our hotel.

Best. Meal. Ever.

2011-03-30T13:08:00.001-07:00

Onion soup, Pata Negra fillet with olive oil mashed potatoes, slow boiled beef and vegetables with marrowbones...

Bouillon Racine

2011-03-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

Lindsey remarked that this was my kind of place: a turn of the century, art nouveau decorated brasserie.

Lunch in Agen

2011-03-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

This patisserie has the best almond croissants I've ever tasted. Yes, we bought several for the road.

Tour de France

2011-03-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

Petanque

2011-03-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

Petanque, or Boules, is the French version of Bocci Ball. After a fierce comeback I beat Lindsey 10 games to 7.

Chiens

2011-03-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

Seymour, the basset hound and inspiration for the dog in the Inventors, Tessie and Longshot have been our constant companions.

Pasta in France

2011-03-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

All day the weather fluctuated between rain and shine which created amazing clouds, colors and rainbows across the countryside while we walked several miles to get from Roquecor, the closest town to Couyssels. After earning our room and board by acting as the Green's personal tech consultants fixing up their network issues, Lindsey took a nap (we had just come from walking for hours) and I helped cook pasta. I tried to wake Lindsey when we had finished cooking but she's a very determined sleeper. Thankfully, we have plenty of leftovers.

La Taupe

2011-03-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

This is Ed and Sally's house in Couyssels known as La Taupe, which is a chefs hat. The main house is on the left, but we're staying in the pigeonnier, an old pidgeon house. Trust us, it's much nicer than it sounds. I'll let the photos explain:

Midi Pyrenees

2011-03-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

We had a wander through a small village called Fumel which was built on the sloping side of a hill. Lots of old alleyways, gardens and views of the river. There was a beautiful old church that overlooked the valley which was prime for the breaking into. The bottommost photo overlooks the Midi Pyrenees.

Breakfast

2011-03-29T00:06:00.000-07:00

How can we be hungry again?

We're 25, the wine is 30

2011-03-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is rosemary stuffed lamb slowly roaring on a spit, hand raised and butchered just down the hill. My job was to supervise the roast, and believe you me, I watched that meat cook for two hours without blinking. While we waited, they had prepared salami, olives, baguette, wine and these ridiculously amazing crispy risotto pieces. Call the airlines now because Lindsey and I are going to need seatbelt extenders by the time we get back. And finally, we had a 1981 Chateau Fombrauge, much better than the Trader Joes stuff we get. It's dangerous to get used to this kind of eating.

La Taupe

2011-03-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

We arrived in the late morning at Agen and were picked up by our hosts, Ed and Sally Green (he's exactly the same, in case the Kellers were wondering). They had picked us up fresh baguettes, almond croissants (my favorite) and pain au chocolat. We'll take pictures of the house and our hosts tomorrow, but let me at least introduce you to Seymour, their twelve year old basset hound.

The Seine & Our First Crepe

2011-03-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

This was from yesterday when Lindsey and I took a walk down the banks of the Seine and ended up at Notre Dame where it started pouring. We ducked into a tiny giftshop and bought an umbrella by an enthusiastic French salesman who was dying to sell us place-mats.
We soon found ourselves in the Latin Quarter which is packed with more types of incredible food than you can imagine. We decided on crepes followed by a glass of wine under an awning while it continued to rain steadily through the night. Before we turned in, we happened upon a very old French church where we listened in as the parishioners sang along to the organ.

Train to Agen

2011-03-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

On our way to Couyssel, we took a four hour train ride south through the beautiful, foggy countryside of France just as the sun rose. Lindsey read comics and studied animation while I took pictures and ate. Pretty typical for us. We passed through the world renowned wine region of Bordeaux which was covered in sprawling vineyards that had yet to bloom.

On a side note, look at that man behind Lindsey. Not only does it look like he may explode from expansion, but he snored nearly the entire time.

330AM

2011-03-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

Lindsey and I were both wide awake at 330AM and realizing our train was leaving at 6 decided to just get up. We discovered that the window opened onto a rooftop so we snuck out there at 4 in the morning for a few... Which was sadly blocked by another building. Hopefully the next room we stay in will be higher up and more successful.

The Gare Montparnasse trainstation was almost deserted when we got there as we were the second train out that morning.

Le Comptoir

2011-03-27T19:35:00.001-07:00

I'm an avid fan of No Reservations and Anthony Bourdain and when I knew we were going to Paris watched all his episodes about France. His favorite place in Paris is Le Comptoir... And it just so happens to be on our hotel's block! After a jetlagged nap we rushed over ate their version of beef bourgignon and shepards pie. It was so good I honestly had dreams about it last night.

Croque Monsieurs & Paris' oldest church

2011-03-27T03:06:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the food and the sites. Both amazing.

Hotel Saint Paul

2011-03-27T03:02:00.001-07:00

Here's our hotel right off the main street of La Rue Saint Germaine. Perfect walking distance to various boulangeries, patisseries, and cafes. We already ducked into several with plans to come back and buy enough croissants to last us for another month. Even though we're both pretty skinny, if we lived here I'm sure we'd become obese rather quickly.

Bonjour, I mean, Au revoir USA

2011-03-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

Lindsey and I just landed in Houston and have already found lots of cool NASA related things on our layover. We wish it was a sleepover because we're both really tired. See you in France.

Reptile Gardens

2009-07-14T22:36:00.000-07:00

We got a back stage tour of Reptile Gardens in South Dakota because we
knew a former employee. They let us hold a baby alligator and a
Burmese Python.

Mount Rushmore

2009-07-14T17:10:00.000-07:00

Tornado Warning #3

2009-07-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

Our last night in Hill City we were met with another tornado warning
as two huge storms collided overhead dropping heavy rain and hail.
Later on we received a call from a friend still at the Quarry that the
storm had hit there too and unleashed spiked, baseball size that
shattered nearly every car windshield and trapped the diggers for a
least forty eight hours. We got out just in time.

Mashed Potato Mountain

2009-07-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

Austin couldn't resist...

Devils Tower

2009-07-13T19:25:00.000-07:00

Final Day

2009-07-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

Here are Austin, Greg and Brandon at Quarry A on the final day of the
dig. It was extremely hot and humid without any wind. Apparently the
Waugh Quarry is a rarity for fossil hunting because it is in a forest
while most are out in the desert with high winds and dangerously
elevated temperatures.

Counting Lightning

2009-07-12T08:22:00.001-07:00

Last night a massive thunderstorm rolled in around 3am completely by
surprise. We were all woken up by a lightning strike that hit a nearby
tree followed by deafening thunder that literally shook the ground
like an earthquake. None of us slept very much as the driving rain and
wind lasted for several hours.

Baby Rattlesnake

2009-07-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

We caught a baby rattlesnake in camp and yes, that camera phone on the
left side is our friend Shota from Japan getting way too close.

Ponderosa Bar & Grill

2009-07-11T18:58:00.000-07:00

We decided to go into Hulett to try the local food and ended up
getting half pound bison burgers and then playing purple rain with
Brandon, another Pixarian, along with Holly and Amar, graduate
paleontology students from the UK.

Hunting Area

2009-07-11T16:04:00.000-07:00

I found another nearly complete Allosaur tooth. The common wisdom is
that this quarry was a sauropod feeding area near a river where a pack
of Allosaurs used to hunt. Hence all the broken teeth and dead
sauropods.

Stegosaurus Vertebrate

2009-07-11T16:01:00.000-07:00

Austin and I found a vertibrate after the bulldozer scraping across
the ground made a PING! sound. It took us over an hour to free it and
clean it.

Big Tooth

2009-07-10T17:21:00.000-07:00

This tooth is huge, probably four inches or so and we think from a
Megalosaurus. I'm going to be digging in that area so hopefully I find
some more. Today was lackluster; we dug for nine hours and all we had
to show for it was a broken tooth, a chipped claw, and several bone
fragments. At least it was only eighty today.

A River Runs Through Hulett

2009-07-10T17:18:00.000-07:00

Teeth and Claws

2009-07-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

This is A Quarry where all the lead paleontologists work. Those white
flags represent either a tooth or a claw.

Tools

2009-07-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

Thunderstorm Sunset

2009-07-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

Brer Rabbit Molasses

2009-07-09T17:10:00.001-07:00

Found in the Hulett general store. I shoulda bought some...

Camp from the Hill

2009-07-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

Digging

2009-07-09T15:46:00.000-07:00

I found a pile of bones that turned red due to oxidation and were
falling apart. When this happens the bones are often abandoned because
they are too brittle. Luckily, after using a bulldozer we found a
whole new area to dig with giant vertibrates.

Quarry View from the Top

2009-07-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

Allosaurus tooth

2009-07-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

F Quarry

2009-07-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

This is where we're looking for Barosauus, Camarosaurus, Brachiosaurus
or other larger dinosaurs. We just started uncovering the shoulders
and neck.

Tents

2009-07-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

Campsite

2009-07-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

Greg, Austin, Chuck and I set up camp in a small clearing between a
group of trees about a quarter mile from the Quarry. We were lucky
enough to be able to drive our cars right up to the campsite.

Home Base

2009-07-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

This is our main camp complete with utility truck, solar panels,
propane grill, mess hall, and satelite phone.

The Beer Cave

2009-07-08T18:08:00.000-07:00

Someone had the brilliant idea of digging into the mountainside to
create a small cave where beer and other important items could be kept
cool. It works. I make sure to test it every night.

First Day

2009-07-08T16:10:00.000-07:00

Our job was to clear a hillside to uncover the bones of a Camarosaurus
they found last year. First with shovels, then digging knives, then
exacto blades, and finally brushes. It took until lunch just to get
down to the bone then we spent the rest of the afternoon doing the
tedious work of cleaning off the fossils and prepping them for
removal. We had to end early when a thunderstorm dropped nickel sized
hail on us.

A Paleontologist's Shadow

2009-07-08T12:29:00.000-07:00

The Waugh Quarry

2009-07-08T12:26:00.000-07:00

Our view of the Black Hills forest from camp. Yes, that is a
thunderstorm on the horizon.

A Close Encounter with Devils Tower

2009-07-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

We listened to the Close Encounters theme the entire time the tower
was in view.

Black Hills Museum

2009-07-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing museum in Hill City run by the institute with every
type of dinosaur you could imagine.

Lesley the Triceratops

2009-07-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

Here's Austin with the skull of an old triceratops. Some of the other
diggers on our team are digitally scanning these fossils so that they
can make 3d printable models.