Momasaurus leaves Hell Creek

July 4, 2009

Last night I finished most of the packing and I tried to predict how much my luggage weighed. Even though we had eaten most of the food I had brought, and I had sent a box of fossils and clothes home, there were pounds of fossils in the checked bag and as many pounds in my carry on back pack. The computer was in another carry on bag along with a book and headphones and other assorted essentials. I hoped I would not be over the 50 pound limit for the checked bag. Laurel got caught with this problem when she checked in and it was going to cost $125 because she was 6 pounds over the limit. She quickly unpacked a game for her grandchildren and her hiking boots and just hit that magic 50 pounds. Knowing I had no room to spare in my two carry on bags, I was really nervous about what that scale would indicate.

I made breakfast and packed some healthy snacks for the drive to Rapid City and the flights home. After checking out and saying my "good-byes" to Karen and Ryan, I drove to the cafe in town to say farewell and thanks to Rob, who was hanging out with the locals over breakfast and a card game. With any luck we will meet again next year over some big Tyrannosaurus rex bones, and if that does not work out, then we will see him in Wyoming. Laurel and I are interested in collecting on different ranches.

Time for me to take a last look at Buffalo and drive south to Rapid City. I take the locals' short cut which really does shave off about 30 minutes from the drive from Buffalo to the airport in Rapid City. It also breaks up that long straight stretch from Belle Fourche. We had forgotten the shortcut when we drove into Buffalo our first evening and the last 50 miles seem like 100!

Ah, but this morning was different. After the Friday rains, the sun was shining and the white puffy clouds seemed within reach as I drove south on 85. It was one of those magical experiences when words are inadequate. The sky was baby blue and the clouds were painted from the horizon up overhead. The hills were multiple shades of green with yellow flower accents along the highway. Being the 4th of July, I saw few, if any cars. I sat behind the wheel, almost transfixed by the beauty that was rushing over me: the arrow straight highway reaching into the distance with these gray edged cotton ball clouds flying overhead in waves.

I grabbed the camera and tried to capture the moment. Though I live at the beach and am fortunate to have a view of the Pacific Ocean, there is nothing to compare with the 360 degree view of that morning. The vibrant green of the grasses, the glowing yellow flowers, the forever blue skies and the wondrous clouds of white and gray. It was glorious. An unforgettable ending to two amazing weeks.

The rest of the return journey ran like clockwork. The luggage came in under 50 pounds. Hooray! Even the extra screening at security at the Rapid City airport was predictable. Heavy backpack packed with objects wrapped in foil and plastic. I'll admit it could be suspicious. So the agent unwrapped the fossils for x-ray inspection and I re-wrapped them once they were cleared. They, and I arrived in Los Angeles in good shape and on time.

Wonderful to see Walt waiting for me at baggage claim. Good to be home with lots of stories to share with family and friends. Walt and the cat were happy to have me back in the house. The daily routine settled in quickly with the addition to the "to do" list of fossil cleaning, repairing, and organizing.

The books I purchased from the Black Hills Institute arrived home while I was still in Buffalo. They will provide lots of educational reading over the next year. Since I have many microfossils, the book on that topic will be the first on the reading list.

I don't know yet how this blog will continue. I am hoping to publish some trip photos with captions and I will consider writing about some of my fossil finds as I clean and organize. I would like to encourage questions from readers since I am sure I have omitted details that would improve your understanding of the field experience. I guess I want to pursue this effort as a vehicle for documenting my progress as I learn more about paleontology.

Cheers.