Where in the World is Monument Rocks

After leaving Dodge City, we made a bee line for Denver.  Of course, that bee was drunk, because the most direct path from Dodge City to Denver is a bunch of little winding country roads until you get to the interstate, which has a few direction changes, itself!  While meandering down one of those winding roads, we saw a sign.  Just one sign marking Monument Rock.  It was directly across from a dirt road, pointing down that dirt road.  We drove past it because it didn't give us much warning, but we decided to go back and check it out.  Being a winding back road, there weren't many cross roads.  But being a winding back road, there also wasn't much traffic.  So, after a little while, we just turned around in the middle of the road.  A definite benefit to driving a Nissan Versa.  A 3-point turn between the ditches, expertly executed by Bruce, and we were headed back to the dirt road.

A few miles down that dirt road, in the middle of a cattle pasture, we finally saw what we now know is the first National Natural Landmark selected by the US Department of the Interior, officially recognized by the National Park Service.

And it only got one sign!!  Also known as the Chalk Pyramids, these fossil-filled carbon deposits are massive!  They are located on private land, but the owner opens the gates to the public daily, using cattle guards to keep his cattle in.  The lack of signage is probably one of the reasons these 80 million year old sea bed sediments are still so pristine.   Most people would not simply stumble over them like we did.  You almost have to really know what you're looking for to find them.

Once we got the 7 miles down the road, we saw just how awe inspiring these "rocks" actually are.  Words can't do them justice, so I'll just post pictures, which also don't do them justice, but they'll give you an idea.

This whole desolate, chalky area where only a few pieces of scrub bush could take root is surrounded by lush, green pasture land with no sign of irrigation equipment for keeping it green.

Lots of birds nest in the crevices and others build mud nests on the cliff sides.  I think the mud nesting birds are barn swallows, but they moved so quickly I couldn't get a good look at them.

After leaving Monument Rock, we stopped at the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center so Duck Holiday (Remember him?) could check out the statue.  They had posters on the insides of the bathroom stall doors, each with a short bio of different historical people.

Duck insisted on having his picture made as Sitting Bull, so I had to pose as Buffalo Bill.

Soon after this, we hooked up with the interstate again, and it was my turn to drive.  Next stop, Denver!