Days 5 and 6

06-07-08
odometer start: 142,476
odometer end: 143,276
miles: 800

06-08-08
odometer start: 143,276
odometer end: 143,418
miles: 142

I didn't post yesterday because the drive wiped me out. I left Rapid Springs, South Dakota at 6AM and didn't get to Wendover, Utah until 7:30PM. I was very tired. Along the way, here are some of the things I saw:



This is where I ate lunch:

Crossing into Utah:
They get snow in June in Utah:

I crossed the Continental Divide a total of four times yesterday (that's my truck on the side of the road:



I stopped here. I don't know why I took a picture of it:

giant Jackelope silhouette:




saw lots of Antelope yesterday:


Wyoming train:


Wyoming landscape:



This is where I stayed last night:


It's called the Western Ridge Motel. I wanted to stay there because it was where all the hot rodders who raced cars on the Salt Flats back in the 60's stayed. It is even featured in "The World's Fastest Indian." However, I do not recommend it if you are ever in Wendover. It was run down and grungy. and drafty. The curtains inside the room would move from the wind outside.


So, this morning I got up around 6AM again, went and ate breakfast in a casino in Wendover. I then drove out to the entrance road to the Bonneville Speedway. I got out, took some pictures, walked around and then left. Here are the pictures:


Notice all the bullet holes. Evidently rednecks really are everywhere:
It was actually quite a pretty place:

My truck is on the left. That is the end of the five mile access road that takes you out onto the salt flats. The dry lake bed goes on for twenty miles to the right of the picture. Also, notice the initials in the lower left. Apparently, a big thing to do on the road from Salt Lake City to Wendover is to right your name in rocks on the side of the road. There were hundreds of pieces of graffitti like that. The SUV on the right had two people in it. I think they slept there overnight:
On my way back toward Salt Lake City, I was feeling drowsy. So I did the trucker trick where I got off at an exit and parked on the side of the entrance ramp. I laid down in the cab of the truck and took a nap, but only for about 20 minutes. Then I started the truck, backed up and headed south down this small road. About four miles from the Interstate, there was a turn off and a trail that headed off toward a rock formation. So I pulled the truck over, got out, and laid down in the bed of the truck. That was probably one of the nicest things I have done so far on this trip. I had the sun shining on me to keep me warm, the sky was blue with just a few clouds, and I just laid there and listened to the birds and the desert. I was far enough from the highway to where I couldn't hear it. I could only hear nature. I'm going to try to do that again while I'm out here.
So now I am in Salt Lake City. Today I was supposed to drive to Delta, Utah and dig for fossils. But I have been feeling under the weather, so I thought I'd stay in a decent hotel and take the day off. After I finish this blog, I plan on getting in the bed and not getting back out until tomorrow. and to answer the door when I order pizza tonight for dinner.
Tomorrow, I get up relatively early and drive two hours south to dig for Trilobytes. After that, I have a decision to make. I may skip Mesa Verde and head straight for the Grand Canyon. Driving back east to Colorado sounds unappealing right now.