Wednesday, Day 18, May 30, 2012

Good evening from Wendover, Utah just over the state line from Nevada and in Mountain Time Zone.  Actually I think this little town must straddle the state line. Last night I told you I would be headed for Lake Tahoe and Winnemucca, Nevada. As I was driving this morning I decided to deviate from my AAA plan and head up I 80 to go over Donner Pass. You know the pass from history with the bad winters and the settlers. Donner Pass is 7,989 feet altitude with lots of snow visible on the mountain tops and sides up high. The road has been very good and making far better time than I anticipated so I am probably 230 miles farther along than I thought I would be. A couple of things you notice the moment you enter Nevada and that is there is casino at just about every exit off the freeway. Here in Wendover where I am there are several very large hotel/casino and many more small casinos. I stopped in to the local Pilot Truck Stop and they even had a small gambling area right off the entrance. Gas has been very expensive with $4.95 being the most I have paid. As I leave here tomorrow headed for Salt Lake City the guy at the Knights Inn where I am staying told me to fill up before I leave here because there is nothing between here and Salt Lake. That is one of the interesting things about driving here is the vast openness. There are both very hilly areas with long up hill climbs then several miles of gradual downhill. In other areas the road is straight for mile after mile and you drive and you don't appear to be getting anywhere or any closer to the mountains you can see. There are many high mountains all with snow on their sides and peaks. This is vast openness as I said much desert and small salt plains and yet there is a beauty to the area. Just as I before I came into this town I saw the first sign of large salt lake areas. It appears that all the mountain passes are in excess of 5,000 feet so I guess you could say the land around the mountains is high desert. Amazingly you see lots of large companies which appear to be mineral process plants. What minerals I don't know. Scattered around in the desert are small houses with a few out buildings and a few cattle.

Snow on the mountain

Very Rocky Hill Side With Snow

Mile After Mile of Straight Road

Scrub Brush dessert Land

Dessert Land leading up to Large Mountain

Even Truck/Trailer Rigs are Big

Straight Road Leading to Large Snow Covered Mountain

Well folks that is about all I have to show you tonight. It has been a day of just sitting and watching the scenery go by. Not much excitement. As I figure it I am a little less tha 400 miles from the Grand Tetons so unless I get distracted by something more interesting tomorrow I will probably talk to you from there. God is still on the throne and His creation is as beautiful as ever but nothing like the New Earth will be. Good night and I love you. Grandpa Bill.