Day 5- Hard Driving Day

I need to add pictures, I know, but yesterday the internet service was crappy at the hotel. We had a long day driving yesterday & I'm trying to post things quickly to get back on the road. We'll be in Portland mid day tomorrow-yea!

I'm behind on answering emails...will try to catch up soon!

Wyoming is full of huge wind gusts. We avoided snowy weather, but the gusts were 50-70mph with slick conditions in some places. Although the speed limit was 75, we barely drove over 60.

Deep snow was everywhere blowing across the highways..not actual snow drifts, but just snow "wind" so to speak. We saw 2 over turned tractor trailer trucks. We took our time crossing Wyoming. That said, it's a beautiful state! We inched up the mountains to the Continental Divide & Basin & then as we left the state inched down in Utah.

Wyoming has these amazing hills. They do not look like the craggy mountains you see north in the Rockies. We saw wind turbines everywhere..huge white sculptures! I know there's a lot of controversy about them covering the landscape, but I have to say, they're way more attractive than power lines!  We took pictures.. I'll post soon. Mark who is into this new type of alternative power noticed that these turbines were Spanish. The only bad thing is that the wind gusts were so strong, the turbines were not turning. They evidently turn them off when the gusts are too high. It's interesting to see how they are spaced, placed on these hills. I'd like to know a little more about the science of all of that. And one more thing about Nebraska- they are replacing all the power lines to a new type to carry more energy & more alternative energy quickly & efficiently from these rural areas to major cities. Those power lines were of a very interesting design as well.

Utah, by far, is the MOST beautiful state yet! The Rockies here are huge & blue & white & craggy. As soon as you were out of Wyoming, they were there rising up like huge cakes! 

We saw elk! Mark spotted a bull elk on the side of the mountain & being a Maine-er thought it was a moose. It was huge & magnificent! A little below were a mother & older calves just right there on the mountain side & interstate. We saw lots of wildlife, mostly deer. It was great to see! I'm happy to be in Utah.

I'm going to take pictures this morn as our hotel is at the base of these gorgeous mountains. Yesterday, I took a few, but it was a bit dark as we were near dusk.

Snow, fresh snow is everywhere. The dogs went nuts last night! Snow & snowballs are their favorite things. Mark couldn't believe how wild they got. Pure entertainment!