ON TO CHEYENNE, WYOMING

Today was a day when we saw few towns, but a variety of hills, mountains and rocks of all colors. I tried to pick out different colors and textures to give you an idea of the beauty of southern Wyoming. Don spent the day-you guessed it-looking for Tonto!

Today made me think about Yakov Smirnoff-I'm sure he would have said, "What a country!"

ALL CAUGHT UP

We left Salt Lake City this morning, and planned on making it a little further, but the wind in Wyoming wasn't helpful, so we pulled off early at Lyman. We're skipping Denver for now-maybe we'll get to see our friends later this summer-and, I would like to see a cousin and do some research. When we got our mail a couple days ago, we had invitations to a nephew's graduation and a niece's wedding shower on the weekend of the 6th in Dubuque. That means we should be in Iowa two weeks early, so we're heading back. We want to see the grandchildren on the way. There's possible snow after midnight, here at about 7000 feet, so we'll see what it's like tomorrow. In the meantime, the blogs caught up and now we have to catch up on our gin rummy games. A couple days ago, I skunked him 10-0-he didn't take it well. Hopefully he'll do better tonight!

ONE SERIOUS MATTER

Can anyone tell us why a fire hydrant would be buried like this?

TWO STORY WAL-MART

So far the only Wal-Mart we've ever seen with a two story parking ramp is in Salt Lke City. This trip I got pictures of the escalators-they have one for the people and one for the carts. I hope you can see the cart near the top.

This is what the cart one looks like from the top.

Here we're going down the second story of the parking ramp. How cool!

SNOW

Last Monday, it was cooler, and suddenly started snowing. This is what it looked like out the window at the neighbors.


It didn't last long, but the mountains were white all the way to the bottom.

AROUND TOWN

Here's a picture of the capitol building.

There are pretty colors in this quarry which is right in town.

You can see downtown from the suburbs.

SALT LAKE CITY

Since we've been to SLC a couple times, we didn't do any sightseeing. Instead, we spent 5 days at the Family History Library doing research. I was finally able to get my great great-grandfather across the pond in England. My mother and aunt would be pleased. Don also got a lot of German records that he's been looking for. We had a very nice visit with my cousin Marita who recently went to an assisted care center. I also tracked down the children of my murdered cousin, but for now at least, decided to let things be. While we were there, we also went to the City Library which seemed to be totally made of glass.

This is what it looks like in the middle. Colette wouldn't like these glass elevators.

ON TO SALT LAKE CITY

The scenery is very pretty on the way to Salt Lake City.

Even cutting hay can create a pretty scene.

It's time for the dairy cows to eat. I missed getting a picture at one where every cow was still eating.

We passed the great Salt Lake on the way in to town.

THE END OF THE DAY

We ended the day with a rainbow-maybe Uncle Fred was glad we visited his town!

TRACTOR PARTS

On the way home, we saw a place that had a bunch of junk in the yard. I'm sure that our brother-in-law Jerry White, and friend Chuck Shuros would disagree, since they both restore tractors. I imagine they'd have fun here.

Hey Farmer Fred, I'm just trying to help you!

MAKING OUR WAY BACK

There were many fisherman around the dam area in boats and on a concrete area across the river.

They had to climb a couple hundred steps down and then back up-I hope they caught a few! This is a closer look at that area.

Some of the hills looked like concrete-really different.

I admit to being nervous at times on this road-here's an example of the many, many curves.

Wow, back to safety!

MORE HELL'S CANYON

A better look at the dam.

This is the visitor's center which happened to be closed. Thank God, they had another building with restrooms! Notice the land slide behind it-it's actually across the river.

Looking back at the dam from the visitor's center.

We could hear water, which was a waterfall at the upper end of the parking lot. Here's the middle part.

Isn't it amazing how wildflowers can grow out of rocks?

HELL'S CANYON

(You didn't have to wait long-the wind was bad, so we pulled off early.) Anyway, we finally made it to Hell's Canyon. It was aptly named, because the driving on curvy roads takes forever-when you finally get to the dam, you turn around and creep your way back. It's beautiful, but requires several hours and quite a bit of patience. You also go down low and up high, along the snake river.

Higher.

Different hills.

There were several small waterfalls along the way.

We approached the dam on the high side, although it didn't feel that way.

Crossing the dam, looking the other direction.

THE OTHER HALF

This area had a huge landslide somehow causing a lake.

More wildflowers.

Beginning of strange hills and mountains.

(Sorry, you have to wait for Hell's Canyon-it's a travel day-have to get ready!)

HALFWAY,OREGON

We finally made it this far.

The quilt store didn't make it.

ON WAY TO HALFWAY

We headed out to go to Hell's Canyon which is supposed to be 60 miles from Baker City, with a little town called Halfway, in the middle. Oh, contrare! It's really 100 miles. Before Halfway, and after, are miles of Mother Nature and a hand full of inhabitants. Lots of hills and mountains.

And streams and the snake river.

Many wildflowers.

Strange hills.

Halfway must be close-there's a ranch.