Crossing the Continental Divide...

Road trips can be a fascinating source of knowledge, almost every area has its very own piece of history, landmark or glorious landscape to offer the adventurous traveler. The Lake Bonneville signage, is an example of such...this photo was taken at a rest area on Interstate 84, near Idaho's southern border. Many of my photos were taken at rest stops as there were very few specially designated View Points or Scenic Turn Out areas that one could stop at. It would have be impossible to stop and marvel at each of nature's splendors or pull off to stare in awe at every wonder that we passed on route.

Photo above...Learned a great deal on this trip.

Though I had heard of the Bonneville salt flats and knew of the Great Salt Lake in Salt Lake City Utah the archaeological history had been a blank to me. One of the reasons we stopped at this particular rest area was that I longed to get a snapshot of a beautifully colored desert hillside, unfortunately this rest area was surrounded by a thick grove of Juniper trees and the desired hillside was obscured from view and the lens of my camera. Had we more time, and my hubby more patience, I would have hiked out the quarter mile to clear the Juniper trees and get a clear shot of the colorfully straited hills that adorned the horizon.

Even though I was not able to photograph that very special hillside, I was fortunate that my hubby had made reservations at a hotel in Green River, Wyoming. Green River has a plethora of straited hills and fantastic red rock outcroppings.

Photos below...Some of the many interesting rocky formations in Green River, Wyoming.

Photo below...These formations stand just behind the hotel where we spent the night.

Photo above...the huge formation directly behind and above our hotel has an unusual spout-like shape...reminded John and me of a teapot. Perhaps it is named "Teapot Rock" ? or "Tea Kettle Rock" ?

Photo above...close up of the teapot shaped formation.

Photo above... Since one side of the street shows the red in the rock (and the sun is to my back)

while the other photograph, Photo Below, is more brown (with the sun to the right of my camera)
I think the difference in coloration is due to the position of the light source. Or at least that's my theory and I'm sticking to it, lol ! The photo below was really much redder, like the rocks in the picture above.

At some time, during the next segment of our journey, we drove across The Continental Divide with an elevation of 7,000 ft. However I can't remember if this plateau came before or after our crossing the Divide. Next time I'll bring a notebook to help keep track of the names, sequence and pertinent points of interest.

Photo below...Beautiful Plateau !

3 photos above...a wonderful plateau in the high desert. Had to snap these shots focusing through one of the small holes in a chain link fence.

And then there was SNOW!

Wasn't long after reaching elevations over 8,000 ft. that we were greeted by an awesome sight, a snow covered landscape and snow capped mountains. Yes, we had to pull into the first rest stop we could find so I could grab my camera.

It felt like winter, the wind snapped at my face, my fingers were numb and my nose felt like an ice cube. But it was worth it just to get these photos.

Photos above...Amazing what a bit of elevation can do. Ice and snow everywhere and a foreboding dark gray sky.

Photo above...Wyoming...Snow covered mountain. This was truly a beautiful spot for a rest area.

Photo above...Close up of mountain...was able to get the auto out of the picture by using my zoom lens...not much I could do about the light posts, and since I was wearing Keds sneakers my feet would have been soaking wet and frozen had I gone traipsing off into the snow.

A Journey Awaits...conclusion

 

photo above...My one and only orchid plant has decided to bloom. I'm grateful that it chose to do so before we left on our excursion, the last time it showed us it's blossom we were heading out the door on our way to the airport. By the time we returned from our trip the blooms were long spent. This time it is allowing us the opportunity to enjoy its beauty.

Continuing from my post of yesterday... Once in Bend, Oregon, we will take possession of the urn of ashes and then, with Vada in tow, we will head north toward Washington state. No, this will not be Vada's final resting place, but this is my moment of dread ! My hubby, John, attended Issaquah high school and his class is having their 50th Class Reunion. Reunions can be taxing at the best of times, but this will a crowd of people I've never met and am not familiar with. Like all reunions this will undoubtedly be the standard issue where everyone sizes the others up.

"Hmmm, doesn't Frank look like he's put on a lot of weight since the last reunion?"

"Hey, wasn't Donna's hair more of a light brown...now she's blond, what's up with that?"

"Well at the last reunion Donna was a red head. Guess she's trying to recapture her youth"

"Oh my God ! Bob looks older than my Dad ! And did you see Regina? Man now that's a face-lift if ever I saw one."

We easily spot those extra chins, the paunch bellies, the gray, or worse, balding heads, all the while marveling at how well we've miraculously evaded the touch of old Father Time. There will also be all the old buddies that John hung out with back in his high school days. Guys that were on his bowling team, or his track team; the kids that he took auto shop with, or English lit., or geometry. Old friends, good friends, these buddies from his past, a past that I was not a part of and knew little about.

Shall I also mention that one of those old high school friends will be his high school sweetheart ? She, a flame from his past. She, who time has been so gentle and forgiving with. She, who has the striking good looks of a blond, comely Scandinavian; slender, well endowed, a woman that frequently receives second glances of admiration. Might I mention; she who has recently written and published a book, has been traipsing around the country speaking at book shops, literary clubs, women's groups and interviewed on local television stations and in the press? Against such charm I have as much curb appeal as a wet dishrag! Oh yes (I say sarcastically) I am so looking forward to this class reunion of John's. I will let you know how well I survived when I return.

Once the festivities of the Reunion are past, John and I will drive east through Washington state, down through Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado then eastward into Kansas. Since we will be driving at a leisurely pace this road trip should take us 4 or 5 days, depending on how many diversions we take and how many stops we make along the way.

Upon arriving in Wichita there will be the cemetery to locate. John has already made arrangements, first with the cemetery in Bend to relinquish Vada's remains and also in Wichita where Vada will be interned alongside of her first love. Fortunately there is a family burial plot next to John's father, it was almost as though fate had wanted it this way. Though John and I are both well aware that Vada's spirit is not within that pewter urn, that her soul is free and unconfined, it is nice to know her remains are close to the remains of someone she loved and who loved her. I think she would like that very much.

photo above...Perhaps the composition of my subject matter isn't quite right, but the blossom is still strikingly beautiful. Wasn't able to see the tiny screen on my camera as the sun's reflection made that an impossibility, so I was basically shooting these photos blindly.

I intend to take my camera and hopefully take many photos. I just haven't figured out how I will post the photos to my blog. We don't have one of those fancy cell phones that does just about everything but wash last night's dirty dishes.

If I figure it out I will try to keep my blog updated but if not, then I beg you to have patience with me and not abandon me before my return. My blog is a part of me and you have all become like friends and though we have never met, I feel as if I know each of you.
 

photo below...a new blossom ready to unfurl its vibrant petals.