Utah Rocks

The Motorcade hit it big at the last Nevada casino* and we were on the road to Utah. Although Utah doesn't claim to have "The Loneliest Road," it's still Route 50 and it's still, well, rather spare.

Route 50 through Utah: Party Highway?

Ignore the pick up truck.

The desert and rocks have ways of entertaining travelers. We skirted Sevier Lake for miles and miles.  Sevier is an intermittent lake and we never fully decided if we were looking at a mirage, a salt flat, water, or some combination of the three.  Unfortunately, photos don't capture the phenomenon, so you'll have to go see for yourself (no photo for you!).





After miles of desert mirage, we were pleasantly surprised by the beautiful city park in Delta.  Lots of irrigated grass, man-made fountains and creeks, and a playground provided a break for the eye and the soul.

Should I?  Or shouldn't I?

To ensure travelers are sufficiently befuddled before returning to the desert, Utah highway planners arranged the road system in a wild zig zag through the state.  To travel from Delta to Green River, to the east, we had to first travel several miles west, a dozen or so north, then south, then west again, then finally onto Interstate 70 headed east.  Properly dazed, we were ready for more rocks and Utah provided, in abundance.

Salt Wash Lookout, in Eastern Utah

The scenery of the Eastern Part of the state is simultaneously jaw-dropping and monotonous.  The lookout at Salt Wash, provides and excellent view of some of the amazing scenery that will blow you away, and is just plain old pedestrian stuff 'round here.

Other state=tourist destination. Here=Ho Hum.

We all have different interpretations of what this looks like.

The sandstone is unexpectedly soft.

Still plenty of red rock formations to see.

Eyes weary from the sunshine and the views, we finally pulled into Green River State Park for a pleasant night of camping and stargazing.  Kudos the the Utah Department of Parks and Recreation for the new restroom and shower facilities.   We were rested and ready for the next day's itinerary of.... more rocks!





*Put $.75 in a slot machine, got back $1.50.  Double money, baby!

The Loneliest Road

Route 50 through Nevada has been dubbed "The Loneliest Road in America" by travel writers, and now even by the Nevada department of tourism.  You can even get a Loneliest Road passport.  This involves collecting passport stamps at the towns along 50, then sending in your proof of travel for an "I survived The Loneliest Road" certificate.  We in the motorcade travelled 50 on a Sunday, and did not get a blank passport until Ely--pretty much the last stop until the Utah border.

So, though we may not qualify for an official certificate, One Van Motorcade did indeed travel the Loneliest Road, and we have a blog to prove it.

Being good Hobbit-types, we first stopped for second breakfast at Mel's in Jackson, CA.  This is on Historic California Route 49.  It was a big day for historic roads.

Silver Springs, NV.
We don't know if these horses are wild, or just free range, but it was a pretty impressive sight, nonetheless.

Sidewalk chalk is an excellent car trip activity.  Unfortunately, this day we had to drive 345 miles before we found a stretch of sidewalk.  Austin, Nevada provided a canvas and we HAD to immediately pull over and DO. CHALK. NOW.

Austin, Nevada

Rush hour on The Loneliest Road.

California and Nevada down; only 8 or so states to go!

Oregon Coast

In Oregon, the place where mountains and ocean collide is The Coast.  Calling it the beach or the shore will mark you as an "other" just as surely as mis-pronouncing the state name.  (It's Orygun, by the way).

Looking south from Cape Meares

Anyway, at the coast there are surfers, and large sandy stretches, and even children with shovels and toys.  The thing is, the surfers wear wet suits--always!--and the kids with the shovels are just as likely to be digging for clams as they are to be building sandcastles.  And more than likely, the surfers and the kids go hang out at a driftwood fire to warm up as needed. Most of the Oregon Coast is pretty chilly most of the time, especially in summer.

The Motorcade hit most of the coast from north to south and has the sand in the trunk to prove it. A glimpse of the view along the way:

The Octopus Tree at Cape Meares is a Sitka Spruce that is over 250 years old.
 

The Peter Iredale ran aground here in 1906, and no one seemed to have the heart to get rid of it.

Now it's a cool hangout for beachcombers and barnacles.

See? There's lots of beach.  Looks toasty, huh?

Thousands of people make their home on the coast.  They are probably vastly outnumbered by the other residents: anemones, urchins, sea stars, mussels, and sea lions.

Cape Perpetua is down there somewhere. Gulp.

The Oregon Dunes have to be experienced to be believed. 

Cape Blanco lighthouse.  One of a dozen along the coast.

Cape Blanco is the westernmost point in Oregon.  It's a bit windy.

Things do warm up as you head south.  Just past Gold Beach,  the Pacific Ocean finally got some play time.

The Oregon coast is what the motorcade is all about...it's not the destination, it's the journey.

The Indy 580

Lesson One:

Do not begin your cross-country trek with 12 hours in the car--unless, UNLESS you are fortunate enough to have gracious, easygoing, generous hosts waiting for you at the other end.


The motorcade rolled out of Alexandria almost on time (new for us!) and we were off!  Traffic is not bad at 7am in the DC area on a Saturday...


Here is another travel tip for driving cross-country from DC: Plan as much of your route west through West Virginia as you can. Sen. Byrd's many decades of service in Congress has its physical manifestation in the infrastructure of the Mountaineer state...should be good for a couple decades more.



Another fun fact...the Wendy's in Cumberland, MD is open at 9am, but does not sell breakfast. They will sell you a granola bar of some kind-um, no thanks. Turned out to be a good thing: we got an early lunch at some WV Cracker Barrel, in all its Americana splendor.

A little time out of the car.

Ah... Cracker Barrel

Then back to the road! We're not sure what the kids clamored for more--the candy stash from Cracker Barrel, or "are we in Indianapolis yet?"

Rest areas are less for rest and more for running around!  A very nice gent from the Ohio Rest Stop asked us if we didn't want to explore the path through the woods.  It's probably lovely, but a game of tag was really what everyone needed to get the wiggles out!






But it was all worth it when we pulled into the Weber's driveway to a very warm welcome, and a very welcome glass from Paul's famous wine collection.

Maria and Isaac Weber

Off to the great state of Iowa...