August 5, 2010 - Day 4 Part 1
On
down the freeway we got our first view of the snowcapped Rocky
Mountains. I know, there's not much of a view in this photo.
Those who settled the west in the 1800s traveled near the North Platte River so they'd have water. They traveled Mostly from April to October so they'd have forage for their teams. What I never realized was how far our pioneer forefathers had to travel before they encountered mountains. They basically went north (and around) the mountains of Colorado. There were no large mountains until they reached Utah and Idaho.
Those who settled the west in the 1800s traveled near the North Platte River so they'd have water. They traveled Mostly from April to October so they'd have forage for their teams. What I never realized was how far our pioneer forefathers had to travel before they encountered mountains. They basically went north (and around) the mountains of Colorado. There were no large mountains until they reached Utah and Idaho.
This is cattle country. There are still working ranches here.
Some places are greener than others but there's always food for the cattle except during harsh winters. That's when snow drifts are so bad they would actually obliterate the roadway if it weren't for these barriers along the road to interupt the drifts.
These wind farms were everywhere. In a photo, later, you'll see a closeup of them.
This peak was over 11,000 feet.
The road continued to wind through western Wyoming.
We think of the western plains as desert but there were several of these watering ponds along the road.
We seemed to cross the river several times.
And there are lots of rich minerals out here. Here's an old Sinclair Oil Refinery.
Oh, give me a home...
... where the deer and the antelope play...
Did ya ever wonder why they call the west "Big Sky" country?
The prarie looks like it goes on forever, doesn't it?
... and so do the roads.
But eventually we crossed the Continental Divide -- twice in one day, actually. I'm not quite sure how many places this happens but it happens here. The first time you cross it headed west, it separates all the water that drains east into the Missouri-Mississippi system and the Gulf/Atlantic waters.
The second time you cross it, it separates all the water that drains west eventually into the Pacific Ocean.
The space in between is called "The Great Basin." It's a huge bowl where the water doesn't drain anywhere. it would probably be a gigantic lake except there isn't a lot of rainfall out here.
Not much rainfall, just a lot of very interesting looking rocks.
"On the road again..."
And to end this part of the trip, we stopped for lunch where we bought southwestern Mexican food, not to be confused with the type Mexican food our friends eat back east. It just isn't the same. Our meal included Indian food such as "fry bread."
Be sure to click your "Back" button and go on to Part 2