11-2-11 "So far, we're awesome."

6:45am wake-up call in Reno for some yoga and a sunrise run. Yep.

In the car by 8:30 am...so far, we're awesome.

First, it must be said that we drove across the entirety of Nevada today.

Second, we had big plans to check out Chief Rolling Mountain Thunder's "Thunder Mountain Park." Roadside Attraction's post claimed it was "worth a detour," had "extra pay-off," with "unintentional comedy."

We were excited.

We missed the exit. By 30 miles.
So far, we're awesome.

As luck would have it, Battle Mountain was just up the road. Just around the bend. What was so LUCKY about Battle Mountain, you ask?

..."first time at The Owl?"
Yes. Yes it was.



The Owl had to be the cornerstone of historical Battle Mountain. Locals drinkin' and gamblin' and smokin' at 1 o'clock on a Wednesday, just adjacent to the family diner. Complete with a "world famous" salad bar (for what, we are not quite sure but the broccoli slaw was really good. Turns out, you can put bacon in just about anything) and heaping plates of chicken wings, the discriminating locals were mighty suspicious of us city slickers.

We enjoyed the potato salad, the Battle Mountain turn-of-the-20th-century framed memorabilia on your way out of the bathroom, and this guy:


You might say The Owl was worthy of a detour, had extra pay-off, with unintentional comedy.


Next stop: UTAH and the Bonneville Salt Flats.


Driving into Utah is a little like driving into another world. The Bonneville Salt Flats are a geological and geographical anomaly, the bottom of an ancient inland ocean that no longer exists. This ancient, dried up sea left A LOT of salt creating a vast stretch of flat land that is now covered in a layer of white.
Remember when Will Smith punches that alien in Independence Day? Yeah, that happened here.


Check out The Metaphor: Tree of Utah. It's said to be a testament to Utah's sense of humor. No one is quite sure what the metaphor is or why it's so funny to the good people of Utah. But, you gotta be quick with the camera for this public work of art...there's no turn-off!


This is how we drove into Salt Lake City. Look Ma!

It's too much.

11-1-11 "Too much, too early"

Something happened today that we will never talk about.

But before that, we took a very scenic detour and somehow found our way, quite accidentally, to Jessica's childhood home in Sonora, CA.

Then, we got to Bodie Ghost Town two hours after it closed!

After approximately 10 hours on the road we were well received by Nevada:

And FINALLY, after an 11 hour day, we made it into the world's Biggest Little City!

Lost eight dollars playing roulette.

And the slots.

Did not make it into either the cool kids club or jail.

11/1/11. 12:04am. Ready to say Yes!

Planning is Such Sweet Sorrow.

SUch 

When you are planning a road trip you have to make sure to plan.  Planning is key.  Planning is the goose that could lay the golden egg or the big fat stinky turd. I like to plan. And I like to plan over the phone (see above).  It keeps you at a safe distance from the people who may eat you if you get lost in Utah. So make sure you plan.