Westerly wilderness
Well, it's now time to check in from the burgeoning metropolis of Rock Springs, Wyoming (home to 56 nationalities!).
I awoke to a pre-dawn chill in Laramie to take full advantage in a foreseen break in the wind between 7 and 10 a.m. this morning. We beat sunrise as we mounted ourselves back on interstate 80, and started West with hopeful hearts. The wind came and went, but was never as fervent as that 50 mile stretch between Cheyenne and Laramie. Having survived that maelstrom prepared me mentally for the fact that, despite it's creaks and groans to the contrary, the camper was bolted in solidly and was going nowhere.
There were enough gaps in the wind for me to appreciate the quiet that calm can bring...and to make me certain that getting out of the wind as soon as possible is best for all involved. Unfortunately I have 107 miles left until I break free of Wyoming, and depending on the weather I may not enter Utah until daybreak tomorrow. It's about 360 miles from this point of the Wyoming/Utah border to Boise...and that's at least 7 hours of driving for me. I was hoping to clear Utah by the end of the day today, but I just don't think it will happen.
There are allegedly snow showers/flurries in my future...so hopefully they'll be falling peacefully to the ground without gale-force winds to slap them in my face. If it comes to that point, I'll be back in the camper with HBO shows on the ipod and 100 lbs of dog squirming all over me.
I don't know when you'll hear from me next, but starting this evening I should be in cell range the rest of the way, so you won't have to worry. AAA has my back in a pinch...and hopefully there will be no pinching.
Sunny Laramie
Imagine trying to pilot a sailboat into the wind, powered only by the outboard. There were points when I was flooring the accelerator to keep the truck at 45 mph, and points where I was coasting downhill and still slowing down. I've always been impressed by the wind along this corridor...this is a new experience.
After a quick pause to make sure the camper wasn't going to blow off the back of the Bronco, I soldiered on with the encouragement of my faithful traveling companions, Max and Carmela. Max has made this trip multiple times in the past, but his little sister is not quite sure what's going on. Luckily they both still love me, and let me know every time I stop and we all cuddle up together.
Last night was a piece of cake. Once we get buttoned in to the camper for the evening, we're in a cozy, cozy nest that not even the harshest Wyoming wind can penetrate. There were some serious gusts throughout the night - enough to wake all three of us - but on the whole we were all able to log some quality sleep hours.
Unfortunately, now that I'm here in Laramie all signs point to I-80 being closed to the west yet again. At this point there's no need to push my luck...maybe the calm will come soon. I just can't wait to get out of the wind tunnel that is Wyoming.
Bluster
A howling wind continues to delay me, and it looks like I will brave the elements for the night in the parking lot of the library in the portal of Nowheresville - Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Maybe it's because the library is only half full of books, maybe it's because there is no visible evidence of a snowplow's existence within city limits. Whatever the cause, I feel like the wind blows here all the time, free without the normal resistance of civilization.
Cross your fingers, put your hat on backwards, hop on your left foot three times. Good, now the wind gypsies will be satisfied with your offering, and I will continue unabated tomorrow.
Headed West...hopefully soon.
Hi there!
Yeah, I know, it's been nearly forever since my last post, but we'll deal with that later. Suffice to say that things have happened forcing a change of location and perspective, and as such I am once again headed back to Oregon.
Currently I am in a holding pattern in beautiful Cheyenne, Wyoming. The interstates all around me are closed due to extreme winds, and that means that I'm sitting on my hands, itching for calm.
I'm happy to wait, actually. Since the turn of the new year, I've been bombarded by indicators that the best course of action follows this journey home. Weather has been ideal at points when anything less would be treacherous. Solutions to necessities have presented themselves at exactly the right point, freeing my mind to dwell on other, less pivotal, challenges that might lay waiting for me. Don't get me wrong - traveling 1200 winter miles in a 28-year-old vehicle is a terrifying experience. Thankfully I read Grapes of Wrath, so I'm in tune with my jalopy...but it's the faith that I'm doing the right thing which keeps me calmly on the road. No reason to force things if I can trust that I'll be presented with just the options I need for success.
Now it's just about patience. Wish me luck!
