Due to Glen's 'Interstates only' edict, we did not cut across Colorado following the minor highways with speed limits of less than 75 mph that wound through the mountains. Instead, we headed north to Cheyenne, Wyoming to go west along the I-80 or the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Highway. Thrilled with this decision, I drank in the landscape that could both excite and frighten.
We had a picnic lunch a rest stop near Elk Mountain which lies in the Medicine Bow range and learned that over 100 wind turbines dot the area. It was so windy, in fact, that we ate in the car. Glen said some pretty fierce gusts almost tore the steering wheel from his hands as we were driving. The trucks barreling down the highway swayed with the force of the wind.
In my photo of Elk Mountain, one can see a substantial snow fence in the foreground. These permanent structures were evident along all the highways we traversed in Wyoming. Not only do they prevent snow and ice from clogging the roadways, they also acted as a trap for moisture promoting pasture growth. They are angled to prevent cattle rubbing against them and stand about a meter and a half high (about 5 feet).
After eating lunch, I realized the rest stop was also a prairie dog community. These large rodents were so used to people we didn't hear their characteristic 'bark'. Alberta has a few prairie dog colonies but most gopher-like rodents in the province are Richardson's ground squirrels.
In the southwest corner of Wyoming, we entered an area of fascinating red rock formations. Here Jim Bridger and his friend Louis Vasquez built a fort to trade with the 'Indians' and those people using the Oregon Trail to settle the west. He had a disagreement with Brigham Young (an Indian agent at the time) and soon lost Fort Bridger to the Mormons. Due to time restraints we could not visit the fort but it was in a lovely piece of Wyoming.
Late in the afternoon we left the state (and the I-80) behind and entered Utah. Our destination was the town of Ogden about 25 miles north of Salt Lake City. We arrived tired, hungry, and thirsty. The Best Western Canyon Pines was a new hotel on the outskirts of town and when we went in search of a restaurant, we soon discovered that only the downtown establishments served beer. A young girl at one place suggested a brew pub in a funky area of town and gave us detailed directions on how to get there.
Glen was thrilled to learn Roosters Brewing Company made Polygamy Pale Ale which he had enjoyed in Salt Lake City 5 years ago. It also had a lovely restaurant with a great patio. It was hot so we appreciated the linen awnings draped between the buildings to shade the dining area. Glen and I shared an artichoke, crab, and spinach dip with homemade bread called 'What a Crock' then I had Baked Chicken Milano and Glen enjoyed the Flat Iron Steak. We also indulged in their special, summer beer called Mock Lager, I think. Their servings were huge (I had two whole chicken breasts on a mound of mashed potatoes) so we couldn't finish our meals. Our waitress boxed up our leftovers and we ate them the next day as a picnic lunch.
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