Sacramento Here We Come...

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Had to say goodbye to Audra this AM – sad but at least we will be seeing her next week when we go back through southern Utah and she will come down. Got off around 10 and, after a stop for bagels at Einstein’s (the best bagels I have ever had!) we headed off to Ophir, UT to see a ghost town in an old silver mining town – and I say “town” very loosely! Perhaps a couple dozen people live there now! The entrance to the mine was cool and it was neat to see the buildings. Unfortunately, the only tours are held on Saturdays so we were unable to hear any stories about the town.We could look through the windows of the houses and buildings to see the time period and how they lived.



Back on the road to head out to the Bonneville Salt Flats. Very unique, wide open white area that is marked a bit by black markers for the ten mile stretch there they do the timed mile. 800 ft wide x ten miles long. The salt was, well, salty (you know you just had to see if it was!) It is 102-deg and I cannot imagine standing out here in August watching the time trials – the salt is so reflective that you are baked from the top and bottom! It looks like a big white lake – even has the “reflections” of the mountains in the background due to the optical illusion! On the way here, we heard that many people try to drive the flats and end up stuck. Well, we saw someone stuck in the median flagging a tow truck driver down! Don’t think we will try this with the van!



Now we are back on the road heading for Michael’s house in Sacramento, CA! Should be there in 6 hrs – arriving about 10pm local time. We have gone 3,460 miles thus far with our highest elevation being the Big Horn Mountains at 9,100 and the hottest temp at 104-deg today. We have driven 58 hrs with a total car time including stops as 69 hrs. Given the fact that we are all still speaking to each other (most of the time!) I would say the trip thus far has been a success! Tomorrow we will touch the Pacific and will have gone coast to coast in 11 days! WOOOWHOOO! Oh, yeah, they we get to start the trip back!




PS Just crossed over into California!!! 2 hrs to Michael's house!

PPS Just had to stop for an agricultural checkpoint! Didn't know they did that! I think they were a bit afraid to look too close into our packed car!

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Photos

Ghost Town, Ophir, UT
Silver mine

Ophir, UT
We saw a restaurant sign that said "Ophir Heaven Sake!"

Comments

[Audra]

Hooray!!
So glad to see you made it to California! Can't wait to see next weekend!

[Grammy]

Brings back great memories!
Enjoying your entries and pictures. So glad you were able to make this trip together as a family. It'll be something none of you will even forget. I still think about making the trip from Indiana to Estes Park in Colorado with my parents in 1962. Are you going to stop at the Little Big Horn? Love, Grammy

[abby]

too much driving!!
too much driving today, about 10 hrs!! thats way too much for one day!! except for yesterday, when we drove 12 hrs