Trans America Trail - 2008

Day 13 – from Price, Utah to Wendover, Utah.

Miles: 257 (road distance as per GPS)

Hotel: Super8 Wendover, Utah

Commentary:

I was going to hit the tar today to avoid the bad weather Utah was going through.

This meant heading up 191/US-6 to Spanish Fork.

This was probably the worst ride I’ve been on for a loooonnggg time!

The weather was now freezing cold and I had every item of clothing I had on, and I was still cold.

The road went up and up and up and up, then it started getting misty and cold and then a bit of rain.

I should have stuck to the TAT! It couldn’t have been any worse.

I got to Spanish fork and decided to head over to a place called Eureka (every state has a town called Eureka!) and do some tourism. Turned out to be a bit of a waste of time. The town was pretty much closed apart from the gas station. Anyway, had a look around then had some food and headed out.

The route then took me north towards I-80. I went through Rush Valley and Grantsville then hit the interstate towards Wendover. This town is on the Utah/Nevada border and had casinos on the Nevada side but none on the Utah side. There’s a big stripe across the road to denote the state line.

On the way to Wendover there’s a bit of I-80 that is flat and straight for about 43 miles (!)

The snow melt had caused the salt flats to fill with water and at points there was an unusual optical illusion – as the water had risen all the way to the road in places and there was a mirage effect in the distance it was like riding on a lake, almost like being at sea. Also, after about halfway I got the distinct impression that I was riding downhill? I know the road is flat but it did definitely feel that way.

I got into Wendover and unloaded the gear, it was a little warmer in the afternoon.

I took a drive back along I-80 and turned off to Bonneville.

I followed this road off into the salt flats and after about 5 miles it ended! It came to a stop in the middle of nowhere and there was a single sign:

Journal Quote:

Long ride out of Price on the 2^nd day of my detour. There is a mountain pass that goes from Price to Payson and that ride is pretty poor. It went up and up and up for about 30 miles to about 9,000 feet and it was freezing! I had 4 layers on and I was still frozen. Then there was the head wind and the rain. Great. Eventually got down the other side and filled up in Eureka. There seems to be a eureka in every state in the USA. Then I wound down to the great Salt lake. The vistas were amazing and took some more pics. Then I got onto i-80 west. I-80 leaves the surrounds of Salt Lake city and heads across the ‘Newfoundland Evaporation Basin’. The road is completely flat and straight. The salt flats were flooded from the snow melt so the water ran right up to the road. There were some weird optical illusions. When I got to the end I saw the sign for the Bonneville speedway! Checked into the hotel and went back for a look. The road just goes into the flats and ends? Anyway, took a few pics and went to a dodgy casino for lunch/dinner.