Escape From Brigham City!!

I'm tipping my hat to all you long haul truckers out there.  I don't know how you do it through all this wind and rain for eight hours a day.  My attempt to escape Brigham City yesterday was a rough one.

It started off not looking too terrible.  I had decided to stay one more night, but the weather forecast only got worse and worse each day.  Time to hit the road.

I packed up in the rain and kept to the right hand lane going my usual 58 mph.  My windshield wipers could barely keep up.

There was a headwind the entire way, totally killing my fuel mileage!  I found the tree and a tad bit of blue sky in Wendover!  Whoever mentioned this, I DID see it on the way to the train celebration.  It IS rather weird looking for a cell tower.

From Wendover on, mile after mile, it was overcast with rain.  I kept praying for no snow as I climbed pass after pass.

When I finally hit Elko, my stop for the night, the yellow lights were not flashing on the chain control area, in spite of all the wind and rain.  I figured I only had two hours to Winnemucca where it was cloudy and in the 60's.  It wasn't a hard choice ... I kept going.

In two minutes I was white knuckled.  OMG THAT'S SNOW!!  Luckily there was little traffic.  My driving mentor Dan Chance would be proud.  I escaped both Brigham City Utah and Elko Nevada in one day.  

Unfortunately, I was exhausted as I pulled in to Frontier RV Park in Winnemucca.  It's a nice quiet place on the East end with full hookups for $40.  Too bad I missed that RV driveway and pulled in to the casino, which didn't exist the last time I was here.  

The nice ladies laughed at me, but gave me directions back out to the road since there was no way I could turn around.  Finally back on the RIGHT path, I parked and collapsed on the couch.  I then spent the next two hours checking my weather apps.  It doesn't look good.

I had a nice relaxing dinner of ground beef and two peanut butter cookies.  I was afraid to try and cook something.  Two aspirin and a little Giants baseball later, I got up long enough to take a picture of the little sunset because I haven't seen the sun in two weeks.

Then there was that time change thing.  The dogs were on Utah time and wide awake at 3:00 this morning.  In spite of all my rantings, they needed to go outside.  At 38 degrees, I turned the heater up and grabbed a cup of joe.  

So ..... I've improved my lot by over 400 miles, but am still staring snow in the face.  Today would be the best day to head over Donner Pass into California, but that would mean another six hour driving day.  I'm thinking Sparks Marina RV looks like a nice place to spend the next four nights at $50 a night.  By Wednesday, the snow should subside ..... I hope!!

Still Stuck In Brigham City

There's no denying this country is beautiful.  HOWEVER, Yesterday morning when I got up the wind was still blowing like crazy, so I kept the slides pulled in and opted to stay one more night.  I may be sorry for that since now it looks like rain the entire driving day, but at least there won't be such crazy wind.  I hope!!  What to do ... what to do.  I don't mind the rain, it's the snow I'm afraid of.

I wandered on over the hill to Logan.  I was completely out of canned dog food for Miss Jessie.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.  To my great surprise, right behind that building was a quilt store!!

I picked up a few pieces before heading back over the hill.  You just can't beat this scenery, unless you really want to get home.

Here's what I found upon my return to the park ... it looked like the bird refuge was on fire.  The black clouds soon died down as more fires were apparently set further south.  They must be cleaning out the ditches.

We spent the rest of the afternoon worrying about the drive.  I bet I checked the weather 35 times.  No matter, I'll be on the road this morning come rain or shine .... mostly rain.  Until then, we cuddled on the couch, moving the slides in and out according to the 35mph winds which switched to nothing ten minutes later.  Weird weather here.

I contemplated that lunch in Riverton with Ray and Cindy ... best cheesesteak sandwich ever!  

And I contemplated my new fabric from Logan.  I really have WAY too much fabric.  OH LOOK .... another quilt store in Winnemucca!!!

Okay ... I'm off ....  heading West into the rain.  It's only going to get worse if I stay here.  Pray for NO SNOW!!

Cool Birds, BIG Mosquitos

South of Highway 80 is Salt Lake City.  North is the biggest migratory bird refuge I've ever seen.  It literally goes from the Wasatch Range almost to the Nevada border.

This was my chosen destination on BQ day (before quilts), only because it was closer than the hour's drive to Antelope Island.  I wasn't disappointed.  I will try to identify most of the birds, but honestly I had to search the internet, so my apologies if I've not named them correctly.

Yellow headed blackbird ... these guys were EVERYWHERE!!  

I actually could not find this one, but I think it's a great horned owl.  Missed by most, you only got pictures if you knew the secret hiding place.  They think she's either on eggs or babies, neither of which I could see.

Dad hung out close by.

About the time I got to the narrow 12 miles long dirt road and the one way only sign, the bugs began to make themselves known.  They swarmed like Hitchcock's BIRDS.  They looked exactly like mosquitos, but might have been some nymph-like thing that doesn't bite.  It didn't matter.  My automatic window button got a workout.  Down for a picture, instantly back up.

I imagine the white bird above is some kind of egret with a cowlick.  Surprisingly, I spotted several muskrats cruising the waterways.

Look close at this one ... that "stick" in his mouth is the fish he just snagged from the water and tossed in the air, only to catch it for a quick snack.

The scenery was spectacular as I maneuvered down the road trying to pass those who were stopped, but refused to pull over.

One of the claims to fame are these avocets.  They certainly are elegant in their movements as they look for lunch.

More muskrats, as well as large carp were swimming in the shallows.

Snow dusted mountains made for beautiful peaceful scenery.

As in my county in California, there were several sandhill cranes.

Two male pelicans were fighting over a lovely lady far out in the water.  This one finally gave up his quest and went looking for safer waters.

I tried and tried to get an image of the red spotted blackbird, but they were so fast it was hard to capture.  At long last, this is the best I could get.

Love was in the air as all the grebes were trying to catch each other's attention.  One mimicked the movements of the other for ten minutes while I watched.  

You've seen these guys before ... mallards.

I was thinking this was a meadowlark with the beautiful tune he was singing, but couldn't find him on the internet.  Not really sure what he is.

Cinnamon teal ducks were everywhere.  

At first I thought this was a peregrine falcon, but comparing it to other images, I think I was wrong.  It actually appears to be a golden eagle, but I'm guessing.  He was pretty magnificent to say the least.

So there you have it ... a day with the birds.  When I got home, I spent an hour trying to clear my car of the mosquitos.   

Although I was supposed to leave this morning, the 30-45 mph winds have got me spooked.  I'm going to lose another reservation fee, but between the wind alerts, rain and predicted snow along my route, I've decided to stay put one more day.  It was so bad last night I had to put my dish down and slides in.  Stuck in Brigham City again!!

The Old Becomes New Again

I wish I could say that was me, but alas, I feel older every day, especially when at these altitudes.  It seems all the gold, silver and copper mines are high up in the mountains.  Those mines drew people from all over the world to gain work and riches.

Some were lucky enough to live in mine-owned cabins.  In this particular case, the man that made the money collected rental buildings and had some moved by horse and sled to this location.  They say it was the women who eventually lived in these cabins that made Ely what it is today.

I'm sorry I don't have specific information, since most of the history is by word of mouth.  The man who originally owned the rentals, passed everything on to his daughter, who continued to live at this location and run the business.

When she reached the age of I think 94, she was moved to a "home".  Worried that all her possessions would be hauled off and sold, the Ely Renaissance Society purchased the house she lived in all those years.  It's exactly the way Mrs. Geraghty left it.  When other derelict homes and rentals were to be demolished, the society moved them here to create this Renaissance Village.

Each home has been decorated as it would have been by the people who lived there.  Greeks, Slavs, Portuguese, Italian .... they are all there, most with original flooring and ALL with the original heating stoves.  Every one has an antique wood stove where food was cooked and a claw footed bathtub.

This is a town after my heart.  Instead of burning these down, they elected to save history.

Each house has the same kitchen sink and the same cupboards, though they are decorated and painted differently.

I could live here.  They even had a dog house for Cooper and Jessie.

Being company buildings, the floor plan is the same in many.  The society has hung signs beside the door so you know who might have lived there.

Everything is original, right down to the screen doors.  Every door is open so you can wander through the houses.

What a fascinating place to visit.  

Way back when, our ranch bathroom sink had the same skirt around the bottom, hiding the pipes.  Boy did these homes bring back memories.  One even had the exact same linoleum we had ... grey swirl.  

Here's a little tidbit.  Our ranch house was built in the late 1800's with square nails.  The kitchen floor was not level, but at an angle with a slot hole on the low end.  That was so you could throw a bucket of water on the floor, scrub it down and sweep the water down towards the hole where it ran outside.  Ingenious, right?  No mopping!!

From the glassware to the pictures hanging on the wall, each home is accurately depicted.  

If you are ever in Ely, this is definitely a MUST see.

On another note, I went in search of the sold out medallions commemorating the 150th celebration and found them.  I also found another quilt store.  How lucky could I be?  Unfortunately, it was in a run down neighborhood in someone's garage.  I declined.  More about that tomorrow before I hit the road.

Someone Lock Up My Credit Card!!

There's just nothing better in my book than traveling to meet up with friends.  It was wonderful catching up with all my Golden Spike buddies and riding the steam rails in Ely, then on to the 150th Railroad Celebration.

So when the Heber City train was derailed canceling our trip there, it didn't make me all that sad because I would have a chance to visit with my friends Cindy and Ray Warner south of Salt Lake City.

I have to admit driving through that big city area wasn't on my bucket list, but I'd do it in a flash to spend time with these two.  Cindy and I are so much alike, from our quilting to our taste in furniture and decorations for the house.  

I got the grand tour and it was fabulous!!  She even made me feel SO much better about my quilting because she has probably ten times the number of quilts that I do!!  She makes the most wonderful colorful quilts out of scraps I would throw away.  I took three boxes to her and have more to donate.

When Ray said there were around 20 quilt stores in their area, I thought he was kidding.  Well I'm here to tell you he was right.  I guess there won't be any new Kissack Quilt Shops in THIS area!

Every store has it's own personality and they all fit mine perfectly!!  I can't believe the most gorgeous fabric I saw that I've never seen before.  I expected to spend a couple hundred dollars ... material is not cheap any more ... but that didn't happen.  I should have left my credit card home!!  It's crying big crocodile tears after purchasing fabric for about five quilts.

To top it off we had the best cheesesteak sandwich I've ever eaten.  I mean really, this day could not have gotten any better!!

I have to say some of the traffic patterns and left hand turns across the freeway heading straight into oncoming traffic are a tad bit scary, but I made it back home safe and sound.  I didn't know my Jeep would go that fast!!  To keep from being run over, I had to run 75-85 mph almost the entire way.  

There were two big slowdowns along the way in Ogden because it was 4:30 by the time I hit that area.   Just in time for rush hour.  I'm not looking forward to driving the rig out of town.  Maybe I'll just stay here another week or so and explore the other 15 quilt shops!!

DERAILED!!!

It's been an interesting two days!!  At the end of the Promontory Rally, we all headed out to Maddox House for dinner.  It's a fabulously HUGE restaurant with a reputation for fried chicken.  I didn't get the memo, so I had chicken fried steak.  Upon arrival, all 75 of us went upstairs in the Lodge and were seated at long tables.  I'm guessing there were over 200 people being served in that building.

How could they possibly keep up with THAT kind of crowd?  Apparently they've been doing it for a long time ... except for the slight derailment when it came to the chicken.  It was not that they ran out,  they just couldn't cook it fast enough.  All 28 who ordered it, had to select something else from the menu, but in the end, took home two pieces of fried chicken when they caught up.  Kudos to those members of our group who kept their cool and went with the flow.

The SECOND derailment came about when our President Dan called to add two more people to the train ride the next day in Heber City.  It seems THEY had a derailment of the catastrophic kind.

There was a switch involved which landed the engine on the ties, snapping them like toothpicks.  They tried to use wood blocks to get it back on the track, but to no avail.  That derailed OUR plans since the tracks will not be fixable until the end of the week.

That caused all of us to frantically cancel our reservations in Heber City, which cost everyone $$$.  They would not refund any deposits, taking $51 out of my pocket.  It is also costing me $230 to stay in Brigham City for four days.  No one ever said KOA campgrounds were cheap!!

We soothed our souls with a big pancake breakfast before most of the rigs hit the road for home.  I'm staying so I can visit with friends Ray and Cindy Warner in Riverton.  Besides, there are something like 20 quilt shops to check out!!!  How could I pass up THAT opportunity!

The THIRD derailment came when, in order to save a marriage, I got shanghaied into being President of the group.  Someone had the brilliant idea that TWO of us could co-conduct the group easier than dumping the responsibilities on ONE person.  

That got derailed when the parent company said NO.  The President promptly resigned, leaving the Vice President ..... ME .... with the gavel.  WAIT!!!!!  NOOOOOOO!!!  After some wrangling and wheeler dealing, I was stuck in mud up to my neck.  Mostly because I have no idea what the President really does!!!

So in the end, the other gal and I will be President and Vice President, then Co-Conduct the business of the club in the hopes that somewhere down the road we can figure out exactly what we are supposed to do.  I'm hoping the club does't get completely derailed.

In one last derailment, I noted that there were no women in the pictures of the transcontinental railroad completion at Promontory Point, but in this picture there are at least three women.  I found out later one of the Foremen had a wife that went along with them, providing medical care and food for many of the workers.  I'll have to do some homework and find out her name. 

In the meantime, I headed out to the Bear River Bird Refuge yesterday where I got some cool pictures in between swatting mosquitos and bugs.  Praying for no more derailments!!

Promontory Point ... DONE!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE BEAUTIFUL LADIES OUT THERE!

WARNING ... LOTS OF PICTURES

On May 10, 1869 the telegrapher sent a message at 12:47 PM.  It read DONE.  The Transcontinental Railroad was finally brought together with the last four spikes.  A gold one from California, a silver one from Nevada, a gold and silver one from Arizona and finally, another gold one from the Newspapers in San Francisco.

The first gold spike ended up in the Leland Stanford Junior University.  Nevada's spike ended up in the same location next to the gold one.  Arizona's spike somehow ended up in a museum in New York and the final one disappeared.  It is to be noted that Leland Stanford, upon his first strike of the gold spike, missed the mark.  It was finally driven in by a railroad worker.

Today, these two trains, the Jupiter owned by the Central Pacific and the 119, meet almost every day at this Promontory Point location.  

Once just an historical site, at the ceremony this May 10, it was designated a National Park with documents signed by President Trump.

The Jupiter is a beauty to be sure.  It was not Leland Stanford's first choice.  He wanted another engine The Antelope to be front and center.  Unfortunately, when going through a steep pass, the Jupiter passed the Antelope on a siding.  Someone didn't place the appropriate flag on the Antelope, and when the Jupiter steamed past, the crew let loose a large log which rolled down the mountain and hit the Antelope.  So much for planning.

We arrived at 7:30 and luckily were parked at the exact end of the boardwalk entrance.  About 8:15, they brought the trains together, but there were so many people, the only picture opportunity was back out the boardwalk and many yards away.

Here's a few of the large poster boards around the park with pictures of the railroad being build.

Here's an original of the completed project.  Notice there are no women, even though there were many following the men along the rails.

I had to have at least one picture with the golden spike!!  It was a little chilly at around 40 degrees.

At 11:00 when the celebration started, after we listened to the entire program TWO times (they really should have had their rehearsal the day before) I turned around to take a picture of the crowd.  This is NOT including all the people that were between me and the tracks.  It was an ocean of people as far as you could see.

Back behind the crowd was a small village with miners, blacksmiths, fur trappers, Indians and ...

of course gamblers.  This guy was teaching people how to play the game of faro, in case you wanted to learn.

An appropriate sign for the area, especially since our group was called Hell on Wheels.

Even the Sheriff's Department was in attendance, giving directions to the Highway Patrol.

With such a large crowd, we ended up watching the ceremonies on the big screen.  There was even a spot from the Ambassador of China.  It seems the Chinese were slighted at the last ceremony 50 years ago, so they went overboard at this one, even going so far as to bring in eight bus loads just for the occasion.  

I don't know about you, but I was taught from a very early age that the Chinese were the builders of the railroad.  At any rate, he gave a very nice speech, which is more than I can say for some of the others.  It became a political platform so to speak.

Once all the dignitaries were finished, One Productions put on a play/theatre performance of the original ceremony, complete with Leland Stanford missing the spike.

They raised the 20 star flag, appropriate for 1869 before the fireworks were exploded.

As we were walking out, I got pictures of the fireworks, but my phone (for whatever reason ... it's never done it before) locked up and refused to take a picture of the jet flyover.  This one was taken by Patti Painter.

So that was it ... the big 150th celebration.  Honestly, I was more excited about the Big Boy being brought back into service.  There's still more to come, since I missed a day here and there.  I hope you don't get tired of trains!!