Utah and Beyond
Posted on May 25, 2008
Filed Under From the road |
Posted by Daria
Brigham City, Utah–I drove the motorhome for the first time on Thursday. There was no wind, so it was easy, although the truck-position steering wheel takes some getting used to. The position forces you to sit up straighter, so it’s probably better for the back.
As we headed into Utah’s coal country, the slight drizzle turned into a steady rain, then into sleet, then into snow. It was quite lovely. It was also typical of how we have spent our Memorial Day weekends in Colorado over the years. In Frisco, we hiked in snow. In Aspen,it snowed. At the Great Sand Dunes, it didn’t snow but the wind blew so hard that we had to abandon our plans to hike and camp. The Great Sand Dunes became the Stinging Sand Dunes and made children, including our child, cry. So we drove to Pagosa Springs, thinking we would hike near Wolf Creek Pass. As we headed uphill to the trail, we saw a tow truck driver. He was headed farther up the hill to rescue someone whose car had gotten stuck in the snow. We turned around.
Thursday, we got to see Utah’s terrain in all its variations. The red rocks around Moab and cliffs of Canyonlands give way to smooth, olive hills north and south of Green River. These are replaced by the forested canyons around Helper, which resemble the area around Idaho Springs, Colorado. The Great Salt Lake seems endless as you drive along I-15 near Salt Lake City. Get a little closer to it and you see that it’s all marshes and sand and waterfowl. The top third of most of the peaks here in northern Utah are covered with snow.
Sign outside Brigham City: If evolution works, how come mothers only have two hands?
Friday morning we headed into Brigham City for breakfast at Idle Isle Cafe, a place recommended by Jane and Michael Stern in their latest edition of Roadfood. Despite what they said in their book, it wasn’t open for breakfast. We were extremely bummed, not least because the Idle Isle is known for its candymaking. We went to Bert’s Cafe, est. 1929, instead. It was a bit disconcerting that when we walked in, a hush fell over the other diners. Still, it was a good, decent breakfast. I got a half-order of biscuits and gravy and wished I had ordered a full one. Fresh biscuits and zippy gravy, even before I added the Arizona Gunslinger’s hot sauce. Good diner coffee. The syrup for Sierra’s French toast and Stan’s pancake was served warmed, something they’d probably charge extra for in Santa Fe.
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HOORAY you got to drive! CONGRATS!
It’s 5:13pm here in NJ and you now made me real hungry when I read about those buscuits and gravy. I am a bread person you know. Sounds like it’s time to go south to warmer weather. BRRRRRR!
We are at about 70 degrees and loving it, no more snow for me. The website is great. Told mom I’ll take her to the library and show her how to work the website so she can email you back. drive safe