The Big Sky (1)

Leaving Yosemite, I drove for a while at over 9,000 feet. (How high is Mt Cook?).

Down, down, down, descended to around 5,000 feet, past Mono lake & then through Carson City (pretty, not quite what I expected, but I was going on Mark Twain's account of it which I imagine is a little out of date...)

Onto Reno Nevada (getting HOT now in the afternoon), didn't stay long as wanted to get on. Blinked & missed my first State line crossing. Contacted my cousin Emma who lives in Salt Lake City, so I now had a goal to get across there to visit ... roll on the interstate 80 (i80).

This is where I experienced my 1st BIG drive - nothing but a straight road for miles ... dramatic desert lanscapes, occasional STRONG cross winds buffeting the van, BIG trucks rumbling past, & a BIG sky full of a variety of cloud & weather patterns ...

Had to break this trip in 2 - stopped at a motel in Winnimucca, in the middle of nowhere, nothern Neavada. (got some coupons for the local casino too - bargain!)