Lincoln Highway
Day 5
We left Rawlins at 6:45am, before the 40+ mph winds started again. Leaving that early made driving nice, especially since we had to be on I-80. The traffic was light and the wind wasn’t blowing, just like weather app said.
As we drove we passed other towns on the Lincoln Highway that were almost nonexistent, with only a cafe/bar or abandoned buildings. We finally stopped for gas at Point of Rocks, WY. This too was another stop on the Lincoln Highway with a smattering of houses and a gas station.
The farther west we’ve gone the gas is getting more expensive and Steve is also using a higher grade of gas. This was in hopes the car wouldn’t start to miss again.
Near the entrance to the gas station was a Lincoln highway marker so, of course, I took Steve’s picture. Nearby the gas station was an interesting building with lots of signs and tools hung on it and next to that was a bulldozer with a large metal cowboy on top. The bulldozer had printed on the side, “ Cowboy rode a bulldozer”. I thought these were strange enough to remember so I took another picture.
We drove for about 3 hours before we reached historic Rock Springs Coal. As you enter the historic downtown you can see an archway that welcomes you to Rock Springs Coal. This archway was originally erected on the Lincoln Highway in 1928. In 1997 it was restored, but it is no longer above a road. It’s in a fenced in area that makes it easy for pictures to be taken.
As we left Rock Springs Coal and started on the freeway again, the car started to miss and almost stall. We barely made the hills we had to climb going 35mph, We were able to exit the freeway and drove to Lyman, WY. Steve pulled into a parking lot and decided he needed to change the carburetor and clean the filter. This was his only hope that that would do the trick .Prayers were answered and we haven’t had any trouble since.
The last place in WY that we stopped at was Fort Bridger. It’s a State Historic Site and Museum. Mountain man, Jim Bridger came to this area and built a fort and trading post in 1834. Judge William Carter and his wife, Mary came to the fort with Colonel Albert Johnston’s army in 1857.
When the army left the Mormons took over the fort until it was abandoned by the early 1900’s.
Today most of the buildings are replicas of what once was. One such building was the guard house. In front of it sits the Punishment Horse. This horse was made of wood and was to discipline lazy soldiers. The soldier would have to sit on top of the horse for hours holding a wooden sword. To make it more embarrassing everyone could see and laugh at the offender. There was a replica of the horse for anyone to try sitting on and hold the sword. I couldn’t resist the challenge, although I only sat on it for a picture.
By the time we had left the fort the wind was back in full force. Again the freeway was the only road to go on and Steve fought to keep the car on the road. We did make one detour when we saw a sign to get off the freeway and on to the Old Lincoln Highway. We drove it for a few miles just to find out it was a dead end and had make another U turn and turn back to the freeway.
Although, Wyoming is a beautiful state with acres of grassland and open space I could never live here with that awful wind that never stops.
As we neared the Utah boarder the scenery began to change to rock formations., rivers, hills and valleys. We missed the turn off for the Utah Visitor Center so we continued until we reached Park City, UT. Park City was where the Olympics were held in 2002 and we could see the ski jumps on the mountain. It was almost a ghost town in the 1960’s, but since the Olympics It has become a huge tourist area and traffic was horrible.
We found a small visitor’s center and we were given a map of the area. The woman at the kiosk thought we were here to see the Olympic ski jumps etc. but after explaining what we wanted to see she was more helpful in giving us directions on where we wanted to go.
All of the motels in this area are very expensive and so we called a Doubletree thinking the rates might be cheaper. After quoting me a price of $190 for their cheapest room I told him I’d look elsewhere. To my surprise he asked what would I want to pay. I knew I couldn’t be too cheap so I said I’d pay $150. To my even greater surprise he booked us in a hotel in the historic district of Park City. This is my idea of “heaven”. The streets are filled with unique stores to shop in and restaurants. As we walked down the street to find a place to eat I popped into a few stores and shopped! I wish I could hit them all, but I know tomorrow we’ll be busy doing other things. Rats!
Before I close I must comment on the weather. With the exception of the first day its been cool and cloudy with some rain. Neither of us were expecting this. Riding in the car is nicer, but once outside we’re cold! Tonight I did buy a sweatshirt to keep me a little warmer and Steve is contemplating wearing long pants tomorrow.
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