My drive from Rawlins was uneventful. Clear, dry roads, not a lot of traffic but more trucks than I'd like. I went by miles of wide-open spaces and then crossed the mountains before coming into Salt Lake City. What impresses me most is how beautiful the mountains are so easily seen in the distance. The city itself is sprawling and congested, but oh, that view!
I arrived at Wasatch Commons Cohousing, my home for the night, early enough to go explore the city a bit. First stop, Utah Museum of Fine Arts on the University of Utah campus. They're a member of the NARMA so I got in free. A new exhibit opened today on the Transcontinental Railroad and the American West. Lots of amazing photos (1863-1869) and the gold and silver spikes used at the ceremonial completion of the railroad. What is especially cool is that the railroad route going east from here is all along what is now Route 80, which is what I've been driving since Michigan. All the towns I passed by were important stops for the railroad. All the scenery I viewed is where the railroad workers laid down the tracks, to connect America's east coast to its west coast. Even today as I drove I saw dozens of trains hauling goods across the states.
After leaving the museum, I found a Trader Joes and bought some Wasatch Chocolate Coffee Blond Ale as a gift for my neighbors Hob and Sandra who used to live here. Its a much bigger store than Ann Arbor's. We need to talk to corporate.
I also stopped by the Mormon Temple downtown. Blocks and blocks of huge white stone buildings, all connected to the church. I expected to see more young men in white shirts and dark suits, but it was late in the day by the time I got there and only saw a few. I did watch a small group of young girls, who by their conservative dress and whiteness, were obviously here on church-related business. I know its a stereotype, but it seems to hold.
I arrived at Wasatch Commons Cohousing, my home for the night, early enough to go explore the city a bit. First stop, Utah Museum of Fine Arts on the University of Utah campus. They're a member of the NARMA so I got in free. A new exhibit opened today on the Transcontinental Railroad and the American West. Lots of amazing photos (1863-1869) and the gold and silver spikes used at the ceremonial completion of the railroad. What is especially cool is that the railroad route going east from here is all along what is now Route 80, which is what I've been driving since Michigan. All the towns I passed by were important stops for the railroad. All the scenery I viewed is where the railroad workers laid down the tracks, to connect America's east coast to its west coast. Even today as I drove I saw dozens of trains hauling goods across the states.
After leaving the museum, I found a Trader Joes and bought some Wasatch Chocolate Coffee Blond Ale as a gift for my neighbors Hob and Sandra who used to live here. Its a much bigger store than Ann Arbor's. We need to talk to corporate.
I also stopped by the Mormon Temple downtown. Blocks and blocks of huge white stone buildings, all connected to the church. I expected to see more young men in white shirts and dark suits, but it was late in the day by the time I got there and only saw a few. I did watch a small group of young girls, who by their conservative dress and whiteness, were obviously here on church-related business. I know its a stereotype, but it seems to hold.
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