America 2012

Day 20 - Salt Lake City UT to Las Vegas NV

I woke up and checked outside to see if it was still raining.

Hmm. No rain. Just four inches of snow on the car! Already though the streets had been plowed and even the car park here was clear. I pocketed the two complimentary L Ron Hubbard books, one being a pulp fiction detective novel, the other a "non religiously biased guide to happiness". L Ron Hubbard is a US fiction author who went on to become the founder Scientology, so these books probably have magical powers. I was surprised to see that the standard Gideon bible was in the room, but no Book of Mormon; surely in SLC of all places the room should include the Book of Mormon?? I checked out and had an utterly pathetic complimentary breakfast. I cleared my car and headed off for Temple Square. Got there in time, found a free car park and headed off to the tabernacle. Why? It was Sunday morning and I was there to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!

Went in and chose a seat and soon they were do...

Day 19 - Helper UT to Salt Lake City UT

After a few days rest it is time to move onwards and start heading back west. I load up and head off over Soldier Summit. I had a look around and was shocked at the lack of snow; in previous years it's been so thick up there I had trouble finding the road down! This year there were bare patches.

I continued on to Salt Lake City, enjoying the roadworks of I15 as usual. The locals don't seem to care, happily doing 120kmh through the construction zones. Since I had a lot of ground to cover I wasn't arguing and happily spent an hour living in the fast lane.

Arrived in SLC and after a short argument with the GPS was heading for Temple Square. Found my way into their underground carpark and was soon walking towads Temple Square. First stop was a UTA Trax light rail/tram.

Then it was into Temple Square itself, the centre of the Mormon faith.

I had a good wander round for quite a while. I've already seen most of the sights here h...

Day 18 - Helper UT

I was feeling very lazy today and spent a lot of the day reading my book and lying in bed. Holidaying is hard work! Or rather, constantly deciding on destinations, what you're going to see, trying to work out train schedules and patterns, looking out for photo spots, choosing accommodation and where to eat, can be hard work. So it was nice to do nothing for a day. Sides it was overcast and windy and apart from a flurry in the morning the tracks had been very quiet.

Later in the day I headed off to find a geocache, and after being fooled by the roads a few times I eventually got the right road and snaked up to Bull Mesa. A mesa is a raised plateau of land with steep cliffs around it. Utah is full of them. Here are a couple, viewed from Bull Mesa.

And here you can see the Book Cliffs that ring Helper and most of Carbon County.

I parked at the end of the sealed road and hiked in. I soon decided that hiking was a good idea, as the "road&q...

Day 17 - Helper UT

5:00am and I gradually become aware of an almight noise outside. Not a soothing noise like a train might be either. No, it's a car engine being revved like there is no tomorrow. It goes on and on and on. I prise myself out of bed and to the window and see it's the vehicle next to mine. Eventually, after what feels like an eternity it drops to an idle, revs once more and drives off. Talk about respect for your fellow lodgers!

So I tried drifting back to sleep but lay there half dreaming about law enforcement officials chasing me around town. Eventually I did get to sleep, and had a good sleep in.

When I finally emerged it was a most magnificent day outside. Gloriously sunny! Balance Rock stood basking in the sun, watching over Helper.

And to think yesterday it'd been snowing! Now there was almost no sign of the snow and it was almost shorts and tee shirt weather.

I didn't have any plan for the day and there hadn't been much rail traffic eithe...

Day 16 - Rawlins WY to Helper UT

Took me a while to wake up this morning. That's the problem with a good book; they can keep you up far too late! Bundled into the car, fueled up and set off. Hit the freeway, and that was as exciting as it got for the next few hours. Cruise control across Wyoming. 600km. I passed about four trains, all Union Pacific. That's right, I'm back in UP country now, land of the interesting loco. BNSF trains can be very smart, but they're very homoenous with little variety. UP trains tend to be far more interesting with all sorts of curious power lash ups present, and the chance of old paint schemes.

I stopped at Echo, just inside the Utah border, to see if anything interesting was around. Nope, just some stale grain cars.

I was curious to see the motel actually showing signs of life. I headed onto the 80, then US40, then US189. Stopped for supplies. Looked like there could be some snow in the distance.

Then I was into Provo and crawling past Brigh...