For the most part, the drive was beautiful. Well, that is, except for most of Nebraska (sorry, Ross). Wyoming was one of the most amazingly desolate places either of us has ever seen, but was beautiful in its own right. We were, however, exceedingly happy when we realized that we had driven 350 of the 401 miles through Wyoming. Utah was by far the most attractive part of the drive. The day we drove into Salt Lake City was a 12 hour driving day, but the red hills, roadside ravines, and fall foliage was spectacular. Driving out of Salt Lake City, however, was another thing all together. We left before the sun came up as we had another long day ahead of us. The city is nestled in a valley (as are most cities in the mountains) and as we drove away from the city, past the "Great Salt Lake" (love you, BOH) and through the salt flats, we both felt as if we were on some other planet. The salt flats go on FOREVER. Really. Like, for 100 miles, you drive on the straightest road you've ever seen, toward the mountains, without ever getting closer. There is NOTHING around you except a railroad, I-80, salt flats and the occasional salt refinery. It's crazy. I know it's an optical illusion, but it hypnotized both of us to the point of being freaked out a little. Once we climbed over the first ridge of mountains into Nevada, we both were relieved that we had actually escaped the Twilight Zone.
Sidenote: driving across the country teaches you many things; i.e. why Sinclair gas has a dinosaur on its sign and from where the Morton salt girl comes. It's worth the trip. Really.
We had fabulous weather for the entire trip EXCEPT for the last day. We stayed in Reno, which is only about 3.5 hours from the Bay Area. We considered driving straight through but the thought of unpacking our truck after 12+ hours of driving was too much for us. So...we arrived in Reno at 4, went for a run and blamed our horrendous performance on "altitude," went to Floyd's Fireside lounge for a $3 microbrew (served by a woman in an awesome 80's black lace, see-through top), relaxed and ate delicious, vegan pizza for dinner while Simon explored the scents that our hotel room had to offer. The following morning, we left Reno at 6:30 and the rain started. Now, I'm a nervous driver anyway but driving a moving truck through the Sierra Nevada mountains when it is raining/snowing is my personal hell. It rained the ENTIRE TIME and just about the time I was celebrating the fact that we had survived Donner Pass, I realized that we had only survived the EXIT for Donner Pass. And, just about that time, the snow started falling. Heavily. And, just about the time you think that the worst part of driving through the mountains is over, you realize that you have to descend 7300 feet. In a moving truck. It was not. fun. at. all. Don't ask me what it's like around Tahoe because I have absolutely no idea. I was merely saying hail Marys. But, my husboyf is an amazing driver (even with a broken arm) and we survived. The crazy thing about the Sierra Nevadas is that as soon as you finish the descent, you are in farm country! Hello, Sacramento!!! And, thanks to our dear friend Miss T, hello coffee!
The rest of the drive was uneventful since it was a Sunday morning and we found our way to our new home. The only bummer of the day was the rain. Oh, and the fact that we hit a tree with the moving truck. Sorry, tree! Fortunately, they didn't notice the sizeable dent when we returned the truck...And now, thanks to my cousin and his partner, we are moved in, relatively settled, and enjoying Oakland!!!
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