Daily Stats: Salt Lake City, UT to Sacramento, CA (7/9)

Looks like the arctic tundra, except it's blazing hot.

Miles travelled: 634 mi.

Major roads travelled: I-80W (our new best friend)

Facts learned: Sacramento is the end of the road for Route 50, which starts in Ocean City, Maryland (hello to our friends in Maryland!!!!). Located approximately 1.5 hours (by car) from the mountains of Lake Tahoe and 2 hours from the shores of San Francisco, it’s a wonderful location for outdoor exploration!

Driving notes: The scenery and climate zones of today’s drive were the most diverse and captivating on this trip so far. From the eerie outerspace-like Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah to the purple mountains of Nevada to the lush Lake Tahoe forests of California, we were awed by the majesty and bio-diversity of this country.

Funny lines of the day:

“Hi, Ann. You missed most of Nevada.” ~ Jenny (upon noticing that Ann has awoken from her nap)

"Look! Tumbleweeeeeeeeed!!!" ~ Ann (in the midst of a dust storm, the scariest moment of the drive)

“It looks better in person than on the camera screen. I feel like I’m being gyped!” ~ Jenny (retorts when driver Ann insists that she takes photos of the expansive vistas and ephemeral sunsets)

Shout outs:

-Thanks to Mo and Amy for welcoming us to California and for throwing us a huge welcome party. Your new house is beautiful (congrats!), and we look forward to having you come visit us in San Fran!

Link to Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=456268&id=737260531&l=4a6b8f3ada

Daily Stats: Aspen, CO to Salt Lake City, UT (7/8)

Miles travelled: 421 mi.

Major roads travelled: I-70W, US-6W

Facts learned: The Deseret alphabet is a sound-based alphabet developed by the Mormons (promoted by Brigham Young) in the mid-1800s. / TRAX, the public transportation system in Salt Lake City, essentially operates on the honor system (we bought tickets, but they were not required for entry, nor were they checked on the train) / Salt Lake City is a quiet town ...

Classical works selected as soundtracks for the majestic Colorado/Utah scenery: Well-Tempered Clavier Book I by Bach (Gould), Horn Trio by Brahms

Funny lines of the day:

“Drive 170 miles on I-70W.” ~ Suzy, aka our GPS (last stretch of I-70 on this trip!!)

“Is this the dessert?” ~ Ann (at Grand Junction, Colorado)

“Gusty winds likely.” ~ Road Sign (encountered on US-6)

Shout outs:

-Baymont Inn - thanks for the welcome chocolate chip cookies!

-Thank you to all of our wonderful friends - your e-mails, facebook messages, text messages, and phone calls are so appreciated. It gets lonely and tiring on the road. You guys keep us smiling.

-Mom and Dad - we love you!

Link to Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=455027&id=737260531&l=4d2ce243dc