To the north and east, there are mountains and hills. To the south and west, the land is flat. The foothills and mountains look barren in the morning light. As you leave town the tall build shrink into small businesses which turn into shrink into houses. You pass row houses, retirement communities, and large subdivisions. Off to your right, you see the Great Salt Lake. The water shimmers and the sun's reflection off of the lake hits you directly in the eyes. The blinding light makes you turn away. You think about the stories that your father has told you about the lake. The thought of them make you smile to yourself. The memories made while traveling make some of the biggest impressions.
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| Bonneville Salt Flats by Drax Felton |
You watch the lake disappear behind you. You come upon the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Bonneville Salt Flats are exactly what the name suggests. They are 46 square miles of salt crust. In some places, the crust is 5 feet thick. The Bonneville Salt Flats are not only known for the salt. They are also known for being used by racers to test the fastest cars in the world. The world's fastest land speed was actually set here. The land is white on every side of you. You stop at the rest area and get out to touch the salt. The grains aren't fine like table salt. The size of the grains vary. It is very gritty. There are tons of places where people have written their names or drew things in the salt. You walk around and look at the white landscape. Mountains form a backdrop to the northwest.
You climb back in your vehicle and start towards Nevada. The washed out scene pass by rather quickly and you soon find yourself crossing the border into Nevada. The "Silver State" is not so much silver as its nickname suggests. It is more sagebrush and dirt medley. Mountains grow and fall on the horizon. The land is as flat as a pancake and dryer than the Sahara Desert. The sagebrush here are short and stubby. The dirt is dry and the dust is abrasive. There is a slight wind blowing across the land but not enough to sway vehicles. The land bakes under the sun's unforgiving rays. Even when the darkness finally envelops the land, the heat remains. The land remains unchanged except for the fact you can't see it. You see a glow in the distance. The glow of city lights grow larger. They are the lights of Reno and Sparks. You come into town and a dozen casino signs stand in next to the freeway lit up in multiple colors. You stop at a truck stop to sleep tonight.
You climb back in your vehicle and start towards Nevada. The washed out scene pass by rather quickly and you soon find yourself crossing the border into Nevada. The "Silver State" is not so much silver as its nickname suggests. It is more sagebrush and dirt medley. Mountains grow and fall on the horizon. The land is as flat as a pancake and dryer than the Sahara Desert. The sagebrush here are short and stubby. The dirt is dry and the dust is abrasive. There is a slight wind blowing across the land but not enough to sway vehicles. The land bakes under the sun's unforgiving rays. Even when the darkness finally envelops the land, the heat remains. The land remains unchanged except for the fact you can't see it. You see a glow in the distance. The glow of city lights grow larger. They are the lights of Reno and Sparks. You come into town and a dozen casino signs stand in next to the freeway lit up in multiple colors. You stop at a truck stop to sleep tonight.
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