From the Road

July 7, 2008 | Filed Under Simplify, Scion xB, Family 

Here are some photos from our move from Utah to Nebraska. The boys did okay for the most part, but we had to plan on stopping every 2-3 hours or so, to let them run around a bit. Also, even though my Scion xB gets awesome gas mileage, we still had to stop more frequently, because my Dad was driving the gas gussling UHAUL. But we each had cell phones and could call back and forth when we needed to take an exit. We had a nice lunch in Green River, Wyoming at a park with a gazebo that was perfect for the boys. But most of the Wyoming drive was bland. So bland, in fact, that I started comparing it to Nevada, which I commonly refer to, as the Land of Desolation.

Let me just say that the Wyoming drive, at least along I-80, is not something I enjoyed. Unless you like strange clay-like rock formations and spotted, sun-burnt terrain.  Excluding the tall windmills, and a hint of the Rocky Mountains, coming up from the South, Wyoming had me saying, “Why Oh Me?” most of the time!  Seriously, along I-80 it had me thinking that maybe Wyoming was Native American for “Repulsive.”  I’m kidding, (a little) and I know that the Jackson area is nice, (because it’s near Idaho) and other parts of the State I have not seen MUST be nicer, but the I-80 route…not for me.

The Nebraska drive was straight out of Smallville. I kept telling Brighton to keep his eyes open for spaceships. Or any moment Mel Gibson would jump out of a corn field, followed by an alien. But it was much more easy on the eyes. Animals, trees and rolling hills. Everything shades of green. For a good part of the trip, we followed the Platte river, and its very similar to the route the early Saints took when coming out west. We even stopped at a state park, Mormon Island. It has a big lake for fishing, camping, etc. Cool stuff. We also hit a roadside attraction, Fort Cody, with a tall plastic Paul Bunyan-like Indian. I love the hoky roadside architecture, it’s too funny. Restaurants that look like covered wagons, and the like. Fort Cody was fun. Took a few photos and the kids could stretch the legs a bit.

We made it to my parents’ place that evening and it was great. So about 2 long days, over 900 miles, and I won’t mention how much gas between the two vehicles. At $4 / gallon, “ouch,” is the best way to say it. The next day or so we unloaded the truck in Lincoln, (with the help of our new ward) and moved into our apartment. So far so good.  See more photos from our move from Utah to Nebraska HERE.

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