The WWT!

Saturday we experienced the Wyoming Wind Tunnel! Actually it started in Sidney, Nebraska and the wind blew 30+ mph from Sidney, NE to Evanston, WY where we spent the night. But we are on the western border of Wyoming and ready to descend into Utah and Idaho. Of course had we gone through Billings I could have skied in 18" of fresh, dry, Rocky Mountain powder snow at Red Lodge!! That would have made Leslie happy?!-not! I could also make a detour to Alta or one of the Utah ski areas but 40 years of marriage tells me I should just keep driving and ski another time! The roads were much better yesterday with only a few slick spots. The day started very cold - about 8 degrees - and eventually warmed into the low 40's. I think today and tomorrow are going to be much warmer. But I also thought it would never snow on our trip across country because it is March and I could make a lot of money buying a condo in Virginia in 2005!!!! We're "reading" our third book and will start the fourth book today. We really recommend listening to the audio books.

The WWT seems to have attracted about 5,000 trucks yesterday. Ten or fifteen trucks would pass us and finally a lonely car. One truck which had wide load signs and must have been the equivalent in length of two tractor trailer semis passed us twice! He seemed to be clueless regarding how big his load was! I-80 is the western equivalent of I-81. Truckers must be attracted to Interstate highways in the 80's!

I feel at home in Wyoming. We have been experiencing the big sky country and wide open spaces just like Montana. When we went to dinner last night dress up clothing for men included Levis and a baseball cap! I like that! I think there are more pickups than cars in Wyoming - not counting the 5000 trucks on I-80! Seeing the Rocky Mountains with all of the snow was a magnificent sight. These are real mountains!

We have had some unique dining experiences on our trip. Last Sunday in West Virginia we ate at DJ's Diner. It was a West Virginia upscale restaurant where you could buy a steak dinner for $7.99! You can also buy Budweiser beer but no other alcohol. (An aside is that driving through WV the next day it looks like the most popular home is a used , single-wide mobile home next to the freeway. They are generally landscaped with old cars, lawnmowers, and debris! It's quite impressive when you realize some of those homes are probably worth $2000 - $3000!!!) We had fried green tomatoes and hush puppies in Louisville and really liked the fried green tomatoes! When we stayed with Broge and Nancy it was a culinary feast with steak and ribs. If you want ribs to die for just visit Broge and Nancy!! In Sidney we discovered Perkins and the senior rate so I'll think we'll do more of that. The last couple of nights it's just been steak and more steak but I'm about to be cut off! Since we've only seen two Starbucks on the trip we have been getting espresso at McDonalds. Once they get the order correct it's a good drink but you have to tell them 3-4 times what you want and they still have a hard time understanding. We have a hard time understanding too since everything at McDonalds is automatic and idiot proof!! My Italian cousin, Jeffrey, would be impressed with McDonalds espresso!!! We drank all of the great Virginia wine so now it's other wine but we're still drinking it in the Virginia wine glasses.

We're off today for Utah, Idaho, and hopefully, Oregon and then home tomorrow!