Today we started our summer toad trip. Summer road trips have become something of a tradition with Duke and me. This year we are headed to Iowa with lots of detours along the way to see friends, visit sites and find new back roads.
Day 1, yesterday we drove from Reno To Salt lake City. It is a long drive on interstate 80 (about 530 miles) We drove through Nevada's spectacular scenery for much of the trip. The last 150 miles or so are in Utah.
Just 4 miles from the Nevada Utah border on the Utah side we stopped at Bonneville Salt flats the site of Bonneville International Speedway. Right now the site is under water. Apparently that is why the flats are so ideal for setting land speed records. During the winter and spring the miles and miles of salt are washed flat by the water so that by August when all the water has evaporated the course is absolutely flat and dry. It was a cool site. You couldn't see the horizon. The shimmering water merged with the sky in the distance and the mountains and their reflections seemed to float. We stopped a the end of the road which was surrounded by water, had lunch, and took some pictures.
As we drove into downtown Salt Lake City for dinner it was pouring rain. By the time it had finished the sun was setting, the rain had stopped and it was perfect walking weather. We walked through the area that has the Mormon temple and all the headquarter buildings for the Church. The gardens were beautiful and the buildings were spectacular. It of course is totally different but it reminded me of the Vatican in that it is the center of a large world wide religion.
From Temple square we walked a few blocks up hill to the state capital. It has to be one of the biggest and most imposing state capitals I have ever visited. The view of the sunset and the city from the capital was stunning. We walked around the building and enjoyed the gardens and the rain washed view. It was a perfect end to a perfect day.
If you would like to see all my pictures from our summer 2010 road trip they I will be adding them to Flickr in a set which you can see by clicking here. Day one pictures are there now. Tonight our plan is to be in the Tetons camping.
Marion's Blog 
Marion,
I’m so glad you got visit our home–Reno. I feel like I was a passenger in your trip through
the pictures! I hope you had a good trip, if you want to know some nice places to go to Reno, you can shoot me an email anytime =).
Take care…and have a hope you get a follow up road trip here in Northern Nevada.
-Joe
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Joe, I live and own a home in Reno. I also have a great realtor that I would recommend to anyone who is interested.
Marion
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