11.5.2012 – 11.5.2012  17 °C

Leisurely start this morning with a plan to go out and see the Lake and to see an island on the lake before continuing north towards Yellowstone. Our plan lasted til we got to the car and worked out we have five days to go maybe two days worth of driving… Hmmm.. What to do for the extra time? We started scanning the map to see where else we could go to see in this part of the world. Eventually, we agreed to drive from Salt Lake City east, across Wyoming and over to the Black Hills of South Dakota to see Mt Rushmore. Mt Rushmore had always been on our list of places to see but it just seemed that we wouldn’t have the time to drive all the way across Wyoming to get there.

Therefore, our whole day today was one very long drive two thirds of the way to the Black Hills. Luckily, the drive was pretty straightforward. Most of the drive was on one of the interstates.. which is actually not too bad a drive because it is dual carriageway the whole way.

What to say about the scenery of Wyoming? I would describe Wyoming as similar to a piece of paper that has been crumbled up and then re flattened out (lots of rolling hills and plains). This piece of paper is covered in yellowy/ grey grass, the occasional cow and the not so occasional oil or gas derrick. Yep Wyoming is one big paddock that has more oil or gas drills than it must have people!!

Our drive today was really uneventful and scenery wise one not really worth remembering. The most noteworthy thing about the drive is the number of trucks we must have passed. I wish I had’ve counted the number of semis that I overtook in my stint at the wheel.. I would guess more than a hundred but have no idea of how many… The truck procession just went on and on and on… On top of that we had at least four freight trains drive passed us on the way.. Gosh there is so much more freight here than in AU!

We finally pulled into Casper at dinner time and stopped for a very needed dinner and sleep. We splashed out and stayed at the cheap Hilton hotel in town and had a very tasty dinner at their bar. The waitress and bar tender were lovely and we spent a good hour or so chatting away to them whilst we ate. Worth every penny we spent as I know our night’s sleep is going to be a cut above!! Time for this little black duck to close her eyes!

Song of the Day– Eagles, Life in the Fast lane