August 11, 2016 – Leaving Nevada – Bonneville Flats – Salk Lake City

Leaving our campground, we found ourselves driving through more road work

through Wells

And behond, where we were mystified by the construction in the westbound lanes.

After climbing

over

and descending into another of the Great basin’s valleys

we discovered what it was that we’d seen being built

A bridge to permit wildlife to cross through their extended habitats without risking their lives of those and motorists by leaping fences and trying to cross the Interstate

If the Great Basin appears deserted it really is

other than for sparcely located colllection of houses,

typically inproximity to some remote mining operations.

Cresting the last rise in Nevada before we descended into Wendover we were awed by the expanse of white which greeted us.

Literally half way through the town, we crossed into

where we began our crossing

of the famouns Bonneville Salt Flats.

The Bonneville Salt Flats, located 120 miles west of Salt Lake City are about 5 miles wide and 12 miles long.  They are comprised mostly of sodium chloride (table salt).  They are the remineant of Ice Age Lake Bonneville which covered much of Utah from about 32,00 to 10,000 years ago.  Today, the Salt Flats are best known as the location where land-speed records are set. 

Along the way, are evidences of where people think going “off road” is the thing to do …

althought they never stray more than a few hundred feet from I-80.

Then, in the middle of “nowhere” there is a monument, to whom or to what, we have not idea!

About 40-miles later, our elevation increases and we are out ot the salt flats

although, as we approach the Salt Lake City area, salt harvesting overations are in evidence.

Then, Utah Lake, appears to the south of us

followed by our first sights of Great Salt Lake.

We’re staying in Salt Lake City for the next two nights.