Across the Great Basin and the Continental Divide (twice)

For two people trying to avoid cold winter weather, we've been remarkable successful in attracting that which we are trying to avoid. Last night it went below freezing and today, on the drive across southern Wyoming, we experienced more wintery weather.

Leaving Laramie heading west on I-80.

We were at a pretty high elevation and...

the snow followed us for the first half of the 200+-mile trip.

Half-way across we came upon Sinclair, WY. You remember Sinclair Gas, the stations with the green dinosaur. Here is where they get the gas.

We then began to cross the Great Divide Basin having places with names such as Sand Dunes, Red Desert Flat, and Alkali Flat. On the other side of the basin we crossed the Continental Divide twice; once at 7,000ft and twenty miles down the road at 6,800ft.

As we traveled west the temperature read 63 degrees, but we could see an approaching storm

More and more ominous, the temperature began to drop and heavy rain began to fall.

Providentially, a rest area appeared and we pulled in, along with a crowd of other motorists and truckers to wait out the heavy downpour. The temperature read 33 degrees and the windshield began to be covered with sleet.

After 15 minutes we were back on our way and began to descend into Rock Springs.

That's where we are tonight, Rock Springs, Wyoming, and the temperature is supposed to stay above freezing so Frederick hooked-up the city water.