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May 2011 Road Trip
VLA/Pie Town: [Day 1]
[Day 2]
Grand Canyon N.P. (South Rim): [Day 3]
[Day 4]
[Day 5]
Grand Canyon N.P. (North Rim): [Day 6]
[Day 7]
Zion N.P.: [Day 8]
[Day 9]
[Day 10]
Great Basin N.P.: [Day 11]
[Day 12]
Zion N.P. (II): [Day 13]
Bryce Canyon N.P.: [Day 14]
Arches N.P.: [Day 15]
[Day 16]
[Day 17]
Canyonlands N.P.: [Day 18]
Monument Valley/Mesa Verde N.P.: [Day 19]
Great Sand Dunes N.P.: [Day 20]
[Day 21/22]
Route Map: [Route][all maps]
Day 12 (Sat May 21): Great Basin National Park; Bonneville Salt Flats

Day's Summary: Bonneville Salt Flats and Great Basin. Overnight: Eagle's Landing, Beaver.

Motel 6 (Wendover, UT)

Inexpensive Motel 6 in Wendover, UT. West Wendover, NV is to the west, and is officially the only part of Nevada to observe Mountain Time due to its ties to Utah. Think of West Wendover, NV, as essentially part of UT.

You can see a piece of dust on the lens when I zoom into the cell towers around 0:57 or so (and you can clearly see the U-shaped dust particle throughout this day's videos). I discuss it more in detail during Day 13.

Approaching Bonneville Salt Flats

I had planned to possibly drive out onto the Salt Flats but it was still flooded. Fascinating drive through a very flat salty area.

Bonneville Salt Flats

This isn't always flooded. The "Floating Island" is a landmark to make sure you stay on the Salt Flats and don't veer off into mud and get your vehicle stuck. Of course, I mention that there's no way I'm going to take a vehicle out into a lake.

Bonneville Salt Flats

I have to make actual contact with the water using my foot. I became one with the Salt Flats.

Bonneville Salt Flats

Back in the car, in my mind lamenting the fact that I can't take my vehicle into the briny temporary lake!

Bonneville Salt Flats Road Race?

No comment.

Bonneville Salt Flats Road Race?

No comment.

I-80 East Rest Area Near Bonneville Salt Flats

Headed to Salt Lake City. You can see the Salt Flat "lake" across the freeway.

I-80 East To Salt Lake City, UT

Very flat drive from Wendover. Currently around 37 miles outside of Salt Lake City, near mile marker 65.