A storm in the hills outside Vernal, Utah. It is a photo, not a painting.
This morning I woke resolved to ride to Rock Springs Wyoming, to stay the night and await the expected improvement in the weather. On my way to breakfast two of the ladies that work here said I should not miss the Flaming Gorge Dam, halfway to Rock Springs. It sounded good to me, but it was overcast and raining, making good photos very difficult. It wasn't too hard to decide to stay put for another night. After lunch I emerged from my room and ventured into the town. As I rode in, I saw these low clouds over the mountains, as pictured above and felt that I had made the correct decision to stay another night. The various weather reports for towns along my intended route support it, too.
My first visit was the the small, but very interesting Western Heritage Museum. It covers a lot of ground and is well worth a visit. I particularly liked the sequential photos of every sheriff the town has had, and the dolls of each first lady of the USA.
A coffee shop on the nearby main street was recommended to me and while my order was being prepared I took a short walk. It turns out that in its early days, Vernal was the stomping ground of many outlaws, some extremely notorious eg Butch Cassidy. And - not dissimilar to Australia - they promote it! But otherwise, not much goes on in Vernal, Utah. It is really a service town for the oil industry.
After a latte (too milky) and a rather tasty almond and poppy seed muffin, I was wending my way back to the hotel on a side street when I noticed ahead a very tall church steeple. Being Utah, this is Mormon country, and I had read that in Verbal they have, unusually for a small place, a Mormon Temple. A photo appears on the photo tab.
Then I went to the CAL Ranch store. I am thinking of buying some cowboy chaps which I can wear over my jeans for summer riding. No joy here, but it is my kind of store. See the photo on the photo tab and you will understand why!
Back to the hotel as it was looking very gray and threatening and I did not think I would be happy if I got wet and cold.
A word about the hotel, the Weston Plaza. It is an older property, but under a new name and management and it does not seem to be part of a national chain. The room is very spacious and comfortable, clean as a whistle, staff that cannot do enough for one and.... cheaper than the standard I judge by, Best Western.
The Australian Rules Football Grand Final is to be played in a few hours. Maybe I can find it on the cable TV. But the forecasts up north are looking promising and I will make an early start, planning on stopping in Lander, Wyoming tomorrow night.
This morning I woke resolved to ride to Rock Springs Wyoming, to stay the night and await the expected improvement in the weather. On my way to breakfast two of the ladies that work here said I should not miss the Flaming Gorge Dam, halfway to Rock Springs. It sounded good to me, but it was overcast and raining, making good photos very difficult. It wasn't too hard to decide to stay put for another night. After lunch I emerged from my room and ventured into the town. As I rode in, I saw these low clouds over the mountains, as pictured above and felt that I had made the correct decision to stay another night. The various weather reports for towns along my intended route support it, too.
My first visit was the the small, but very interesting Western Heritage Museum. It covers a lot of ground and is well worth a visit. I particularly liked the sequential photos of every sheriff the town has had, and the dolls of each first lady of the USA.
A coffee shop on the nearby main street was recommended to me and while my order was being prepared I took a short walk. It turns out that in its early days, Vernal was the stomping ground of many outlaws, some extremely notorious eg Butch Cassidy. And - not dissimilar to Australia - they promote it! But otherwise, not much goes on in Vernal, Utah. It is really a service town for the oil industry.
After a latte (too milky) and a rather tasty almond and poppy seed muffin, I was wending my way back to the hotel on a side street when I noticed ahead a very tall church steeple. Being Utah, this is Mormon country, and I had read that in Verbal they have, unusually for a small place, a Mormon Temple. A photo appears on the photo tab.
Then I went to the CAL Ranch store. I am thinking of buying some cowboy chaps which I can wear over my jeans for summer riding. No joy here, but it is my kind of store. See the photo on the photo tab and you will understand why!
Back to the hotel as it was looking very gray and threatening and I did not think I would be happy if I got wet and cold.
A word about the hotel, the Weston Plaza. It is an older property, but under a new name and management and it does not seem to be part of a national chain. The room is very spacious and comfortable, clean as a whistle, staff that cannot do enough for one and.... cheaper than the standard I judge by, Best Western.
The Australian Rules Football Grand Final is to be played in a few hours. Maybe I can find it on the cable TV. But the forecasts up north are looking promising and I will make an early start, planning on stopping in Lander, Wyoming tomorrow night.
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