Utah: Route Changes, and the Great Salt Lake

[liveonearth]

Second night in SLC at KB's. Nice here. Strange dreams though. Heading on toward AZ tomorrow. Decided not to push on to the SE. Something about spending $1000 in gas to go be mosquito bit in the muggy southeast started sounding like not the greatest idea. Instead going to loop back to PDX via Montana, Idaho, Washington, and look at some cities where I might practice.

Swam in the Great Salt Lake with KB today, or rather, floated, high like a cork. Treading water I could easily keep my nipples above water. Relaxing in the water my head and feet were above the surface. Salt crusted on skin after getting out of the water. Edge of lake guarded by billions of brine gnats, they move in waves when disturbed by feet or seagulls eating them. No brine shrimp this time of year, they come to the surface in the fall. Skin felt tight and prickly when dried in the sun after being in the brine. Really glad of the outdoor freshwater rinse. We also hiked toward the highest point on Antelope island. Didn't get to the top but it's pretty neat up there. The Lake is much larger than I knew.

Comments

[lynnivere.livejournal.com]

Like the change in plans. Your day sounds.. amazing.

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

=-] Amazing is a good word for it.

[geordie.livejournal.com]

In the winter there's standing water on the Bonneville Salt Flats, I wonder how high a person would float in that. You aren't heading up to Butte then through Missoula and Spokane? We liked what we saw of Missoula at Christmas. If you get fuel in Dubois I'll be amused.

Any chance of swinging through Yellowstone? I think the hot springs there are rather too warm for swimming though.

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

I'm headed to Flagstaff to visit my friends there first and see the aftermath of the fire. I haven't decided on my route from there north but I think I might swing through northern NM then head west again. I've never been to Yellowstone so it's on my list, but not sure yet.

[neptunia67.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the Great Salt Lake except for on maps. It looks huge. There's an experience to add to your list, eh.

See you soon.

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Yeah I don't know how many times I've passed this place on the interstate so I was glad to go see the Lake. It is so big that you can't see all the way across it. And it is so much saltier than the ocean--well, you'll just have to check it out yourself one of these days. Costs $9 to get in, but it's worth it. Lots of interesting birds there. And on a Tuesday in July it was pretty quiet, hardly any tourists. Maybe a dozen other people on the beach and only one other person on the trail we picked.