Today is National Cowboy Day!

en route-- Just as we had applied temporary tattoos to ourselves for the trip, Etta Jr., too, needed some gussying up to really get in the mood.
Hence, a "Reading is Sexy" bumper sticker and an Oxy window decal (the latter from former DWC intern, Becca). Etta Jr. clearly felt spunkier for it, and we hit the road at the crack of 9:00 am.

We followed the beautiful Truckee River east from Reno.
Nevada is a state to behold from the open road; you feel "the West" around each bend-- trains with colorful boxcars chugging every which way, sage and sky, puff-daddy clouds.

The prospect of a Basque meal in Elko, NV, inspired us onward, yet we found the Nevada Hotel closed mid-afternoon, as were the other recommended ones, according to the Euskaldun we met. By the time we rolled into West Wendover, NV on the border of UT, we were ready for some eats. Having dined at Tacos Poblano and brainstormed some alternate names for the place ("Tacos Ayudame", "Tacos Peligrosos") we can now advise you that when faced with the decision to pull over or push on at this exit-- push on.

Next, the Bonneville Salt Flats and Salt Lake City. What's the big woop? The Salt Lake doesn't smell good, and the roadside view spot is disappointing.

Things starting looking up as we proceeded north to WY, the Cowboy State. How appropriate, for we learned in Wendover that TODAY is National Cowboy Day.

Road sightings:
-- A FUN HOME license plate on a motor home, surely an allusion to Alison Bechdel's fabulous graphic novel of the same name
-- 1st tumbleweed of the trip
-- CLOUDS!!!
-- Cool town name: Beowawe (Beowulf's little bro?)
-- Billboard on I-80 at Delle, UT: Eastbound (toward UT): MissionaryMall.org, westbound (toward NV): VaVaVoom, Wendover's Adult Novelty store

Highlights:
-- Free beer from Travis, proprietor of Suds Brothers microbrewery in Evanston, WY
-- We didn't get killed in either UT or WY

7/28/07