We had put our clocks forward another hour and woke to find it snowing and windy outside. We checked the weather forecast and the Wyoming road conditions before we left at 8.50am on very icy and snow covered roads in Rock Springs.
Earthroamer covered in snow at the campground in Rock SpringsIcy road in Rock Springs
On Highway 80 the traffic was moving very slowly with trucks built up for miles, moving in the opposite direction to us. Gradually the road conditions improved and we were able to travel at a good speed. The sun came out but it was still only 29° F with a 30 knot northerly wind blowing.
The traffic on the highway was moving slowly in the bad conditionsThe trucks crept along Highway 80Fresh snow covered the hills
On 23 May 2006, on Stage 1, Day 15 when we were travelling back to Denver from Anchorage, Alaska we had stopped at an old motel for a cup of coffee beside the highway at Red Desert. We met a man named Marvin, who was trying to sell his business, so we stopped today to find out what had happened. Marvin had gone and the building was now used as a shop selling Adult merchandise.
The old motel at the Red Desert now an Adult shop
We also passed the big gasworks at Sinclair again and farmland beside Elk Mountain.
The sun came outGas works at SinclairHorses feeding in the paddockHay bales on the farmAnother farm beside the highwayA constant stream of trucks passed usElk Mountain and snow fencesRows of snow fences
The blades were turning on the windfarm near Wagonbound Creek at Arlington.
A windfarm near Wagonbound Creek
The wind continued to blow and as we drove into Laramie and the fog was almost to the ground.
Silos and trucks parked in Laramie with the wind blowing dust about
We turned onto Highway 287 south in rain with strong winds blowing across the road. We pulled into the old store at Tie Siding and then drove down the dirt road to the Hermosa railway line, where we parked to watch the trains go by and make ourselves some lunch. The temperature at only 32°F.
Low fog on Highway 287 SouthWatching trains at HermosaIce stuck to the grassIce on the fence
We had to drive slowly as the fog was down on the ground as we entered Colorado at 6,300ft.
Fog as we entered Colorado
At 3.30pm we drove into Fort Collins and found the KOA campground where we checked into site no. 1 at a cost of $40. We were able to do some clothes washing and Dick did some work on our heater. We then relaxed for the afternoon, snug and warm inside our home on wheels.
A farm near Fort CollinsParked in the KOA Camground at Fort CollinsDick working on our heater.
Today 286 miles (460 kilometres)
Click here for the next entry – The last day travelling in our Earthroamer.
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