September 16, 2022 - Utah Flight - Transit to Wyoming
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We got up around 5:45 and were out the motel door by 6:00. After a quick stop at the gas station to gas up the courtesy car, we headed for the airport. On this day it was still dark when we arrived. But by the time we finished prepping the airplanes for flight, it was daybreak. Mugsy and I don't like to get up early, but it's a must on a trip like this. The first hop of the day is the best because the air is calm, and the lighting is good. Especially heading west since it is behind you.
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York, Nebraska was a good overnight stop. You can see the courtesy car -- a retired, well-worn cop car -- at right.
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| Heading west. |
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| We got on the Platte River just south of Grand Island. The air was smooth as silk this early in the morning so it was time for some low-level. |
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| The Oregon Trail ran on the south side of the Platte. I felt like flying the river -- or dried river bed -- rathern than look for ruts. I flew the Oregon Trail back in 2006 in the old Citabria. It was so long ago that flying the Platte today was like flying it for the first time. |
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The Platte is now running just south of Interstate 80.
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| Now this I did remember seeing back in 2006. It's the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. It's a tourist attraction that crosses over Interstate 80. |
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| It's basically a museum on 19th-century Western migration. Once of these days I'll have to stop in Kearney and check it out. |
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After Kearney, back down low.
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| Very pretty, with the sun lighting everything up in front. |
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| What's this?! A little ground fog. No more low flying. |
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| Pretty in its own way. |
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Mugsy joins up alongside.
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| This is the farthest Mugsy has been out west in his RV-8. |
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A tall tower pokes up through the fog.
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| And then the ground fog was gone. |
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Some more low flying. |
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| Passing by Ogallala Muni Airport (KOGA). |
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Looking down at Interestate 80.
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| A long freight train heads east. |
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| Things starting to get a little brown. |
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| Approaching Sydney, Nebraska. |
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We decided to stop at Sydney Municipal Airport for gas since they had a good price.
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| In addition to the 6,600 foot long by 100 ft. wide main runway, they also have a 4,700 foot turf runway. |
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On the ramp at Sydney.
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| George fuels us up. The entire trip, everyone got a kick out of four RVs showing up. |
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Notice the elevation: 4,313 feet. We're not at sea level anymore ....
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| George lent us the courtesy car and recommended Dude's Steak House restaurant for breakfast. |
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After a big breakfast, it's going to be tough to stay awake on the next leg!
Sydney, Nebraska would be a great overnight stop on a cross-country. Really nice airport and friendly staff.
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| But, we had places to go, and things to see. |
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Crossing into Wyoming and just about to pass over Pine Bluffs (82V) which is just off Interstate 80. Notice the railway also running alongside I-80. The original transcontinental railroad followed this path.
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| A closer look at the double-track railroad. |
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Approaching Cheyenne, Wyoming. Cheyenne is the only place I've ever received a speeding ticket. I was driving from Sacramento to Chicago back in 1988, by myself, and got pulled over. Fifteen bucks. I happily paid the cop cash and was on my way.
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The plan had been to pass south of Laramie and cross through the mountains along the Wyoming-Colorado border, then head south, then to Steamboat Springs, Yampa River, and overnight in Vernal, Utah.
But there was some serious weather -- rainstorms -- around Laramie. We altered course northwest to avoid the weather. When it didn't look we would be able to loop around the weather, we decided to curve around the north of Medicine Bow Mountain and head due west towards Rock Springs, Wyoming. From there we could go to Vernal. This would take us through the same pass the original transatlantic railroad went through and avoid the big mountains.
This is clearly "Big Sky" country.
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| Passing by a rain storm. This is the high desert and it's raining?! |
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| Approaching Medicine Bow Mountain. |
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Still following Interstate 80.
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| Another freight train heading east. |
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| Approaching Rawlins, Wyoming. Rawlings was one of the "Hell on Wheels" towns created during the building of the transcontinental railroad. |
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| Looking down at a massive prison. |
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I kept occupied by trying to find where the original transcontinental railroad was.
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| <aybe that dirt area to the south of I-80? I'm sure there are railroad enthusiasts out there that know exactly where the original bed was. |
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Of course, in 1869 there was absolutely nothing out here.
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| A significant road heads south of I-80. |
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| A big quarry in the middle of nowhere. |
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| Rock Springs Airport (KRKS) dead ahead. We just did a straight in approach to runway 9. Only 10,000 feet long! |
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Five mintues later ...
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