Back to the US-West: Mountains, Sand and Salt

Out we are again,,, We flew from Munich to Denver and on to Salt Lake City this time, our 82nd flight to the U.S. Chose Lufthansa for a change because United didn't offer a flight to DEN on our departure day, and, LH being a partner airline seemed to be a good choice. It showed, that it wasn't,,, At UA, even cattle class (regular seats) is better than cattle class with LH on this A 350-900!

First, seats (three in a row) can only be minimally reclined (if so, at all) second, leg room is really tight. Sitting in a row behind seats, which are charged extra (and, where seat backs could be generously reclined) we were really cramped, TV screen much too close, legs much too long - not comfy at all! Plane was packed, too, full to the last seat and food was ,,, main dish (chicken - what else?) was pretty tasty, for the rest not so much,,, and, optically ???

Well, in total, it wasn't a relaxing 10-hours-flight to Denver and we were happy when we arrived and all went smooth and quick with immigration and luggage and re-check-in at Denver airport (right photo and photo below), a very convenient, modern and airy airport. 

 

 

 

We had about 2.5 hours to stretch out and relax and check emails. Our connecting flight to Salt Lake City (1 hour flight time) was on time and we even arrived 1/2 hour earlier than scheduled. Retrieved our luggage and went through rental car pick-up procedure. Alamo had a choice line and we choose a rather new 2025 model Chevrolet Trail Blazer.

 

Spent the night at a motel closeby the airport and after breakfast in SLC, at a nice French café, Eva's, in downtown SLC (left pic), which we remembered from a couple of years ago, we stopped at one of our all-time favorite bookstores, Weller's, to get "nutrition for the soul".

 

Then, we left town towards Elko, Nevada, about 3 hours to the west on Interstate 80. We drove through the salt flats of the Great Salt Lake, passing salt producing companies and open-pit mining operations, sand areas, military training grounds and race tracks, and, your  typical high desert landscape. Always breath-taking are the mile-long trains, transporting goods like coal (pic far below).

 

We stopped in Wendover/West Wendover, marking the border between Utah and Nevada. Border line runs, so-to-say, through a casino, one side: no alcohol, no gambling, no fun, other side: all of that,,, Wendover Will - originally, a casino neon sign created in 1952 - is greeting visitors and the California (settlers') Trail is running through. 

We made our way up to 7,000 ft (2.350 m) height on montain passes with few traffic (mostly trucks) in beautiful sunny weather, warming up to 45 deg F (7 C) during the afternoon. Mountain views were gorgeous and the drive was beautiful! We've had it much worse before, in snow storms and with not-so-good road conditions. 

Elko - our final destination of the day/week - didn't change much. It's a main hub of Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick Gold), which operate a big mine complex (open-pit and underground) in Northeast Nevada. We are not here for the gold (though, it would be nice!), but for the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the 40th, and, for the 6th time! Stay tuned to get to know about it!