7-4-21: I had scheduled a couple nights in a hotel in the SLC area, I needed some downtime to do laundry and take a LONG HOT shower after being in the RV for over a month. Also, I had to get the truck in for routine service and to have the fuel pump replaced under a recall.
It was nice having down time from traveling and also being in a big city, I managed to have some good food, shout out to Freshie’s for the tasty lobster roll and also to Oh Mai for the great Bhan Mi!
Freshie’s Lobster Roll 
Oh Mai Bahn Mi
I was also able to catch the new Black Widow movie in a real theater! Something I hadn’t done in well over a year.
Having my chores accomplished it was time to move back to the RV life. I had booked 5 nights in Park City, just over the hill east of SLC and while not very far it really is quite a change of scenery, its even a bit cooler due to the higher elevation.
Such a cute little town, very much a “ski town” feel to it. Having hosted the winter olympics in 2002 there is also a facility in town where you can still see the ski jumps and ride a bobsled at over 80mph if you’re brave enough! Free shuttles run through the downtown area.
I chose to ride the extensive bike paths all over the town. Old downtown was cute and very crowded even on week days.
I had done my usual trick of consulting the top 10 things to do list and noticed hidden among the ubiquitous horse rides and guided hikes there was a unique option, offering a swim in a natural hot spring that is inside a crater. Called the Homestead Crater, it is really a unique experience. You can swim, soak, snorkel or even scuba dive in the 90+ degree mineral spring water. Of course I had to check it out.
Having gotten in a nice soak the next day I visited the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island, a unique island in the middle of the lake that has been home to Bison since they were introduced by the early Mormon settlers.
There is also a well preserved homestead ranch that you can explore on the island. Here are a bunch more pictures if you’re interested. Antelope Island Album
The Salt Lake was very low as expected with the water nearly 1/4 mile from the traditional shoreline areas. It is still quite a spectacle to see.
On my last full day in Park City the smoke arrived. The bootleg fire in Klamath Falls Oregon is the biggest contributor but there are smaller fires burning all over the west and the heat and dry conditions are expected to continue for the near future. In the morning I will head North to visit Yellowstone and Grand Tetons NP.
Driving from Park City Utah into Wyoming, the smoke has really settled in, pressed down by the high pressure dome that has settled over the entire western United States. I’m not sure why but my Mapping program decided to take me on a route that was primarily state highways and County roads, I’m not complaining, I’m pretty much a blue highways kind of guy these days anyhow but, Wow Wyoming can be remote!
I drove for what seemed like hours in what I think was an Exxon Mobil gas/oil field that was nothing but baby tumbleweeds and a few antelope. These roads are the kind that give fun illusions, shimmery water on the horizon, views that never move and seem to go on forever. Towing with the cruise set to 70mph it felt like I was not even moving so unchanging was the landscape. I am convinced this is the worlds tumbleweed nursery.
In order to break up the distance to Cody I had schedule 2 one night stop overs on the way, for tonight it would be Shoshoni, WY and the Jarvis family farms. What a great spot, Greg and Kathleen are amazing hosts and it felt like a stop over to stay with friends. After chatting with the other campers staying over and petting all the dogs I settled into “my” alfalfa field for the night.
Sadly the smoke stayed with me, but on the bright side I fired up the hotspot and was pleasantly surprised with the speeds. Time to work on the blog. Later in the evening as the stars started to pop out I was inspired to try my hand again at some astrophotography. This was my best shot of the evening: Ursa Major the “big dipper”.
Up with the sun I rolled out to my next stop, just a short distance down the road to Basin, WY and the Midway golf course. My route took me thru the scenic Wind River Canyon, a neat drive with towering cliffs, a river and train tracks.
My next stop was in Basin, UT at the Midway golf course. They couldn’t have been nicer and gave me a great spot for the night and I explored the small town and nearby (also small) town of Greybull. That evening I was thrilled to let someone else do the cooking and had dinner at the golf course grill.
Up early again it was the final push to Cody, but having plenty of time before check in at the next RV park I stopped in the small town of Thermopolis and visited the downtown and also the Dinosaur center.
Who doesn’t love dinosaurs, right? You can check out the photos here: Dino Album
Next stop Cody, WY!
Hey Its Gregg! 
Great write up. You can be a travel journalist. I Enjoy the stories and adventure. Swimming in a crater must have been interesting. Nice pics. We are living our lives in spirit through you.
LikeLiked by 1 person