From California to Wyoming

We have made it across California, through Nevada, the northwest corner of Arizona, a long stretch of Utah, and into the southwestern corner of Wyoming.  We're spending the night in the town of Evanston, Wyoming, population 12,000-give-or-take.  We just had a fairly mediocre dinner and both look forward to a good night's sleep.

WHERE WE RECEIVED A LOVELY PARTING GIFT.

We left Irvine Thursday afternoon and left Las Vegas behind this morning — after a brief stop at Red Rock Casino where I napped and Jerry gambled, earning enough to pay for our entire drive to South Dakota!  I usually don't encourage Jerry in this vice (because he needs no encouragement), but NICE JOB, JERRY!

My camera is packed safely somewhere in the car.  I have a knack for putting things "safely" away.  Unfortunately, they're usually so safe that even I can't find them.  I know where the camera is this time.  It's in a suitcase at the very bottom of the Rubik's cube Jerry brilliantly created to get our stuff to South Dakota.  So, photos from my iPhone will have to do as I chronicle our road trip.

LEAVING LAS VEGAS.

We drove about 490 miles today, most of it through breathtaking scenery.  We plan to make our way tomorrow from here in the southwest corner of Wyoming diagonally across the state and leaving via the northeast corner — another 562 miles, I think.  We'll cross into South Dakota and settle in Sturgis (home of the annual motorcycle rally) for the night, which means we should make it into Pierre, South Dakota early-ish Sunday.  We're sure everyone is in shock, since we're known for making what should be a 2-hour-drive into a 6-hour drive.  To be honest, we surprised ourselves today.  Can't wait to get out of this altitude.  We're not good at 7,000 feet (2,100 meters).

UTAH FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT.