February 16
Five inches of snow had fallen last night as we pulled our car out of the hotel garage. Initially, the roads were slick, but within a short time, we had outrun the storm as we descended to lower elevations on Highway 82 heading west. After Glenwood Springs, we had sunny skies and clear roads with little traffic.
We stopped for lunch at Green River, where several dune buggy enthusiasts were eating. There must have been some event nearby, as we saw many in the area. After lunch, a giant dune buggy approached as we drove out of town. It took up most of the road, and I wasn’t sure we could get by. Was I dreaming? Why was this machine even on the road? And then it was gone. Well, it was Green River.
Vicki drove across the 100-mile no-services area past vast ranchlands. Eventually, I took over the wheel, and we reached I-15, the route to Cedar City, where we would be staying. Usually, this highway is an empty 80 mph piece of concrete that stretches south. Unfortunately, it was a three-day weekend, and the traffic was heavy.
The speed limit in this part of Utah is 80, so the line was moving. Seventy miles later, we found our Marriott Hotel in Cedar City and checked in. Neither of us was hungry, so I had a Scotch and some chips in the lobby while Vicki ordered crackers and water. Sleep came quickly in our comfortable room.
It is early here in Cedar City. We will leave around 6 to have breakfast at the Cracker Barrel or the Hilton Garden Inn in St. George, about an hour away. Then, hopefully, it will be clear sailing to San Diego.