March Mission Road Trip To Winnemucca, Nevada

Gary's cousin-Steve and wife, Karlene Hall--returned from their mission to Italy near the end of March and we decided to take a quick road trip to their homecoming talks in Winnemucca, Nevada--a trip of about 5 hours west one way.

And I found a few places to stop on the way to make our trip a little extra fun---

So enjoy the sights of western Utah on 1-80 heading west to Nevada---

Always pause for a train shot--it was a beautiful day for a road trip.

First rest stop-----

Stopping at the first rest area was worth it for this photo alone.  I shared with my kids and asked if they had ever seen one like this in Arizona.  Scott says that people in AZ don't need a sign--it is just understood to watch out!

Western desert in early sprint

Not today-------

Along the way there were several animal overpasses.  According to a news report I heard, these have definitely reduced the accidents and deaths to wild life in places where they are located.

And tunnels are always fun........

Approaching the Bonneville Salt Flats area---in all my years in Utah I have never been to this area.

So this time we stopped at the rest stop provided for travelers to experience a bit of the salt flats.  The area they do the actual time trials is about 7 miles north of this area.

It's salt but it could be dirty snow.

Into Nevada, we passed by Pilot Mountain--

and found our way to the California Trail Center between Elko and Carlin.

Again, as I observe the land and scenery of these areas, I am struck by the hope and determination that these pioneers must have had to endure these hardships for a promise of a better life on the other side of it.

Below in the bench is the symbol used to demark the California trail on historical signs.

Built into the floor before ending into the buildings is a map representing times and trails used by a variety of pioneers crossing the many trails to different locations in the west.

The site also talked about the Native Americans who lived in the areas.  These represents some native homes common in the area. 

Another famous "cutoff" which actually endangered travelers because of lack of water

There were a collection of quotes outside as well from

current writers of the times

Native American tribes in the area harvested up to 1000 lbs of pine nuts per family each year to use to survive through the hard winters.

"I Saw An Elephant" was an expression coined in the 1830s. Google states:"To see the elephant" is a piece of American English that dates to around the 1830s. It means to gain knowledge with actual experience."   

The explanation given at the Center was that an elephant had escaped from a circus, but people who saw it with no point of reference were unable to explain it to people who hadn't seen it.  People started to use the expression to refer to hard experiences that they had experienced that were unexplainable to others without a similar experience.

All of this explanation to share this photo of a statue in the Center dedicated to all of the pioneers who traveled these trails--who "saw the elephant!."  I thought it was interesting---and I like elephants!

This center had many of the same things we saw along the Oregon and Mormon trails.

Pioneer-styling

It hasn't big but it shared lots of information about the

treks in good displays.

There was also a Record Rock which travelers signed along this part of the journey as well as in Wyoming.

Native American Items

The Donner party traveled this section of trail and there was an 11-minute film which we watched about their terrible stay in the winter of the mountains to the west of here.  Then, now,  and always, people do very hard things to make a better life for themselves and their children.  Many of those who survive the Donner Party winter went on to be very successful in their lives in California--what a tribute to the resiliency of the human spirit!

We spent the night in Winnemucca, attended Church and heard Steve and Karlene's great talks, and then spent time with some of their children in a family dinner.  How we loved learning about their mission over the dinner table.  Family is so great----

Gary, me, Jena, Karlene, Steve Hall
Steve is Gary's double cousins
sisters marrying brothers

And then it was home again, home again--jig a jig!

It was about 11:00 pm when we got back to our Salt Lake apartment and started unloading the car.  It was a quick trip, but well worth it!