Wyoming Unite!!!!

[R2elk]

Beautiful birds (even if they are fussing with each other

)

Thank you.

 

[R2elk]

I drove to Centennial last weekend to meet up with some family from Laramie and Cheyenne. There were a lot of people up in that area, guess everyone was wanting a last drive or hike before school starts. Took a few pictures while pulling over to let faster drivers pass me (hey, I'm new to this mountain driving!).

Glad you enjoyed your drive.

 

[N F C]

Glad you enjoyed your drive.

Thanks! Driving around here will take some getting used to but I'll get it. In the meantime, I get a lot of joking from family members about being a "flat lander", lol.

 

[Blooie]

Thanks! Driving around here will take some getting used to but I'll get it. In the meantime, I get a lot of joking from family members about being a "flat lander", lol.

Use lower gears when you need to, turn off cruise control and air conditioning, and if you have to you can turn your defrosters on to dissipate any building engine heat. I was coming down 14A one time and there was a family stranded - they managed to make to a pullout and their car just plain died. Steam pouring out of the engine, two frazzled parents and 3 overheated, whiny little kids. Not having any mechanical skills, and with no cell service in that area, I made room for them in my pickup and drove them down to Lovell so they could make some kind of arrangements for rescue. On the way down the husband was complaining loudly about Wyoming - either flat and boring with nothing to entertain the kids, or roads so steep that they make a roller coaster look tame. "You make this look so easy, but then you probably drive this crap (not the word he used, BTW) all the time." So I replied, 'There's just a few tricks to it - respect the mountain, dissipate heat if you need to by turning on the defrosters, and use your lower gears."

This disgruntled dude looks down at the shift lever in the pickup and says, "Yeah, you can do that lower gear stuff with a standard transmission. My car is an automatic with cruise control." I said, "What did you think that the other gears are for on an automatic? Were you still trying to get up the mountain in cruise?" He didn't even blink - "Well, for the snow and ice we get in Oklahoma, of course. I think the cruise control went out just before the engine died." <Groan> So you can use those other gears for going backwards or winter conditions but not for driving on dry roads, and you thought your cruise could handle the grade??? When we got to the Conoco station in Lovell, this guy opens his wallet, thumbs through a wad of 50s and 100s, then hands me 2 bucks. I wouldn't have taken the money anyway, even if he hadn't been such a "gentleman" about digging for it.

I've driven a lot of the mountain passes in Wyoming, and I think by far and away the worst one is 14A. Why in the world those "Trip Ticket" things AAA hands out to people don't advise tourists with trailers and RVs to use a safer route I'll never understand! You'll get the hang of it in no time, Debby, I promise!

 

[N F C]

Thanks for all the tips Blooie. The car was doing fine, I was the one that needed to take a breather once in a while, lol.

 

[Blooie]

Thanks for all the tips Blooie. The car was doing fine, I was the one that needed to take a breather once in a while, lol.

Now that I can't help with! Used to be on 14A the pullouts were marked, "Engine cooling area" or "Brake cooling area" but folks whizzed on by them, thinking they were for the "other guys" and not for them....they didn't need it. Sure enough, either they'd lose their brakes going down or overheat going up. So now the pullouts are marked, "scenic pullout" and they're always full! Go figger!

 

[N F C]

Now that I can't help with! Used to be on 14A the pullouts were marked, "Engine cooling area" or "Brake cooling area" but folks whizzed on by them, thinking they were for the "other guys" and not for them....they didn't need it. Sure enough, either they'd lose their brakes going down or overheat going up. So now the pullouts are marked, "scenic pullout" and they're always full! Go figger!

I enjoyed a couple of those "scenic pullouts"! Too much pretty stuff to look at to go faster than the speed limit anyway and since the signs "invited" me...

 

[N F C]

Time for new pictures, the leaves are a lot more yellow now. These pics were taken just a week ago.

It's supposed to be down in the 30's today...anyone seen snow yet?

 

[R2elk]

Time for new pictures, the leaves are a lot more yellow now. These pics were taken just a week ago.

It's supposed to be down in the 30's today...anyone seen snow yet?

It is down to 55° with strong winds here today. I have had 2 frosts on the garden so far but managed to prevent any damage by turning the sprinklers on until well after the sun had warmed the garden up. I did pick a 50 lb. pumpkin yesterday and a peck of cucumbers today. I still need to find the energy to pick the tomatoes, cantaloupe and watermelon along with the rest of the pumpkins.

Any serious snow at this time will cause severe damage to the trees since they still have far too many green leaves on.

Enjoy what little bit of fall there will be.

 

[N F C]

It is down to 55° with strong winds here today. I have had 2 frosts on the garden so far but managed to prevent any damage by turning the sprinklers on until well after the sun had warmed the garden up. I did pick a 50 lb. pumpkin yesterday and a peck of cucumbers today. I still need to find the energy to pick the tomatoes, cantaloupe and watermelon along with the rest of the pumpkins.

Any serious snow at this time will cause severe damage to the trees since they still have far too many green leaves on.

Enjoy what little bit of fall there will be.

Wow, a 50-pound pumpkin!?! It's the great pumpkin Charlie Brown

Do you do some canning with your garden produce?