Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The Final Cut

After the Medicine Bow Peak hike, I decided to head west towards Utah a little early. I didn’t have a plan. I was just seeing the countryside. However, there was not much to see in southwest Wyoming. I ended up staying in a hotel in Evanston, Wyoming since I didn’t see any place I wanted to camp. Evanston is the last town in Wyoming before I-80 reaches Utah. The good thing about the town is that it has a brewpub that has good brews and good food.

The next day, June 18th, I headed northwest into Utah. I decided to check out the Golden Spike National Historic Site at Promontory Summit. I wasn’t sure what to expect or if there would be much there. The Park had a nice Visitor Center. They also had replica trains that were pretty sweet. The area was a cool piece of history. I wish I had more time to explore the old grades. The railroad no longer goes over Promontory Summit. It has been moved to a causeway across the big salty lake to the south.
Union Pacific's No. 119
Union Pacific's No 119 in action
Central Pacific's Jupiter
Site of the last tie
Side of the Jupiter
Central Pacific's Jupiter and Union Pacific's No. 119
The Last Cut in the Union Pacific Grade before it reach Promontory Summit
The Last Cut looking southeast towards the salty lake
Looking south at the Union Pacific Grade from the Central Pacific Grade
Chinese Arch
After visiting the Golden Spike National Historic, it was time to head to the town next to the big salty lake for the World Cup Qualifier match between the US and Honduras. For the match, I had 2nd row seats. The US warmed up right in front of me. It was pretty cool. During the game, I also saw a couple of unhappy exchanges between Eddie Johnson and the coach, Jurgen Klinsmann. The US won the game 1-0 on Jozy Altidore goal. I drove home happy the next day.
Michael Bradley and others warming up
Clint Dempsey, Brad Evans, & Michael Bradley kicking it around
Gonzalez, Kljestan, Bradley, Altidore, Jones, & Johnson
National Anthem time
Final drink before the game
Klinsmann showing some emotion
Halftime interview

2 comments:

Pops said...

The Golden Spike. Another one of those places like the 4 Corners that's fun to visit so you can say you've been there.

Mighty Mike said...

I have never been to 4 Corners, but I think there is a little more history happening at the Golden Spike Site. If you find the history of the Transcontinental Railroad interesting, you will like the site, if you don't find that part of history interesting, you will be bored.