6-13-2024 DRIVING THROUGH WYOMING

 I am planning to take a little time off from the t-log biz while we play with the Captain and Connie but I need to tell you about a few things.

 

There is a little town along the way called Ten Sleep.  An odd name for a town, I thought.  Well, the indigenous tribe of Indians that lived nearby used this area as a good resting point on their excursions because it was “ten sleeps” (that is, ten overnights) from any nearby threatening unfriendly tribes.  And the name stuck.

 

We're going through there, right?

Today’s drive was a bit daunting.   The road looked like it was headed straight into the snowcaps of the Bighorn Mountains.  And it was.  We were in third gear on the ascent and at one point, Rob turned on the heat to cool the engine down.  Fortunately, we were at elevation so it was a bit cooler outside.  We opened the windows.  We could watch and hear the rivers below, crashing down through the boulders.  I don’t know what class the whitewater is rated but I didn’t see any humans running the rivers and I suspect it is runable only by hardy souls such as Lonesome Larry.  At 9,666 feet, we crested at Powder River Pass and then began the descent. 

Watch out, Rob!  You're going to 
go over the edge!  Love from
The Flat Earth Society

The signs warned of five 8% grades ahead, check brakes.  Four grades left.  Check brakes.  Three grades left.  Check brakes.  Then, we came upon this:  a catch net.  Rather than a runaway truck ramp, the warning signs said, “There is a 7% grade hairpin 4 miles ahead.  Check brakes.  Consider using the catch net.”  It is a straight off-ramp that is cordoned off with a series of several elastic nets.  They are of the same technology as the cables that jets snag with the tailhook on an aircraft carrier and can stop a 90,000 lb. load traveling 90 mph.  The signs say, “Save your life!  Use the catch net.”  It has been used successfully six times since its installation and has saved the lives and vehicles every time.  I am only 75 years old but this was truly a new one for me!  Well, Rob was driving, watching the engine and using the “jake” brake so the DeLaMares didn’t wind up in the catch net.   Four 7% grades later, we made it, leveled out a little and it was safe to turn the wheel over to Lindy.

The Catch Net Channel 

Entrance to the Catch Net

Zoom in on this (L side)
to see the diagram of how the
net system works.

Warnings, warnings, warnings!

 

So here we are all rigged up and settled in at the KOA in Spearfish.  The weather forecast doesn’t look good, but if it holds, we may get in a little pickleball tomorrow.  And certainly, walleye for dinner, either way!