We got our start this morning in Iowa just after the sun came up. It was another 14 hour day, but we were able to leave by 7 in the morning, and with another time change, that would get us in by 8 that evening, at least that was the plan.

Flickr Photos from Today

Iowa was pretty nice. Bri read off Wikipedia facts as we trucked through, which is always fun. I was surprised that there were lots of hills - I really just expected everything to be flat. It turns out the flat was yet to come... enter Nebraska. Nebraska felt like the longest state in the union. The eastern part was hilly and interesting, like Iowa, but after Lincoln the flat set in. Nothing but corn, cows and an the mile markers to keep time. Highway hypnosis was a big problem here, but between Sydney's drugged craziness and Bri’s singing I managed to stay alert.

We stopped for gas in Ogallala, Nebraska, and shortly after that it all changed. The road shifted subtly up, and we started the climb. The breadbasket grains turned into shrubbery and bluffs. We climbed a bunch. Then we climbed some more. By the time we reached Cheyenne, we were up at 6000 ft. The truck didn’t do too bad actually. I was able to keep it around 60 up the hills, despite the 16’ truck being underpowered towing that full flatbed trailer.

Bri and I decided to push on to Laramie, Wyoming to stop for the night. We thought, “hey it’s only another 50 miles”. Hehe, 50 miles and 2500 ft of elevation. By the time I looked it up on the iPhone we were already halfway up the mountain. It turns out the highest point along the entire length of I-80 occurs between Cheyenne and Laramie: 8,640 ft. Now that was quite a climb. The truck didn’t do quite as well with the elevation (and the fact that I was running 10% ethanol from Nebraska) and we were only able to do about 45 mph up the inclines. I certainly have a much greater respect for the power of those semi trailers that passed me at 70 up that hill.

Well we made it, finally and we’re crashing for the night. Laramie is down the hill about 1000 feet from the pass, but that’s plenty high to make the air feel pretty thin compared with ‘ol Philly. Tomorrow we’re in great shape for the trek into Park City, where I get to pick up my new Honda VFR800A Interceptor at Summit Park City. Can’t wait!

And for you numbers junkies out there (I know I am):

• 1,787 miles traveled in 3 days
• 199 gallons of gas used
• $518 in fuel costs
• 9.0 MPG (ouch)
• $2.60 average price per gallon
• 1,159 miles to go
• 2 time zones crossed
• 1 very pissed off cat