Tag Bonneville Salt Flats

Bonneville Salt Flats Tree of Utah To Missoula and Back Utah

Bonneville Salt Flats – Sep 2021

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Sometimes I find myself on a different planet!

Bonneville Salt Flats

I left early in the day and headed out to see the Bonneville Salt Flats.  It was about an hour and a half drive west of Salt Lake City.  I figured that I would head out there, drive out onto the flats and then head home.  It turns out I spent over three and a half hours there.  It was fascinating! I stayed very entertained.

On my way out to the Salt Flats and stopped at the Tree of Utah.  The Tree of Utah is an 87 foot tall, mostly concrete structure built along route 80 in the Great Salt Lake Desert.  It was constructed by Karl Momen, a Swedish artist, and dedicated in 1986.  It is said he had the inspiration for the structure after having a vision of a tree while driving across the Bonneville Salt Flats.
It’s tough to miss the tree as it arrises in the distance as you approach driving down route 80.  It’s just sitting there in the middle of nowhere.  There is no parking area, one just pulls over to the side of the road.  It is bizarre.

“A hymn to our universe, whose glory and dimension is beyond all myth and imagination”

– Karl Momen

Looking out at me parked on route 80
A few miles further down the road is a rest area.  I have learned in my travels that sometimes rest areas are more than just a rest area.  They often have historic relevance or fun things to see and learn.  Luckily I decided to stop at this one as it was the entrance to the Bonneville Salt Flats.  There were no signs stating this on the highway, you just need to know.  If you pass it, it will be close to a half hour to make the loop back around.  There is no entrance on the eastbound side of the highway.
Experience driving onto the Flats and U-turning back towards the highway.
Then I wanted to see how far across I’d get if I drove a mile out onto the Flats….

I definitely enjoyed myself while hanging out on the Flats.  As barren as it is, I found it to be a great place to take some fun pictures.  I also played my guitar for a little while and was able to get internet through my phone hotspot!

This is what it looks like if you panorama shot as a car drives by.  There was a continuous flow of cars flying by.


Bonneville Salt Flats Salt Lake City To Missoula and Back Utah Food

Visiting Salt Lake City – Sep 2021

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I spent about a week in Salt Lake City with an old work friend.  We hadn’t seen each other since he left Boston a few years ago and it was really great catching up.  Although most of my week was inside his condo working, I did get out and do some exploring.
My friend, Lyle, had a very comfortable condo with a beautiful view.

Tree of Utah

I took a trip out to see the Bonneville Salt Flats and stopped at the Tree of Utah on my way.  The Tree of Utah is an 87 foot tall, mostly concrete structure built along route 80 in the Great Salt Lake Desert.  It was constructed by Karl Momen, a Swedish artist, and dedicated in 1986.  It is said he had the inspiration for the structure after having a vision of a tree while driving across the Bonneville Salt Flats.  It is a bizarre thing to be driving along the desert and seeing it in the distance.  A strange looking structure in the middle of nowhere.

“A hymn to our universe,
whose glory and dimension is beyond all
myth and imagination”
– Karl Momen

Bonneville Salt Flats

I thought I’d drive out here, drive across the flatness and go home.  I ended up spending over 3 and a half hours here. What an amazing place. This deserves it’s own blog post (Bonneville Salt Flats blog post).  As barren as this magical place is, I took alot of pictures.
There are no signs on the highway for The Bonneville Salt Flats.  There are signs for a rest area which is how you get onto the flats.  If you didn’t know this ahead of time and missed this rest area, you would have to drive miles to get to the next exit, turn around, head back past the Salt Flats to the next exit and then turn around again, driving back to the rest area. I did not know, but luckily decided to check out the rest area.

Wendover, UT and West Wendover, NV

I explored these two adjacent cities which is more like one city divided by the state line.  There is some history here as it was a place where the Lincoln Highway passed.  It also has a memorial to the Victory Highway which was a memorial to those who fought in WWI.  I bought some tacos for lunch in Utah and ate them in Nevada overlooking the desert.

Temple Square & The Capitol Building

I walked around the capitol building and Temple Square.  Unfortunately, Temple Square and some of the buildings in the square are being renovated and were closed.  I was approached multiple times by young Mormon’s asking if I had any questions about the square.  They were very friendly folk.
I also learned from the beehive sculpture at the capitol building why Utah is known as the beehive state.  I was curious about this as there seemed to be beehive motifs all over the state and their highway route signs have beehives on them.  The beehive symbolizes the Utah community as each person in Utah works together to support and help one another and to create a successful industry, as do bees in a hive.

The Viking Farmer’s Farm

My friend Lyle left MaidPro and Boston to work his father’s farm just outside of Salt Lake City.  His primary crop is hay and he is selling it on Amazon as The Viking Farmer. He has a great reputation and has recently been approached by a top pet food supplier to promote his products on their website. While visiting, we went down to see his farm and I helped him fix the door on his tractor.  It was a great first hand experience and I really enjoyed seeing the farm and sitting in the tractor! I can be such a kid sometimes.

The Armory

I’m not a gun person.  I’ve never owned a gun and probably never will.  Lyle, however, does have a collection.  I enjoyed listening to him talk about his collection.  He owns many old weapons and weapons from other countries. He very much likes the history and to talk about the history of what he has.  He also talks with a ton of knowledge of how the guns are built and operate as a machine.  Since this was all new to me, he took me to his local gun range to try some out.  I had never done this before so thought I would try it.  I like trying new things, especially on my travels. I did enjoy it.

Left to right: with the scope, handgun, AK47

Draper Historic Park

I met Byron, our MaidPro Sandy owner, for coffee one morning next to the Draper Historic Park.  I arrived early so spent some time walking around the park and learning some history of the area.