Driving to Elko

	Love this stretch of I-80 between Salt Lake and Elko. You start out with the Great Salt Lake on your right and on your left, piles of slag from copper mines. Farther down, piles of salt you could ski down--if you didn't mind landing in the lake. Best of all, we're surrounded by the the grandly desolate expanse of brown, highland plain with its sand, tufts of grass and dunes rimmed by blue-hued mountains rising into a blue-and-cloud filled sky. Then there are the human touches-unending rail lines paralleling the highway, signs advertising the charms of Wendover--"$10 Lap Dance!"--and the ubiquitous dust-covered outsized pick-up truck hauling a horse trailer. Favorite road sign so far is outside Independence Valley: Prison Area No Hitchhiking Then we come over another pass and see a broad swath of brown mountain segueing into snow-covered mountain covered by a translucent veil of snow or mist--I can't tell which--shot through by sunlight. I can see a certain appeal to being a trick driver on I-80. And there's even a nail salon at the truck stop in Wells! Slide show below; if you're viewing on an iPad or iPhone, click here.