It is exactly 1212 miles from Los Angeles, CA to Missoula, MT. The most efficent way to drive is to take Interstate 10 east to Interstate 15 north all the way until Interstate 90 and then head west. It is a two day drive if you decide not to floor it for an all nighter or stop at every somewhat interesting sight and rest stop along the way. The most laborious part of this trek is the short stretch of highway that begins where the 101 and 10 intersect, contuning all the way until the joining of the 10 and 15. It is recommended that a driver bring along a wide array of stumulating entertainment to avoid implanting his head in the steering wheel, as it can take easily two hours to traverse this 37 mile stretch of industry riddled highway.
The heaven that awaits the driver who is able to endure this torturous expanse of interstate however is worth the time wasted sitting in still traffic. Once Interstate 10 east gives way to Interstate 15 north, the traffic and the factories magically disappear and are replaced by open lanes of highway and mountians that cradle the automobile like a mother holding her newborn baby. It is strongly recommended at this juncture of the trek that the driver let out a long and deep breath exhaling the remaining fumes of bottlenecked traffic stuck inside his stomach. The golden red light reflecting off the jagged mountians and into the ocean blue sky during the early evening hours is the best medicine to heal the driver of his rush hour maladies.
These hours of driving bliss, no matter how enthralling, are still finite. Within a few hours, depending on how hard the driver presses down on the gas pedal, the sparkling lights of Las Vegas will begin to appear first as dimly twinkling yellow lights. Soon, the outline of the city's skyline will appear. This scene is especially impressive at night, as the bright, flashing lights of many colors illuminate the infinite attractions that Las Vegas offers. Be forewarned however that a stray exiting from the freeway amongst this glowing glitter could lead to catastophic consequences for teh driver planning to arrive in Missoula, Montana in two days.
Less than 1,000 miles remain on the trek once the flash and flare of Las Vegas diminish in the rear view mirror. It is recommended to find lodgings for the evening at this juncture. Mesquite, Nevada, a little more than a one hour drive, is a quaint little city right off the 15 where the economical driver can easily find an affordable place to sleep. Refreshed, the driver begins the next leg of the journey to Missoula preferably early in the morning. The stretch of highway from Mesquite until Southern Utah offers little distraction in the way of stunning scenery, gambling, or entertainment provided at an hourly rate. The aware driver needs to make sure though to leave Mesquite with a full tank of gas, as stations are few and far between and the ones that are in operation charge extra for the convenience of filling up a fuel tank in the middle of nowhere.
Some of the most beautiful national parks in the United States are accessible from Southern Utah. Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon offer the traveler backdrops of red rocks sprinkled with lush vegetation growing aside of gushing rivers whose white waters spill over incredible waterfalls. The driver whose has never bore witness to these magnificant sights must provide ample time in his trip to view these amazing spectacles of nature. Bring hiking boots, lots of water, and a mind open to appreciating the simple beauty of crimson canyons whose sharp ridges have been smoothed out by winding rivers passing through these natural throughways for millions of years.
Located in the north, Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah. It is the largest city on Interstate 15 north of Las Vegas and is also home to the Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. Salt Lake City affords the weary, yet adventurous driver the opportunity to take in a slice of American life while reinvigorating himself from the hours of montonous and lonely driving. Located on the edge of downtown is Spring Moblie Ballpark, formerly known as Franklin Covey Field and home to the Salt Lake Bees. Tickets are inexpensive to watch the Bees compete in this quaint stadium that provides the relaxed fan with the experience of intimately enjoying aspiring Major Leaguers play baseball for a few hours. Games usually begin at 7:05 PM and are played with the high peaks of the Wasatch Mountains in the backdrop. This starting time allows for the flow of the game to naturally blend in with the reflecting light of the setting sun as it collides against the frequent flashes of lightning emanating from the mountain peaks.
If the driver of this excurison enjoys the quiet solitude of a peaceful morning drive, the stretch of Interstate 15 from Salt Lake City until Pocatello, Idaho is the perfect paradise, especially on chilly mornings when the temperature barely reaches 50 degrees in the middle of June. It is approximately a two and a half hour ride which can be easily stretched into three hours if the driver's foot decides to take it easy on the gas pedal. Low clouds obscuring the peaks of the Wasatch Mountains that follow the highway into Southern Idaho provide the driver with meditative portraits of a lush and fertile landscape watered by generous winter snows.
Once the interstate passes through Pocatello, there is a strong possibility that driver will grow impatient to reach his ultimate destination of Missoula, Montana. By this stage, he would have already been on the road for at least two days and possibly a third if he was distracted by the sights and wonders he passed along the way. He would know there are only 360 miles left and he calculates that his gas efficent vehicle can travel 300 miles on a full tank of gas. A twinge of disappointment may then shoot through his nerves at this annoying distraction of having to make one final petrol stop, which he will nonetheless admirably perform in Deer Lodge, Montana. He is heading west on Interstate 90, having bid Interstate 15 a fond and reflective farwell in Butte 40 miles behind.
The driver is now pulling off Highway 90 at exit 104 in Missoula which is Orange Street. He is hungry and tired and wants to be no place else but a restaurant which will place before him hot food fresh off the grill and a cold beer straight from the tap. He knows the perfect place and if his memory serves him right, the eatery is located on Brooks Road, just a few miles ahead. The sights of this city that is home to The University of Montana begin to trickle back to his conscious thoughts as he recollects some of the fleeting memories he gathered while living in this town for a summer six years ago. But onward he drives and within five minutes, he pulls into the parking lot of the restaurant for whose food he drove through six states to taste again. His stomach rumbles and his heart skips a beat as he enters the establishment. But before this wearied traveler has a chance to sit down, he finds one particular hard working waiter, walks over to him, and hugs the brother he is seeing and speaking to for the first time since six summers past.
No comments:
Post a Comment