A few weeks ago, this navigator, technical adviser, proofreader etc. of Outerrealmz.com, decided to go on an adventure of my own. I had plans to visit a friend and check out a few abandoned places without the boss, AKA Scott Elliott. This may never happen again.

The drive to Utah was beautiful. The sun was shining and there was little traffic as I headed up to my first destination of Murray, Utah. I got checked in to my awesome hotel room at Hilton Home2 Suites. (https://www.hilton.com) My room had its own living room and a kitchenette. It reminded me of a small apartment.

My plan was to meet with my friend for brunch the next morning and anticipated I would head out on my own around noon. Well, sometimes the Universe has its own path for you to follow which is not what you had thought you would be doing. Brunch lasted much longer than I thought it would and it was almost 3pm when we finished gabbing. No problem I was thinking, I will get up early in the morning and hit a couple places and meander home checking out whatever I care to see.

As I awoke the next morning I was greeted by rain. Hmmmm. While I have an amazing car, it does not have the big beefy tires on it that the boss’s Rav 4 has. This was indicating I probably couldn’t go to the places I wanted, as I would possibly get stuck in the mud. No problem, I would head south instead of northwest, as I was sure there would be better weather.  Again, Mother Nature decided against me, a storm was coming in from Nevada into Utah. All of Utah! The radar was showing there was also snow coming in. Well heck, this was not quite the adventure I was expecting.

I packed up my car and tried to take a picture of the snowcapped mountains I had seen the day before, but they were now covered by clouds. On the road, my GPS took me a different way back to I80. I had to laugh as my GPS has taken Scott and I on some off the wall, round about ways in our travels.  I took a big breath and saw some landmarks I remembered, so I knew I was heading the correct way.

Finally, I was back on I80 headed home, thinking this will be a breeze, I’d be home in about 6 or 7 hours. Breeze was the first thing I encountered.  Not really a breeze, more like rain with gusty wind.  Good thing I replaced my windshield wiper blade before I left home. Onward I went.

When I left Nevada, the only snow that was left was way up on the tip top of the mountains.  Not so now.  Hard rain came, then corn snow and then snow.  Again, no problem, I switched my Grand Cherokee SRT8 into snow mode and continued on.  Of course, I called Scott a couple times. The boss is really good at helping me keep anxiety under control.

 

It started to warm up a bit and the snow stopped. I began to think maybe the sun will come out and the rest of the drive will be uneventful. Up ahead I saw what looked like a big puddle I couldn’t change lanes because of the traffic next to me and behind. I found out the hard way it was not water, but black ice. My beast’s (my cars nickname) back end danced around a bit, but it kept itself in the lane as the ice cracked underneath her hefty weight. Geez what else could happen this trip. I started to remember when Scott and I went on a trip in October and woke up to snow in Utah. Maybe we aren’t supposed to travel in Utah.

The nasty weather continued and there was nowhere on the way home I could explore. I started to think maybe the navigator is only supposed to navigate and not try to explore without the boss and main adventurer. All and all it was a good trip, even without exploring the abandoned places I wanted to see. I guess that means Outerrealmz and I will have to plan a trip in the Summer to wander around Utah and see what we can find.

If you are curious about the places I was unable to check out this trip, here is a list

Thistle: In April of 1983, a landslide obliterated the town. Residents had to be evacuated as nearly 65,000-acre feet of water backed up after a massive landslide dammed the Spanish Fork River. There are a few structures apparently still half submerged. Off I89 south east of Salt Lake City

Iosepa: This town was inhabited from 1889–1917 by over 200 Polynesian members of the Latter-Day Saints. In 1915 a temple was built in Hawaii and by 1917 Iosepa became as ghost town as resides returned to Hawaii. Located of I80 just south of Salt Lake City.

Corrine: Founded in March of 1869 it was unofficially named the “Gentile” Capital of Utah. A group of former Union Army officers and merchants who were non-Mormons from Salt Lake City believed that a Gentile town on the Union Pacific railroad line could compete with the Saints of Utah. Located just off I84 in Box Elder County.

It is always a good idea to be prepared for anything when you head off to adventure. Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will be back. Take a shovel, for more reasons than possibly digging yourself out. Have a few bottles of water and some snacks squirreled away.  And as Scott has a Man bag with canned food, toilet paper rope, knife and a first aid kit, this trip we packed a Ma’am bag for me.

Although the trip was not exactly what I had anticipated it was definitely an adventure I had to navigate on my own. Check out my sporadic blog posts at http://www.silverliningsofthegoodthebadandtheugly.wordpress.com