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We're off again for another "Road Trip",
in our topless Factory Five Roadster (Cobra).
- or -
How to drive (litteraly) your wife crazy!

Utah
May 6-12, 2013

Off on another adventure? You bet! What else could happen? Tornado? Hurricane? Flood? Well, I guess it could, but we're hoping for better weather than we had on our trip in 2009. At this point, I'm not sure if I'm going to tow the Cobra there and take the trip, or drive it all the way. I'll make that decision at the last minute, so you'll have to follow along to see what choice I made. We're leaving May 6th and arriving to meet up with the Utah Cobra Club for a four day excursion through Southern Utah.

Did I forget to mention this is only a seven (7) day trip. Thought it best to limit our time on the "open road" so to speak in case we do hit inclement weather, which could easily put a damper on things. No pun intended.

I contacted the Utah Cobra Club last year in hopes of making their trip to Idaho, but work got in the way. So, this year, knowing I was going to be retired (from my full time job), I made plans to join them on their trip and see some country we've never seen. The plan is to meet at Larry Johnson's house (who I've met during a Factory Five outing in Las Vegas years ago and Willow Springs Raceway), and travel to Fillmore, Cove Fort, Richfield, Big Rock Candy Mountain, Bryce Canyon, Escalante, Torrey, Hanksville, Goblin Valley State Park and Green River. Looks like it's going to be a good outing. Total mileage of the trip to be about 660 miles not including our drive there and back.

The route to Utah will be along Highway 50 across Nevada. "The Loneliest Road in America", also part of the Lincoln Highway. If we don't drive that way there, we'll be coming back this way. Either way, I'm doing Highway 50.

Welcome to Highway 50, the Loneliest Road in America. This highway crosses Central Nevada through the Great Basin, a unique area because no water leaves the basin. Rivers begin, run, and go underground. They may resurface once in awhile but soon return underground.

The route Highway 50 follows has been a pathway for travel for centuries. The Native Americans followed migrating herds of deer, antelope, and other game across Central Nevada. Early explorers crossing Nevada included John Fremont and Jedediah Smith. The Overland Stage later followed Smith’s route; then the Pony Express took this route, and finally, the transcontinental telegraph came over this area. On July 1, 1913, the Lincoln Highway Association was organized at Detroit, Michigan with the objective: “To procure the establishment of a continuous improved highway from the Atlantic to the Pacific, open to lawful traffic of all descriptions without toll charges and to be a lasting memorial to Abraham Lincoln.” (Lincoln Highway Association brochure) The Lincoln Highway was the first coast-to-coast highway, running from New York City to San Francisco. Dwight Eisenhower backed the idea as a young lieutenant colonel in the Army trying to move troops across the country. When he became President of the United States, he promoted the Interstate highway system.

Today, highways take travelers across the country in comfort. Reading journal accounts of pioneers crossing Nevada to get to the west coast, one can really appreciate travel conditions today.

The mountain ranges of Nevada run north to south with valleys between. This is known as Basin and Range formation in the High Desert. This makes Central and Eastern Nevada a one-of-a-kind place. As you travel, take time to enjoy the open spaces, abundant wildlife, unique plants, and friendly communities. A narrated CD of the area has been developed and can be found in the local chamber of commerce or tourism offices.

The towns along Highway 50 each offer points of interest, museums, historical buildings and sites, special events, a variety of services and interesting shops. Visitors can rest assured that all the necessities can be found along the route. However, it is a long way between places. The wise traveler knows it is best to carry extra water and warm clothing because this is mostly high desert; conditions and temperatures can change quickly. Travel with your gas tank filled. Watch for wild life including deer, elk, coyote, rabbits, birds, cows, horses, and other critters. This is open range country so any of these may be on the road ways, especially at night. Enjoy your trip through Nevada and plan enough time to enjoy all the attractions along the way.

Looks like the weather is going to be a blessing and as of now (5/1/2013), so we're going to be driving all the way!! Made our reservations for a stop in Fallon, NV and plan on stopping in Austin, NV for a fuel stop (both Cobra and us) at the Toiyabe Cafe on Tuesday morning before heading on to the Provo, UT area. We'll meet the group at Larry's the following morning. During the trip, the last day will be a return trip through Sin City (Lost Wages) i.e. Las Vegas, NV along I70. Then it'll be a trip home to Aptos, CA from there. That's if all goes to plan.

I'm allowing two full days to get to Utah with a stop in Nevada and we'll be checking email so if you'd like to drop a line, do so here: weendoggy@aol.com or, you can email Jeanne at: jt81cruz@aol.com However, this route can change at the last minute.

One thing for sure this time is to drill several "drain" holes in the footbox to allow water to drain OUT and not create a mini-lake like last time. I'll have plugs installed and when/if needed, pull the plugs to allow the water to exit the cockpit. Yeah, gotta' be prepared, unlike the last trip. I'll also need to make sure I have the car cover ready to put over us in case of a downpour in areas that don't have an overpass for protection. Driving Hwy. 50 we'll surely need this to keep us dry. We make look funny on the side of the road, but we'll be dry! Now, where did I put my friend Reno's "weather window"?

Map of proposed Utah Club trip.

Well knowing us, we got up early and were on the road at 3:50am MT. Yep, not a creature was stirring, not even a lizard. I wanted to get going early to beat the heat across the desert. I'm glad we did because it did get warm. We had eaten a late lunch/early dinner in Cedar City at Sizzler's and then gassed up and drove on to Washington, UT to stay at the Holiday Inn Express there. Roy had told me there wasn't anything to do there so eating early and getting a good rest was just fine with us.

We drove through to Las Vegas but decided to keep going to Primm, NV and stop to gas up and have some breakfast. We stopped at Whiskey Pete's and after breakfast, Jeanne wanted to play her quarters. She found a machine and within 15 minutes, hit a jackpot for $800.00!!!