The Continental Divide

Yesterday, driving across Wyoming, we passed the Continental Divide. If anyone remembers that from grade school they’ll know that on the Eastern side, rain water drains into the Atlantic. On the West side, the Pacific Ocean.

We stayed at a lovely hotel, the Historic Plains Hotel. It’s part of a revitalized downtown. Unlike most modern hotels, this 1911 charmer has thick walls between rooms. We were on the top floor overlooking Cheyenne Depot Park and even the dog slept so soundly she was upside-down and not protecting us from other guests’ doors opening all night.

After breakfast at the Capitol Grille (the main hotel restaurant) we got on the road for what we thought would be a brief six-hour trip into Utah. It was more like eight. High plains, indeed. Before we hit the Continental Divide we reached 8,640 feet above sea level. This is from folks who’ve lived at three feet above sea level for the past five years.

As we climbed Jim and I both got more and more tired. A few miles past the Sinclair oil refinery (Sinclair Dino-Land from the 1964 World’s Fair in NYC!) we stopped at Pizza Hut for lunch. A couple of sodas and a personal pan pizza later we thought we were OK to go. Shortly thereafter we stopped at a rest stop. I couldn’t keep my eyes open and was nauseous. I didn’t know how to push through the last few hours.

A guy there told us it was altitude sickness. Makes sense. Whenever we went to Snowbird years ago and lived at 8,000 feet on the slopes, I got sick. We’re at Park City now, en route to look at a few places to stay this morning. Don’t know the altitude here but I believe in the SLC valley it’s about 5,000 feet and last time it took me 3-4 days to get used to it.

Getting used to flat, flyaway hair and static electricity (I get shocked every time I touch metal) is a hardship I’ll have to endure. After a few days of living out of two suitcases with a pail of dog food and Zoe’s bowls, I’m looking forward to being able to have some semblance of home even though we brought very little with us.

I hope to be able to get back to cooking very soon, and eating sit-down meals. Zoe’s not welcome in many hotels and we can’t leave her in the room. If we bring her with us we can’t enter a restaurant, so end up sending Jim out for takeout and we eat in the room.

I packed up and Jim’s down at breakfast. We’ll load up the car and head down the mountain in search for living quarters. Wish us luck! Cheers, Dee