Day 5: State No. 30

The High Desert Inn is the highlight of accommodation so far. The room is a gem and lacks nothing. Even the ice bucket has a small shovel. There is a real effort made here, and it almost hurts that it's only for one night.

I also slept longer for the first time and am quite rested for this long day of driving. I originally planned to leave by nine, but my GoPro account is acting up and I waste half an hour of my life.

By 9:30 am, I am mentally preparing for the 600 km between here and my next destination.

Driving towards Salt Lake City under the still shining sun through a valley at least 30 kilometers wide, flanked by mountains on both sides. One gets so used to the beauty of nature here so quickly. To move faster, I switch to the interstate after about 50 km.

Before Salt Lake City, the traffic increases dramatically, and despite the six-lane highway, it is quite crowded. It's not particularly enjoyable, so I'm glad to turn eastward.

Heading towards Park City, the interstate quickly gains altitude. You can see individual patches of snow and imagine how harsh the winter is here. After 100 km, I miss the exit and have to turn around at the next exit. However, I haven't seen anything like this before. The tunnel under the highway is only slightly wider than my car; a truck definitely can't pass through here.

After leaving the interstate and almost driving alone through the prairie, I realize that I am now in Wyoming. I counted. This is exactly the 30th state I am at least passing through. Honestly, I haven't stayed in all of them for long. For example, Maryland, I remember a 3-hour drive. But it didn't really make me want to stay longer.

Wyoming is a sparsely populated state, and there is not a big city in sight for miles. Endless prairie as far as the eye can see, and roads that disappear straight into the horizon. For some, this may be boring, but for me, it is pure pleasure to let my soul relax here.

Sometimes I stop and enjoy the peace and the loneliness that becomes apparent here. There are attentive drivers everywhere, and here too, a woman asks if everything is okay. No local just stops in the middle of nowhere without a breakdown.

I'm almost a little sad that the 6-hour drive passes by so quickly. Pinedale, my destination, also has only 2,000 inhabitants and is at an altitude of 2,200 m. It's so cool here that I put on my sweater for the first time on this trip.

After a little shopping at the Dollar Tree and refueling at 85 euro cents per liter, I reach the Gannett Peak Inn - my double overnight stay. I have decided to spend two nights here because the Grand Teton NP is 1 1/2 hours away, and that's where I want to spend tomorrow.

My expectations are more than exceeded. My room is totally great, I can park in front of the door again, and although it is a bit smaller than usual, it is completely sufficient. And all very nicely decorated. The owner is German, and the manager I meet says she would definitely like to meet me. Well, I'm curious about that. That will probably be tomorrow.

Speaking of size. In the description, a few Americans complain that the room is not big enough. I would like to send them to England. Then they can experience how a bed is squeezed into a room where there is not even enough space for a suitcase on both sides. Sometimes they really have a screw loose here in that regard.

To celebrate the evening, I watch “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” and imagine him not roaming in France but slaughtering some zombies in the next season in Germany.