Anders Bandt

Well, I'm currently writing this with some mechanical troubles in Salt Lake City. The van is in the shop and I've had a hotel for 2 nights. I'll write up until I get to Salt Lake City.

I started the trip heading west towards some family land we have right across the Minnesota / South Dakota border. I left pretty late on a Friday night, and arrived just at sunset.

But man that first feeling rolling up and cooking a meal with the sun coming down. Bliss!

I did get a massive headache on the drive and overnight. I think it was from all the fumes from the wood stain I had very recently put on LOL. But I opened a door and the headache went away .....

I woke up in the morning, hit a quick walk around the quarter, and hit the road. I really wanted to make lots of westward progress towards LA earlier in the week so I could have a few days to chillax before my big Hawaii hike.

I took the "scenic" route and avoided the interstate. Notable things along the drive included

• witnessing a farm burning and the local fire department franticaly driving around the field trying to put it out
  • literally drive over a bridge with flames lapping over the sides!
• Seeing a large dam on the Missouri River in Pierre, SD
• Hitting a speed-bump at 30 mph that may or may not have been the culprit for my future mechanical issues! Fun!

I made it into Black Hills National Forest

The morning after, I went on a beautiful 8 mile trail run. It was beautiful forestry, especially after driving through the fields of South Dakota.

Well Wyoming is where my vehicle troubles first started. I had just left the first city across the border and was preparing for a 2 hour drive through ... nothingness when I felt the transmission kick and had a sinking feeling in my stomach. Half a second a light went on the dashboard. FUCK.

I was very debating turning around but realized what am I going to do at that last town. It was already pretty late in the day. So I kept pushing onwards. About 3 more times the lurch happened. I turned off my music and was just gripping the wheel driving about 10-20 MPH slower than the speed limit.

After some stressful driving I made it to Casper, Wyoming where there was one Ford dealer in town. I spent a great night in a Walmart parking lot and went to bed at peace knowing I would get it looked at in the morning.

.......

SIKE BOI. Transmission guy in Casper was on vacation for the rest of the week. Sucks to suck. Well, I had already made it 4 hours of driving so thought what's another 6 to Salt Lake City?

Onwards.

Honestly the first 4 hours of the drive were amazing. The issue with my vehicle didn't happen at all and I was feeling confident. I called one of my buddies who hooked me up with one of his friends in the Park City area to stay with.

It was beautiful to witness the change in scenery to mountainous from the hills. And even better when I reflected on the long transitions across Minnesota and South Dakota from farm fields, to rolling hills, to forest, to the Wyoming plains, to mountains.