The challenge today was wind and continual elevation increases. The day started breezy, then wind speeds rose to 30 mph, with gusts to 45+ mph. Due to the head and cross winds, I was driving between 40 and 50 mph, just to make progress. The proliferation of snow fences on the south side of I-80 show the prevailing winter wind direction.
By the time I got to WY-72, near Elk Mountain and a few miles east of Walcott, the predictions were for 65+ mph gusts. By that time, I saw a fifth wheel overturned along with its dually truck and I had my wheels blown sideways, setting off all sorts of alarms. I-80 was closed to vehicles like our RV: light weight, high profile. So, I got off the road about 1:30PM. The high wind advisory said the winds would diminish in early evening.
After 5 hours waiting, I finally got underway and got to the Rock Springs KOA, Rock Springs WY, at 9pm. I was wiped from keeping the Goose on the road all day. An unfunny day, even though I kept reminding myself to enjoy the journey.
Max elevation today was 8600 feet east of Laramie. Temperatures were cool all day, in the 50s. At some point today, my right rear brake light lost its lens, so I’ve ordered one to repair the damage. I had thought the high winds damaged the slide cover, but it deployed this night with no apparent loss of function.
