Rock Springs, Wyoming: where else?

For anyone who may have followed this blog, you have seen Rock Springs, Wyoming surface several times. Our first encounter was to ask the local Hampton Inn to make us reservations in Twin Falls, Idaho on our first trip out after being stranded in Laramie. Our second was on our way back in April when we broke down 40 miles east of here and Kathy a manager here found us a reliable tow (Bob)... etc. We stayed here 3 days over the weekend while repairs were made. Then last summer, we were here and took the "Wild Horse Loop" on White Mountain, but only saw lots of "road apples" but no horse flesh. As I mentioned in my last post, we decided to extend yesterday to get to Rock Springs because we didn't want to chance catching snow as we crossed over the continental divide. Now we sit in a very comfortable room and have decided that after the long drive (for us), only estimated 15 hours of driving, and warming temperatures promised, we would break it down into 3 five hour days (about our speed) and stay here another day. Georgia is feeling really punky and the rest should make the remainder of the trip more bearable. Yesterday the driving was a mixed bag. Although very cold outside, it was cozy in our vehicle. The sun was shining all day long. Only a skiff of blowing snow. However, when we reached Rawlins, we hit about 50 miles of ice. It seems the traffic had recently packed down the snow before the road crews got there and with the sub zero temperature the road was pretty much glazed. That slowed us down and made for some tense times, especially as the sun got low and glared off the ice. Got a beautiful silhouette of the mountains with the sun setting behind them, however. The first sign that things were looking up came when we got to our room to find the familiar tractor greeting us. Picture isn't as good, but I think you can get the point.

This morning, I got to renew acquaintance with Kathy as we traced back to our first meeting when she "saved our bacon"...  Plan for Twin Falls, Idaho for Friday night, then somewhere in Oregon Saturday night and Sunday night in Corvallis. Debating on the second leg of the trip. We have always taken the Central Oregon Highway (20), but I really don't want to do that again. The choices are to play it safe and take I-84 to Portland along the Columbia Gorge. That is all interstate.... safe but maybe less scenic... The other choice is to take 26 across the Malheur National Forest. We have never done that and it appears promising, but will take a little longer. I'm thinking I will check the ranger station as we enter Oregon. Last summer the lady there suggested that route was more scenic than Highway 20, but for some reason I wasn't ready for more adventure (I guess we had used it up chasing after wild horses).. From everything I can figure, it should be safe for us this trip, but I will ask them before deciding.... decisions, decisions. For now it's a "chill day". That decision is a couple of days off.