Forever West

Cutting through the northern tip of the Rockies and passing over the Continental Divide, the I-80 west cuts through Wyoming’s southern mass in an predominantly undeveloped two-lane highway. For a gal used to the bustle of Brooklyn, the expanse of open space is unbelievable, almost confusing. The bright blue sky and healthy green of the land surround me like a surreal paint-by-number. I am very far away, not just far away from home but far away from everything.

Eating vegan in Wyoming would be a great challenge, especially since most of the small eateries in or around Laramie, our only hope, were closed for the observed Independence Day. This did not stop us from peering eagerly into the windows of Sweet Melissa‘s, the state’s only vegetarian restaurant, and cursing our luck. We did find Mizu Sushi, a Japanese restaurant with several veggie options, however. I wouldn’t normally blog about a meal at a Japanese joint simply because it is pretty standard fare. But a Japanese joint in Wyoming is a different story! For lunch I ordered several small plates, unsure of the portions and having way larger eyes than my stomach: fried tofu, an avocado roll and 2 huge fresh spring rolls. All were very good but a bit costly for the area.

Working our way through WY towards UT, we took a quick excursion to some hot springs in Saratoga, a small ranch town an hour off the interstate. The naturally mineral-rich and piping hot springs were an interesting stop! Though we hadn’t the gall to immerse ourselves fully into the 108+ degrees F waters, which seemed to be scalding… even more so with the blazing sun above, the sulphuric smell and potent water seemed to have residual health benefits. My feet were tinglingly with glee from being dipped in the bubbling springs. Older visitors, however, basked in the waters fearlessly. Below are some shots from the springs in dedication to Andrea who hoped to see pictures of things other than food.
After setting up camp in a motel close to Flaming Gorge, a scenic gorge surrounding a huge reservoir, we searched long and hard for a good eat option. But Green River, Wyoming failed us. We opted for a trip to Albertson’s to pick up some frozen food to nuke in the room’s microwave. Tomorrow we’ll make it into Salt Lake City to try some veggie leads that have been on the radar for quite some time.