Monday, August 27, 2012

Sometimes for no good reason we go out to the Salt Flats

We woke up Saturday morning, with nothing on our "to do" list.  So Dentist Husband said, "Everyone in the car.  We are going to the Salt Flats."

So, two hours later, we were in Wendover.  Believe it or not the Wendover airport is a historic gem in the state of Utah.  Below are my kids outside and inside the airplane used in the movie "Con-Air".  




While, the Con-Air airplane is cool, what makes the Wendover airport so amazing is its history during WWII.  You can read all of the details here, but in summary, the first atomic bomb that was dropped in Japan, came from Wendover, Utah.  It was loaded onto the Enola Gay (named for the pilot's mother) and then three days later, "Little Boy" was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, Japan.  During WWII, Wendover airfield was a large base for the Airforce.  Slowly, the Wendover airfield is being restored.

 My kids climbing the newly restored control tower.
The hanger where the Enola Gay was kept.  
A ton of work has been done to restore it.  And, there are on-going fundraising efforts to finish the project.

Once we were done at the airfield, we headed to the Salt Flats.  The actual "Bonneville Speedway" was closed to visitors because of motorcycle racing that day but we were able to find another spot to get out and ride our bikes. 





 This area made me laugh.  The sign said, "Pet Area." 

And, this is what happens to a leather purse, when bottle of spray sunscreen "sprays" inside your purse.  I'm hoping the spot fades (and the strong smell of sunscreen dissipates) because it took me a while to find this purse (with my various "purse" requirements) and I love it.  



2 comments:

Kari said...

What a great field trip! I've never been to the salt flats, I've only heard of them. And to think that Wendover produced the 1st atomic bomb. (I'll have to let my brain process that one for a little bit.)

And, sorry about the sunscreen in your purse. I only knew that DEET will forever ruin, of all things, plastic, like a watch band or strap on something. Time will probably help the spot! :)

Britt said...

I've never been to the salt flats. How fun! We need to copy you.