Today is a long drive day. We started with a shared favorite - Cracker Barrel for a good breakfast. The Dickinson family introduced to Cracker Barrel on our first visit to Nashville and we have enjoyed its consistency on many of our road trips.

After breakfast we made a stop at Walgreens in Fort Collins to stock up on water and a few road snacks . Next we visited a Best Buy and replaced the lost camera. The camera was on sale for a great price and I got the last one in the store. Back in the van with the camera battery charging while we drove north to Laramie for lunch.

Lot's of semi trucks and horse trailers are on the road today. Once we arrived in Laramie we realized why all the horse trailers. It is Laramie's Founder Days including barrel racing and rodeos events this weekend. Several downtown streets are closed for bands, booths, food, and more. We found a highly rated vegetarian restaurant called Sweet Melissa's. Highly recommend it if you happen to find yourself in Laramie. I had the daily special which was artichoke manicotti with lemon and blueberry sauce. I know it sounds strange but the flavors were really good. After lunch the kids found some local made ice cream and we browsed the booths, and some shops. Grace successfully talked me into buying her some red cowboy boots. She has wanted red cowboy boots for years .

During lunch a rain storm passed through Laramie, now it is clearing and the sun is shining. We are back in the van and headed west on Interstate 80. The terrain is much like I-40 in northern New Mexico between Albuquerque and Gallop. High desert with long straight roads. We are over 7,000 feet altitude as we cross the Continental Divide.

We took a break in a town called Rawlins, Wyoming. It happened to be their "SummerFest" downtown so the streets were closed and food vendors were just closing up their booths. We walked around to stretch our legs a little. One booth that was still open was applying Henna temporary tattoos, something Taylor has wanted to experience for some time. She selected a design and had it applied. We asked the tattoo lady how long it would take to dry and she responded "oh, not long. just till it dries." That wasn't very helpful. Oh, well.

Back on the road to Rock Springs . More high desert landscape spotted with natural gas wells. Semi trucks out number the cars 2 to 1. Speed limit has been 75 most of the way but an hour outside of Rock Springs it bumped up to 80 MPH! There have been blowing snow fences along the highway the whole way. That tells you it is snowy and windy here in the winter. Glad we are here during summer.

We arrived into Rock Springs and grabbed dinner at a 50's burger place called Broadway Burger Station. The shakes and burgers were pretty good. A couple more miles and we were at our hotel - a Holiday Inn Express. Nice, new and clean. Rock Springs reminds us of Gallop, New Mexico. The kids went to the pool to swim, Jack ran on the treadmill before we retired to bed. Lauralee is happy as there is a Starbucks across the street for morning coffee.

Tomorrow we head to Jackson and Jackson Hole.