History, Skirts, Fun and Sunshine!

What a great time in Lewiston, Utah at the Little Red All Women's Bike Ride.   

 Met so many women and they looked so cute in their skirts.   

 It is important to keep balance in your job, so we took a little history lesson.  

Did you know that just 50 miles away, is a great "Rocket Garden?"

Sweet Spot Truck and AirSSS
That is a huge rocket booster!

Inside of a rocket motor, which is launched to help the space shuttles get to 3000 mph.
Then it ejects and parachutes down to the ocean.  It then is captured and reused on a future launch.
Skirts are great for rocket watching too!

Just past the rocket garden is the "Golden Spike National Historic Site."  Long story short:  Two railroad companies in 1866 fighting to lay down rail tracks (by hand) met finally( after a bunch of fighting and discussion) at Promontory Summit and connected the Union Pacific Railroad with the Central Pacific Railroad to create the First Transcontinental Railway we know today. 

Pictures for more detail:)

This is a cut mark.  A two man team called "double jackers" drilled holes in solid rock using long and narrow drill bits.  They used a huge heavy sledge hammer known as a double jack.  The "powder monkey" would then come and fill it with black powder and blow up the rock.  Then the rock was shoveled and carried away by mules and carts.
 These drill marks are from 1868.... wow! 

This is a rock shelter.  They were used to cache supplies and construction material.
 They are scattered everywhere on the Promontory Mountains!

The railroad must be less than 2% grade.  So cuts like this were made by hand to allow the trains to pass through mountains easily.  Remember that both rail companies were working around the clock to grade their line, as it came with government funding and rights to the commerce going from the coast to central.

Finally!  This is the Golden Spike National Historic Site.

The actual golden spike is not there anymore, but it has replica's and many photos depicting the actual spike.  The spike is resting at Stanford University.  Why Stanford?  Well...... Mr. Leland Stanford was one of the four owners of the Union Pacific and a Tycoon of the 1860's and he founded Stanford University.  
Thought for the day:  If you really want to understand history, go experience it.  
Second thought for the day:  Sweet Spot Skirts look great while you are traveling and learning above history!  

~ stephanie