Previously I composed of a collection of random thoughts, none of which merited an article on its own. It seemed to make sense to call it Odds and Ends. So I plan to do the same thing again today. Logically I should call this one Odds and Ends 2, like any good Hollywood blockbuster.
Salt Lake City Area Geo-Oddities?
I will be visiting northern Utah for several days in the near future, primarily within the vicinity of Salt Lake City and Ogden. I’ll be radiating out from there and hitting a number of new counties including some along the nearest borders of Nevada, Idaho and Wyoming. The area on this map will probably be in play.
I have vague plans for the usual tourist sites but I’m also hoping to track down a few geo-oddities. I have West Wendover, the only spot in Nevada on Mountain time, already on the list. Additionally I hope to bag the Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian.
There has to be at least one 12MC reader located in northern Utah. What other geo-oddities warrant a visit? I’ll take “normal” tourist suggestions too. I’ve only been here to change planes at the airport on previous visits so I’m willing to try just about anything. Also I’m sure the family will want to see more than a meridian marker and Wendover Will. Please feel free to leave suggestions in the comments.
UPDATE: I completed the trip and I loved it!
Loop Road
Longtime loyal reader Thias sent me an email message with the enticing title, “Real Loop Road.” I absolutely had to follow the link he provided.
Check out this crazy road in Escorca, Spain, on the island of Majorca. It reminds me of a cloverleaf entrance/exit ramp on a limited access highway. However this is a standalone structure, a road that literally loops upon itself as the most efficient way to navigate a steep grade. He wondered if I’d ever seen anything like this before. I had not so I appeal to the 12MC audience. Is this a common design? Can anyone find other instances and post map links?
Strange Searches
I’m not talking about the usual wacky queries sent to me randomly by the major search engines. Rather, I’m referring to people who actually come onto my website and then use the search box on the upper-right corner of the page. I’m amazed by the frequency of people who search for “search.” I think it happens because people want to see if it actually works. Just for the record, lots of 12MC articles use the word “search.”
I also like the searches that specify exact latitude-longitude coordinates. The search function only examines text so a specific coordinate will not show up unless I’ve used it in an article. Other than 45.000000,-90.000000, the chance of that is practically nil.
The most recent instance was “38.76697,-121.29991.” That equates to 501 Derek Place in Roseville, CA, a town outside of Sacramento. This is the home of the Dream Theater Center for the Performing Arts, “formed to provide adult individuals with special needs a unique and meaningful dramatic arts program to educate them in the arts and to provide a venue in which they can take part in dramatic productions.” It sound like a noble purpose and I wish them well.
It would be so cool if my search box was actually as capable as some people expect.
Thanks
I have some additional Thank You’s for various anonymous regular readers. I have no way to identify you. Nonetheless, you know who you are so please accept my appreciation.
A couple of you selected the Google +1 button for the main 12MC page. As a result, and for a brief glorious moment I came up first in Google searches for the phrase “Twelve Mile Circle.” I was even higher than Wikipedia! I hope others will consider selecting +1 since apparently it does matter.
Also a hearty Thank You for the person(s) who mention this site on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. I’ve been recording web traffic from both sources and I’m humbled that you consider these articles important enough to mention to your friends and acquaintances.
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