Traveling to Wyoming: Block 3

 

Greetings from Wyoming!

My name is Mackenzie, and I have the unique opportunity to spend my 3rd APPE block in Ethete, Wyoming at an IHS clinic on the Wind River Reservation. My classmate, Madison, and I found out that we would be on this rotation together around 6 months in advance, giving us plenty of time to prepare and brainstorm all the things we wanted to see. One of the main things we discussed was the travel plans and how we planned to commute around the area (spoiler: my husband (Levi) and I drove up so that we could have my vehicle). The next step was to figure out when I could arrive. After a quick email to our preceptor, it was determined that I could move in the Friday before our rotation started. This was a blessing because not only did it give me enough time to get everything unpacked, but it also gave Levi and me a chance to explore the surrounding area and have our own adventures before he flew home that following Monday. 

Levi's grandparents we got to visit in Oklahoma!
Now, as I am sure you are wondering, exactly how long is this drive? Coming from Auburn, AL it was 26 tragically long hours. Levi and I were lucky enough to have family in Oklahoma, so we were able to stay with them for a night to break up the drive before continuing our trip. We arrived at the place Friday evening and worked quickly to get the car unloaded so that Saturday morning we could make our first day-trip of the weekend!

Here are some tips after our road trip:

1. Bring snacks: does not matter whether they are sweet, salty, spicy, etc. there will certainly be a point where you are getting hangry and there is no restaurant for 45+ minutes.

2. Get your music ready: I am a big music person and that was a necessity for this trip. Another necessity is podcasts and/or audiobooks! By the second leg of the trip, I felt like I was listening to the same songs over and over again, so a mix-up was nice.

3. Make the drive with someone you like: I know this is obvious, but after 26 hours in a car you are probably no longer a friendly person to be around (at least I’m not) so you have to make sure your road trip buddy is someone who likes you enough to understand your bad mood is tied to the need for a hot shower and your bed.

4. Keep an eye on that gas tank: there were many stretches (mainly post-Oklahoma) where gas stations were infrequent and if there was a station it was very expensive (since it was the only one for miles). We would start looking for gas stations when our tank would get just below half so that we had time to find a station and weren’t risking being stranded on the side of the road.

Speaking of gas stations…my mom always taught my sister and me to only stop at the stations that were well-lit and well-maintained, even if it was more expensive. The same should apply to everyone! Depending on what time you get on the road you might be traveling through the night, and you should always prioritize safety over saving a few dollars! 

Some views once we crossed over into Wyoming!
5. Try to time your last leg to be in the daylight: if you are driving for long hours, exhaustion sets in rapidly when the sun goes down. In my opinion, it is better to start the drive before sunrise so that you are arriving at your destination before sunset!

6. Finally: enjoy the sights along the way! If you are like me, this will be your first time out west and there are beautiful sights along your journey, so don’t miss them!

Over the next few weeks there will be more posts about our experiences, so stay tuned!

-- Mackenzie 


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