Rating Wyoming’s Rest Stops: Orion Junction

The following is the first installment of a USELESS series of articles, rating Wyoming's areas stops.

Taking a long trip up I-25 in Wyoming and need to take a - um - relief break?

Might I suggest Orin Junction?

Stops on either side of Orin Junction include Glendo, to the south.

But that means using the convenience store.

It's a nice story, but you'll feel obligated to buy something, and they are rather expensive.

North of Orin Junction is the town of Douglas.

They have a wonderful store to visit, and great facilities to relieve yourself in.

But what if you just did not want to spend any money?

ORIN JUNCTION IT IS.

Oh, you'll love the off-ramp, no matter if you are going north or south.

Ramps are best when they are up-sloping for slowing down and down-slowing for speeding back up to get onto the interstate. These ramps have a nice steep slope for both.

As you pull in you'll notice the place is clean, which is important.

Not once has Orin Junction offended my nose. But, then again, maybe I've just not had the privilege of arriving after someone who might have left some odor behind. Who knows.

Acoustically the place is great for singing. But that's bad news if you're in a stall making - um - embarrassing noises.

There is a nice big green area to walk your pets.

Plenty of picnic shelters with walls and ceilings facing into the prevailing Wyoming winds so you can eat without your food blowing off the table.

CAUTION: When leaving the junction.

You'll have to drive all the way around to get out.

If you are traveling north, it's a little confusing.

You'll wonder if you have to backtrack to make the ramp to the highway.

DO NOT TURN RIGHT!

Turn left. There are two ramps that merge together.

You can see it on the map, above.

That had me really confused once.

I'll give the Orion Junction Rest Area an 8 out of 10.

Points off for not having any vending machines.

There are many clever ways to pee along Wyoming's empty highways.

Due to budget problems, the state of Wyoming is considering closing some of its rest stops. This has some folks worried that they will be caught in the middle of nowhere, with nothing to hide behind, and the desperate urge causing them severe pain.

It's a little easier for a guy. A 4-door car means he can open front and back and stand in between. A two-door means he has to wedge himself between the seat and the door. But it is manageable. For that matter, he can just carry a bottle, so he can drain while driving.

But when a man has to go number 2 he is in the same predicament as the ladies. What is there to hide behind when squatting?

We all know Murphy's Law in this case: "I'll just drive until I don't see any other cars, then I'll stop and take care of business." All seems clear until we assume the position.

The more seasoned Wyoming driver knows to time these situations, not drinking too much caffeine before the long legs on the road, for example. They also know where the best stops are on the roads they most commonly travel.

Road construction is an unexpected blessing because they keep porta-potties along the highway for their road crews.

Knowing where the back roads and ditches are is a plus. Looking for trees that pop up out of a low area usually means a person can duck down in there real quick. Knowing how to get over, under, or in between a rancher's barbed wire to get to that sweet hidden spot is a learned skill.

Wyoming people know these tricks.

When we see some poor desperate soul hop out of their car on the highway and just let her rip we know they are probably not from around here.