We bailed out of Victor, Idaho about 8:15 Sunday morning, taking Idaho 31 west into Swan Valley. From there, Highway 26 took us to Alpine Junction, where US 89 intersects and 26/89 runs east back over the mountain to Hoback Junction. This section of highway follows the Snake river and is one of the most beautiful mountain passes we've seen!
US 189/191 leaves Hoback Junction, following the Hoback River and gently climbs to 8,000 feet elevation before it drops Into a farming valley at Bondurant, WY. The road from Bondurant to Rock Springs is mostly boring high desert, as you can see....
We finally reached Rock Springs, Wyoming, and attempted to get fuel at a Flying J station that serves people using Interstate 80. Unfortunately, after we got in line (in the street), we noticed that only three lanes were open, with construction being done in the very center of the station. After waiting for some time, and seeing the street blocked by jackknifed truck trailers, we gave up on the fuel idea. It took us 45 minutes to find a way to do a U-turn and return to US 191. Just down I 80 a few miles, we turned off on 191 south again and found Crueljack's Conoco Travel Plaza. Not much better.
Pulled into fueling lane.
Went inside to leave credit card.
CC machine broken.
Return to motorhome for cash.
Pump has been turned on.
Return inside.
CC machine is working.
Return to motorhome and skedaddle.
So, after 307 miles of two lane road, sometimes at 8300 ft elevation and 9% grades, we arrived at Pine Forest RV Resort just south of Dutch John, Utah where we were informed that our site was only 35' long. Nessie is 43'. Hmmm. So it's the only choice for miles and "I guess the other girl messed up". So site 43 really isn't a bad site. It's wide but short. Throw in a one lane dirt road and various other pickups and cars parked along the edge and you have a cranky Gary. Eventually we abandoned the "don't drive on the grass" rule, did a 5 point cut and fill, and stuffed the girl into the site. Across the road, four families are camped and enjoying their time in the woods with kids, boats, and bottles.
Oh well, it's only for two nights.....
After hearing a knock on the door at 9:45 that night and a demand to move our car because it was on the grass, we settled in for a rocky nights sleep. The next day, Monday, we toured the Flaming Gorge Recreation Area.
Flaming Gorge Lake is 91 miles long, has 375 miles of shoreline, holds 3.8 million acre-feet of water, is 6,040 feet above sea level and is located in both Wyoming and Utah. It's huge, folks, and the location is stunning.
The lake is retained by a huge dam.
Standing 455 feet above the river channel and extending another 47 feet to bedrock, it contains 1,000,000 cubic yards of concrete!
Above the dam, the view is awesome!
The road across the dam was a bit daunting, but Nessie navigated it just fine, thank you very much.
One last look from the east shore sent us to the Sheep Creek Geological Loop.
The Sheep Creek area is one of extraordinary geological wonders. From our rv park, we drove south a few miles and then turned off onto Utah Highway 44 to Manila. We actually did drive all the way to Manila, but didn't get a photo because I couldn't get the camera out fast enough.....
Just south of Manila, the loop road takes off to the west, eventually rejoining Hwy 44. At first the scenery was meh, but soon began to improve!
Castles and crags, spines and convoluted layers of rock were everywhere! I got tired after a while of getting out to take a photo, getting back in the car, driving 100 yards, getting out of the car to take a photo.....
We stopped for lunch at the Woodruff-Swenson Memorial Grove. This quiet place beside a small river has several tables, grill stands and a fire pit. It marks the loss of life on June 9, 1965, when a flash flood took the lives of Keith Woodruff, his wife Lavon, their two sons and their daughter, ages
1 1/2 to 4, and their two nephews, ages 13 and 14.
And the hits just keep on comin'
This beautiful lane was surrounded by sandstone cliffs and quietly waving trees.
Then, unexpectedly, we came across the Forbes Family Farm. Out of respect for their privacy, we didn't photograph the amazing garden and well-tended home, but we did get a shot of the little valley the farm is located in.
We soon began to get a glimpse of Sheep Creek Bay, one of the Flaming Gorge Lakes many arms.
The road back to Dutch John was.....interesting.
Stopping at the Red Canyon Visitors Center, we hiked to the Red Canyon Overlook to get yet another view of the lake, this time from 1,700 feet above it.
That little spot down there is a fishing boat!
With storm clouds on the horizon, we decided to finish our 150 mile day trip and go home, dreaming of 41 lb Cutthroat Trout and sandstone monuments.
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