Monday, August 14, 2006 - Dubois, WY to Vernal, UT

We hit the road relatively early Monday morning, and headed northwest on US 287 to Moran Junction. From there we took US 191 south along the Snake River to Jackson, then to Hoback Junction. We stopped for gas and drink, then took US 89 south toward Alpine Junction..

We stopped to watch the rafters on the Snake, met up with Tom's brother, and parted company.

Casey and I continued west on 89 to Alpine Junction, then south on US 89.

Just as we crossed into Idaho on US 89, I hit the biggest damned bird I've ever seen up close. It broke my GPS mount and loosened up the windshield. The bird didn't do well, either. We pulled over long enough to strap the GPS back down, then hit the road again. We turned left on Idaho State Route 61, which turned into Wyoming State Route 89 about 2 miles down the road. We merged onto US 30 heading south and east. The weather was not great, and we ended up at a gas station waiting out a thunderstorm near the Fossil Butte National Monument. A lightning bolt struck the ground northeast of us, and shortly thereafter the local fire department was on its way up to put out a pretty good fire the lightning started.

We continued east on US 30, which merged with I80 at Granger Junction. I'm not sure what was going on there, but there was a very tall stack which was emitting a large fireball. It was visible for miles. We passed by Little America and exited at exit 89 to Green River. We topped off the tanks, got something to drink, had a snack, and picked up Wyoming State Route 530 (Uinta Drive) southerly to the west side of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. We crossed into Utah and turned onto Utah State Route 44 at Manila.

We stopped at a turnout at the westernmost extent of the reservoir (40.9N, 109.7W) and took a few pictures. Then we continued east on 44 along the southern edge of the NRA. I got confused at the intersection of SR44 and US191, and we pulled over for a few minutes so I could get my bearings straight. Then we proceeded south on US191.

The road is lined with trees for several miles (in Daggett county around Mount Lena), then rather abruptly you cross into rocky terrain as you cross into Uintah county. US191 gets a little twisty several miles north of Steinaker State Park. By now it's getting a little dark. After stopping for directions twice and doing a little backtracking between Vernal and Roosevelt, we finally found a rest area to sleep at.

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