After a sound sleep in Ashley National Forest, we made our way to Flaming Gorge National Recreational Area, which spans Utah and Wyoming. Flaming Gorge was given its name thanks to the vibrant red sandstone cliffs that surround the Green River (and yes, we'd imagine the river also got its name because of its color). The contrast between the red and green makes for incredibly photogenic images, and in person the scene before our eyes was absolutely stunning.
Flaming Gorge is popular in the warmer months, as it's ideal for boating, fishing, skiing, jet skiing, and other water sports. We arrived ahead of the season opening, so the Visitor Center at Red Canyon was still closed for the season--it's only open from Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) to Labor Day (the first Monday in September). We spent some time looking down at Flaming Gorge, and it was quiet with the exception of several other visitors, and a number of squirrels. Fortunately Sheila didn't see them!
We were still on the Utah side, and as we drove along we were greeted with numerous signs about what fossils could be seen in the area--such as the Mowry Shale that features fossilized fish scales and shark teeth, or the Stump Formation where giant marine reptiles swam. It certainly made the drive fascinating, educational and entertaining!
The first town we arrived at once these signs had ended was Manila, Utah--who knew there was a town that shared its name with the capital city of the Philippines! We'd be shocked if there was a Filipino living here though, as the small town had a couple of petrol stations (at least one was a Gas and Go, so nobody needed to work there), a health clinic, a store, and not much else! Apparently there are over 300 people living here, but we didn't see a soul as we stopped to take a photo of the town sign and drove on.
Entering Windy Wyoming
Next up was Wyoming, our 8th state on this trip! The wind continued to gust, which meant that Michael couldn't drive and eat chips at the same time, as he needed to have both hands on the wheel! It was also much colder than Utah, and it seemed almost surreal that we were in sweltering heat a mere day ago in Dinosaur and Vernal and were now shivering when we stepped outside.
Our first impressions is that Wyoming is a rugged state, and not for the faint-hearted. If Wyoming was a person, they'd be fiercely independent, with a tough exterior, which can make people intimidated by them and find them unapproachable. They'd have leathery skin and deep-set wrinkles formed by the harsh climate, and wear weathered, practical denim. And they wouldn't say much because they prefer solitude, but when they would, it'd be honest and direct.
As we drove further into the state, we definitely saw signs of this personality--rough grey rocks, moody skies, and an unrelenting wind--an incredible sight. Wyoming is the second least densely populated state after Alaska despite being the 10th largest state (with 6 people per square mile), and it definitely looked sparse! At one point we stopped at what seemed to have been a town, but was now long abandoned, with dilapidated Wild West-style buildings such as an old saloon. Meanwhile, the buildings still in use had that outdoor, rugged feel, such as the barn with a bison silhouette proudly displayed on it.
Driving and Dining Near Fossil Butte
We were in fairly urgent need of fresh underwear after more than 2 weeks of not doing laundry, and found a laundromat on the way, ducking in and out of the icy wind and feeling relieved once it was all done. From here, we drove toward Fossil Butte National Monument, our first stop for the following day, where we found some public land nearby to station ourselves for the night. Admittedly, given how sparse it was in Wyoming, we felt we could have easily stopped anywhere!
Given the significant drop in temperature, it seemed fitting to Lisette to make Japanese curry (with potatoes and zucchini) with rice, and top it with fried enoki mushrooms--all produce coming from her recent trip to H Mart in Salt Lake City. Lisette loves cooking, but of course being an RV we have to be conscious of the water we use and the limited counter space. Tonight's dinner was certainly an exception--not only did it take up a lot of space, it used up a ton of pots and dishes! But it was a delicious meal that was worth the rare luxury on this much colder evening.
Route Map
