Highways of Happiness ! [Yellowstone]

[Southwest Dave]

Onward to Manila. UT.

We spent quite a bit of time looking around the various barns and outbuildings along Mormon Row. Our favourite was this barn just a short walk north from the junction of Mormon Row and Antelope Flats.





We then drove down Mormon Row past Moulton Barn and continued heading south to Gros Ventre road, which eventually took us back to US89/191. We started wishing we had turned around and headed back the way we had came along Antelope Flats as the road became rough and rutted and it seemed like ages at such a slow speed before we were back on the black top.



We then drove through the vibrant town of Jackson. It looked a fun town with lots going on, it had a nice town centre park with an entrance arch made out of Antlers. We wanted to stop, but the place was bustling with people, there were no immediate parking spots and once again the clock was ticking so we drove through. [It had been 1:30pm before leaving Mormon Row.] As we headed south of Jackson we continued on 191 towards Rock Springs. On the way we stopped in the town of Pinedale to get fuel for us and the car. Pinedale is home of the Mountain man museum and just north of town is Freemont Lake, where we had thought about heading to for a nice place to eat lunch, but we decided we did not have enough time to do either if we were to get to Manila in time for an evening meal. So after sitting on the bench outside the store eating our snacks we had purchased we were straight back on the road headed south again. Big storm clouds gathered to the west and looked rather menacing, but luckily they stayed west of us and we only had a few drops of rain. I was glad we had taken the 191 and not the 189 that ran almost parallel a few miles to the west, it looked as though it could of been right in the thick of the bad weather.

From Rock Springs 191 joins I80 and we kept on that until Green River where we exited to WY530 which runs south on the western flank of Flaming Gorge Res. We decided to stretch our legs at a little spot in Green River that I had noted when planning, Expedition Island. Expedition Island is just a couple of minutes of WY530 and has a riverside park and a pedestrian bridge that crosses the river to a little memorial garden. It's a peaceful setting and ideal place to stretch those tired limbs for a few moments and conveniently just off I80. It got it's name as the site is the recognised starting point for 2 expeditions down the Green and Colorado Rivers led by Major John Wesley Powell in 1869 and 1871. Not far from this river park is the large railroad depot that was largely responsible for the towns continued development.









Back on the road to Manila with a lovely drive down WY530, the light faded fast and it was well after dark when we finally arrived and although only a small town, it took us a while to find our Motel and restaurant. Although the building looked a little run down it was very inviting all lit up in the dark and after a long day on the road. It had gone 9pm but we had a warm welcome from the owners and staff and I was soon sat down with one of the nicest steaks I can remember having. To top this off I had home made apple pie with cream that was absolutley delicous. The room was not so great and needed a deep clean, the mattress was soft but the bedding was fresh and clean and it was passable, just ! The area is popular with hunters and most other guests were there for the hunting, a small group of friends and a father and son were the other guests in the diner dressed in their hunting gear. They were all polite and friendly and the owners were great.

Todays mileage =385. Average of 46mph. Gas return = 37mpg

Total miles = 2829