7-25-2022 Manila, UT

KOA Flaming Gorge/Manila

This very nice KOA is actually located in Manila, UT, but we are only minutes from Flaming Gorge.  We are backed up to a long grassy “park” lined with big shade trees.  In the distance, we can see the blue waters of the gorge.  A beautiful 91 miles long reservoir, it was created when the Flaming Gorge Dam was built in 1960.  Flaming Gorge was named by John Wesley Powell who was exploring the area in 1869.  The sun beaming on the brilliant red rocks made it look as if the whole canyon was on fire. 

 

These guys hang around the camps
and parks.  Not tame but 
not timid, either.

"That's where Linwood use to be."

Since we had never been in the waters of the gorge before, the first day we thought that it would be best to explore and scout out the beaches where one might launch toys. The plaques at one of many lookouts around the reservoir describe the peaks and canyons and, in particular, a little town named Linwood, “The Town That Drowned.” It was flooded and disappeared when the dam was built.  Some of the town’s history and even the map still exist.  For example, the elementary school in the town was built on the state line between Wyoming and Utah.  Half of Stateline School was in Wyoming but walk down the hall to another classroom and you found yourself in Utah.  The citizens were strict and enforced the rules of the education boards in the respective states so at your desk in this room, you may have gotten an entirely different curriculum and education than the kids across the hall.  This is not half as interesting as when we stopped for a beer at the local saloon.  It had to be disguised in a brown paper bag at the counter (Utah) but at the other end of the patio (Wyoming) you are allowed to take it out of the paper bag.  (They may be lightening up on this, these days.)

 

The gorge has been drained.
The water level is down about 9 feet.
The water goes to the local
farmers due to drought.

The area was formed, of course, about 5 billion years ago (How do they know this?) when there were crust fissures and colliding plates and all that stuff.  (That’s the Reader’s Digest version.)  We continued to explore and ask questions of the locals and found the perfect beach for tomorrow, complete with wandering wild antelope.  I think they were half-tame.  It wasn’t time to go home just yet, though.  Rob wanted to drive the road headed to the dam.  It is steep and twisty and he wanted to evaluate Noobee’s chances of survival on our trip headed toward home.  We have decided that Noobee can do it but only if the Jeep is not in tow.  That established, the next turn-off was Sheep Creek Geological Loop where, as promised by our camp host, we would see bears, mooses, long horn sheeps and maybe some wild horses and deers.  The rock formations were spectacular.  A geologist's version of Heaven and breathtaking, really, with the setting sun beaming on the rock formations.  But alas, after an hour and a half around the loop, nary an animal aside from a few cows and two butterflies.  For the second time on the trip, nothing to see here, folks.  Time to head home and pop a beer.

Sheep Creek Geological Loop

 

Tomorrow, Paddleboard City!