August 1, 2019 - Trip to Vernal UT to buy a grill at Lowe's

We were talking about the things we need to do when we get back to Star Valley Ranch and close on our lot there and we thought hat one of the things we would need to get was a charcoal  grill as we already have a gas grill that we carry in the motor home. The lot comes with the gazebo and gazebo furniture (table and 6 chairs) as well as a full size washer and dryer and small chest freezer and laundry sink in the shed. But the grill is not included because the sellers are taking it with them. So Mary started looking at grills and found one at Lowe's. So, since there are no Lowe's in this remote area, she found that there was one in the city of Vernal and that they stocked the particular grill she liked. Therefore, since the distance to a Lowe's near Star Valley Ranch was much further than the distance to Vernal ( which is only about 74 miles) we opted to make the trip there today, as we have not been to it before.

Vernal in northeastern Utah is the county seat and largest city of Uintah County. Uintah County is the largest natural gas producing county in Utah. (named for the Uinta Mountains). It has a population of around 10,350 and is also about 175 miles from Salt Lake City and about 20 miles west of the Colorado border. It was settled in 1876, but unlike most Utah towns it was not settled by Mormon pioneers. Brigham Young sent a scouting party to the area (Uintah Basin) in 1861 and received report that the area was good for nothing but nomad purposes, hunting grounds for indians and "to hold the world together". That same year President Abraham Lincoln set the area aside as the Uintah Indian Reservation, with Capt. Pardon Dodds appointed as Indian agent. Capt. Dodds was the first white man to build a cabin in the Uintah Basin around 1868  and other settlers began to arrive and settle there until the town was officially established in 1876. Its land coverage is 4.6 square miles and its density is about 2,000 people per square mile. Those who remember Lane Clyde Frost (1963-1989), the Rodeo Star, attended high school in Vernal. Also, James Woods (famous actor, born April 18, 1947) was born in Vernal UT. Of local interest we have noticed that at times the word is spelled 'Uinta' and others it is spelled 'Uintah'. It seems that they spell it without the "h" whenever the word relates to a geographical feature (such as mountains) but with the "h" at the end whenever it relates to a man-made feature (such as a County).

As always Roxy just loves to go anywhere with us.

These pronghorn antelope are permanent residents at the campground and area and are usually at the entrance to greet campers, though sometimes they also wander through the grounds and around the campsites.

This is the local 'go to' for groceries, liquors, etc. Sort of llike a convenience store with extra goods. a restaurant, bar, etc.

Due to the increasing traffic to the Lucerne Valley Recreation Area, Manila is undergoing road improvements to accomodate the increased traffic an d business to their economy.

We pass this horse every time we go somewhere and again

when we return, and both love his unusual markings.

But mostly what we love about this area (in general) is the landscape scenery (land, rock formations, natural and man-made waterways, etc).  As we travel through the area, the landscape quickly changes from high desert sage to rocky canyons with streams and lush vegetation, to pine forests with that wonderful "piney" smell and then around the next curve, a high mountain meadow above the tree line.  From our campsite we can see where the Green River enters a narrow canyon as the water flows from the main Flaming Gorge Reservoir into the Red Canyon. The  water the then continues its flow through the Flaming Gorge Dam to create electricity and feed the canals that provide irrigational water to the fields of farms and ranches. 

 

Along the way we came upon the Simplot Phosphates Mining Operation, warned that we were in a 'Blasting Area', yet felt short-changed since we never heard any blasting. They produce three key raw ingredients in the production of fertilizer: 1) phosphate ore from this Vernal mine; 2) sulfur as a by-product of the Wyoming oil fields; and 3) ammonia, which is made from natural gas and delivered to the Rock Springs manufacturing plant.

Entering the City of Vernal, self-proclaimed Dinosaurland of Utah. The town was originally known as the "Bench", Then a fort (Fort Ashley, after William H. Ashley, first pioneer) was built there after the Colorado's Meeker Massacre (September 1879) and the town became known as Ashley Center. However, when the town applied for a Post Office, because the name Ashley was already taken (by the fort and the Valley) it was the Post Office that gave it the name... Vernal. Later, the Mormon Church helped establish Vernal as a city in 1884, but the town was not incorporated until 1897. Because the distance to a major railhead settlers were self-sufficient with cattle and sheep raising, milling, honey production and farming grains and alfalfa being the primary industries. Livestock and agriculture, together with the tourism industry, remain important to this day. 

Where we bought the grill.  Roxy was quite the star, as all of the Cashiers came over to pet her and admire her.

Driving through this very attractive town center,

 

Actually, there IS a Pilot truck center, even if it only has two (2) pumps, no building, just 2 fuel pumps. 

Returning, some other views of the Simplot Phosphate mine of Vernal.

Roxy is tired and loves laying on her hammock that protects her from falling if we brake hard or bounce thre truck too much on bad, off-road, two-track roads.

You go around a curve annd suddenly see the first glimpse of

the Flaming Gorge Reservoir... Beautiful.

Though not the only type of cows, it seems that these black cows predominate the area.

Returning to Manila, the road work is everywhere.

Some sights of Manila UT

And finally returnng to the campground. 

From our campsite, the view is spectacular, as is the wildlife that comes by and mostly the spectacular sunsets we enjoy every evening after happy hour.

Antelope in front of our campsite 

 

Boats out on the Reservoir

Roxy is always glad to see Mommy come out of the motor home.

"Did you bring me something, Mom?"

  Sunsets

 

Tomorrow we will clean out the basement of the RV to rearrange things for a better fit. We do not leave until August 8, so if we go somewhere else, we'll post again.

 

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