Robert Stuart Trail 1812 — 1813

Day 23: September 3rd, 2007 Pinedale — Idaho Falls

Today is the last day of this Labor Day Weekend. According to this, the Stockman’s Restaurant is really crowded. Also the server is totally overstrained with this rush. But the server next to her is jumping in. Therefore I leave an extra dollar tip for her. The same chaos happens to me at the gas station. There I must almost line up to get gas. I am really happy, when this weekend is over…

Highway 191, WY

Around 10am I am eventually back on the road again, one hour later than originally planned. First, I drive the same roads back to Daniel Junction.

Cottonwood Ryegrass Rd/Rd117, WY

Then I take again Cottonwood Ryegrass Rd to McDougal Gap and cross the high plain like yesterday.

N Cottonwood Rd/FR10125, WY

There are also some pronghorns along the way.

88 S10 Blazer, FR10125, Bridger National Forest, WY

FR10125, WY

Finally, I arrive at the Bridger National Forest via McDougal Gap again.

FR10138, Greys River, WY

Then I am back in the valley of yesterday. Now I returned to Stuart’s trail. Unfortunately, there is a lot of traffic and I am really getting dusted in. To make matters worse, something breaks at the fan control which makes it extremely difficult to turn the fan off when someone passes me. Looks like I will have to look for a new control, if it is not too expensive. Otherwise I must build a workaround somehow.

FR10138, Greys River, WY

But for now I continue on Stuart’s traces along Greys River.

FR10124, Little Greys River, WY

My lunch break is at Little Greys River, where I also disassemble the fan control unit. There I must realize, that the preowner already made a workaround, which now broke totally. Seems like I have no chance to fix this on the road. Therefore I assemble everything back together and continue my journey.

FR10138, Greys River, WY

At Alpine I am back on Highway 89, which I follow for a short distance in southern direction.

Then I turn onto McCoy Creek Road in northwestern direction. After that, I follow along Jensen Creek.

FR058/Bear Creek Rd, WY

FR058/Bear Creek Rd, Palisades Reservoir, Snake River, ID

In this area, Stuart followed the Snake River in northwestern direction. The forest road takes me once again up into the mountains and offers me great views of this picturesque landscape.

FR058/Snake River Rd, Snake River, ID

Livestock, FR076/Snake River Rd, Snake River, ID

FR076/Snake River Rd, Snake River, ID

FR076/Snake River Rd, ID

FR076/Snake River Rd, Snake River, ID

Then the road takes me back into the Snake River valley, which I follow up to Highway 26. Also this road offers beautiful views of this landscape. I am really glad that I followed these backroads and not the main highway.

Highway 26, ID

Around Heise I leave Stuart’s trail and drive to Idaho Falls to stay there for the night. This is a drive of almost 50 miles. But in return I will be rewarded with a nice stay for the night and a good dinner.

Around a quarter past seven I check in and put my stuff into the room. Then I check the first part of my video taping. One hour later I depart for the Outback Steakhouse. At the reception I received a way description and slowly I start to remember, where this restaurant was. To my surprise, the Outback Steakhouse is almost empty and I immediately receive a table. Around a quarter past nine I pay and drive back to my motel. There I check the rest of my video taping, do my book keeping and enter the next GPS data. Around half past twelve I am eventually able to go to bed…

The next day is in preparation…

Sights
—

General
Breakfast: Stockman’s Restaurant, Pinedale
Dinner: Outback Steakhouse, Idaho Falls
Motel: Motel 6, Idaho Falls
Distance: 203 miles

Go back to day 22

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Proceed to Stephen H. Long Trail