952 June 10, 2023 Idaho Is Full Of Surprises!

The town of Filer was preparing for Filer Fun Day as I took my morning walk.  They were setting up food trucks and yard sales.  There is going to be a car show, a rodeo, and fireworks.  We are not staying.  We are moving on.

When I think of Idaho, I think of potatoes and beef…until we crossed the Snake River Canyon.  We rode over the bridge and pulled into the scenic overlook.  We got out to walk.  It was quite beautiful!

We didn’t see this parachutist take off but we did watch him land near the river. We saw him pack his chute and then trudge up the steep bank.

Indeed, as we drove out of town, there was lots of farmland and hayfields and steerage yards.  We took the Sawtooth Scenic Byway, Route 75N.

We saw jagged lava fields strewn with sagebrush where open range cattle grazed.

We stopped for breakfast and we could see rugged snow-covered peaks looming in the distance.

We arrived at a great valley in Bellevue.  My phone issued this message:  Flood Warning Affected Area ahead.  Proceed with caution.  There were no road signs or closures though the fields were swampy and the diches were brimming and running fast.

Hailey and Ketchum were quaint, upscale, western mountain villages.  There were miles of paved bike/snowmobile trails along the road, following the path of the rushing river.

We entered the Sawtooth Recreation Area and began to look for potential camping sites. 

We stopped at the Frostbite Flats Trailhead and walked to Boulder Creek.  The air here smells fresh and is crisp and clean.  I read later that this portion of Idaho has the cleanest air in the lower 48. 

The wildflowers are lovely.

Two military jets buzzed by not that far above us.

We continued our drive on the winding road flanked by tall pines.  There were patches of snow as we climbed to 8,700 feet. 

We stopped at the Frank Church Scenic Overlook.

From the overlook, Tim spotted a road in the valley below.  He decided he really wanted to camp down there!  We found Salmon River Road and parked the RV.  We saw a sign for a campground in 4 miles.

We need to scope it out before venturing down this dirt road.  We walked for a while and then Tim went back and got on his bike. 

He passed a ranger who said we would have no problem getting to the campground with the RV.  He also said there was dispersed camping.  And so, we drove about 3.5 miles and found such a beautiful spot.

We sat outside by the creek for most of the afternoon and evening.

After dinner, we took the Jeep and took all the rough and rocky trails.

The last road took us up the mountain where we had a terrific view of the valley below.

We are so glad that we did not take the interstate.  GPS told us that there was a 24-minute difference in time and the highway route was 80 miles further.  It will take us longer timewise to travel this way but we would have missed all of this incredible scenery!

When Oliver was a baby, we took him to the Atlanta Aquarium.  He was not yet able to walk.  When he saw the first tank of fish, he got so excited.  I was holding him on my hip.  He kicked his fat little legs and pointed.  He wanted to see more!!  That’s how I feel here.  I can’t wait to see more!

951 June 9, 2023 Finally Idaho!!

When I got up the sun was just rising.  I immediately scanned the area for elk.  No elk…but a beautiful view from our front window!

While Tim did his workout in the RV, I walked on a trail parallel to Route 93. 

It wasn’t long before I spotted a pair of pronghorns.

I walked for more than 1.5 miles before turning around.  A guy in a camper stopped to tell me that there had been a badger in the culvert ahead.  He suggested that if I walked very quietly, I might spot him.  He was gone when I got there though!  We did see a badger crossing the road later in the day. 

There were more pronghorns in the fields across the way.

We were on the road before 8 this morning.  Our goal was to make it to Twin Falls, Idaho.  Once again, we had a pretty ride.

We stopped in the small town of Wells at the Napa Auto Parts Store.  We were able to find windshield wipers that were a little shorter than our others but they had the proper mount.  The guys in the shop were super helpful!

We did get some short bursts of rain and we were glad to have new wipers!

We passed through an area of heavy deer migration.  The roadside fences were 7 feet high and there were bridges across the road for the deer to use to cross.  There were no roads connecting the bridges and the surface was covered with soil and vegetation.  There must have been a significant problem with the deer here to justify this expensive solution!

We stopped for a rest at a picnic area outside of Jackpot, right before the Idaho line.  We didn’t realize that there was no egress from the rest stop but Tim was able to get us turned around without having to unhook the Jeep.

We stopped for the night just south of Twin Falls at the county fairgrounds.  It is quiet here.  I walked in the surrounding area.

There was a fish fry for dinner but we are trying to eat healthy stuff so we had fresh mango and quinoa bowls.

After eating, we put the last sticker on our map. Finally, Idaho!

We already know that we want to come back here.  We have driven by lots of places that we would like to see.  Just in Nevada we passed Valley of Fire State Park, Basin and Range National Monument, Cathedral Gorge State Park, Great Basin National Park, and lots of Jeep trails.  The mission of this trip is Alaska.  Even so, we debated taking the highway from here to get there faster but I think we have decided to take the scenic route through the middle of the Idaho instead. 

950 June 8, 2023 Ely, Nevada

We began the day with our usual exercise routines. Then we drove north through traffic and out of Vegas. We passed the grittier, more industrial areas and then we were in the desert.

We stopped for a rest and some breakfast in the Pahranagat Valley.

The topography, geology, and vegetation changed rapidly as we continued our drive.

We climbed in elevation and the air grew cooler.

We stopped again in the small town of Caliente. I walked along Main Street and Tim picked me up a little while later.

Ahead, we could see rain cells. This should not have been a problem. When we stored the RV in Las Vegas, it was very hot. When Tim cleaned the windshield last evening in preparation for our drive today, he noticed that both windshield wipers were shredded! There was no close place to go and find our specialty wipers. Fortunately, when the rain did come, it was gentle and Tim was able to drive.

We arrived at the Ely Elk Viewing Campground in midafternoon. This is a free, no hookups place. We took a nice walk. The scenery is stunning. The elk are here most often in September through April. Elk like to climb to higher elevations in the summer. We saw lots of evidence of their presence…but no elk today!

Tomorrow we continue our journey north.

949 April 18 – June 7, 2023

We flew from Las Vegas to Atlanta on April 18th. We arrived at David’s house at 2:30 in the morning. It took a day or two to adjust to the time difference but it took no time at all to feel loved and welcomed. The children woke up the next morning and were thrilled to have us there. The next four weeks were filled with lots of crazy fun! We played and played. We played board games and made up games and Lovey World and doctors and Wild Kratts. We read and we painted and we played outside. We went to swimming lessons and the boys are motoring in the water now. We baked and we cooked. We worked on lots of Lego projects. Both boys are truly Lego Masters now! We went to a Braves game and celebrated Austin’s fifth birthday on the same weekend. Andrea and I took the boys to see Mario Brothers at the theater, and we went to the Lego Discovery Center. She and I also took them for a walk at the creek. The boys played in their small pool and did the water slide. They threw water balloons and chased us with Super Soakers. The boys are sweet and smart and kind. They are good brothers…most of the time. On the weekends we had sleepovers in Oliver’s room.

Tim and I did a few house projects. We painted the perimeter fence and David helped when he could. The visit was busy and the time passed quickly.

On May 16th, we flew to Baltimore. We stayed with Kyle and Allison and we were at home there as well. It was so nice to spend time together. I really wish that I had taken more pictures!

We got to visit with mom several times and she and I had a sleepover too!

We helped with flower beds and mulching and mowing. Kyle and Tim and I planted a vegetable garden. Everything was pushing up through the soil before we left.

We got our labwork, dental appointments, and physicals.

Kyle and Allison went to Annapolis for their first anniversay and we took care of the animals. Daisy decided she wanted to sleep with us!

While we were home, we also had an amazing time catching up with friends. The three weeks were over too soon!

On June 6th we flew back to Las Vegas. We collected the RV and Jeep from storage. We used Wednesday for gathering supplies.

I enjoyed an early birthday dinner.

Tomorrow, we begin our journey to Alaska!

948 April 12-17, 2023 Vegas Antics

We have spent a lot of our time here getting things done.  The Jeep is clean inside and out and we took it for an oil change.  The sandblasted windows have been replaced. 

The RV is clean inside and out. 

The air conditioning is being replaced as the old units were causing electrical problems. 

We went to the Las Vegas Ballpark to see the Las Vegas Aviators AAA team play.  The park was gorgeous and it was fun to see baseball!

Vegas Strip during the day was teeming with people. We drove through very slowly because of construction and just watched, absorbing the circus atmosphere.

We went to see Cirque De Soleil The Beatles Love at the Mirage.  It was a great high energy show and we loved it!

We had to use everything in the fridge and so we didn’t go out to eat until Sunday.  Bootleggers had good ratings and was close to the RV park. The food was delicious, authentic, Italian. We sat in a booth that had been visited in previous years by legends including, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra.

Tomorrow we fly to Atlanta and then in 4 weeks, we fly to Baltimore. June 6th, we will return to Vegas and after a day or two of prepping, we will head north toward Idaho!

The blog will resume when our travels continue!

957 April 11, 2023 Las Vegas

I was able to take a walk on the wonderful multiuse path at Lake Mead this morning.

We traveled to Las Vegas today.  We are staying here for the next week.  We have lots of business to take care of while we are here. 

Tomorrow, we have an appointment at SafeLite Auto Glass to replace all of the glass on the passenger side of the Jeep.  The windstorm in Borrego Springs back in February had wind speeds of up to 102 mph.  That wind whipped the side of the Jeep and pitted the windows.  This pitting makes it extremely hard to see with sun glare or headlights at night shining in. 

Next Tuesday, we will fly from here to Atlanta after storing the RV here in Vegas. 

In the meantime, we will post when we have something fun to share!

Tonight, a beautiful sunset.

946 April 10, 2023 Skywalk

I walked laps around the humongous asphalt parking lot.

We packed up the RV and drove it and the Jeep to the Welcome Center.  We got there right at 8am.  We were the first on the shuttle to Eagle Point.

The view from the parking lot.

The Skywalk was finished in 2007.  It extends over the edge of the canyon 70 feet.  You can look down through the glass to the canyon floor 4,000 feet below. 

We were the first to store our belongings and put on our canvas booties.  You cannot take cameras or cell phones or personal belongings of any kind out onto the Skywalk.  There was a little wind and Tim took his hat back inside. 

We were out on the Skywalk all by ourselves.  What a gift!!!   No distractions of taking the perfect pictures…just being in that moment and appreciating the view.  It was really very humbling.  Another reminder that each of us is just a speck.  The layers of rock represent time…eons…

After about 20 minutes, a photographer offered to take pictures, which we declined.  We stood with him for a short time, chatting.  We said that we were grateful to have the experience of being on the Skywalk by ourselves.  He proceeded to tell us stories of the 2 visitors yesterday who vomited on the glass.  He also told us that people often stand at the entrance, screaming with fear.  I felt no trepidation or anxiety.  I did feel powerful awe!

We wandered through the Indian Village.

We pulled away from Grand Canyon West and enjoyed a beautiful ride to Nevada. 

As we got close, we saw more snow-covered peaks.  It was 85 degrees down where we were!

We passed over Hoover Dam.  This was the best picture I could get!

We were able to find a no hookup site at Lake Mead Recreation Area at Boulder Beach.  We passed a quiet afternoon mostly because I felt awful!  Whatever Tim had; he was generous enough to share with me! 

Tim offered to take me to dinner at the marina…but I wasn’t feeling it. He did convince me to ride down to the lake as the sun was setting.

We spent most of the winter in Arizona and Southern California.  We had hoped that because we are flying home and we were staying here for several extra weeks, that we might get to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park and Bishop and Yosemite and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Because of weather all of the national parks have had extremely delayed openings.  There was just too much snow.  This forced us to slow down, to change our plans, and allowed us to see things that we might otherwise have missed.  It wasn’t a bad thing…just different than we had hoped.

945 April 9, 2023 Grand Canyon West

Last night we had hoped to go out to the overlook to watch the sunset.  The sky was so cloudy that we decided not to go.  Tim looked out at about 7:15 and saw red sky.  We hopped into the Jeep and drove to see the end of our day.  It was one of the best sunsets of this trip!

This morning, I walked in the neighborhood.  I saw this jackrabbit and several more as I went.

The Grand Wash Cliffs were the backdrop for the town of Meadview.

We traveled today in the RV to Grand Canyon West.  We parked the RV in a dry camping lot outside the entrance.

This afternoon, we took the Jeep to the Visitor Center and boarded a shuttle.  We are saving Skywalk for tomorrow.  Today, we went to Guano Point.  The views of the western portion of the Grand Canyon are spectacular. 

We sat for a long time just looking.  The pictures don’t show the majesty and grandeur and colors, nor do the reflect how it made me feel.  On this Easter Sunday, this place was my sanctuary.  It was a place to reflect and be grateful.  My heart felt full.  You cannot appreciate the immensity and beauty without being present.  The improbability that a combination of weather and water and rock colluded to create this masterpiece is unfathomable. 

We walked and climbed and sat again to just look.

I know there are reviews that say that this place is a waste of money and time.  I did not feel that way.  The tours are run by the Hualapai Tribe and it is expensive to come.  We have been to the South Rim and the North Rim and we hadn’t seen this part.  I am glad we came, this is someplace special.  We think that being surrounded by nature is good for our health, our relationship, and we know that we are making lasting memories.

Helicopter rides in the canyon.

We got back to the Jeep and then took the short ride to Hualapai Point.  I was not interested in the zipline over the canyon but there was a hiking trail.  We saw 3 pronghorns grazing and then, alert to our presence they ran.

Brussel sprouts and grilled salmon for our meal.

We watched the sunset and we are happy.

We stepped outside before bedtime to gaze at the night sky. Trillions of stars scattered like diamond dust…breathtaking.

944 April 7-8, 2023 Gregg’s Hideout

I had a great walk up the hill. I walked to the scenic overlook and down Pierce Ferry Road.

The Joshua trees are blooming.

We packed the Jeep for an overnight camping trip. We had found a possible spot near the airstrip but we were feeling adventrous and decided to check out Gregg’s Hideout. There were two ways to get there. The first, was the long way around on the paved road. The second, was 4WD roads that wiggled across the desert and through the mountains. You know that we chose the rough ride!

There was a very steep switchback and after that, the road was really rocky. We got to a portion with a rock obstacle. Tim evaluated and knew that we could get over it. He had me spot him at the bottom. The Jeep made it handily and on we went.

We followed the route on Tim’s Ride Command app. We turned onto Gregg’s Hideout Road and we found that a grader had recently been through and the road was more or less smooth for the rest of our journey.

As we rounded the last bend, Lake Mead came into view surrounded by cliffs and mountains.

We traveled past the primitive campground and onto a elevated penninsula. It was here that we made our home for the night.

The sky and the lake were gorgeous.

We both took walks.

We saw a lizard.

There were a few birds and this raven sat on the rock for awhile.

Tim’s video.

We ate our picnic dinner and then the sun went down.

As we lay down to sleep, we could hear a burro in the distance wishing us a good night.

Tim had a rough night. Either pollen or dust or probably a combination of the two aggravated his allergies.

This morning dawned sunny and mild. Tim rose early and I was going to roll over and sleep some more…but I heard someone telling Tim good morning. I peeked out and saw a man and his son walking to the water with their fishing gear. Up to that point, we hadn’t seen a single soul since we left town yesterday.

The ride out was just as pretty. We did take the main thoroughfare back to the campground.

The rest of the day was for laundry and blogging and chores and rest!

943 April 6, 2023 Pearces At Pearce Ferry

We each began the day with walks through downtown Kingman.

We got packed up and we were on our way to Meadview.  It was another picturesque ride. 

The first 30 miles were through open range cattle country.  There were lots of cattle guards and reminders to watch for cattle.  There were none out on the road today.  They were grazing on the hillsides.  We did see two dead ones…

Once we reached 2,900 feet, we began to see Joshua trees.  There was a dense forest of them as we crested the ridge.

Meadview is 60 miles north of Kingman in a pretty remote area.  We were surprised to find that there was a nice community here and in addition a couple of restaurants.  We settled in and had some lunch.  We were excited to explore.  We found the Meadview Chamber of Commerce where we were able to get some maps of the area.  This town is the beginning of the Lake Meade National Recreation Area. 

We stopped at a scenic overlook, the Colorado River far below and snowcapped mountains in the distance.

We took Pierce Ferry Road to Pearce Ferry.  I’m not certain why the spelling is different…but it is! 

Thanks to this grader for a nice smooth road today!

In 1877 Harrison Pearce set up a ferry for Mormons from Utah to cross the river into Arizona.  The terrain on this side of the river proved to be too difficult for the wagons and eventually the ferry ceased operations.  This area is now used for taking out rafts and other small craft. 

We took a 4WD road and found this set of extreme rapids downriver. 

We drove to South Cove.

This picture shows where Lake Meade used to be.  All of the short scruffy brush and grass is where the water was.  The levels in the lake have been on a downward trend for the past 22 years.  Today, the water was at 1,045 feet.  15 feet lower than one year ago and 173 feet below full.  If the lake levels reach 895 feet, the lake would be at dead pool status.  This is the point at which the water can no longer flow downstream from the dam.  Millions of people would be affected if this occurs.

If you look closely at these pictures, you can see the muddy water of the Colorado River entering the lake.

We took the gravel road to the Meadview  Airstrip.  We walked here and we think we might have found a great place to camp with the tent tomorrow evening.

It was 4:15 and we decided that we wanted to see Grapevine Canyon.  This was a ride through a wash for about 10 miles.  The canyon walls rose above us.  We were grateful to find that the canyon road connected to Pierce Ferry Road so that our trip back was a lot easier!

It was another day of adventure and awe.  We are so lucky to spend so many of our days immersed in natural beauty!