Boise or Bust!

August 16-18, 2017

Had another interesting and uneventful day traveling across WY to ID and Craters of the Moon National Monument. We passed miles of beautiful, golden grasslands prior to hitting Craters. What a bizarre site and sight!!! 

Instead of silos they just cover their hay with plastic

Mountains arose out of the grasslands once again

Ole Log Cabin at a Idaho crossroads

The Beginning of Craters of the Moon

It's so desolate and strange looking

Lava flows and bombs everywhere

In some places the volcanos remain

For miles nothing but lava flows remain, yet in some places life pops through

Limber pines and sagebrush are abundant

In the winter this place becomes a cross country skiing paradise

The beige spots are dwarf buckwheat

This volcano reminded me of a dark Kitty Hawk sand dune but it's a much different texture

Lichen grows and disintegrates to become soil for the plants to grow in...

Like the Badlands the winds here are fierce and add to the overall erosion

The green here is the lichen that grows, dies and blows into the crevices and ground around

Check out the ice/snow at the bottom of this spatter cone, volcanic rock is very insulating 

Two spatter cones that you could walk up and look down into their pits

It was easy to see how this place got it's name...such a wasteland, but very sacred to the Native Americans who called it home

There seemed to be no reason why some areas had fauna and others nothing

Not far away from this vast Monument

Since I have so few relatives who I can reminisce about my past, it's nice to have at least one girlfriend who I've known since first grade. Susan moved out to Idaho, 50 years ago for college and never looked back. She fell in love with the land of her father's family and made it home. Through the years we stayed connected through Christmas cards, phone calls and visits in OH and oddly enough Reno, NV. 
I'm so thrilled to spend time with her, Denny, her daughter Emily and to meet three of her grandchildren. And, to finally see this beautiful city and state that she fell in love with so long ago...

It was so great to have a home cooked meal after a couple of weeks on the road...nothing better than fresh fruit, corn on the cob, pork chops and my fellow "Leo's", Denny's birthday cake...Delicious!!!

After a great night's sleep followed by breakfast, Susan drove us around Idaho's beautiful capital. Boise sits down in a valley and is surrounded on one side by the Boise Mountains on another by the Boise River. 
As various immigrants called this place home, they settled into certain communities. One of the largest populations to first settle here were the Basque. They still have a large presence in downtown. 
We enjoyed a fantastic paella dinner with three different tapas for appetizers at the Basque Market!

Basque Market

Our meal...isn't that incredible looking and it tasted even better

Part of the Basque block in downtown Boise

Denny and Mike clowning around

Boise Capitol

Missing Lily

Food Channel featured this place on Diner's Drive-in's and Dives by Guy Ferrari

It's known for it's Ice Cream Potato and

 

Finger steaks and tater tots...deep fried, how much better could they be???

Mike and Denny waiting for our meal

Once upon a time we were two sun streaked blonde cuties...

Oldest Jewish Synagogue West of the Mississippi that has been in continuous use

Albertson Park, as in the grocery store chain family...Beautiful!

Go Broncos!!!



Beautiful stadium that seats about 35,000

 Micron paid for this new Engineering Building and has a large presence here after the government and universities

Looking down to the capitol

   Old Boise Train Depot

 The first permanent structure in the Boise Territory, now on the VA property

 Old Penitentiary opened for Tours

 Thanks to an intense irrigation system the city is resplendent with numerous lush parks that provide activities as varied as frisbee golf to surfing on the river. These same parks are the scene of many outdoor free concerts and celebrations. 

You can even surf on the Boise River when this device is working

...Paddle board or Swim

Even a beach

One of the gorgeous houses overlooking the city

Bogus Basin Ski Slopes in the Boise Mountains outside the city

 Two lovely ladies enjoying the beautiful day...75 with light winds

 View from the top

Indian Paintbrush

 Lucky Peak Reservoir formed by Lucky Peak Dam

 Arrowrock Dam and Reservoir both irrigate the Treasure Valley where Boise lies...without that it would just be sagebrush and prairie grass

Save the Mammaries!!!

Got love a "Woody"! Idaho makes them big here!!!

 They lost one whole block of these old stores last year in a fire

 How do I begin to explain this place??? Made me itchy just looking at all the stuff!!! YIKES!!! Where's American Pickers when you need them...

Check out this back to School Sign??? LOL!!!

What the Hell??? What kind of pest??? Check out Mike's selfie here as well...

 The Idaho City Museum was closed...Sad...

Glad they pay more now...Moondance is larger

 Their crack ole fire department

 Ugliest Courthouse we have ever seen and probably one of the smallest...Even crazier, it is the county seat because it's the biggest town with 400 people.

It's been a terrific visit!!! Can't thank Susan and Denny enough for being our tour guides out here...Looking forward to seeing them in Florida at our place so we can return the favor...