Along The Snake River

Rivers like the Platte, Arkansas, Canadian, Missouri and the Snake were the first highways in the west. I like to imagine how the first European explorers used them. The Snake starts in mountains of Yellowstone and snakes across Idaho into Oregon where it empties into the mighty Columbia. I86 follows the Snake. To me, it seems we cross the Snake everywhere we go out here. At least a dozen times today. I think it would be an adventure to do the length of the Snake in a jet boat. I have no idea if it’s even possible as there are so many dams. We have passed three reservoirs since we left Jackson where the Snake is dammed. We parked at one last night. It is a grand looking river today in the morning light. All of southern Idaho would be brown, but for the irrigation water the Snake provides. Imagine there would be no french fries at McDonald’s without the Snake.

Since I could not make a decision on a roof rack for the Rubicon, we had to leave the yaks at home. We figured no big deal since most everywhere we went last year there was no water – Oregon and Washington excepted. We did not know that there were so many rivers around Jackson. Besides the Snake, the Hoback and the Gros Ventre are fast flowing rivers.

We hope you enjoyed the Fourth and had a patriotic American drink like bourbon, the quintessential American drink.

Mike and Elizabeth, we tried to see an offbeat place but were shutout again. The Potato Museum in Blackfoot is open M-F and we were there on Sunday.

We are a little off the beaten path in the Bruneau Dunes. I really like the area.

You need the correct footwear to hike the dunes.

Shopping in the big city of Boise tomorrow. It will be a long time until we see another city, Reno in September.

This is our fourth time in Idaho. The southern part of the state seems to have an above average of rednecks. And I mean really red, toothless inbreeds. We wanted to do some shopping in Boise and Dorothy picked an in-town RV park. That’s something we do every few years. This park is popular. Behind our parking place are some hedges/trees where a tent site is located. Late this afternoon, we watched two couples vacate the site making dozens of trips to put all of their belongings in an open truck bed. At 8 this evening another couple moved in, making dozens of trips carrying a futon, table, cardboard boxes, piles of clothes, bedding, etc. No tent. Both homeless we suppose. We are eager to get away in the morning. Into every life some rain must fall.

Oregon

No matter where you enter Oregon, it looks different from any other state. We are the remote east central area. Few live here, fewer go here. It’s called the high desert from the eastern state line to a north/south line that would bisect Bend in the center of the state. US20 follows the Malhuer River towards the central mountains. It’s farming and cattle country. It’s also home to several outcroppings of minerals of interest to rock hounds. We saw some examples of obsidian last week from Glass Butte, so we plan to add that variation to our collection. 

Since we are now almost to the coast I better post this and start on Oregon.