Life is a Highway

Went across Eastern Oregon yesterday and it was like the Loneliest Road Part 2. For miles there was nothing but sage brush! Then we came into some beautiful green mountains and then eventually into Idaho. Stayed in a town just southwest of Boise called Nampa. In potato country but saw more of other vegetables and cows than we did potatoes.

Today we started the day by going to a Birds of Prey Conservatory. Saw rare birds that they were working to bring off the endangered species list. In particular they are working to bring back the California Condors of which there were only 22 at one point in time. They have them breed here and raise the young who are then assigned to a “mentor” Condor and then released into the wild in the Grand Canyon area. Other endangered birds are from all over the world. The place was funded by the Peregrine Falcon Fund and has an impressive international existence to save endangered birds. As a result of our stop here we were late leaving Boise. We had planned to go to Craters of the Moon National Monument but time just didn’t allow that. Instead we went to Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, ID.

Shoshone Falls is called the Niagara Falls of the West. We didn’t think it rivaled Niagara but there were pictures of more water coming over the rocks than we saw today so maybe at times, that is so. Fun fact, this is where Evel Knieval attempted to jump the canyon. For those of you too young to remember this (or those of you too old to remember) you will just have to google it.

We are in Pocatello, ID for the night, just south of Idaho, Falls. It has been VERY windy here today. Wind gusts up to 50 MPH and several dust storms stirred up as a result. Not sure how any of these fields have top soil.

Tomorrow we are headed for Cody, WY via Yellowstone National Park. Tomorrow is also Patrick’s 40th birthday. Not sure how that can possibly be since we are only 55 but somehow, that is indeed the case.

We have had a few good days here in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Which, by the way, does not have any falls. It used to until they build a dam for a hydroelectric plant, so no more falls but they have a very large lake as a result.

Monday, we traveled up to Crater Lake National Park which is about an hour and a half from here. Patrick laughed that our “down day” involved a 3 hour road trip. It was well worth it! We had been there before but this time was special with the snow that they had. They received 64 Feet (not a misprint) of snow this year. They don’t expect to get the full park open until late June or July. We were able to get up to the lake and get some gorgeous pictures and just take in the beauty of the place. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US (1,943 ft at it’s deepest) and has no streams coming into or out of it. All the water comes from precipitation. They have recorded being able to see down into depths of over 100 ft. (140 ft being the record). It is just breath-taking.

Tuesday was a true R and R day and today we went to Lake of the Woods about a half hour from here. We also went on a “stroll” today – Randy doesn’t do hikes. And of course, there was a short loop and a long loop which I thought we should take the long loop. 3.5 miles later, we were back to the Jeep but we did see an eagle and found a cool little geo cache.

Just finished packing up for an early start tomorrow as we have to drive across a good chunk of Eastern Oregon which is very desolate. Plan to get to Idaho tomorrow.

See new pics below.

I’m a little behind in our posts. We have been making our way to Reno to visit my cousin and her family and then on to Klamath Falls, OR where we are now.

Finished our trip across the Loneliest Road and spent an evening with my cousin, her husband, and her daughter and husband in Reno, NV. When I was 16 or so I spent part of a summer with them in Poughkeepsie, NY. Had fun recalling some of those adventures. It was so great seeing them and so hard to leave.

When we left Reno we were headed for a town in California on the Cali/Oregon border but Miss GPS decided to alter those plans. We had her set on avoid highways and she took us this round about trip around Lake Tahoe and 2 1/2 hours later, we come to a sign that said “Reno, 30 miles”. The distance we could have done in 20-30 minutes of driving took us 150 minutes. So, we ended up staying in Mt. Shasta, California. Mt. Shasta is the tallest peak in CA (14,179 Ft) and she was shining in all of her glory while we were there.

On Mother’s Day, headed for Klamath Falls, OR via a couple of vineyards in Oregon. Another gorgeous day with gorgeous scenery. Klamath Falls is our half-way point. We are staying here until Thursday and then starting our trek back east.

Yesterday as our scenery changed yet again we were reflecting on what an epic journey this has been. Every place has had a beauty all of it’s own. Check out the pics below.