Jul 10, 2014

The thumbnail shot is of the 3 Island Crossing State Park centre near Glenns Ferry. This is on the site of some wagon ruts and between the 2 Island Crossing site and the 3 Island Crossing sites where emigrants could cross to the north side of the Snake River. The Education Centre and display were great and was a respectful collaboration between the EuroAmericans and Native Indians and was very balanced. I like this more than any others we have seen and we have liked them all. The others were also respectful but there was obviously more direct input from the Native Indians here and it worked really well.

 

A shot in Glenns Ferry named after the man who in 1869 established a ferry to float emigrant wagons across the Snake River, and other wagons, goods and people across. This later became a hub for rail transport and still has massive freight trains moving through. We parked up to get a coffee and a bite to eat and I wanted to get a shot from across the rail tracks and had to wait for a train to pass. After I thought it should have been done I started counting and got to 41 carriages before another engine in the mix passed me and another 61 carriges passed after that so I'd be surprised if it was less then 200 carraiges overall. A combinatin of livestock carriages (all empty) timber board products, oil tankers, flat bed carriages, containers, open carriages we have been used to seeing coal in, and many other carriages which were anonymous. Awesome! All that aside this is a shot of a street in Glenns Ferry. It reminded me a lot of many of the little towns in the wheat / sheep belt on the way to Adelaide. Baking hot, sandy soil and not a lot of activity. The temperature has been in the high 90's for a few days so we headed off early today to try and beat the heat.

 

A shot of the 3 Island Crossing site which is now a good example of what modern access to water in a desert can produce. Emigrants who traded with Native Indians to guide them and help them through the crossings went pretty well with fewer incidents as they knew the waters, currents and where the holes were as this was a salmon fishing area for them. In spite of the danger of the crossing (also necessitating another one back to the south of the river in Boise) meant the emigrants had good access to water, more abundant feed for animals and easier passage. Must have been a relief to get acoss after all the dessert and rugged canyons they had traversed.

 

This is a shot of the William Henry Jackson painting of the 3 Island Crossing which is on the front of the booklet we have been following through Idaho.

 

 We climbed up off the Interstate to see the Bonneville Point which gave a good overlook of Boise in the distance but as we had seen the hills in the distance today under a pink to purple haze beause of wildfires further east we didnt see enough to look very impressive in a photo but we had called into a Yamaha Dealer in Mountain Home to see if it would be possible to get a replacement visor for Norm's helmet but no it is availabla only in Australia BUT we heard of a great spot to ride to for an experince of the Wild West. This shot is of the dam wall of the Boise Dam as we headed for the East Lake Forrest Drive. It was a great spot for the locals to relax in a beach like environment and even if the breeze was in short supply (hard to imagine with all the wind we have experienced) there would be a hint of cooler air with the fountain effect in the water.......I'm guessing here though the air has certainly been cooler to ride through when irrigation areas are actually irrigating.

 

A shot of the Mores Crreek bridge over part of the Arrowhead Dam. We were well into the ride to Idaho City here which was an awesome ride of one sweeping corner after another with steep cliff faces and precipitous hills covered in Ponderosa Pines and galloping streams beside the road. A delight!

 

A house ??? I think in Idaho City. Not a shop anyway but all kinds of quirky and I doubt it complies with ANY building codes.

 

A view across the street in Idaho City from where we had a bite and a delicious huckleberry icecream. Yum! We were reading about the cafe owners and the wife's grandfather (part owner of a saloon in the town) died in a gun fight in 1936! Blew us away! Pardon the pun. In a gunfight...not shot, even said who shot him, I kid you not.

 

And along the veranda in front of where we were parked. There is a wild west shootout on weekends. Eeh hah!

Bits and Bobs:

 

I wanted a shot of the bikes in front of a ranch entry and runnng out of opportuniies......as well as ones I would be happy to be in front of. Liked the Ponderosa Pines here (on the Poderosa Pine Senic Byway to Omaha City) and figured I might not get any more chanes to get a shot of snow capped mountains through the gate. Every one I've seen so far I either couldn't stop at or the sun was shining in the wrong direction......and I tell Norm he's a perfectionist!

Last Night's Accommodation:

Best Western Plus Twin Falls Hotel, 1377 Blue Lakes Blvd. Twin Falls ID 83301

Well maintained building and surroundings. Comfortable bed. Good sized room and good amenities. AC, included parking, wifi, buffet breakfast and 24 hr gym and pool. Walked next door for dinner. Staff helpful. Sounds the same as the last one doesn't it, the quirky thing is that the hotel is an exact replica in style inside as the last one, even down to the prints on the walls!  Forgot to take a photo so here is one from the website.