KOA, Twin Falls, Idaho:  Another fantastically beautiful day.  Hope we have this kind of weather when we’re in Oregon.  We took care of the laundry this morning and then did the grocery shopping after lunch.  Stopped at the Perrine Bridge to see if anyone was base jumping.  No activity, so we went back to our park and sat outside reading the rest of the afternoon enjoying the warm breezes, the beautiful blue sky, and the twittering of the birds.  Tomorrow we’ll be in Burns, Oregon, for one night and then on to Crater Lake.  In the 90s again today.

More Base Jumping Pictures

Scary when they jump two at a time.  Always a chance their chutes could get entwined.
Picture by Mike

Chutes open with a big "whump" sound.
Picture by Mike

And another one goes.
Picture by Mike

Me in my "guaranteed not to come off in 40 mph winds" hat.
Picture by Mike

Sun Valley & Craters of the Moon

KOA, Twin Falls, Idaho:  Today we drove up to Sun Valley ski resort in the Sawtooth Mountains. Drove through this wide lush green valley with the arid mountains in the background.  This lush valley is only the result of constant watering.  Once we got into the Sawtooth mountains however, there were more trees and everything was green and beautiful.  Drove through the tony little towns of Hailey and Ketcham before we got to Sun Valley Village.  This was one of the first ski areas frequented by the rich and famous, and Clint Eastwood filmed “Pale Rider” in the area.  After exploring around Sun Valley Village, we had lunch in Ketcham and then headed back.  Took a side trip on a scenic byway to Craters of the Moon National Monument.  What an incredible landscape this was.  Lava rock everywhere and lots of cinder cones and signs of volcanic activity everywhere.  The most recent eruption was 2000 years ago.  To put it in perspective, Jesus would have been about 13. Drove back to our park and relaxed the rest of the evening.  85 today, sunny and beautiful.

Sun Valley Ski Resort

Sun Valley Village

Sun Valley Inn

Theater in Sun Valley Village

One of the ski slopes.

Craters of the Moon National Monument

This looks like rich, loamy soil.  But it's sharp, jagged lava rock.

These huge things floated down in the lava and were deposited here.

We were going to hike up this cinder cone--until we saw what it's like.  No way!  And the wind!  I couldn't even wear my "guaranteed to stay on in 40 mph winds" hat.  

Pioneers came through here following an old Indian trail.  And here was this little oasis  where they could have all the water they needed.

Even in this harsh landscape, wild flowers and other plants manage to survive and even thrive.  No rain, and in the summer this black rock can reach temperatures of 150 degrees!

KOA, Twin Falls, Idaho:  Another beautiful, warm sunny day today.  We headed back to the Perrine Bridge and walked down to the overlook to check it out and take some pictures.  Imagine our surprise when we watched one base jumper after another leap from the top of  this 486 foot bridge.  They free-fall for a couple of seconds and then pull their chute.  Watched about 15 of these intrepid individuals.  Then drove over to Shoshone Falls and then over to Dierkes Lake Park.  Also drove down to the historic part of Twin Falls which was really nice.  Dinner at Cajino’s Italian Restaurant and then back to our park.  Pooped.  92 degrees today and got really windy.  What a pretty area this is.

Base jumper taking the leap off the bridge.

The Perrine Bridge

Ready!  Set!  Jump!

This pair of jumpers hit the target.

The Snake River

Dave from Massachusetts.  About to make his 4th jump of the day!

Shoshone Falls

Snake River Gorge

Kept running into these two gals.  Donna on the left and Janet (79 years young) on the right.

Dierkes Lake Park.  A fantastic recreation area on this pristine lake.

Some people getting ready to jump off the rocks surrounding the lake.

Twin Falls--they diverted the other falls for power generation purposes (sigh).

Sculpture in cute little Twin Falls old town.

KOA, Lyman, WY, to KOA, Twin Falls, Idaho:  Left Lyman at 8:15 this morning.  Another beautiful day—not a cloud in the sky.  We continued west on I80 which follows the Oregon Trail still. We were quickly in Utah and I80 went through this beautiful canyon on the way to Salt Lake City. All down hill.  Hardly burned any gas.  We cut off on I84 heading northwest through an even more beautiful canyon with a cascading little stream at the bottom.  After Ogden, which sits in a valley surrounded by mountains, we climbed up into a wide valley with mountains off in the distance. Once we were in Idaho I84 deteriorated for a few miles but then it got much better.  The KOA we’re in here in Twin Falls is really nice.  We’re here for 4 nights and plan to explore around a little.  After we got set up we headed in to Twin Falls to pick up a few things.  The Snake River runs right through the eastern part of town and the Perrine Bridge spans this huge gorge.  This is the only bridge in the country that allows base jumping from the top.  A 102 year old woman base jumped off this bridge a couple of days ago and made the national news.  We’re going to check it out tomorrow.  95 here!  Doesn’t feel like it because it’s so dry.  

Since I was driving, I asked Mike to take some pictures with my camera.  He did really well, since he doesn't like my camera too much.

Perrine Bridge over the Snake River Gorge

KOA Lyman, WY:  Beautiful day today.  Really cold this morning though.  We headed over to Ft. Bridger which is only about 5 miles from Lyman.  We had been here in 2008, but Mike didn’t remember it, so we went back.  Jim Bridger, mountain man extraordinaire, established this fort and ran it from 1843 to 1853.  It was really a supply station for the pioneers traveling west.  This fort is located on the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, the Mormon Trail, the Overland Stage route, the Pony Express route, and eventually the Lincoln Highway. Then in 1858 it became a military outpost.  And around the same time Judge Wm. A. Carter built a supply station here.  He had a store, an ice house, stable for the Pony Express, and other buildings.  On our way back to our site, we fueled up and are ready to leave tomorrow morning.

Carter's Military Post Store

The Carter's built this school (on the right) for their 4 daughters and other post children.  After attending this school, students were able to attend any eastern college without further study.  This was the first school in Wyoming.  The building just to the left of the school house is the milk house where luxury dairy products were stored.  The Carter's were pretty well off and even had servants.

The ice house.

Fort Bridger--established by Jim Bridger from 1843 to 1853.

Inside Fort Bridger.

The Mormon's traveled across country pushing or pulling these carts  with their belongings.  I can't imagine!

KOA Cheyenne, WY, to KOA, Lyman, WY:  This morning dawned clear and sunny.  But last night we had quite a scare.  It was windy to begin with, but a front came through with these ugly black clouds and the wind increased dramatically.  I freaked out.  Thought we were going to get blown over.  Luckily, Mike had put down the landing legs and the jacks so we were a little more stable.  Anyway, we left this morning at 8:15 and continued west on I80.  The scenery west of Cheyenne is so pretty with verdant green hills, rocky outcroppings, buttes, mesas and arroyos. And we saw lots of antelope.  But the further west we went the more desert like it became.  Before long it was a desolate landscape of brown hills covered with sagebrush—and probably lots of rattlesnakes.  Arrived at the KOA in Lyman and were set up by 3:00.  Did a grocery run and then relaxed.  We’re here for two nights.

KOA Gothenburg, NE, to KOA Cheyenne, WY:  Got a late start this morning, but we gained an hour and the trip was a little shorter, so no big deal.  After leaving Gothenburg, I80 runs right along the Platte River—probably the same route our intrepid pioneers took on their way west in their conestoga wagons.  The Platte River is pretty, I think anyway.  It’s really shallow and sandy bottomed.  The pioneers wouldn’t have had problems crossing unless it was in flood.  We crossed it many times as it meandered across the landscape.  Arrived in Cheyenne around 2:30 and it was 89 degrees.  Really, really windy.  We’re getting buffeted around pretty good.  Not unhooking.  Just here for one night.  On to Lyman, WY, tomorrow where we’ll stay for two nights.

Downtown Cheyenne has all these painted cowboy boots.

Cute little downtown area.

Capital building in downtown Cheyenne.