the past three weeks
Okay, so first of all Brad and I are both alive and well. Sorry about the drop off of the blog there at Yellowstone. A combination of events took place. The first of which was we were having so much fun enjoying our trip and Yellowstone that we did not catch the blog up while we were there. Next I wrote the text for all the Yellowstone blog posts while Brad was driving in Microsoft Word. Well something crazy happened and they all disappeared. Brad tried to recover the lost text but nothing turned up. Instead of typing for hours and hours again I got upset and discouraged. Our trip has not been any less fun or less exciting however. We have had a blast - you will just have to talk with us about the details instead of reading them. This blog has been super fun for me but you will not believe how time consuming it is. I will try to post some of the lost days but I can not promise anything =). We had a blast for the rest of Yellowstone and everyday was an adventure. We went on Safari type car rides. We saw some awesome wildlife including a bald eagle and a grizzly bear. We went on the scariest hike of my life in which at least 12-15 trees fell as we were walking six of which fell on the trail! I am planning on making a scrap book that hopefully everyone will get to see and all the pictures will be in there. We were close enough to a huge bison that we could have touched it. We were too scared of being rammed so we refrained. From Yellowstone we went to the corn field states. Not too much excitement here. From here we made our way to Chicago where we stayed with my friend Brandy's mom. Sue and John were really welcoming and nice. She did our laundry which was unnecessary but super awesome and we loved it. We hung out in Chicago which both Brad and I are now big fans of. We went to the Field Museum and we could have spent days in here and not seen it all. This is for sure one of the coolest museums ever. We saw mummies, a complete T-Rex named Sue and the inside of a tornado among many other things. After this we rode the subway up to Wrigley Field where we had awesome first base seats to a Cub's game. We had pizza as we were both decked out in Cub Tee shirts. The game was awesome as well. The Cubs made a serious come back in the 8th inning which included a grand slam! We kept a score card that we traded back and forth so we both could play. we drank six dollar beers and rooted for the Cubs. We sang in traditional Harry Carry style take me out to the ballgame!We missed Obama's speech because we were at the game but we read about it the next day. From here we went through Michigan wearing our App gear, of course. We went to Bells brewery. If I lived in Kalamazoo not only would I love this pub but I would love to say that I live in a place called Kalamazoo. We watched the Appalachian vs. LSU game while in Michigan celebrating the one year anniversary of their massive win. I am sad to report the ASU team did not pull off the upset of the year again but at least they did score once even if they missed a few passes. Since then they have redeemed themselves playing Jacksonville and winning by a large margin. From here we officially made our trip international by driving through Canada. I think I worried my Dad a little because I called him and told him that I was in another country. He got quite and asked what I meant. I quickly told him I was in Canada and he laughed at the joke but hidden in his laugh was relief. We drove by some farmland and Brad told me that is where hockey pucks grow. We looked for maple syrup and did not see any growing on trees. Canada is a strange land where different colored money is not just for monopoly but it actually is used to purchase things. We were going to ask about the culture but we were both a little nervous because neither of us speaks Canadian. Just Kidding. It was fun to drive through Canada at 100 km per hour. After our international travels we went to Niagara Falls. We took the trolley to the water falls and walked back. As we were waiting for the trolley to take us back we watched as a child ran out in front of it and was hit. Luckily the trolley was only going 5 miles an hour because the child's parents were nowhere around and the kid ran out directly in front of the trolley and was knocked over. It was really sad because the young boy was frightened but thank God he was not injured at all. Brad and I were standing right there so we had to fill out police reports. This was more excitement than we expected at Niagara Falls. The waterfalls were pretty amazing and it was crazy to watch the river as it rushed to fall off a cliff. There were boat rides that we would like to do if we ever go back. These did not go over the falls instead they rode around at the base. These rides are called Maid of the Mist. I was ready to see my sister so we left a day early and drove from the border of Canada to Long Island. It was our longest day of driving and by the time we reached their house we were so glad to be there. Because we arrived a day early we were able to enjoy labor day with them meaning we got to spent a work free day with my sister and my brother in law. It was a day well spent at the beach. There were these crazy black flies that wanted to eat us alive however. Andy surfed one of the best waves of his life, that is a direct quote. It was a barrel wave and he said it was awesome. The water was too choppy at the beach we were at. The lifeguards were only allowing people in up to their knees. Surfers were every man for himself. I guess they are considered safer because they have a board?!? The rest of our week has been awesome here. So awesome in fact, we are going to stay one more day. We have survived Hurricane Hanna so we are feeling pretty good about things. We spent some time at the boat club where Brad and I won a very close game of Cranium. Maybe it pays to have spent every waking moment with someone. We were on the exact same wavelength while playing the game it was kind of funny. We played Tennis and let me say that Brad and I are not awesome at this game. It was really fun however to play doubles. It was one of the best times of our trip in my opinion. I doubt Jessica and Andy had as much fun as we did because they are probably used to playing with people that can play. Brad and Jessica were one a team and Brad still hit her with the ball- Yikes! This was awesome and the best part is right before contact Jessica knew it was coming. She freaked out made a crazy attempt to get away which only made it funnier. Brad is not a good partner =) I did not hit Andy with the ball. We went on a bike ride to the beach which was lovely. A few days later Jessica and Andy decided they needed sunglasses to match their bikes and so it was. Jessica now is the proud owner of the official Mets Oakley's because they are the same color as her bike. She is nervous that people are going to think that she is an out of control Mets fan. I think she looks super cool! We cooked some fun dinners and lounged as well. We went to a hurricane party where Hurricane Hanna didn't even show up. There was some rain and some wind but nothing to get all crazy about. The good news is the boat is okay. And that is about it. This is the brief version to get everyone who cares up to date. Again I hate that I slacked off and I will try to make it up to you all =) We are going to make a scrap book and photo album so that should be fun to look at later. We love you all and are still happy and have not killed each other yet! Since we have made it almost three months without killing each other I think we are going to make it. I almost left him on the side of the road once and he wanted to run away from me once thinking hitch hiking would be more fun but then we came to our senses. We do not want the trip to end and we truly are having the time of our lives.
Old Faithful
Now there is definitely one thing that must be done upon a visit to Yellowstone and this one thing is to watch Old Faithful. We decided it would be best to go ahead and get this awesome yet touristy thing done with so we would not have to try and fit it in later in the week and so it did not slip through our fingers as something that we were unable to do. We all agreed that we would be disappointed if we left Yellowstone without watching the iconic geyser erupt at its scheduled hour. Our campground was less than twenty miles from the landmark so we easily drove there and realized with the rush of people exiting that it must have just blown. This was good and bad news but in the end mostly good news. The bad news was that we had to wait at least an hour for our ShowTime. The good news was we were the first of the next showing’s viewers and this meant we had the pick of seats. Naturally 
we chose the best front row seats in the house. It was also nice to sit after our hikes and just hang out with family and fellow travelers. We made friends with a family who sat behind us. Tom attempted a nap and I put my hat over my face for a few minutes while lying on the bench more to relax than to actually nap. I find the most amazing thing about Old Faithful not to be the awesome geyser eruptions all though they are pretty unreal. I think the neatest thing is its predictability. Not only is it guaranteed to go off in a mildly violent display of natures furry between every 60 to 120 minutes but based on each individual eruption the next on can be more ac
curately predicted. This is to say that the more violent the eruption the next is more likely to be on the tame side. The longer the wait between eruptions the more violent the eruption will be. In short Old Faithful is a massive and amazing natural geyser that is easily predictable and goes off every hour. No wonder people come from all over the world to watch. And there were people from all over the world with their camera and video recorders in hand waiting for the spectacle. Although Old Faithful’s eruptions can be predicted the exact moment in which the geyser will blow is unknown. Watching the steam puff up from the Earth was like watching a suspenseful movie where only little needs to happen and yet you are still glued to the edge of your seat. The geyser seemed to tease us a bit by stopping her smoky breathing for an instant and puffing out a sudden cloud. At each little burst of steam the crowd held its breath expecting the steam and water to skyrocket at any moment. But the geyser refused to perform for 
minutes. This part of the display was neat because you could feel the anticipation until all at once little spurts of water and steam started to jut from the cone like opening. At first they were short bursts only a few feet tall. Then they were a few meters tall but still coming in short bursts. Then all the sudden the steam and water reached skyward and for over a full minute Old Faithful proved why it was a landmark. The geyser flow went vertical 160 feet skyward. As the moments passed on the geyser kept spewing as the wind played its part by blowing the steam. This movement of the powerful upward shooting steam and the misty cloud spread by the wind combined making the geyser eruption huge and breathtaking. There was a mild hissing sound of the relieving pressure from the water and steam erupted. There was a combination of human noises as well, a mixing of camera’s clicking and people gasping and saying ohh and ahh and oh look. It was a neat experience and even made Mom’s eyes tear up. Yellowstone is a fragile but extremely powerful ticking time bomb and this display proved it to me. 
Our first full day consisted of exploring the West Thumb area and a 6-mile hike to riddle lake. The West Thumb area was over crowded but for good reason. When we first arrived it seemed like the hikes in the area might be a little lame and everywhere we looked there were groups of people. As we started we realized that once we started the walk the people were dispersed enough on the boardwalk that it was easy to just be with ou
r small group of four. One of the defining characteristics of Yellowstone is that it is a super volcano. The land covers an active volcano that is so huge that when it finally blows the world will be changed. This volcanic activity is apparent throughout the park but in some areas every few steps you take leads to a geyser or a bubbling pool or a hot spring or some other variation of hydrothermal activity. All of the pools varied from one another and they even change depending on the day and/or time of day. There was truly so much diversity in the 
geothermal pools. My personal favorites were the pools that had orange and yellow usually mostly around the rims of the pools. The light blue pools were definitely a close second but all of the pools in their own way were awesome and inspiring in their own way. From the small gurgles of muddy water or the vents that only steam escaped from to the huge pools that seemed to have no bottom they were all neat to see especially to see the different ones so close in proximity to each 
other. The walk around West Thumb’s hydrothermal pools borders the edge of Yellowstone Lake for most of the walk. There were visible active areas even in the lake, which was neat, and there are also heated areas that we could not see beneath the surface of the lake water. One of the better known of these hydrothermal areas in the lake is fisherman’s cone. This cone was once popular for fisherman who would stand on the cone surrounding the hydrothermal area and 
fish. Once catching a fish they would dip the fish still on the hook and cook it in the active cone filled with boiling water. As you can imagine this is an ideal situation. The problem with fisherman’s cone however was fisherman were falling in and being cooked. As much as people like cooked fish nobody likes a cooked fisherman so access to the cone is no longer permitted. One of the things that is so cool about this area is how dangerous these pools are. They was even a geothermal vent beneath the surface of the lake that was in the clear shape of a heart. This little heart hole itself was in the upper hump of a larger heart shaped cone. the best part about this discovery was that Brad pointed it out. They are beautiful and with the gentle steam rising from the light blue ones I can see how 
it would be tempting to test the waters. I don’t know if I would be foolish enough to jump in but I can see myself testing the water with a hand or a foot, which would surely lead to pain and perhaps serious burns. The beauty and ferocity of the area made for a striking contradiction. We were all equally impressed by nature’s display at West Thumb. There was a pool named the abyss. This pool was black in the center because it was so deep that there was no color jumping back at us. A deep blue surrounded the black in the abyss, it was 
very pretty. There light blue ones that I mentioned usually had a white rim and resembled swimming pools or hot tubs. Most of the pools had patches of green surrounding their borders. These gardens stay green year round because the pools thermal energy is constant. This place would be a sight to behold in winter when the ground is covered in white snow except for the numerous steaming pools surrounded with striking green plant life all along the borders. This hike was actually more of a stroll on a boardwalk than a hike but it was awesome all the same. Mom was in the mood to try out her hiking legs and was ready to get into the backcountry so we 
left the West Thumb area for more backwoods hiking experience and fewer people. We decided the nice six-mile riddle lake trail was a good place to start. This was a pleasant trail to a small lake and back. Much of Yellowstone was devastated in a fire in the 80’s so there were standing dead trees and young forests throughout the park. On this hike we saw both as well as fields of gold that waved in the wind. This was actually my personal favorite part of the entire hike. When the wind would blow the ground looked as though a conductor waving his arms to and fro was directing them. The sun added to this dramatic orchestra as the grass bent and swirled with the wind. We too as hikers were intermixed in this as the wind would randomly roll around us. Once the trees opened up to an open area this would happen. The ground was not only golden but there were many shades of yellow and green as well. There were mountains off in the distance and then there was the lake. Parts of Riddle
Lake were completely covered in lily pads. The muddy bank was like a carbon paper recording all the recent activity along the waters edge. Not only were their human footprints and most likely dog or coyote tracks but we also recognized many hoof prints of varying size and a few bear tracks. We were without a doubt in the wild. The animals are well aware of our presence however and this is to our advantage. 
Animals have a healthy fear of humans as we should have of them and they try to leave us alone and avoid us, as we should with them. There are definitely times when curiosity overtakes us and this is okay as long as we both keep our distance. We were lucky enough to view some wildlife and their marks without any confrontations. During our stay in Yellowstone Riddle Lake was one of the quieter prettier hikes we did. The landscape was peaceful and rejuvenating. I think everyone in the party enjoyed the hike. This was apparent during the times when everyone became silent and we just walked on happy and content before the silence was happily broken again. Getting Settled in at Yellowstone
When we first drove into Yellowstone National Park we decided to get our camp set up. Before doing this of course we had to check in. We were planning on spending the week at Grant Village staying in the same campground so we would not have to pack up and set up everyday. Reservations had been made in advance so we did not have to worry about that. The original campsite we were assigned was set between two roads and had no trees. It was a dusty patch of ground that was right across from the bathroom. In short not the ideal site. We figured it would not be the worst thing if we got stuck in this site but why not see what else is out there. We decided to go back and see if there were any other options. Luckily for us the guys working at the check in desk were super nice. Not only did we look at other sites on a map but they were sweet and fun to joke with as well. We decided on an outer site that is in a tent only loop. It is best to get a site in a tent only loop because then you won’t have to deal with generators. Once we drove up to the site we were so glad that we had made the effort to get a better site. Because we were on the outer loop there were plenty of trees all around. Although this is a compact campground this site was large and our neighbors were hidden behind trees so it did not feel like there were people all around us. We quickly went about the business of getting settled in for the week. We went to the general store to go ahead and get groceries and stock up for the week – this was the plan anyway. We ended up frequenting the store throughout the week. Mom and I both got distracted in the store as is common for me. We not only left with groceries but we both had a new cowboy hat. Brad and I have been collecting pint glasses along our journey as well as before we hit the road so we picked up a Yellowstone pint glass to add to the collection and Mom got a tee shirt. Mom was really happy with her hat selection and was pleased to find a hat that she likes. It is rare for her as it is with most girls to fins a hat that flatters you but if I might say so myself she looked good in that styling cowboy hat – maybe not as good as I looked but you know =). She has another opinion about who the hat looks better on but this is my story so that is how I will tell it =) After settling in to our camp we had a delicious dinner and just talked. One thing that I was excited about this week was not only getting to share some of our trip with a part of my family but also to have my Mom help design some of the meals. I love going home and eating some of the things that she prepares. We were camping so I knew it was not going to be gourmet but I knew there would certainly be a different twist than Brad and I have been bringing to the table. We had pasta with a Sarah twist and it was camp delicious. Mom and Tom were two weary travelers so we took the first day easy and got acclimated to Grant Village. Since we were in bear country we loaned them a bear spray for their tent in case of any unwanted company as unlikely as it is, it is better to be prepared for it. Mom did have a bit of a spook when Tom snored in the middle of the night and she was convinced that there was a snarling bear just beyond the borders of her tent. Luckily when she woke Tom the snarling stopped and she figured out the snarling was actually snoring. Luckily that was the closest we came to a bear attack. We made a fire and Mom and Tom really were appreciating everything that has become so normal to Brad and myself. This made us appreciate it again as we had in the beginning of the trip. Not that we have stopped looking up in the night sky with awe or stopped enjoying being warmed by a fire it has just become normal. What a lucky thing! It was nice to be reminded unknowingly that what we are doing every day is amazing. We left most of the exploring for later in the week.
We decided our time was better spent exploring than driving. In this way we regretfully cut out Salt Lake City to spend more time in Idaho and Wyoming rather than on the road. One day I would like to get a feel for Salt Lake City but not this year. We Went to 
Jackson a day early to get a head start on the area. We explored the urban jungle of the uppity outdoors Jackson Hole where everything is overpriced but adorable. We ate Thai food, which it seems that we can not get enough of even though nothing is as good as Chai Da Thai in Boone. Although a lot of places come close. We discovered The Snake River Brewing Company, which I have heard such great things about. This is one of the better brewing companies that we have been to. We did not have a reservation anywhere because we decided not to go to Salt Lake City so we had to figure something out. Everything was full from campsites to rooms. This pushed us south to Alpine where we found a room for the bargain price of $100. There were no other options even further from Jackson from this as far as 50 miles that we could find so we decided to splurge. . It paid of. Although the room did not look like much from the outside and it was only a best western once we opened the door we were impressed. If you are ever in the area the Best Western in Alpine is 
pretty awesome. Everything was much nicer than your usual normal hotel and there was a huge Jacuzzi bathtub!!! There was randomly enough a phone attached to the wall in the bathroom as well. From the window we had an awesome unobstructed view of a mountain. We took advantage of the amenities and watched Men in Black, which happened to be on TV and whatever Olympics came on. I took a bath for what seemed like forever. We then decided to check out the restaurant on location, which we did not expect much from. Again we were pleasantly surprised. Everything was so delicious. I had chili and a Brownie with ice cream while Brad had a steak with mashed potatoes followed by a milk shake. Yum - and the best parts were we did not have to prepare it or clean up afterwards. Michael Phelps was of course on TV. He is awesome and his talent really impresses me but I think everyone else was overshadowed by him. This is not his fault at all but NBC could have done a better job with the broadcasting of the Olympic games. I felt bad for the other swimmers during the relays. While on the podium the camera would zoom in so only Michael’s face was in view and my heart hurt for the other swimmers families. But I loved to watch him swim so whatever. I think the Olympics should be on more than one channel so the viewer can pick what they watch. For example NBC delayed gymnastics so it was not live because of a Phelps interview. They still ran the clip with a live header, which I though was strange and unfair. Oh well, enough on that subject. We sat at the bar in order to watch gymnastics vault and floor finals. The judging was a bit unfair in my opinion and Alicia deserved the bronze. That is enough about that. While watching the Olympics we made friends with 
another couple at the bar who are local.
The whole next day was spent exploring Jackson Hole and the surrounding area. My mom was traveling from North Carolina to Wyoming to meet us and she had reserved a room at the Rustic Inn in Jackson. Brad and I checked in and waited for them to arrive. Sadly they were delayed in Denver so Brad and I were all by ourselves. The good news is that they were able to take the early flight and made it to Jackson in time for breakfast in the morning, which was the best continental breakfast that I have ever seen. She was able to have enough time to take a bath in the morning as well. I think this made her day so much better. I gave her a box of See’s candies, which are her very favorite candies in the world and that are only on the west coast. At the See’s Candies store I was able to pick each chocolate for the box. I though that was a really neat idea. From here we decided to check out what Jackson Hole has to offer and then we headed north towards the Tetons. It was really nice to see my mom and Tom. We were both really glad that they were able to fly out and meet us in Jackson. It was nice to know that we would have company at camp for the next week.
Jackson a day early to get a head start on the area. We explored the urban jungle of the uppity outdoors Jackson Hole where everything is overpriced but adorable. We ate Thai food, which it seems that we can not get enough of even though nothing is as good as Chai Da Thai in Boone. Although a lot of places come close. We discovered The Snake River Brewing Company, which I have heard such great things about. This is one of the better brewing companies that we have been to. We did not have a reservation anywhere because we decided not to go to Salt Lake City so we had to figure something out. Everything was full from campsites to rooms. This pushed us south to Alpine where we found a room for the bargain price of $100. There were no other options even further from Jackson from this as far as 50 miles that we could find so we decided to splurge. . It paid of. Although the room did not look like much from the outside and it was only a best western once we opened the door we were impressed. If you are ever in the area the Best Western in Alpine is 
pretty awesome. Everything was much nicer than your usual normal hotel and there was a huge Jacuzzi bathtub!!! There was randomly enough a phone attached to the wall in the bathroom as well. From the window we had an awesome unobstructed view of a mountain. We took advantage of the amenities and watched Men in Black, which happened to be on TV and whatever Olympics came on. I took a bath for what seemed like forever. We then decided to check out the restaurant on location, which we did not expect much from. Again we were pleasantly surprised. Everything was so delicious. I had chili and a Brownie with ice cream while Brad had a steak with mashed potatoes followed by a milk shake. Yum - and the best parts were we did not have to prepare it or clean up afterwards. Michael Phelps was of course on TV. He is awesome and his talent really impresses me but I think everyone else was overshadowed by him. This is not his fault at all but NBC could have done a better job with the broadcasting of the Olympic games. I felt bad for the other swimmers during the relays. While on the podium the camera would zoom in so only Michael’s face was in view and my heart hurt for the other swimmers families. But I loved to watch him swim so whatever. I think the Olympics should be on more than one channel so the viewer can pick what they watch. For example NBC delayed gymnastics so it was not live because of a Phelps interview. They still ran the clip with a live header, which I though was strange and unfair. Oh well, enough on that subject. We sat at the bar in order to watch gymnastics vault and floor finals. The judging was a bit unfair in my opinion and Alicia deserved the bronze. That is enough about that. While watching the Olympics we made friends with 
another couple at the bar who are local.The whole next day was spent exploring Jackson Hole and the surrounding area. My mom was traveling from North Carolina to Wyoming to meet us and she had reserved a room at the Rustic Inn in Jackson. Brad and I checked in and waited for them to arrive. Sadly they were delayed in Denver so Brad and I were all by ourselves. The good news is that they were able to take the early flight and made it to Jackson in time for breakfast in the morning, which was the best continental breakfast that I have ever seen. She was able to have enough time to take a bath in the morning as well. I think this made her day so much better. I gave her a box of See’s candies, which are her very favorite candies in the world and that are only on the west coast. At the See’s Candies store I was able to pick each chocolate for the box. I though that was a really neat idea. From here we decided to check out what Jackson Hole has to offer and then we headed north towards the Tetons. It was really nice to see my mom and Tom. We were both really glad that they were able to fly out and meet us in Jackson. It was nice to know that we would have company at camp for the next week.
Craters of the Moon
No we did not go to the moon but we did go to a place named for its inhospitable terrain. A large portion of southeast Idaho's landscape exists as the remains of a slew of volcanic activity stretching over millions of 
years. Different volcano’s erupted with their subsequent lava flow. Over time many varying flows created the landscape of Craters of the Moon National Park. True to it's name the land looks more like somewhere you would see on the moon or a planet in space rather than on Earth. Although as far as the eye can see the ground is mostly lava rock the rocks are from varying times and eruptions so the lava rocks are different throughout the parks flows. The chunky black earth made the ground feel and look hot and unlivable even though it was not especially hot or uncomfortable. I do not think I would like to have 
a house here. This is not to say that I did not find the area neat and worth while. There were tree impressions in some of the lava flows and others were dull while some were glossy. My favorite thing I did at the park was a hike that led to a number of wild caves. These caves were made when the outer shell of a lava flow would harden allowing the lava to flow through a tube sometimes creating a river underground. Eventually the river stops flowing and some areas are left hollow underground. Sometimes these become caves. These caves were not commercialized in any way. There were no stairs, lighting or handrails. These caves exist now exactly as they were found in their wild state. This 
made it a little scary to venture inside but I managed to overcome my fear if only for a minute. I climbed down towards the mouths of three different caves and explored the openings of all of them. One of the three bothered me a bit and I was too nervous to go any further than the shallow mouth that led into a narrow dark opening. The other two although not easy to enter were more approachable. These two offered a healthy balance of fear, exploration and excitement that allowed me to go further in. I am glad that I did not lose my footing but I did not think about that until afterward. I am glad that I went into the caves and was able to experience climbing into a cave by myself. It gave me a sense of what it must be like coming across a wild cave for the first time. In no way was it 
as intense as Natural Bridge Caverns in Texas but it was pretty cool none the less. The cave interior was much different as well because the nature by which it was formed is different than the other caves we have seen on this trip. We were lucky enough to have a yellow sunset that night. The contrast of the yellow against the black landscape was striking. It was one of those sunsets where the yellow is so strong and bright that although there are other colors they just act as accents to the yellow. Our wildlife encounter here was a fox. Although it was sly this fox was far from shy. He came right into our campsite and sat on our table for a minute and looked at me then looked around for a while knowing that I was not a threat. During this I stood as still as I could. As soon as I made a move towards my camera, even though my movement was away from the fox he 
startled and was off. I was a little bummed that I did not get a close up shot of him but I was happy to have been able to look at him for a while. He walked around our campsite for a while before disappearing behind the lava chunks out of sight. His face was expressive in the way a dog's face can be and his bushy little tail was cute but there was no question that he was a wild animal. The fact that he was so 
untamed made him so neat to be so close to. Much of our driving through Idaho was some of the prettiest country I have ever seen. Washington and Idaho just glued my eyes to the window. We were either on a mountain pass with forest or ridgeline views or most often in Idaho winding beside one of the famous rivers in the area. We passed many anglers and rapids. It was awesome to wind along side the snake river while it was roaring and then to pass it later while it is much more tame only to pass it again as it rushes by with a swift current.
years. Different volcano’s erupted with their subsequent lava flow. Over time many varying flows created the landscape of Craters of the Moon National Park. True to it's name the land looks more like somewhere you would see on the moon or a planet in space rather than on Earth. Although as far as the eye can see the ground is mostly lava rock the rocks are from varying times and eruptions so the lava rocks are different throughout the parks flows. The chunky black earth made the ground feel and look hot and unlivable even though it was not especially hot or uncomfortable. I do not think I would like to have 
a house here. This is not to say that I did not find the area neat and worth while. There were tree impressions in some of the lava flows and others were dull while some were glossy. My favorite thing I did at the park was a hike that led to a number of wild caves. These caves were made when the outer shell of a lava flow would harden allowing the lava to flow through a tube sometimes creating a river underground. Eventually the river stops flowing and some areas are left hollow underground. Sometimes these become caves. These caves were not commercialized in any way. There were no stairs, lighting or handrails. These caves exist now exactly as they were found in their wild state. This 
made it a little scary to venture inside but I managed to overcome my fear if only for a minute. I climbed down towards the mouths of three different caves and explored the openings of all of them. One of the three bothered me a bit and I was too nervous to go any further than the shallow mouth that led into a narrow dark opening. The other two although not easy to enter were more approachable. These two offered a healthy balance of fear, exploration and excitement that allowed me to go further in. I am glad that I did not lose my footing but I did not think about that until afterward. I am glad that I went into the caves and was able to experience climbing into a cave by myself. It gave me a sense of what it must be like coming across a wild cave for the first time. In no way was it 
as intense as Natural Bridge Caverns in Texas but it was pretty cool none the less. The cave interior was much different as well because the nature by which it was formed is different than the other caves we have seen on this trip. We were lucky enough to have a yellow sunset that night. The contrast of the yellow against the black landscape was striking. It was one of those sunsets where the yellow is so strong and bright that although there are other colors they just act as accents to the yellow. Our wildlife encounter here was a fox. Although it was sly this fox was far from shy. He came right into our campsite and sat on our table for a minute and looked at me then looked around for a while knowing that I was not a threat. During this I stood as still as I could. As soon as I made a move towards my camera, even though my movement was away from the fox he 
startled and was off. I was a little bummed that I did not get a close up shot of him but I was happy to have been able to look at him for a while. He walked around our campsite for a while before disappearing behind the lava chunks out of sight. His face was expressive in the way a dog's face can be and his bushy little tail was cute but there was no question that he was a wild animal. The fact that he was so 
untamed made him so neat to be so close to. Much of our driving through Idaho was some of the prettiest country I have ever seen. Washington and Idaho just glued my eyes to the window. We were either on a mountain pass with forest or ridgeline views or most often in Idaho winding beside one of the famous rivers in the area. We passed many anglers and rapids. It was awesome to wind along side the snake river while it was roaring and then to pass it later while it is much more tame only to pass it again as it rushes by with a swift current. 
Stanley Idaho is the smallest town that I have ever stayed in. There are no stop lights and the roads are not paved. We happened to arrive here in Stanley because it is the nearest town to where we were camping in the Sawtooth Mountain Park. We were pushed into town because the women’s gymnastics all around competition was that evening. I had already missed so much of the Olympics and this event is my favorite of the summer games so I was determined to watch. The first attempts at finding a place that would show the Olympics were disheartening. There were only four restaurants/bars in town. The first that we stopped at only watched the hunting and tackle channel. The second did not get NBC. Here I started to loose hope 
and thought we were going to drive an hour to Ketchum. The next place had a redneck bartender that was rude and said that he would not watch anything but baseball. Now we had one last bar option. At first I thought we were going to have to hit the road because it was even grungier than the last bar. Luckily the guy was nice and after he said he did not know if he would have it on later I asked if he could because if not we were going to go to another town. He said that he would make sure to have it on. From here we went to set up camp and made sure to have everything set up so we did not have to worry about anything when we got back because it would not only be dark it would be late too. It was fun watching the Olympics at a local Idaho bar that if not for me probably would not be watching female gymnastics rather than football or baseball. By the end of the competition everyone was in to it and people were asking me questions about gymnastics and the gymnasts etc. The bartender/bar owner seemed to 
enjoy it too. He got a kick out of having a group of people at his bar enthralled in gymnastics and he started getting excited or upset depending on the scoring. We had a good time here. One note worthy thing about the bar in Stanley is everyone in the town comes to the bar it seems and there was a hunting game equipped with a gun that reminded me of duck hunt for all of us who played the original Nintendo. Our campsite hugged the shore of a lake and looked over the Sawtooth Mountain Range. It was a beautiful view. Regardless of all the beautiful places and views we see I am still quieted by the beauty of Nature. All the places we have been lucky enough to visit have had their own beauty from the arid desert to the ocean. The lake with the Sawtooths reflecting in the water was just one of those places for me that made me stop thinking. I just sat on a log and watched the sun move through the sky changing the reflection of the mountain range on the water, there was a canoe on the shore and more than once I wanted to 
just hop in and paddle away. If there would have been a paddle too I probably would have gone for a short paddle but there was only the boat. I watched as two frogs hopped around between land and water. They hid beside rocks and gave throaty croaks from time to time before flopping into the water with a thud and a splash. I most liked to watch them while they were swimming with their back legs outstretched and kicking. There were ducks paddling across the water and birds flying over head. The air was crisp with a dash of chill but the sun was warm. There was a gray colored log perfect for sitting on and my bare feet barely touched to waters edge. One neat thing about this lake is how shallow most of it was. I walked out a good ten feet and it was just over ankle deep and it did not look as though it were going to drop off any tim
e soon. The nights were cold here but a part of me fell in love with the Sawtooth Mountains. I need to stop falling in love with every where we go but I can not help it. We drove through Ketchum after leaving the park and stopped. Yet another cute town with a cute-blowing rock type feel to it. Here I got a caramel apple from Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory which to my disappointment are everywhere. We saw our first one in Colorado and I thought it was so cute, by the time we saw our tenth one in random places I was sad that it was not only regional. I now know you can enjoy Rocky Mountain Chocolates all over the country even in Charlotte. Kilwins is better but this caramel apple was delicious none the less.
Idaho
We drove into Idaho - The birthplace of the wonderful Rebekah Lee McPherson. McCall was the first stop. We were glad to stop here because we had been drivig all day. It was a very long drive day. We went all the way from Seattle to McCall - it is a long way. After stopping in McCall I see why 
my Dad loves this town and holds it fondly in his memory. Quite and Quaint but not so small that you feel lost. From here we traveled south to Boise. After checking out the college and downtown we made our way to the blue football field. Go Broncos. We decided the beers at Big Horn Brewery were worth tasting and so we did. We sampled and enjoyed six of them and saw an awesome picture of a lady wearing a sassy dress made 
from a sack of famous idaho potatoes. Funny enough restaurants took advantago of the famous potatoes slogan and posted prowdly on their windows that they had famous potatoes. All of Idaho has famous potatoes so it was funny to me. After being dissapointed by two closed Thai places we ate at a cute place that was a restored bank. There were marble columns and the floor was marble as well. Boise is a good city and it was fun to revisit it.
my Dad loves this town and holds it fondly in his memory. Quite and Quaint but not so small that you feel lost. From here we traveled south to Boise. After checking out the college and downtown we made our way to the blue football field. Go Broncos. We decided the beers at Big Horn Brewery were worth tasting and so we did. We sampled and enjoyed six of them and saw an awesome picture of a lady wearing a sassy dress made 
from a sack of famous idaho potatoes. Funny enough restaurants took advantago of the famous potatoes slogan and posted prowdly on their windows that they had famous potatoes. All of Idaho has famous potatoes so it was funny to me. After being dissapointed by two closed Thai places we ate at a cute place that was a restored bank. There were marble columns and the floor was marble as well. Boise is a good city and it was fun to revisit it.
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Tree Hugging in Boone
