On to Idaho

Utah was the first place we'd been where we had two full days without rain.  But on June 5, our travel day to Idaho, I heard thunder during the early morning and those morning storms rolled through.  We began preparing to leave and as we did, the sky cleared and we left Little River Utah KOA .  

I drove the first leg.  We went north on Utah State Road # 6.  That's a short cut instead of following interstates.  It wasn't a bad drive. Great passing lanes gave drivers a chance to get past us.  Free range cattle grazed the land.

See for yourself

As we traveled, the mountains became closer until we were in very mountainous country.  Then the rain caught up with us so we were driving in rain for the first time.  Not a problem really, the windshield wipers work fine. WRONG.  The first thing that went wrong was that the wipers froze in action.  The wind force against the wind shield caused them to freeze.  No, there was no place to pull over since state roads don't have pull-off lanes.  So I drove without seeing very well.  I looked at the yellow line on the right to be sure I was not too close to the edge of the road. Buck read the road signs to me.  The windshield wipers stopped and started several times depending on the wind force.  Finally, the right one just died into the trough in the windshield. I admit, I said a choice word or two when that happened, and wanted to stop.  But Buck said "You're almost out of the rain," and he was right.  I was unnerved somewhat, but kept driving until we were on I-15 N.  We changed drivers at a stoplight as the interstate went through a small town.  Buck drove for several hours.  Then after fueling, I drove us into the Pocatello, Idaho, KOA. We ate supper in the motor home - grilled chicken salad, left over chicken from the June 2 meal at Utah.  That was a tiring day!!

Now for the TV update.  Back in Utah, actually the morning after we had driven there, Buck went to get free breakfast at the KOA office.  He had watched TV before he left, and, of course, left the TV on.  I didn't pay attention to the TV, so I didn't notice that it had stopped.  When he came back, we were both shocked that the TV had apparently died.  Then we remembered that the message on the screen for over a year was a reminder that time to change the bulb was nearing.  So after our travel to national parks, Buck tore down the big Sony TV in our motor home.  He searched for the location of the bulb and finally found it at the most unlikely place - the bottom right of the screen.  So we replaced the bulb.  YEA!  But when he tried it, there still was no life in the TV.  I suggested tearing it down again and starting over.  HE DID NOT LIKE THAT IDEA.  So after one night in Idaho, we went to Wall Mart and purchased a 32" TV, thinking that we would use it until we find someone who can repair the big Sony, and if that could happen, we would replace the TV in the basement of the motor home with the new 32" TV. We have not found anyone to repair the Sony, so the 32" TV is in a chair in front of the Sony attached to all the connections to make it work! When we prepare to travel Buck stores that TV on the couch and sets it back up when we arrive at our destination.  Probably our way of life until we return to Shelby.

We also bought a camera at Wall Mart. Hopefully, the pictures we send to you will be better.

Remember from above that we had trouble with the windshield wipers.  We went by truck, to a Camping World to buy new ones. Buck hoped that installing the new ones would fix the problem. (It didn't.)  

On our return trip we traveled once again to a National Park, but actually it's called Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.  For 80 miles we traveled through farm land, dessert land and town limits to get there.  Because we missed a turn we were delayed 20 minutes but the Visitors Center was still open at 5:10; they close at 6:00 PM.  So we went in, bought a magnet and cards and watched a video.  We learned that the craters are caused by ancient volcanoes that erupted across the earth surface near the town of Acro, Idaho. A series of deep fissures known collectively as the Great Rift cross the Snake River Plane.  Beginning 15,000 years ago, lava welled up to produce this vast ocean of rock. 

Nothing can live in this volcanic rock.

 The most recent eruption occurred only 2, 000 years ago, and geologists believe that future events are likely.  We're finding that to be a prediction at every national park we visit. Sounds like God is not yet finished with creating the earth. 

At Idaho, I suddenly felt a long way from home and especially a long way from the grandchildren.  Much has happened to them since we left on May 14.   School has ended, church music programs are over, dance recital is coming up Saturday, scout advancements have occurred, summer plans are being made with their families.  Guess I know now how grandparents who live far away deal with that distance.  I also miss our friends and church family.  And I miss my plants and flowers at home.  I've heard they are doing fine, and I would love to see for myself. But Buck and I are troopers - we will make the journey as planned.  If fact, I've been called a gypsy occasionally due to our love of travel.

We're headed to Wyoming and to Yellowstone National Park. Catch ya then!

Packed and ready to roll!