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I spent last night in Boise, Idaho, but I'l back up a few hours to tag the end of my last post "Eastern Oregon". I reached the end of the vast, beautiful, almost-nothingness that is eastern Oregon, and entered Idaho near Ottawa, OR. I kid you not, I rolled my windows down and I could smell potatoes. I wanted that to be a figment of my imagination, but I took several minutes trying to pinpoint the earthy smell, and once "potato" came into my mind, it was all over. Alas, Idaho was already living up to its reputation. To be fair, about 20 miles later, I could smell onions. I'm not sure if that helps or hurts, it's just a fact.
OK! As far as lodging goes, I couch surfed right in downtown Boise ( a small, school friendly neighborhood in the north section, right against the hills). I am always very thankful for organizations that attempt to bring travelers together and make it easy to move around. I had great hosts, with a nice, comfy couch. We shared a great love for breakfast food, so the next morning, upon their suggestion, I went to Goldy's Breakfast Bistro (warning, music), where I sat at the bar next to a very talkative former congressional lawyer/dean of students at the law school. She was very nice, and we laughed about student debt and the American job market. You never know who you'll meet, and a conversation is always worth the time and effort.
After breakfast I walked downtown a little bit. I's a small downtown, with the Capitol building standing quite prominently, making for a nice, clean, stately feel to it all. The Idaho hills are a nice backdrop to boot. I then went on a (very) sort hike to the top of a little ridge behind the city called the Camel's Back. It's a quick jaunt that offers a rewarding view of the city and the valley that hosts Boise.
I moved onward and upward, continuing on I-84 until Bliss, ID, where I jumped off to detour to Hagerman, where I spotted the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. It resulted in visiting the monument visitor centre (smack in middle of downtown Hagerman, pop. 872). In all due respect, it was anticlimactic, but it got me off the highway, which I enjoy.
I crossed over I-84, and onto Route 26 heading East, met up (again!) with Route 20. This entire region (and essential the entirety of populated southern Idaho) courses alongside the Snake River valley. That means a nice, relatively flat drive, with mountains to my side. It was beautiful.
I stopped into Craters of the Moon National Monument, the day's travel goal. The entire Snake River valley, extending the width of southern Idaho and into Wyoming, is a remnant of successive volcanic activity and caldera formation. Calderas have formed ever few million or hundred thousand years (or something) heading eastward. In this region of Idaho, what remains is lava rock...as far as you can see. Cue weeping settlers on the Oregon Trail (no, really, there are signs depicting struggling settlers). Also, cue the government deciding to preserve the area because it's pretty neat, and for once, I'd agree with their opinion.
The park is a quick drive, with several stoping points for small hikes (walks, really) into the lava beds themselves (lava rock, not actual lava). The contrast of the black rock against the blue sky and tan hills was quite remarkable. A couple spots allowed you to hike up to the top of some of the volcanic spires (mounds, really), offering some nice views. Appreciate photos, if you will =).
After finishing there, I continued on Route 20 until I hit Idaho Falls. Of note, I passed through a town called Arco, the first town in the world to be powered by nuclear energy. Also of note, a town proud of the fact that every high school class since 1920 has painted their graduation year onto the hill sides #seniormoments.
I arrived in Idaho falls early evening, and I had an exciting travel epiphany. I didn't need to be in Utah for another 2 days, and there is a particularly famous national park very close by. So with that, I made the decision to head East and North en route to Yellowstone. I got there just before sunset, and was introduced to the fact that the town of West Yellowstone is a jam, packed, tourist-dependent machine. Not that I should have expected something differently, I guess that's just a fact. I was able to secure a tent spot at a camp grounds at the entrance of town. They had phenomenal shower rooms actually. The man on duty had a thick drawl, dirty, worn denim all over his body, and a trucker hat that was at least placed into a gas tank for a week, I'm guessing. He went off about how the Chinese are taking over, and will soon run Yellowstone. Keep dreaming my friend. So, with that, I bedded down for the night, ready to explore the great symbol of America the next day. Until next time!