Idaho Sights

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I am writing this blog entry from my aunt and uncle's house in Buhl, ID and so I don't have access to my own computer and they anf Ken are all upstairs having a drink (or two or...) so I have to be quick! Today started with our breakfast in the restaurant of the hotel and then a 2 hour drive west to Craters of the Moon National Monument. What an amazing place. It looks so desolate and eerie as it is a huge field of lava rock from thousands of years of volcanic activity in this region of Idaho. The landscape is mostly black lava rock with some very interesting formations depending on the cycle the volcanic eruptions were in....some were flows, some were splatters and some were piles of molten lava hardened back into stone. The vegetation of the area is sparse but, amazingly, stuff actually grows there! We did a short 1/2 mile walk around an area of the monument called the Devil Garden. Very interesting. Luckilym we got there early because by the time we left it was over 22C and on its way to 34C! ANyway, after we left the national monument, we headed west and some north to Sun Valley, ID....a beautiful ski and resort area in the Sawtooth Mountain range of Idaho. It is the playground of the rich and famous and the real estate around there shows it! We met 3 friends from Second Life at the Sun Valley Lodge and then headed to a more reasonably priced place to eat lunch together. It was a great delight to meet Songdog (Kathleen), Lazuli (Jim) and Gail (Gail) after knowing them for so long in the game. Excellent people!! After our lunch and the exchange of muffins and pickles, we headed straight south to Buhl to spend the next 2 nights with Peggy and Phil (my mom's sister and her hubby). The live in a house overlooking the amazing Snake River. I can't wait until tomorrow when we do a bit of exploring in this gorgeous region! I need to get upstairs and join the party! Adding in a few photos and then off to the party!PS The photo downloads are not working well so I'll try again tomorrow for today's photos!

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Photos

Potato fields in Idaho
Well this is what ID is known for! Photo taken from a fast moving car!

One of the Three Buttes
The pioneers used the three buttes as landmarks on their way across the Oregon Trail

Last of the Three Buttes from Craters of the Moon
View looking back towards the buttes from the Craters of the Moon National Monument

Splatter Cones
These are hollow cones where lava was splattered out of the earth at the end of a volcanic eruption phase

Lava Flows
This is how flowing lava (one of the earlier phases of a volcanic eruption) hardens

Witch's Broom branches
When parasitic mistletoe attacks a pine tree, it causes the tree branch to secrete a growth hormone that causes the branches to create these "witch's broom" growths

Sun Valley Lodge
Where we met 3 wonderful internet friends from Second Life

Comments

[Dick File]

Potatoes
I can't see spuds!

[SandiB]

Duh!
Potatoes grow underground! :) Hugs

[Dick File]

Potatoes
I knew that!