Welcome to Idaho!

Hey, All!

I guess since the last time we communicated, we had just arrived in Zion. The next day we spent at the pool...107 degrees. Not really hiking weather. We got up on the 4th and went up into the canyon early. That way we could do a few things before it got too hot. The canyon was actually nice and cool in the morning. We did 3 different hikes...Riverside Walk, Emerald Pools and Weeping Rock. By the time we finished Emerald Pools it was HOT! So, over to the Lodge for lunch and lounging in the shade. Only got up to 102 that day. We hung around for the Ranger talk on the geology of Zion and had some ice cream!! :) Came back to the pool for a while. No fireworks. Fire danger was too high - everyone had a ban.

Oh, forgot to mention that we went for a walk on the 3rd in the evening and Stephen got bit by a dog! The owners swore the dogs were sweethearts, but one of them took a dislike to Stephen. Luckily, he has quick reflexes otherwise it could have been a disaster. Just a small puncture on the front of his ankle.

On Saturday morning, we packed up and left for Salt Lake. We can honestly say that this was the first big disappointment of the trip. The campground was nasty and the lake was disgusting!!! The shoreline was littered with trash and the water was very muddy. There is a reservoir of some sort, so that the salt does not affect the "public access" areas!! So, we got up this morning, packed up and headed out. Rick has always wanted to got to Prominotory Point and the place of the Golden Spike where the railroad connected the east to the west. So, off on another adventure out into the middle of nowhere! It was a great little National Monument. They had exact replics of the two trains, did a demo, etc. We also went to a Ranger talk about expressions that we got from the railroad like being "called on the carpet", "Not a Chinaman's chance in Hell", "Red Light District", etc.

Then off we headed towards Idaho Falls. We got here this afternoon and decided to take a hotel to commemorate the half way point of the trip. We are right across from the Falls, have a bed for everyone and a real shower...no quarters necessary!! There is a little kitchen, so we BAKED dinner! Tommorow we may head west for a little bit to Crater of the Moon National Park and Arco, ID to see a nuclear plant. Then back east t0 Jackson. We called and the campground there could take us for an extra night, so that is were we will be until the 11th. Auntie Missy will arrive on Thursday sometime! YEAH!! We are very excited for her arrival and look forward to the time we will share with her! Roninca, we will be doing the Solitude river trip on the morning of the 11th, so that she can go with us! So much to do, so little time!!

Greg and Lisa, we talk more and more about moving up to the bigger pop-up with the extra storage, etc. We may need to talk when we get home !! :)

OK, I am going to go and enjoy the creature comforts that the hotel can offer!! We are enjoying our outdoor life, but a long shower is definitely a luxury!