Before we left the 93 RV Park, we filled the propane tank, as we had plans to boondock for the next few nights. Shopping done and fuel tank filled (we are still averaging 16 - 17 mpg) we headed for the Shoshone Fall, billed as the Niagara Falls of the west - we once stayed at the Grand Canyon of the east in upstate New York, Letchworth State Park.
Shoshone Falls, the Niagara Falls of the West
The falls are about three or so miles out of town. When we arrived in the area we realized parking lot was a thousand or so feet straight down a very narrow road filled with precarious switchbacks. It was exciting and even though Carol has a fear that I will drive us off the edge into oblivion, I think she enjoyed the ride down this road as well.
Winding road to the bottom
We didn't tip over the edge, so all is well. We hiked and admired the scenery. The falls are just amazing. This is the Snake River Canyon, you know, the one Evil Knevil jumped. The brochure says that the canyon is made of basalt and was created by the great Bonneville Flood about 15,000 years ago. The great flood carved out the rock leaving the canyon. This leaves one to wonder who named it the Bonneville Flood 15000 years ago, and how we know that today.
Snake River gorge
Anyway, it is pretty spectacular and filled with other folks like us who just came to look and see. Some people were taking rugged trails to the top while still others were gathering at the bottom of the gorge to kayak the Snake River. This is quite the recreational spot and again we are moving on. This is one of those places where you could spend a few weeks. We will add it to our growing list.
Back road in Idaho
Back on the road we had a three hour drive to the Cabelas in Idaho Falls --- lots of falls in this state. Our plan was to spend the night in the parking lot and head out early for Jackson, Wyoming. While in Cabela's we chatted with Heidi, a sale associate there and she told us about the Farmers Market that is held every Saturday (tomorrow) and how you can puree watermelon and freeze it for the dog, and lots of other tid bits. We liked Heidi, and she changed our mind about heading to Jackson tomorrow, saying the it is so very crowded on the weekend. When we got back in the Doodle I found a place about 20 miles closer to Jackson, called the 7N Ranch, and booked a spot for the night. Much better than the Cabelas parking lot.
Our home for the weekend, The 7N Ranch 20 miles east of Idaho Falls
By the time we got there we had decided to extend our stay for a couple of more nights, and head to Jackson after the weekend. It was the right decision. The ride out to the 7N Ranch was really nice and the final mile or so was back on the edge and we lost the cell signal all together, but the place is just perfect. We are camped out in a field with a great view in every direction. There are other RVs here but it is quiet. We got all set up just as the sun was getting low in the western sky over the mountains. We took our chairs and sat in the shade of the Doodle, Harper played around the yard without her leash. A guy in an ultralight parawing flew circles above us as we played cribbage. We said hello to some neighbors walking by, one couple was from Tampa. This is a nice way to spend an evening.
Guy flying his ultralight above the RVs
The next morning, Saturday, we unhooked early and headed back into Idaho Falls for the Farmers Market. The drive was easy as there was little traffic. We stopped for fuel, where we had seen it at a good price yesterday..they had raised the price by 10 cents per gallon overnight...oh well. The Doodle was parked a block from the Farmers Market and Harper, Carol and I headed down to see if it held up to Heidi's recommendation. Well it exceeded all expectations. First of all it is right on the falls the Idaho Falls was named after and secondly it was huge with lots of cool stuff to look at and to buy. Our first purchase of the day was a dozed tiny little donuts.
Had to have some mini donuts
They were being made in a miniature donut maker, we each ad half a dozen to start the day, apart from our coffee. The vendors were varied from wood workers and potters to people who actually grow good food. We got everything from fudge to kale and even some pottery. This was a great place. Then we stopped and bought a "Mountain Man Breakfast'.
Eating a Mountain Man Breakfast on the banks of the Snake River
This was cooked up by two guys that were cooking in cast iron dutch ovens. Potatoes and meat. The meat was a mix of sausage and bacon and the potatoes were being shredded up right there and dropped into the cast iron. No it the spuds were cooked in their own juices, the after the meat in a second dutch oven was done they were combined and cooked a bit more. Idaho potatoes of course. This combination made for a very tasty breakfast, one I will have to try out on my friends. . .
Making the Mountain Man Breakfast
We found another park to stop along the river and made a picnic linch and then did a tour of the town, passing the hotel we stayed in back in 2009, making one more stop before heading back to the 7N Ranch. We backed into our slot and reconnected the electric and the water, and just lazied around for a while. We played cards, carol won two games out of three..I'll get her tonight. Before sunset we decided to take a walk with Harper around the RV camp. As we were making our way back to the Doodle, we saw the couple from Tampa sitting if front of their fifth-wheel RV, so I asked if they were Tom Brady fans, as he (Jim) had on a New Orleans Saints t-shirt. Well the conversation started. We found out the he is a Saints fan as he is from Lafayette, Louisiana but he also has an appreciation for Tom Brady. Lafayette is where my niece lives, well it turns out that his wife Jeanine, knows Kelli, my niece (the one we visited on Mothers Day) and her former husband - what a small world. Soon we were sitting and enjoying a glass of wine telling life's stories and tales of the road. Their daughter who lives in Jackson is expecting a baby any minute. She was on her way to the Hospital in Idaho Falls, in labor, while we were chatting... It is amazing that it only takes a few minutes to makes friends.
Our new friend Jim with Carol, Harper and I
I think we will know this good folks for some time to come. What a nice couple. As we were sitting there chatting the camp host, a lady about our age, ran around the campground shouting 'Mosquito Abatement, Cover Your Drinks!!!" - I guess everyone had priorities. The mosquito abatement truck passed by without incident. Before we overstayed our welcome, we walked next door back to the Doodle, marveling about what a small world it is. It was almost 9:30 at night, and the sun was still in the sky as we made salads for supper. A great ending of another spectacular day.
Another spectacular evening
This morning, Sunday, we slept in. No early morning for us today. We didn't roll out of bed until about 8:00, scrubbed out teeth and brushed our hair and sat in the morning sun with our coffee. As we were sitting there Jim came driving back to his RV, alone in his truck. Jeanine was still at the hospital, their daughter still had not delivered. Jim had found another RV park just three miles from the hospital so was going to move his rig over there to be close. We chatted for a while, exchanged contact information and both hope to meet another day somewhere, sometime. I'm sure it will happen. He and his wife had been talking and made an offer for us to come and stay on their property either in Tampa or in Lafayette. There's certainly a great camaraderie among campers. Of course we offered a tour of Rhode Island if they are ever in the area. Hopefully our paths will cross again. It didn't take long for him to pack up everything and hook up his RV to the truck and roll out of the campground. He said he would text when the baby came, but since we have no cell service we are still in the dark at this time.
Ice cream at the 7N Ranch
We just walked over to the 'office' which also serves as the rv park community center and ice cream stand. Harper met a couple of dogs there, and they all sniffed each other. I had Gorilla Crunch Ice Cream and Carol had Salty Caramel, Harper had both.... We had a nice leisurely walk back to the Doodle and Harper made some of the journey 'off leash' which is always a treat for her. Cribbage is next and then showers. We need to get an early start tomorrow as we are heading into Jackson and the Grand Teton National Park.
