East to Aberdeen!

From Newcastle, Wyoming, we had hoped to spend a few days exploring the Black Hills - Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore and the Custer territory. HOWEVER, the threat of tornadoes in tjhe area sent us scurrying North past Crazy Horse, to Rapid City and East on I-90 toward Aberdeen.

After a day on the road, we pulled into a very comfortable RV park on the banks of Missouri River, just outside the town of Chamberlain. Local families rolled in with their boats and camping gear, ready to get a jump start on the Memorial Day weekend. Communities along the banks of the Missouri were bracing for impending floods caused by the snow melt and unseasonal rains in the area. In the coming week, the plan was to open the dams on the Oahe Lake to allow 120,000 cubic feet of water per second to flow downstream. In a calculated effort to minimize damage to Pierre city infrastructure, a planned flooding was predicted to put some homes along the river's edge under water. Hopefully, sandbag levees built this week will provide adequate barriers to keep the river in bounds and prevent too much damage from occuring.

A short drive North brought us into Aberdeen to the Hawkins household! It was great to reunite with Kristin and Joe for a few days of fun, food and great conversations! Joe took us on a boat ride around Mina Lake. Nice!

Blue was ever vigilant, patrolling the lake for feathered residents.....

Sunset on Mina Lake - magic!

Bonfire and marshmallow roast shoreside!

Joe and Kristin at home!

Dinnertime toast! Great conversations over wine and an amazing meal!

Up in the Clouds

Snow is still deep over the Powder River Pass! We wound up the road, climbing from lower elevations into the mountains. It is spectacular!

From Cody, across Wyoming, we traveled some beautiful scenic highways. From Worland to Buffalo, we went over the Powder River Pass on the Cloud View Skyway. Elevation at the pass was 9666 feet!

Over time, Mother Nature has carved out some impressive, gigantic sculptures. The ravines! Amazing!

A Preview of Yellowstone

We entered the West Gate of Yellowstone and drove across the park to avoid the flooded Montana highways, caused by the combination of heavy rains and Spring snow melt. We had planned to enjoy the park on our way back west in June. This gave us a quick preview of what the park has to offer!

Bubbling cauldrons of water, heated by pockets lava not far below the surface!
Yellowstone is formed by a huge caldera....center of geologic activity. A 7+ earthquake in 1957 gave a hint of the potential destructive forces which lie beneath the ground in the area.....

Wildlife abounds! As we motored across the Northern route, we stopped to view bison, elk, antelope, cranes, and even a bear feeding on a distant hillside. The animals are hungry after a long winter, and pay little attention to the two-legged creatures. Bison herds routinely block traffic as they linger on the roads.....

Geysers are everywhere and are active year-round - - gurgling and belching steam and boiling water, like giant tea kettles forgotten on the stove! The chilly weather created thicker clouds of steam than usual. We braved the wet snow flakes to hike a short trail to view the geyser pool shown above. Old Faithful will have to wait until June!

At Mammoth Hot Springs, the elk graze right in the middle of the settlement. They look docile and tame, but don't be fooled! They are WILD and the run FAST! Signs caution the visitors to keep their distance.

Craters of the Moon National Park

"We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto!"

This pocket of Eastern Idaho, which looks more like a lunar landscape, was created by lava flows from a miles-long fissure in the earth. Tales of the most recent eruptions are part of the local Native American oral history. We're talkin' maybe 2000 years ago! In geologic time, that's just a blink of an eye! The photo directly above shows "pa hoe hoe" - rope lava.

As time has progresses and weathering occurs, the flora grabs onto bits of soil created by erosion of the lava. In the Spring, delightful pops of color emerge from the rough surface- the Artist's addition of color to the giant canvas! The lava flowed out of the cracks in the Earth and cooled at varying rates as it moved along the Earth's surface. Huge chunks of solid lava flowed atop the liquid rock rivers and were deposited along the way, creating other-worldly forms. Underground lava flows etched out subterranian caves.

Thick lava oozed to the surface and quickly formed organic shapes as it hit the cool atmosphere. Thinner lava, under greater pressure, was forcefully spewed skyward and formed cinder cones.

This national park is evidence that the Supreme Artist regularly dabbles in three-dimensional art forms! Earthlings, stay outta the way of these creative forces!

Cousin Reunion!

From Nampa, we motored our way to the Sun Valley area to have a mini-reunion with Chris Kastner, at his restaurant in Haley, Idaho. I say "his" restaurant......Actually, this is a full-on family enterprise! We were treated to a pizza like none other we've tasted and THEN a sampler of Simone's (Chis and Rebecca's daughter) hand-crafted ice cream. HEAVEN!

Between bites, we caught up on the highlights of our respective 20+ years between visits.

It was SO good to reconnect!

Cousins! Our Mamas are sisters! Chris - are you standing on a stool????

Chris and Rebecca Kastner
CK's Restaurant in Hailey, Idaho! Tantalizing Real Food! Bravo, Kastners Four!

Ready or Not, We're on the Road AGAIN!

Wanderlust has gotten the best of us once again! We departed Saturday; after hastily planting our poor tomatoes in the cold, soggy ground, with hopes that they would survive until we return in June! When the open road calls, we must answer!
The majestic Columbia Gorge is an amazing geology classroom! It makes the prospect of looming geologic events in our own back yard all the more real and unforgiving. Huge layers of rock tilted downward into the Columbia River tell a story of massive uprisings of tectonic plates in the not-so-distant past. The tilted trees bear witness to the relentless wind that howls up the gorge.
Idaho presents with rolling hills and tempting valleys. At this time of year, it's no wonder the pioneers of the past decided to settle here! Little did they know about the hardships of winter!
"Pilgrims! Look up at them nearby, white-topped mountains! That AIN'T no powdered sugar, y'know!" The hale and hardy souls who survived and prevailed, did so by hunkering down and making the best of this wild country - carving out cattle ranches and wheat farms.
Our first stop was Nampa, Idaho, where we were royally hosted by friends Jim and Joyce Weathers. They spoiled us with an incredible seafood spread and a delightful visit! Baby pictures were viewed with many ohs and ahs by the Grandmas. Larry and Jim talked fishing into the evening.
After a relaxed Sunday morning visit over coffee and pastries, we pointed La Casita on Wheels toward Sun Valley for a reunion with cousin Chris and his family - wife Rebecca, daughter Simone and son Gavin....