Lava in the Crators park, there are a few volcanos here, but a lot of the lava just came up out of fissures in the ground. Shepherd, Cernan and another astronaut trained here in the 60s prior to their moon flight. This stuff is really sharp and can literally tear you shoes to pieces if you walk on it. Talked to a guy from WA near St Helens, he is an avid Packer fan, since he was six, also a Badger fan, loves our band.

Momma bear in only berry patch along the Hells Canyon drive, baby disappeared into the brush as Mom stood up on her hind legs.

Aug. 9th

Just a short note, we are at Arco ID, leaving tomorrow for Victor, ID. Went to Crators of the Moon today, then drove up over the mountains into the Salmon River Valley, down through Ketchum and then back around the horn to home base. Truly beautiful. Not to hot and very dry. Will add some pictures.
Tom and Betty

The view across the Columbia River near Entiat, WS

Dancers come out of the square at the top of the building and music plays every half hour.

Michael eat your heart out

Nampa, ID Aug 7th

Well since we split with Barb and Mike, we traveled down Hwy 97 to the most beautiful city park in Entiat, WA. Stayed 2 nights, went to Leavenworth WA for the day, it is a Bavarian themed town, created about 40 yrs ago when the town was dying. The townfolks decided to create a new image and chose the Bavarian theme. The thing was that all the businesses had to agree to follow the theme and any new ones could only come in as Bavarian. So imagine a McDonald's in Bavarian mode, gas stations, motels, etc. Had a great lunch, listened to a Bavarian music group in the town square and so forth. Will post some pics.
We then followed 97 down to Oregon and along the way saw Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adam and Mt. Hood all in the distance but spectacular. Have been here for yesterday and tonight then on to the area of Craters of the Moon for 2 nights. Today we went to Hells Canyon, it took all day but was worth it. Poor Kita thought she had been abandoned, didn't eat all day.
Most of the week will be in ID, then on to Yellowstone early next week, Sun or Mon. Then unfortunately we will really be heading east.
Tom and Betty

Finally someplace with WIFI!! We are in Helena, Montana which is very hazy right now due to all the wildfires around. There are 14 fires going in Western Montana right now, several of them fairly large.
After we left Quesnel, we continued down Hwy 97 to the border. There is an amazing transformation along that stretch of road. You go from a lush green North Woods to a true desert within about 50 miles. We camped one night on the Thompson River which runs thru this desert like land and creates an oasis, more or less. It was 101 degrees that day! And the hottest day we have had all summer prior to that is only about 75. Quite a change!! This section of the country is in the shadow of the Coastal Mountains who capture all the precipitation. Only about 6" a year on the east side.

Took Washington state hwy 20 across the NE corner of Washington. Beautiful road, quiet & scenic! Camped one night at a Washington Rec area campground called Skookum Creek, only about 12 campsites, but the amazing thins is that they are free. Washington does not charge anything to camp in their rec areas. Have to remember that!

Mike & I split from Betty and Tom after we entered Washington. Michael is starting to get anxious to get back to the cabin. I'm doing my best to slow him down, taking him along winding, scenic roads but I think I'm about out of those as we are just about out of the mountains. So I anticipate being back in Gordon by the end of this week. Briana reports the lake level at the cabin has dropped even further down so that the end of our pier is now at the edge of the water. We now have more beach than we have ever had!
Barb