Not a good day at all!

September 7 – This was NOT a good day! 

We didn’t have far to drive today so we didn’t rush to get up and out.  I had to do what

This is how we drove down
the interstate!

Winnebago said to get the slide back in sync.  It would only come in a couple of inches, so now it was worse than when I called Winnebago!  Bill Googled and found a number to call and for $26 you could speak to an RV tech.  The guy was really nice and even called us back after looking up specs on Winnebago’s website so he could better walk us through the issue.  I had to take a panel down from inside the big bay.  On the ceiling in there is a module that I guess runs the slides so I did what he instructed and Bill went in to push the slide button and I watched the slide.  Now one end was moving and the other was not.  So it was cockeyed!  I reset it several times but we only managed to get the slide about half way in!  Very frustrating!  He suggested we contact a mobile RV tech as he thinks the motor needs replaced.  He also said we could drive it but no more than 45 – 50 MPH. 

Bill called a mobile guy in Twin Falls and arranged for him to come out to the fairgrounds in Jerome on Tuesday after we arrive for the rally.  So we finally left the campground about 12:30 and it was a SLOW drive to Castle Rocks State Park.  We didn’t get to our spot until 3:30.  I will say it is a very nice campground.  All of the sites are asphalted and very well maintained.  We have a nice pull thru.

The fork shows how big
the pizza was!

The highlight of the day was we went to the ONLY restaurant in the area for dinner and had a pizza.  That pizza was huge!  We only ate half!  I had my half in Hawaiian and Bill’s was pepperoni.  There was a long wait but it was worth it!  That will be dinner tomorrow also!  (But with a salad)

So that wrapped up the day!  We are out in the boonies again! 

Ugly rainy day

September 6 – It was not a pretty day today!  It started raining by 10 and continued most of the day!  Ugh!  However there were campers who came in and filled in all the spots near us.

Rainy days make me stir crazy.  I read a while, played solitaire a while, decided to bake cookies, then back to reading and solitaire and then I got out my crocheting and did some of that.  The cookie recipe didn’t say how many it made but it must have been 4-5 dozen.  I put 2 small containers in the freezer, our regular container is full, I have 4-5 in a ziplock bag and some in a cool whip container.  These are Double chocolate with pecans.  They’re good but not what I was expecting so will not be making them again. 

It cleared up late in the afternoon and Bill took his book outside and read at the picnic table.  He called again to the campground we would like in Dallas area and left another message.  Hopefully we will hear back tomorrow.

When I get bored I cook!  So today was a prime example.  I took out a small pork loin.  I sliced it in half, leaving it intact on one side and put some seasoning in the middle and I cut up 2 carrots in stick lengths across it and used some Dorothy Lynch sauce and tied it up.  I put it in the toaster oven to bake.   Then I made orzo with butter and fresh parmesan and 6 corn muffins.  The pork was delicious but the carrots were not cooked enough.  The muffins were from a box, so they were OK, but the orzo was yummy!  Bill got out the peach jello pie for dessert as we both had quite a few cookies this afternoon so it was time for a change!

After dinner we looked on line at a couple of motorhomes, we’re always looking….

We move to another state park tomorrow but the check in is not until 2.  We’re only about 80 miles away so will call before we leave to see if it’s vacant or not.  Bill looked at what all there is near there for us to do and what’s near Jerome where we will go next to the Idaho State Good Sam Rally.

More playing tourist

September 5 – The expected high today was 88, so we agreed to head out right after breakfast and then come home and relax in the AC the rest of the day!

I made whole wheat blueberry pancakes and Bill was VERY happy with them.  We really need to go to the store as the fruit supply is running very low, as are veggies!  I will cook fresh green beans tonight and should have enough for 2 meals!

Ready to go...

We got out our big hats and headed out to the end of the park where there is parking and an 8/10 of a mile walk, going under the interstate, to where the California/Oregon Trail ruts are.  We took only cameras and a bottle of water.  The path to the other side of the highway is all asphalt and

Safe passage under the interstate

easy grade walking.  There’s a bench about half way under 2 trees for rest, which we took advantage of.  You can definitely see the ruts.  They run east and would go right through Devil’s Pass which is where the road runs now.  We also saw where there were 2 sets of ruts,

Is it OK to say Bill
is in a rut?

side by side and then merge into one.  Some places the ruts are 5 feet or more deep and just wide enough for the old wagons.

The walk back to the truck (now named The Silver Bullet), was a bit warmer than when we left.  Our next stop in the park was a scenic view of the Snake River from a fishing access area.  There

Another rut

were stairs to the water and a dock but we chose the high road for a better view.  Once again I climbed out on the biggest rock for a photo op.  There were quite a few ducks down in the rivers chasing swirls of weeds for their meal.

Behind the Visitor Center is a Geological Overlook so we parked at the VC and walked up and behind the building.  The display explained about several geological happenings 6 million years ago

Kelly on a rock at the Snake River

that affected this area and created what we see today.  Yes, there was a big rock for me to climb on again.  I have to be VERY careful of my bad foot, I’m hoping to make it last til we get home.  Dr. Estrada WILL NOT be happy with me!

Our last stop for today’s outing was the other campground

Kelly on one of the geological
formations

loop where there’s a fenced in areas called, “Devil’s Garden”.  Actually the area’s significance is the number of tiny formations sort of sprouted up all around.  I guess they are unique and if folks walk through there they would be worn down or broken off.  

We were glad to be back in the AC and since I worked on the TV last night, it appears to be working better today, but

Devil's Garden

no real guarantees.  Since we are a bit down in a canyon, there is no local service at all. 

I had my shower and immediately felt better!  Then I made lunch and cleared the table to get out my laptop.  I worked on my photos for a while and to take a break I decided to make a peach jello pie.  I forgot I had everything I needed so we will have something light for dessert (and slow down on our rationing of Huckleberry ice cream!

We decided on a couple more stops on our trip home and I requested some info on campgrounds.  Waiting to hear back so we can book in Dallas area and then I will move on to the next spot.

I warmed my left over ribs for me and chicken for Bill to go with the leftover rice.  The green beans were good, as was the pie.

We watched a bit of TV but never heard back from the RV park.

Back to playing tourist

September 4 – Once we got up and going, I made breakfast and we discussed the RV being

So high up we could't reach the step!

up so high and we were not comfortable with it.  So after we dressed we drove around the 2 loops to see what might be better and available.  One site was in our loop and looked OK and the other was in the other loop.  So we went to the VC where you check in, which we did today, and asked about changing.  She was fine with it and said they should not list that site on the website as suitable for a rig our size.  The sight we preferred was OK for 2 nights but we’d have to move again, so we drove back out and re-visited the one in our loop and decided it was way better so she told us to take it.

It didn’t take us long to move and get set back up.  We can walk up the hill behind us and have a gorgeous view of the Snake River.  It was much simpler leveling in this spot. 

On our way out we stopped at the VC and let her know we were all set.  Then we left for Register Rock

which is in a small park along the interstate.  This area is on the Oregon Trail and the rock is near a small water supply where the wagon trains stopped.  They have it under a shelter and fenced in to protect it from the elements and

Sample of the signatures

vandalism.  There are several large rocks near it and I checked them out and found more names from 1917 up in the 2000’s.

The interstate was built right where the trail went through.  It was originally referred to as Devils Gate as it was barely

Imagine this just wide enough for
a wagon - Devil's Gate

wide enough for a wagon to pass.  Now it’s home to a 4 lane highway, such is progress.

As we hopped on the interstate to go into American Falls, we got pictures of the boulders along side to provide a bit of prospective of what it was and what it is now.  We had lunch in American Falls, which is about 14 miles east of the state park.  It’s not a very large town.  We ate at Falls Grill and Chill.  They do ice cream treats in addition to a variety of quickie lunch items.  Bill had the double burger special of the day and I had a chicken pita.  Just enough to fill me up.  We stopped at the only Thrift store in town and Bill found a couple of books and a shirt.  I didn’t do so well!

We drove out to the American Falls Dam for a look and then to the American Falls Fish 
Hatchery.  We go to them all the time and this was a nice one.  One of the employees told us all about it and how they are currently moving tanks of steelhead trout and rainbow trout to rivers and streams in various parts of Idaho.  They were piping the tiny fish through white corrugated pipes from the indoor tanks to the larger tanks outside.  You could see the dark spots flying through the pipes.

Time to head back to the RV.  It was getting pretty hot out so we took a break in the AC and Bill took a nap.  I did a frozen bag meal tonight of Alfredo Chicken.  It’s good but could use

Transfer tubes

more chicken!  After dinner we walked up the hill behind our

I'm the white speck

RV for one of the great overlooks of the Snake River.  We took lots of pictures and I walked down and over to another hill and Bill took pictures of me on the rock and I took one of him.  He spotted a bunny on our site when he walked down to the RV!

Bruce and Sharon called and we caught up with them and their whereabouts!  They sounded happy to be in a bit cooler weather for a few days up in Flagstaff!  Now

Great View!

we are in a little hotter weather but warmer at nights.  It’s a trade off I guess!

I worked on the Directv again and tried a different correction

Visitor

and so far, so good.  If this doesn’t work for long I think we need to change receivers!  We do have a spare!

Back on the road...

September 3 – When we were asked last night what time we were leaving, I said around 9 and Bill said around noon.  Well, it was 11:30.  We didn’t have but 170 miles to drive today so we didn’t rush and we had lots of good byes to say.  Bill drove down to the springs to fill a jug with real spring water.  We filled the propane tank.  Sherri came over to see my dining table and take photos because that’s what she want in the renovation of their motor home. 

Gina took a selfie of us, her and Rick

Elaine, Wendell, Gina and Rick came over with thank you cards.  Bill and I tend to get attached to folks and this has been a great group to attach to!  One couple will be working the winter south of Lake Okeechobee so we plan to at least meet half way some time.  Another couple lives in Mississippi so we hope to have some kind of “reunion”. 

Since we left late we stopped on the south side of Idaho Falls at Love’s to fuel up and they had a McDonald’s so I went in and got us lunch.  We arrived at the campground

Ready to go in our new shirts:  Island
Park for Bill and Yellowstone for me!

and needed to dump before parking as I put Sherri’s “recipe” for black tank cleaning in to slosh around and also the gray tank.  The black tank did really good, but I don’t think I filled the grey enough to slosh, so will try that again when we leave here.

Here is Massacre Rocks State Park near American Falls, ID.  There are supposed to be several things to see here in the park so that will be our plan for tomorrow.  We have 4 nights here.  We have a pull thru spot but it’s no where near level.  Bill put 2 blocks under the front tires and that didn’t keep the front tires from still being off the ground.  There is an RV across the road from us and we had a 5^th wheel go by twice looking for his space I guess.  We’re along the Snake River, but not on it.

We had iced coffees upon arrival and later while preparing dinner I had a nice glass of red wine.  I made a wild rice mix for dinner, leftover chopped salad and chicken with a sweet and sour sauce.  It was yummy!  There’s enough chicken for Bill when I have my leftover ribs one night!

Sherri called to check on us and I asked how the renovation went today.  They are happier with it today than yesterday.  For the next 2 days they will work on their own laying the flooring now that they have the hang of it.  

I caught a bit on some photos once I got Bill's phone to hot spot for me!!

Time to read for a while!

I'm so glad we had this time together....

Just to have a laugh or sing a song  Seems we just get started  and before you know it  Comes the time we have to say  So long--  Perfect sentiment , thank you Carole Burnett!

September 2 – I was up pretty early and it wasn’t too chilly out today.  Once Bill got up I made a ham and cheese omelet with fruit.  Then he left for West Yellowstone to take his hoodie and t-shirt that he wanted to get decals put on.  I sent him for more lip balm and more ice cream sandwiches.  Then my first job of the day was to make room for them when he got back.  I moved some things to the fridge that didn’t really need to be in the freezer so hoped I had removed enough!

Then I got a load of regular laundry done and started putting things away.  I folded up the coffee table and vacuumed the big rug and the little rug that Bill wraps around the coffee table for storage.  I vacuumed all of the carpet and cleaned the vac.  I got my 3 bird feeders down and emptied and cleaned them. 

When Bill got back I was relieved that the ice cream fit perfectly!  After a lunch of leftover pizza Bill washed the front of the RV and then I washed his rag towels.  We put some things under the bed for safe keeping.

I worked on my journal, photos and blog in hopes of catching up.  I’ve been keeping up with the hurricane as well most of the day. 

Rick, Gina, Sherri, Mark, Toby, Berta,Bill, Kelly
Denise and Dave!

We had our showers and were ready to go at 5:45 to a dinner with the owners, the managers and the rest of the summer help, so there were 12 of us.  We ate at Connie’s.  We’ve eaten there before but not this summer.  I had ribs and it was a full rack, so needless to say once I ate my salad, my cornbread, my baked potato; I did not eat even half of my ribs.  Bill had a filet and it looked perfect to me but he thought it was too rare.  It didn’t stop him from eating it!  Every one enjoyed the meal and the camaraderie.  Gina had made a dessert for everyone so we all re-gathered at the rec hall and enjoyed her dessert.  We had a photo session as well and that was lots of laughs in itself. 

We said good-night and will say good-bye tomorrow.  It’s sure to be tear jerker as I’m not go good at good-byes with people I care about!

Last trip to Yellowstone

September 1 - We left for Yellowstone with Larry and Clarissa this morning at 9.  Traffic was

First view of Lower Falls

a little heavy going in, but one they all turned right for Old Faithful and we went left there was no issue with traffic.  We did, however, have an issue about where we were at one point!  We were heading to the Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls and pulled over and got our bearings as it didn’t look at far on the map as it was.  We were on the right track but just had a short ride left.  We actually viewed the Lower Falls from numerous viewpoints.  From the first point we were closest to it, but were only seeing the top of it.  We hiked along a trail about ¾ of a mile to the next main viewpoint.  That’s one of the spots I remembered going to before.  You could see more of the fall and where it dumped into the Yellowstone River. 

Second view from further down

Larry and Bill walked back on the road to get the truck and picked up us and we drove to another viewpoint lower along the river.  It was a much shorted walk and the falls were in the distance but you could see the full drop and river to where we were.

From there we drove to the Upper Falls.  There were

Third View

not nearly as many people but it took longer to get a good photo spot.  Because the first falls was taller, we thought it was the Upper Falls, wrong!  Both are beautiful but seeing the Lower Falls from a distance is really beautiful!

On the way out we did see 4-5 elk along the river.  What a nice way to end our last visit!

We were all tired and ready for some lunch so we headed back the way we came and landed in West

Only view of Upper Falls

Yellowstone for lunch.  We opted for Wild West Pizza and Clarissa and I really enjoyed our Pesto Pizza with artichoke hearts.  It was sooo tasty.  I had 1 piece to take home and she had 2.  Bill had a regular pepperoni and Larry’s was piled high with veggies and Canadian Bacon.  Everyone was happy with their lunch for sure!

We strolled around town a while.  Bill and I

First wildlife of the day

bought a couple of t-shirts and Huckleberry lip balm.  We stopped at the grocery and we all left with Huckleberry ice cream sandwiches!

Last wildlife of the day

Once we got home I started getting a few things ready for packing up tomorrow.  I made a nice dinner of fish for me and cube steak for Bill with salad and a baked potato for him and a sweet potato for me.  We each had a slice of pound cake with rhubarb compote.

Time to read and relax for packing day!