We actually started planning this trip after last year’s jaunt to visit our daughter in Lincoln, MT, where it was extremely smoky due to a number of forest fires in the state. So this year we planned for the end of June and/or early July.
We learned that the Montana Native Plant Society was having it’s annual meeting in Lincoln so that sealed the dates of arriving before the start and then continuing for another few days.
It is a long drive but we really enjoyed seeing the countryside from desert to alpine. We left San Diego on Tuesday, the 26thof June, and got home on Sunday, the 8thof July.
TUESDAY, June 26:
We made our usual early morning departure of about 0500. This keeps us a little ahead of the major morning commute bottlenecks as we head North. It was a hot drive but thankfully the air conditioning in the car worked smoothly. Las Vegas was once again having highway work done, but we navigated that well.
St. George, UT was our destination today, and it too was very hot. Once there we holed up in our motel room until about 1800 before adventuring out to the market for dinner and some exercise.
We have known the owner/manager of this Super 8 Motel since 2003 when we first stopped here while traveling to the North Rim, Grand Canyon. He brought us up to date on the large increase in visitors to all of the nearby National Parks. Zion N. P. has really been impacted.
WEDNESDAY, June 27:
Today
the terrain changed from desert to farm country and mountains. We continued on
I-15, North to Idaho Falls. Along the way we enjoyed the vast farm country and the
small and familiar named Utah towns. In Lehi we stopped at the very large
Cabelas store. We visited this store for the first time in 2005/6 while on a
Christmas trip to visit our daughter, Klara in Ashton, Idaho. The store sits up
on a hill overlooking I-15 and the city of Lehi. At that time there was absolutely
nothing around it. Today I had to ask another car if I was making the correct
approach due to all of the development of businesses in the area, and lack of good signage. Then it was
again confusing on how to get back to I-15. It was worth the stop though as we both
got a couple of items: shorts for George, and lightweight pants for me.
We
enjoyed our stay in Idaho Falls. After checking into our motel we headed for a
grocery store and gas station to refuel the body and the car. For exercise we
found the River Walk which runs along both sides of the Snake River in the area
of the Falls. The first time we experienced it was in December a few years ago,
and the Falls would completely freeze overnight. It was also treacherous
walking as the walkways were covered with snow covered ice! We really enjoyed
the walk
this time with the many trees and flowers now lining the walk.
 |
| IDAHO FALLS W/TEMPLE IN BACKGROUND |
 |
| FALLS DETAIL |
 |
| PISCES BENCH |
 |
| 105˚F? |
 |
| IDAHO FALLS 2 |
THURSDAY, June 28:
Although
this was the shortest leg of the drive to Lincoln, we were off early once again
as we had a couple of planned stops along the way.
Our first stop was in Ennis,
Montana. This small town is in the heart of the fishing country around the
Madison River. There are several tackle shops and outdoor gear stores as well
as some art stores. One of the stores displayed a couple of small metal
sculptures made from forks and spoons.
My downfall was a gift store that had a
good selection of turquoise jewelry.😁
 |
| SUNRISE |
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| BEAR IN THE PARK |
 |
| ALONG THE ROAD |
We
were then off to Three Forks, the headquarters for Wheat Montana Flour. I have
been using this flour for the last five years after I discovered it while baking
at the North Rim, Grand Canyon. Here you can buy their various wheat products,
cereal products, pastries, and sandwiches.
After stocking up on breads, flour, and pastries
for Klara, we enjoyed a very good BLT while “watching the world
go by”. Helena was the next stop for fresh produce. From here, it
was a beautiful drive over the Continental Divide down into the valley formed
by the Blackfoot River.
We
relaxed and enjoyed a short walk along the Sucker Creek Road before dinner. It
was noticably cooler here than in San Diego. The overnight low was in the low
40˚'s. It was good to know that we would not be doing much driving for the next
week.
No comments:
Post a Comment