Thursday morning, Sept 26 - A cool but sunny morning, only around plus 3 here in south-east Idaho. But it's supposed to stay sunny and go to 19 here, so that's good.

Travelling in an r.v. provides a certain  freedom. We often wake up not quite sure about where we'll end up at the end of the day. And also not quite sure about what we'll encounter as we roll along. Yesterday is a case in point. We were in southern Montana, and knew we were heading south. But not sure how far we'd get. No worries, as wherever we landed would be closer to our goal of Utah and Colorado.

Southern Montana and northern Idaho along route 15 is dry, open country, bordered by rolling hills and distant mountains. It's range land mostly, with Angus and Herefords the dominant critters to be seen. There is some farming, but only where irrigation is possible. The road is not heavily used, so one has lots of time to take in the scenery. Until you hit Idaho Falls. We stopped there for lunch, and found the highway quite a different scene when we headed further south. Lots of traffic. The landscape was also different, as irrigation has provided landowners the possibility of growing hay and other crops...probably potatos, for one thing. This is Idaho, after all.

At one point we drove through an area that took on a much different character. There were irregular mounds of what looked like lava, stretching out to the west, so we stopped at a rest area, and discovered Hell's Half Acre. A walking trail, suitable for all ages, has been built through this lava field, with lots of info boards explaining how this unusual landscape came about. An eruption was not the cause, but rather seepage of lava that took place about 4,000 years ago. The result is a harsh landscape, suitable for only a few hardy creatures and insects, as well as juniper trees and mesquite. It was a nice break, a 3/4 mile trek that gave us a little exercise.

Then we came to Blackhawk, where the Idaho Potato Museum is located. Since our good friend Ed Taylor is a major grower of more than 25 varieties of potatos, we had to stop for a tour. We found it very interesting. For example, I didn't realize that the potato came to North America only when the Irish arrived to escape the great famine that was plaguing their land. The potato had spread earlier all over the world,as the Spaniards discovered its usefulness in Peru, took it home, and from there it went everywhere, finally arriving in our part of the world in the 1800s. There was a wealth of information in the museum, all of which increased our appreciation for the plants that Eddie grows.This tour wasn't in our day's plans (because we didn't have any), so it was another neat discovery.

Finally, we checked the map and found a place called Lava Hot Springs, off highway 15 south and east of Pocatello. So we decided to go there, and found a wonderful little village built around...you guessed it...an area of hot springs. They have done a great job of making this an attractive center, with 5 pools that range from 102 to 115 degrees. We found a very nice KOA, went for a beer in a locals bar (where smoking is still allowed), and then enjoyed an hour in the pools, trying each pool to find the one with the most suitable temperature. The 105 was best for me, but Gail liked the hotter one. We may even stay here another day, as it would be nice to have a break from the highway before we head into Utah.

Another good day, none of it planned. The reward of freedom on the road. That's it for now. Happy Birthday wishes go to wonderful friends Ken Marshall and Joyce Brant. Stay tuned. More later.