Highway 84 is the main east/west interstate highway that will take us all the way to Salt Lake City. But, not today. Today, we didn’t make it all the way to Salt Lake City. But, we did cross the 45th parallel which marks the midway point between the North Pole and the equator. I know what you’re thinking: how can you cross a parallel travelling from west to east? Simple, the highway actually travels in a south easterly direction. Go figure.
Most of our travels today took us once again through semi-deserts: miles of rolling hills scarred by crevices probably caused by ancient rivulets coursing downhill, many pocked with the ever present sagebrush; or golden fields of grass or grain bordered in the distance by hazy bluish mountains. Wait, do you hear that: “Oh beautiful for spacious skies for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain”? Everywhere I look now, I hear the Star Spangled Banner.
But, just when we thought we were becoming too American we found ourselves on route to Ontario. Ontario, Oregon, that is. After a picnic lunch in Ontario State Park, we toured this town of 10,000 and discovered that, while a hunting and fishing mecca, it is not the centre of the universe.
Across the Columbia River from Ontario, we entered Idaho. I half expected a giant potato to meet us at the border, but, search as I may, I have not discovered a potato that didn’t come in a sealed aluminum pouch.
Next stop, Boise. Known as the city of trees, it comes by its name naturally. Boise is something of an oasis in the midst of all this desert. History tells that French Canadian trappers, after trekking across desert-like barren areas, found this beautiful wooded area and named it Boise (meaning wooded). We visited two beautiful riverside parks, which certainly attest to the reputation of treed beauty but also contain one of the most diverse rose gardens I’ve ever seen .
As we continued south from Boise, the hills became more rugged and sank into vibrant green farmland valleys. The Snake River which formed, in part, the Oregon/Idaho border, reappeared and followed us all the way to Twin Falls – which we will explore tomorrow.Until tomorrow . . . .
Hi Mom,
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're having a good time. I remember driving through Idaho too. I had the same expectations about potatoes. I think I found some in Boise. The other cool thing we saw in Boise was the valley that Evil Kaneivel (sp?) tried to jump across on his motorcycle. He didn't make it, but he lived. :-)
Enjoy the rest!