Friday, July 5

Missed a couple of days writing, so let’s see what I remember now on Friday, July 5.

 

Camping tonight in what I’d call backcountry Idaho, in the Sunny Gulch Campground, not far from Redfish lake and a short walk to the Salmon River. I wish the river were easier to get to from our campsite; that bank is pretty steep. Maybe there’s another way down to the low side of the river (there was and it was lovely).

 

It was a beautiful drive from Arco, where we stayed last night, up through Sun Valley and Ketchum. Bumpy as hell in spots and really not fun to drive. Arco was also not so fun to stay at. It was a KOA, which was honestly my first KOA ever and not terrible. There was a pool and this lovely covered patio with cushiony outdoor furniture. Grabbed a beer and sat with P & D on this covered patio and enjoyed the heck out of the breeze. 

The pool was full of kids (no surprise) but was also not terribly clean. We got in for a bit just to cool off and it wasn't terrible. 

What WAS terrible is that P&D's air conditioner was starting up and working for a bit but then conking out. Resolved to check it in the morning to see what was up. Also awful was that we had just left the beautiful, silent, fireworks-are-forbidden Yellowstone National Park behind us. We were on our own in a KOA in Idaho. Every idiot in camp seemed to have firecrackers of some sort, and possibly the compound next door set off a long array of fireworks. But they didn't start till dark, which didn't really happen til close to 10 p.m. and nothing stopped till 11:30 or so, I guess. I guess because I got into the gin pretty hard and that's how I "dealt" with the situation, dealt with how our dogs were not happy at all for all the artillery being fired off. Buddy was even in the bathroom of the camper and did not want to come out. 

We wished we'd stayed in Yellowstone just one more day. It felt expensive, but we'd have given lots of dollars to NOT have our dogs so sad and upset. And one more day of cool air there.

But also, there was a "significant law enforcement event" at Canyon Lodge on July 4. Our phones went nuts as we passed the area on our way out of the park, alerting us to the situation. Read as you will, it's kind of sad: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/240704.htm

 

Other than some of the roads being bumpy as heck on our way to Arco, our drive was uneventful. Stopped in Rexburg for provisions (so many Korean ingredients, Jim was so happy) and for a BBQ lunch across the street from the grocery store. Saw a party of some local color Trumpers (These colors don't run; they reload!" and terrible red white & blue tawdry print shirts -- when did toxic masculinity become such a part of politics? Please, I must barf.). BBQ and sides were good. They had fried cheese curds! And their various lemonades were delish. Definite Mormon country; not a beer in sight at that place.

 

Anyway. Got to Arco, chilled, then stressed about fireworks and dogs. And did I mention that there was basically a compound next to us, whose owner felt it was his duty to "sing" the national anthem (at least 4 verses all told, and in several non-related keys) at dusk, as well as to play revelry at 8 or 9 a.m. and recite the pledge of allegiance? Spray-painted on school buses parked on said compound were kind warnings to the various loud demonstrations of overt patriotism. I'm going to bet it was a vet with certain leanings. I love this country; don't get me wrong. I just don't need to recite or hear the pledge or sing the national anthem in four verses on a daily basis. Right?

Next day, Jim and P tried valiantly to diagnose any trouble with their air conditioner. Jim brought a wallop of tools that I think were helpful, but still couldn't figure out what was wrong. They decided to call the AS dealership in Boise for help. They could get them in for an appointment in another couple of days, so our trip up to the Sawtooths was still on. They'd head to Boise early after only camping one night at Sunny Gulch. Hoped for the best.

After leaving camp at Arco, we took a driving tour of Craters of the Moon. After lunch, I took a turn driving, which was hilarious. One short 10% grade there about liked to kill me. Such an interesting bit of geology, giant lava flow over the desert, craggy and angry. Only 2000 years ago that lava flowed, so young. What was it like to try to travel that in a wagon? One of the Oregon Trail “shortcuts” is out there past the lava flow. Seriously? Wow.

 

I drove as far as Ketchum, where fatefully there was a detour around all the holiday traffic. Google was telling us it was “as busy as it ever is,” i.e., fucking nuts. We stopped somewhere along the side of the road where there was a pullout to change drivers, pee, get dogs peed, get water. Off we went into the mountains.

 

The road up to Galena pass didn’t look quite like I remembered it, but it’s been a minute since I’ve driven up this way. Lots more campers on the side of the road, where there didn’t used to be camping. Lots more cabins where there didn’t used to be cabins.

 

That said, it was still beautiful. Jim always likes to see where the “old road” cuts are on the sides of the mountains. I think they may be a slight fable, but it makes him happy. Makes me dizzy to look at them.

 

Pulled into Sunny Gulch campground, just past Redfish lake. Small but comfy, and our “double” campsite was a little tight for two campers. But we made it work. And the view is beautiful. Get away from the trees a bit, head down toward the Salmon river that passes by, and you can see the Sawtooth mountains. P & D got up early, as planned, and drove in to Boise Airstream to have that air conditioner looked at. Turns out that the motor is shot and they need a whole new unit. Bummer. But they’ll be able to get home okay.

 

So while they were gone yesterday, we had C with us and we tried valiantly to find a place to swim. Ha. Redfish was a shit show. So many people. A nice new road is going in to get all those assholes in there. Okay, so that’s a lovely lake, let’s get out of here and try Petit lake. Also Ha. People where there are not supposed to be people, where they never were before. Kinda sad, really. We did manage to park, got out with the dogs, and walked to the “beach.” Buddy growled at every dog he saw, such an asshole. And everyone had dogs, so we didn’t stay. John and Cristina stayed because they could.

 

Jim and C and I went up to Stanley for cell signal, to get updates on P&D's whereabouts, and to have lunch and grab a few things for the fridge and for Moose River Hummers. Lunch was good, dogs were fine in the car, checked on them every 15 minutes or so. The store was nuts, busy parking lot, hard to park. Interesting mercantile, with all sorts of stuff other than being decently stocked with groceries. P&D will be back around 6 or so.

 

I finally took that steep path down to the river after we got back. Took my time and didn’t die getting down there. Sat on a rock with my feet in the river for maybe 20 minutes or so, looked at that beautiful mountain range and appreciated the wind that blew up river. Watched some folks fishing downstream. That never gets old. Still wish for a better path down there.

 

Jim made a bulgogi for dinner with a bunch of rice and some broccoli. Note to self: prep in the shade rather than in the heat of the sun. But that sun did us much good all day with the solar panel – got us back up to 100% battery charge easily by noon. P & D got back around 6 and we all had a nice dinner, D shared some wine. Jim made Moose River Hummers with a limeade concentrate rather than lemon and it was mighty fine.

 

Tomorrow we will maybe try to find a place to get in some water, try that hot spring up in Sunbeam. Definitely taking a shower before we go to dinner in Stanley at the Stanley Supper Club. Hope it’s tasty.