amazingmrd

Snake River – Celebration Park

The third and final stop of my 2025 Boise area Snake River tour was a place with petroglyphs and lots and lots of large black boulders in addition to the beauty of the river itself. There is also an old railroad bridge which traverses the river, which has been modified for pedestrian use (the bridge, not the river!).

Views of the river from the bridge:

Here are some photos of the boulders:

Those were some of the smaller ones. Here are some bigger ones.

And here are some with the back of my car photobombing the shot.

Turns out they actually have a name. Ready for this? Bonneville Flood Melon Gravel!!

They are believed to be from a catastrophic flood some 15,000 years ago when a huge lake in the western US gave way. The petroglyphs are part of the drama too. They are believed to have been made by Native Americans 10 to 12,000 years ago. The boulders are called melon gravel after a WWII highway sign calling them petrified watermelons.

I didn’t research it but I suspect the catastrophic event was also responsible for the formation of the Bonneville Salt Flats near Salt Lake City when all that water finally settled down.

And as a final thought on the Snake River, I have decided to go back to Hells Canyon after I get back to Seattle from Alaska. I was going to drive south to Tucson anyway and will be doing some other things in the Pacific Northwest as well so I will add that to the list. Who knows, maybe I’ll even do a Jet-boat ride!

Yeeehaaa – bugs in my teeth…

Snake River – Swan Falls Dam

From Dedication Point (see previous post) I drove southeast along the top of the canyon to get to an overlook for a small dam which crosses the river. I should also mention that on the long, seemingly-straight road I showed you in the previous post, road planners threw in several 90 degree turns just to make sure I was paying attention. Now, as I drove southeast they threw in a 180 degree turn just to make sure I was REALLY paying attention.

Actually the 180 was to allow the road to descend through a series of switchbacks to get down to near river-level (where the camper was parked), for the dam workers and for recreational boaters to launch (above the dam). The 9o degree turns were to adjust for the river working its way northward as it flows west.

The view here was a little different from where I had just been but I will just cut to the chase and show you another panorama from this spot. You may be able to make out the dam in the right-hand side of the photo. Water levels along much of the river are controlled by a dam way back before the water gets to the Hells Canyon rapids, to try and maintain a constant water level after the snowmelt from the Seven Devil’s mountain range, and others, feed into it.

I didn’t stay at this location very long as my next viewing spot would open at 10 am and I still had a long drive to get there.

Going back to retrace my steps from Kuna this was driving northwest towards Dedication Point

When I started driving north towards Kuna and the dreaded interstate I noticed this just off the left side of the road:

“Look, honey, I found the only tree out here, so we can build our dream-nest in it!”

Once I got back to Kuna I headed west to get to another road which would take me south to return to the river. I was only a few miles west of where I had just been but the scenery was very different.

Lush farmer’s fields on both sides of the highway. What a difference some irrigation makes! More on that in a future post, but I’m not quite done with the Snake River just yet…

Snake River – Dedication Point

Monday when I went to the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho I learned that there were several viewing points “nearby” along my old friend the Snake River to possibly see some of the big birds in action. Those of you that have followed the blog for a while know of my posts from Oxbow Bend in Wyoming, near there the “Snake” starts its journey towards the Columbia River Gorge separating Washington State and Oregon; Hells Canyon, with its world-class rapids; and Twin Falls, Idaho and other towns with beautiful waterfalls.

I was told that early morning was the best time to try and catch sight of some birds go I left my Airbnb in Boise at first light and drove to the first stop on the map I was given, Dedication Point. From Boise I went several miles west on the dreaded interstate and took the exit for the town of Kuna. From there it would be 24 miles due south to get to the river, further than I expected.

Once I got south of Kuna it quickly became very open and desert-like. Here is a shot of the road heading south towards the river.

The river separates the land on this side of it from the higher terrain you see in the distance.

Once I arrived at the parking area it was a short walk down to the top of the canyon overlooking the river. There is an amusing JohnBoy story about an encounter I had in the parking lot but I will save it for another time. For now I want you to focus on the natural beauty I was about to experience.

This was the view looking to my left (east, where the river flows from)

Looking almost straight across to the other side

Looking down to where someone was camping next to the river

Towards the right, where there was a drop in water level (I later took a video of a small boat heading upstream and the captain know exactly which side to climb to get through without bottoming out).

And finally, looking right (west) as the river flows out of sight.

And here is a panorama of the entire scene

The sign near the parking lot showed the various big birds I might see at this location. In decreasing order by size – Golden Eagles, Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, Swanson’s Hawks, Northern Harriers, Prairie Falcons and American Kestrels. This is a National Conservation Area and claims to have the highest density of nesting raptors in North America, and possibly the world.

Because I was up so high I saw nothing. Well, I did see some movement but they could have been pigeons for all I knew. Look back at the photo of the camper (which I had zoomed in on to the maximum extent my iPhone could). Tell me you could identify what bird a person standing next to it was holding on their arm…

Nevertheless it was a beautiful morning in a beautiful place and after I took the pictures I put my cameras away and just stood and enjoyed the moment for quite a while.

Cropduster

I saw my first set of cropdusters shortly after leaving Indianapolis to continue west to Lawrence, Kansas. There was one on each side of the road flying their tight, low passes over specific fields of crops. In this day and age I suspect they are like farm planting and harvesting machines – guided by computers and GPS, to precisely deliver the nutrients and/or pesticides to certain crops in certain fields.

These photos were taken later in my trip, as I approached Nebraska from the south. I could see the plane passing back and forth low over the highway I was on. When I got up to just short of the field he/she was spraying I pulled off onto a side road to stop and get out of the car to take photos. There was another vehicle there with people doing the same thing.

These photos try to capture the sequence of events as they unfolded. I left the ground in certain photos to show just how low they get.

Despite the low altitude at which he was banking he was just above the power lines you see. I swear I think the pilot saw us taking pictures because be banked right over my head – which I was not prepared for, although that was also where his next pass would take him. I tried to keep the plane in my frame but was unable to. I caught up with it as it was low to the field and running parallel to the road I had just turned off of.

They are very precise with the on/off switch for the spray, again, likely computer controlled, so he didn’t douse us with whatever he was treating the field with.

He then headed north, either going to the next customer or to the airport to reload or refuel.

I see these cropdusters flying all over the place in the Midwest and West. They are usually bright yellow but yesterday I saw one in Oregon which was white.

I also had a VERY thrilling experience the other day. As I was approaching Boise, Idaho I looked to my right and saw that a yellow cropduster was on a runway of a small airfield just off the interstate (I bet it wasn’t more than 150 feet from me). My cruise control was set on 87 and the plane was exactly keeping pace with me for a few seconds, then picked up speed as it lifted off the runway and got ahead of me. The highway then curved slightly to the right and as I looked through the windshield, so did the plane. I wish I had a copilot of my own to have captured it on video. I doubt if I could replicate it even if I tried.

I’m going to try and find the airport on Google maps and see if I can calculate the approximate distance the runway is from the right lane of the highway.

JohnBoy travel update

I am writing this post from Boise, Idaho, where yesterday I went to the World Center for Birds of Prey facility operated by the Peregrine Foundation (think California Condors, Red-tail Hawks, etc.). I was there almost 2 1/2 hours and took lots of pictures which I promise I will post very soon. I travel up to Seattle tomorrow and will be there 4 nights before crossing into Canada, so I hope to use the early mornings and evenings there to make more posts. I also have several “multiple-nights in one place” stays the first two weeks in Canada so that should enable me to get caught up since I won’t have to unload and reload my car every day or two!

I’ve also been VERY lucky with weather in my first three weeks on the road but am sure I will encounter rainy days sooner or later. Many areas out here need the rain, but most of it I have encountered so far has been while I was driving or at night.

I have good news and bad news concerning wildfires. The bad news for people in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington state is that there are two wildfires there which just recently started and are destroying homes and businesses. The Cram fire in Oregon is currently the largest active wildfire in the United States and developed very quickly. The Burdoin fire, on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, is also wreaking havoc. Crews are working diligently to contain both fires.

Fortunately for me they are both well west of the route I will be taking tomorrow morning from Boise to where I will be staying in Bellevue, Washington. I’m sure I will see the smoke, and possibly even have to drive through some, but I don’t expect any detours such as what I opted to take around Kansas City late last week to avoid massive flooding there.

The good news in Canada and Alaska is that, for now, the wildfires I have been monitoring there appear to be under control and should not be a direct threat to my plans. Of course, more could start at any time. There were Red Flag warnings in western Wyoming two days ago for conditions which could have enhanced wildfire development but I didn’t see any sign of any fires anywhere.

So fingers crossed that conditions will continue to be favorable for me.

And one update on travel conditions in western North Carolina, along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Yesterday it was announced that a 12-mile section has been reopened after major repairs of damage caused by Hurricane Helene last fall. Here is a “before” photo I found online this morning which demonstrates why the repairs (rebuilding, actually) is taking so long.

(Photo credit: FOX Weather)

There are still many more areas along the Parkway in North Carolina which need rebuilding, and logistically it is more difficult to get materials up there to make the repairs than it was for what they had to do on interstate 40. The Parkway is a major tourist draw to western NC so I am sure they are progressing as quickly, but safely, as they can.

Cleveland Guardians game

When I went up to Cleveland for my post-tax season escape in late April my brother and sister-in-law took me to a Guardians (nee Indians) game. They generally take me to at least one a year and I always enjoy it.

The team was renamed for the 8 Guardians, a series of much-larger-than-life carvings on the pillars of a huge bridge near the stadium. I will be making a future post about them once I get down there to take all of their photos.

The “Guards” play at Progressive Field. Progressive Insurance is based in Mayfield Village, a suburb of Cleveland. The game we attended was the third in a series against the New York Yankees. The Guards swept the first two games and we were hoping they’d make it three for three.

Spoiler alert – they didn’t.

Before the game started we went through an area with statues and plaques dedicated to former players, coaches and other notable figures in the team’s history. It was a sobering visit, as one of the memorials was to a gentleman who attended every home game since August 24, 1973. He was always way out in the bleachers under the scoreboard where he beat a huge bass drum (he bought for $25) to motivate the players and the fans. The sound reverberated through the entire stadium.

Sadly he passed away in late 2023. His name was John Adams. He was there for 3 World Series, 3 All-Star games, Len Parker’s “perfect game” and was even honored with a “Bobblehead Night” likeness!

A replica of his drum:

The section where he performed was dedicated in his honor.

RIP John. You will be missed.

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Before the game:

Nearby Rocket Arena, where the Cleveland Cavaliers and a minor league hockey team play:

A mural above one of the escalators inside the stadium:

During the game:

The pitcher’s warmup area:

A souvenir we got on the way in to the stadium:

I’m thinking maybe nose ring???

Three more Cleveland Zoo animals

I looked in my iPhone photo directory for April again and found some more animals that didn’t transfer to my computer when I tried to back them up.

A Condor (which I hope to see more of in Boise, Idaho on Tuesday of next week):

And one, then a pair of Dingoes (kind of a cross between a German Shepherd and a hefty Coyote or Wolf):

Cleveland Ohio Zoo

I drove up to Cleveland in mid-April to visit my youngest brother and his family (my post-tax season escape). As we drove around the area to some of the city’s MetroParks (they have a GREAT network of parks, something that should inspire other cities around the US) I noticed a sign for the Zoo (also a MetroPark). I didn’t even know they had a zoo and my brother offered to take me the next day (to visit, not to leave me!!).

I will spare you the “normal” zoo animals and try to show the more unusual ones. But first, the entrance. An impressive display of tulips:

NOW the animals:

This stuffed animal was in the on-site veterinarian hospital suite. Better him than a live animal:

They build a viewing overlook at just the right height for kids and adults alike to feed the giraffes:

And speaking of unusual creatures… you are probably familiar with flying squirrels (which friends of mine in Pennsylvania have on their property!!).

How about the rare, elusive flying JohnBoy???

Yes, your afraid-of-heights hero agreed (actually PAID) to be pulled backwards above an alligator infested lake and then released to cheat death and laugh at their efforts to bite his shoes off.

As my friend Shawn, a frequent blog commentor, would say – HA!

But I digress….

Not MY shoes…

A reindeer (above)

A Takin (above)

A cuddly Sloth bear (well, the little one anyway).

A Snow Leopard:

And two Amur Leopards:

A “seems kind of small but I’m still NOT getting in there with him” Grizzly Bear:

This one was further away than it looks. I still haven’t seen one “up close” in the wild but I did see one from very far away near Yellowstone National Park in 2017 and I could tell it was enormous. It is what prompted me to get a digital camera with a zoom lens

And finally, a cuddly Koala:

Two days ago I went to the Cincinnati Zoo and will be posting those photos as soon as I get them off my iPhone 16. I recently upgraded but it is giving me fits trying to offload my photos to my Microsoft computer which is where I post the blog from.

More from Jim Thorpe PA

I always try to appreciate the artists of this world. Some are meh but many more are VERY talented.

We saw these signs as we walked around Jim Thorpe during our 5-hour train layover. I didn’t follow them to their destination but will tell you in a minute what they are for:

As you may have noticed, they are all signed by Victor Stabin and evidently lead to his studio. I promise I will visit it when I return to Jim Thorpe sometime in the future.

Sad News from the Grand Canyon

No photos but they will be in an older post referenced below.

Upon my arrival in Cincinnati OH last evening I learned that the Visitor Center, and many other historic buildings, at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon were destroyed by an out of control wildfire on Sunday. Crews were trying to protect the Park from the fire, which was started by lightning, but it managed to get past them. Fortunately, all staff and guests at the Park were able to escape safely and no firefighters were injured. The North Rim will be closed for the rest of the season and probably beyond, as it will be a major undertaking to rebuild everything and make it safe for everyone to return.

I don’t have my photos from that far back on this computer but you may enter “Grand Canyon North Rim – Lodge” in the search box on the Home page to see my post from September 10, 2017 featuring the Lodge (and I believe there were others from that trip as well). Once on that 2017 post, a calendar for September 2017 will be on the right side of the screen to view all the posts from a particular date within that month.

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I am now on the road in earnest so my posts will soon increase in frequency. I am still working on some computer issues. My iPhone sometimes creates two files when I take a photo – a traditional .jpg and a mini-movie which takes up even more space. It wreaks havoc when I try to copy from my phone to my computer (not an Apple product) and it is taking me time to delete them, while keeping the real movies I take from time-to-time.

To quote Gilda Radner from SNL (whose photos and outfits I saw in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland last week) – “It’s always something….”

Thank you for your continued patience.