Shoshone Falls, Idaho 9/17/2013

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 (Tuesday)

To finish off last night – we went to the pool. According to our paperwork, the pool was open until 7 PM. When we got there, the two young men behind the desk said they closed at 6 PM. We got there around 5:40 PM so I didn’t want to get wet for just a few minutes, but Lexi and Michael did. They enjoyed it. We plan on going back earlier one day this week.

Today we woke to thunder and rain. Kind of an ugly day but we still wanted to go to Shoshone Falls. We left around 10:30 AM and were pleasantly surprised to learn (once we punched it into the Prius GPS) that it was only about 80 miles or so to the falls. While driving to Twin Falls, we passed several places we wanted to see – Mammoth Caves, Ice Caves, and Bear Claw Trading Post.

Getting into the Falls would have cost $3.00 but because of Michael’s National Park Pass, and the fact the falls were not flowing well (or were “dry”), it was free. Even though the Falls were not flowing much, there were still Falls all around the park and it was beautiful. We had fun but were surprised and disgusted at how many flies there were everywhere. We were told it was because of the cutting of the corn.

Water level sign. We promised ourselves to come back on a winter's day. — Water level sign. We promised ourselves to come back on a winter’s day.

The city park had green lawns everywhere.

Outlooks at the Snake river gorge at Shoshone Falls.

Small falls and the part of the gorge that Evil Knievel jumped in a rocket.

A small natural bridge that really shows how the rock is shaped by freezing and rain.

A trickle of it's former self. — A trickle of its former self.

It has to be spectacular when it is full of water.

After the Falls we drove a short distance down Falls Road and saw a barn with license plates from all the states, shaped into the United States. What Fun. Once we got closer, we also saw they had the state of Idaho shaped with Idaho license plates. Great idea.

Barn art, license plates from around the US placed where they would be on a map of the US.

Idaho license plates in the shape of Idaho on the barn wall.

I was fascinated by these roof tiles. Edie thinks they are ceramic floor tiles. I think they are varied stone.

We then drove into Twin Falls (very short distance away) and went to Target to get a writing tablet for Lexi, and a couple other small items. We went across the street to the corporate Verizon Store to see about Lexi’s phone. They said our best bet is to go to the Couer d’Alene corporate store when we first get there, otherwise they have to mail it to our Prunedale address. If we go to the corporate Couer d’Alene store, we can have it shipped to them and pick it up there within a few days. Since we’ll be in the Couer d’Alene area for almost two weeks, that should work out best. We’re pretty done with Verizon. We also canceled my phone.

Almost done with Verizon. We had unlimited data and they are making it impossible to keep it. They want more than I am already paying. I will vote with my wallet and go to sprint or tmobile.

We were getting hungry but couldn’t decide where we wanted to go. Lexi suggested the Buffalo Wings place near Verizon. None of us had ever been to one before and were quite surprised that it was more a sports bar than anything else. The downside was that most items on the menu were fried or greasy in some way. Michael opted for the chili burger with onion rings, I got mini corn dogs, and Lexi got some wings. We also had beer and wine. Lunch was around $50.00 (with tax). Kinda spendy but we each got drinks and lots and lots of food.

Linner at Buffalo Wild Wings, Twin Falls. Lori was a great wait person!

Snake River Canyon on the way back home.

After lunch we left Twin Falls and headed back. We passed up Mammoth Caves because it was so late and I was hoping to make it in time to the Ice Caves to get a tour. The cost was $10.00 for Lexi and I, and the old guy got in for $8.00. We got to the Ice Caves a little after 4 PM and were given a tour by Brittany. The path to the cave was very uneven, as was the walkway in the caves. We had to be very careful with each step. It was quite interesting (and a little bit scary) to go down into the cave and experience the coolness, see the bones of the momma bear and her two cubs from the 1950’s, and just imagine being down in the lava tube way back when. I enjoyed it but I don’t think Michael and Lexi did. Felt like I forced them into it, but it was fun and informative to me.

If you look close at the center of the photo you will see a really large raven that had no fear of us. Collapsed lava tube in background.

Looking back up from the entrance into the ice cave. Goodbye light, life.

Rickety, uneven, shaky, scary and interesting tomb.

Milky white ice floor, 3 to 30 feet deep.

Stays 27 to 30 degrees in the ice cave. The air compresses as it passes through the rock and cools each time it compresses.

Collapsed lava tube, can't help but reflect that it is just like the one I was just in! — Collapsed lava tube, can’t help but reflect that it is just like the one I was just in!

You can see tube after tube that has failed. What were we thinking walking around in these things?

Great black lab that lives to fetch the tennis ball.

We left the caves and went across the street to the Bear Claw Trading Company. What a fun place. It had things from all over the world – Black Hills gold jewelry, drums, Navajo items, Chinese things, Mexican things, Polynesian drums – all kinds of fun things to see – but no pictures allowed.

Got back to our home around 6 PM and are all pooped out. Hope your day was grand!