Upper Mesa Falls, Idaho – 11/9/2014 – http://fulltimetimeshare.com/blog

NOVEMBER 9, 2014 (Sunday)

Slept really well in our lovely home. Michael got up before I did and let me sleep until almost 10:00 AM. Felt wonderful.

We looked out and it looks overcast but no rain or snow. We headed out around noon to go to Upper Mesa Falls. Michael was told about Upper Mesa Falls by a man we met at the Lonesome Dove Ranch in Kalispell, Montana. He and his wife were guests of the Bed and Breakfast there. He lives in this area and told us of some nice places to visit. He said it was about 45 miles from West Yellowstone.

We drove into Idaho (less than ten miles away) and discovered the city of Island Park, Idaho, which has the longest main street in America (something like 31 miles long). Too funny. Anyway, we found the falls and they were spectacular. Not a bad walk down to them, and it was level and mostly a boardwalk type with lookouts and places to sit. Very nice. Just beautiful. If the weather had been a little warmer we would have stayed around and had a little snack there, but the wind chill factor made it pretty miserable.

Rolled into Idaho. — Rolled into Idaho, crossed the Continental Divide and climbed a little.

Edie spotted an old classic being trucked somewhere.

These will clean up nice and look appropriate in this countryside.

Visitor's Center closed for the winter. — Visitor’s Center closed for the winter.

Yellowstone blew up, buried the area in over a thousand feet of volcanic ash. Lava also flowed. The water went to work.

The water has carved the canyon, finding the path it could attack and wear down.

Broken chunks liter the river bed. — Broken chunks litter the river bed.

Waterfalls form where the river bed is tough and does not give.

The pillars resist wearing. — The rock pillars resist wearing.

Freezing and expanding ice creates the rubble field to the left. The cliff above will continue to break off and fall down during winters.

Pillars to the left have very hard tops.

Tough rocks that don't give like the ones that have broke away and caused the canyon to drop. — Tough rocks that don’t give like the ones that have broken away and caused the canyon to drop.

Not sure what the vivid burnt orange is.

On the ride home we saw several truck loads of Christmas trees on their way to the stores.

Saw about 5 trucks and trailers loaded like this, quite a Christmas tree harvest. — Saw about 5 trucks and trailers loaded like this. Quite a Christmas tree harvest.

Thought there was a wreak, just guys talking. — Thought there was a wreck, just guys talking.

The arctic is coming, the arctic is coming.

We are wintering in Florida, we are wintering in Florida.

We were getting hungry and decided to stop at the other restaurant that’s open in West Yellowstone (not many things are open). We stopped at a place called Buffalo Bar and Casino. We went inside and it’s more of a local’s hangout/bar. Very nice server who waited on us. We ordered – I got a pot roast dinner, and Michael got a chopped salad. I was amazed and stunned by the huge portions we got. Way too big. If we had known we would have split one and it would have been plenty. Now we have leftovers and probably more food than we can eat in the time we’re here. At least we won’t starve while the storm moves into the area.

Thought she was bringing a six pack of beer.

Water buffalo's too. — Water buffalo too.

Edie's comfort plate made her miserable, and she hardly dented it. — Edie’s comfort plate made her miserable, and she hardly dented it.

I ate about half my plater, we took boxes home. — I ate about half my platter; we took boxes home.

We didn’t see any live wildlife (only a dead elk on the side of the road) except some swans and Canadian geese. We’re still hopeful we’ll see some before we leave here.

Driving back we toured and found this just around the corner from our place. They are at least life sized, maybe bigger.

We are now home and warm. That was our day. Hope yours was great!