Sitting on the Dock of the Reservoir
The first night out we camped at Rye Patch State Reservoir in Nevada. It was a great stopover spot with the bonus feature of a nice place to swim and/or dabble one's toes.
Leaving California
And we're off! Driving on I-80 just east of the Nevada state line.
Rye Patch dock - further away
Rye Patch water spigot
Rye Patch Sky
The sky at Rye Patch was pretty awesome as the sun was going down.
Rye Patch dock
rye patch
campground in rye patch
A pretty spartan campsite on one hand...
DSC_3188
DSC_3172
...but it had a nice view on the other.
DSC_3195
DSC_3215
We stopped in at the California Trail Historic Interpretation Center, which is run by the BLM. It opened six weeks earlier and only about half of the exhibits were complete.
DSC_3183
Westward I Go Free
IMG_3428
Back to driving. Northern Nevada, north of Battle Mountain.
DSC_3203
Emma rather more enjoyed dressing up than her expression might suggest.
DSC_3211
DSC_3222
We stayed at an entirely unmemorable KOA in Twin Falls, Idaho and stopped to see the Snake River Canyon.
DSC_3224
Who Does Meth Affect?
Meth signs were frequent sights in rural Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.
DSC_3245
One of the little gems of the trip was Massacre Rocks State Park in Idaho. Right on the Snake River, it was beautiful and nearly deserted.
DSC_3233
A short hike down from the campsite...
DSC_3236
...and we were in the Snake River.
DSC_3239
It was pretty hot, so the girls used the opportunity to cool down. Megan was very cast-conscientious.
DSC_3258
Snake River
DSC_3209
As did Megan.
DSC_3279
Massacre Rocks had a nice little dock where we watched the sunset.
DSC_3281
Bluffs along Snake River, Massacre Rocks State Park, Idaho.
DSC_3269
DSC_3286
The light didn't last very long.
DSC_3297
DSC_3332
Near Massacre Rocks was yet another rock, this one being Register Rock, upon which emigrants on the Oregon and California trails left their mark.
DSC_3316
DSC_3339
Today we'd call it vandalism.
DSC_3347
Even the restaurants had cool art. Groovy town.
Skate or Die
We stopped for lunch in Idaho Falls as we drove to Grand Teton. Idaho Falls has a bunch of cool street benches.
DSC_3361
The actual falls in Idaho Falls seem to largely be man-made.
DSC_3378
Oh, the irony.
DSC_3367
DSC_3377
The artificial nature of the falls had led to many waterplay areas, though. Bonus!
DSC_3383
Firstly, did these folks not see the "No Signs" sign? Secondly, what is going on with duckling #2? Thirdly, if you can only go to the left, how do you get into the $aving ¢enter?
IMG_3442
Driving across Idaho. Farms, farms and more farms, and every one of them irrigating all day long.
The Grand Tetons
We had a great view of a narrow slice of the Teton Range from our campsite.
DSC_3389
The Teton Range.
DSC_3393
DSC_3419
DSC_3420
This one was blowing bubbles.
IdahoMassacre Rocks State Park