Wilson Price Hunt Trail (‘Astorians’) 1811 — 1812

Day 23: September 4th, 2006 Twin Falls — Mountain Home

I have breakfast at the nearby Perkins Restaurant. The food is quite okay, but my server is pretty slow. Eventually I am able to leave and drive over to the next gas station. However, the Phillips gas station has almost no water to clean the windshield. Around 10am I have finished everything and I am able to depart.

First I drive again to the Shoshone Falls.

Shoshone Falls State Park, ID

Snake River, Shoshone Falls State Park, ID

Now the sun is almost perfect and illuminates the falls in a way, that I am even able to capture a rainbow. Then I hike the Rim Trail for a while to get some nice pictures from above. Also a small lizard is so nice to give me the time for a video.

Slowly I must think about leaving. All in all, I have to combine once again two day trips today.

First I drive back to Twin Falls.

N 2000 E, ID

N 2000 E, Snake River, ID

River Rd, Snake River, ID

E 5400 Rd N/Bell Rapids Rd, Snake River, ID

Then I take the backroads along the south banks of the Snake River.

Backroad, Hagerman Fossil Beds, Snake River, ID

E 5600 N, ID

My next destination is the Hagerman Fossil Beds. But that is not a museum what I have expected. It is just a huge area. I drive down a steep hill to the river where I am once again stopped by a Private Property sign. Because there is also something like a very tiny parking lot, I stop and have my lunch break here. Given this opportunity, I take some nice pictures of the river. On the other side is a boat ramp with a lot of traffic.

E 5400 N/Bell Rapids Rd, ID

S 1000 E, Owsley Bridge, ID

I drive back and cross the Snake River on a kind of adventures bridge, the Owsley Bridge.

Highway 30, Snake River Valley, ID

Then I continue on the bigger Highway 30. Unfortunately I miss the exit for Bliss Grade Road and continue on Highway 30 up to the canyon rim. From there I am able to capture some nice pictures of the canyon — and I am also witnessing how a fire just stops at one of the fields. While I am doing my video taping, a couple in a Grand Cherokee starts talking to me. I tell them, that I am following the trail of Hunt, what really interests him. He is also interested in history and even know the name. He invites me to a drink at his house.

There he tells me, that he has worked as farmer for 34 years. Last year he sold his farm and bought this house. He has always lived in this area and he really likes it here. We also talk about the quality of American and Japanese cars. His Toyota was almost indestructible. I tell him about my chain issues in the transfer case.

Snake River Pottery, Snake River, ID

Then we drive over to a pottery, which is directly at the river and gives you a fantastic view of the Snake. However, nobody is at the store. Only a sign tells you to be so kind to fill out the receipt and put the money in the register! I am absolutely speechless about this much trust in the honesty of people. But you can definitely tell, that you are not in the vicinity of a big city.

I say good–bye to George and he invites me to stay with him next year. Now I am speechless! I give him my card and ask him to please send me an email. I was not able to say good–bye to his wife Donna and ask him to tell her my best wishes.

Bliss Grade Rd, ID

Snake River, ID

Way too late, but richer with a new friend, I depart. Because I am already on Bliss Grade Road now, I am able to proceed, where I originally planned to drive.

Snake River, ID

At Bliss I drive to the southwest and follow the Carnahan Road. The road is gravel and very small but offers picturesque views of the river. At one spot some cattle are blocking the road, which is not this unusual. But the problem here is, that the soil is pretty sandy and I can only use 4HI. Hopefully I will not get stuck…

Carnahan Rd, ID

Carnahan Rd, Snake River, ID

Carnahan Rd, ID

Carnahan Rd, Snake River, ID

Carnahan Rd, ID

Carnahan Rd, Snake River, ID

But lucky me, all cows free up my way in time and I am back safe on pavement.

The rest of my trip to Glenn’s Ferry is now on paved, but small backroads. There is also a horse rider approaching me. I stop to the side and let her pass. Then I continue.

Commercial St, Glenn’s Ferry, ID

Finally I arrive in Glenn’s Ferry. But this village is not really convincing to spend a night there.

S Sailor Crk Rd, ID

Although it is already pretty late, I decide to continue.

I cross the river and drive up to the canyon rim. But after several miles on gravel, the road ends at Private Property. Now I must drive back the whole way to Glenn’s Ferry.

As it is now definitely way too late to continue following my plan on the backroads, I take the Interstate to Mountain Home.

Sunset, I-84, ID

To my surprise I realize, that there is even a Wal–Mart! After a brief search I also find the Best Western Motel, my destination of today. There I receive a long list of restaurants, where I can go to and also a recommendation for a steakhouse and a Mexican restaurant. But when I arrive at the steakhouse, the door is open but all chairs are on the table and nobody is around. That doesn’t looks like I will get something to eat here…

So I drive on and look for the Mexican restaurant Martins. But first I am not able to find it, because the way description on my direction notes is wrong. Just by chance I drive by this restaurant and receive a typical Mexican big meal and a perfect and nice service.

Around 8pm I pay and drive back to my motel. There I check my video taping first, whereas I still have to work through my “backlog” of the last couple of days…

Sights
Hagerman Fossil Beds

General
Breakfast: Perkins, Twin Falls
Dinner: Martins, Mountain Home
Motel: Best Western, Mountain Home
Distance: 239 miles

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