Day 32: Shoshone Falls (Idaho, Nevada, Utah)

Our drive East continued. We entered Boise and parked so we could take a look around. It's a nice city and we were tempted to float the Boise river on a tube, a popular local pastime, but decided we didn't have enough time.

This is right downtown.

This part of Idaho in general seemed like a nice place to live. Has all the big stores, well maintained streets, and scenic nature all around.

We continued East and made a slight detour to look at the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, home to many notable fossils.

The visitor center also hosted an exhibit about the nearby Minatoka Relocation Center, a site they used for detaining Japanese during World War II.

This site also features remnants of the Oregon Trail that early settlers used to travel West. You can still see the wagon ruts in the hillsides:

Next, we passed through Twin Falls, Idaho, home to a cool waterfall known as "Shoshone Falls."

From here, rather than continue on the interstate all the way to Salt Lake City, we took Highway 93 South through Nevada, and then swung back East on the Interstate. Going South we entered truly desolate territory. Barely any cars passing, no houses, no services, no towns.

We finally approached the Nevada/Utah border, which was interesting - the small town of Wendover straddles both states. On the Nevada side, it's 100% casinos and lit up like a Christmas tree. On the Utah side, it's homes and office buildings and relatively dark.

Only a couple miles past Wendover in Utah we passed over the crest of a hill and a tremendous view of the Bonneville Salt Flats unfolded in front of us.

We took the access road and found a spot to park and spend the night. Not a campground, RV park, or other facility, just a random spot along the flats.

The evening and night was a very cool experience. Sky full of stars, the ground completely flat for miles in all directions, and only small lights from the interstate crossing the horizon in the distance.

If you opened the door and stepped out in the darkness you felt like you were on the moon or some distant planet. This is a place everyone needs to see at some point.

Sharon also did some more astrophotogaphy:

Tomorrow we explore the Salt Flats more closely and try to set a land speed record in the truck.

Random Fact of the Day: While in Boise, we shopped at a grocery store called "WinCo," an incredible store that feels a bit like Costco without requiring membership. Almost anything imaginable could be bought in "bulk" you scooped from barrels - everything from orange juice powder to chicken bouillon and pancake mix. Prices were unbeatable and they had a great selection. Grocery stores in New England are so backwards compared to the rest of the country.