Our View From The Road

Sharing where we've been and what we've seen

Tag: ID

  • Day 17: June 5 – Glenn’s Ferry, ID to Pendleton, OR

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    A dry morning awaited us as we looked out across the vineyard, today we are driving into Oregon.

    We’ve learned that the Oregon trail passed through Glenn’s Ferry, so named because of the ferry service that once existed here. The Snake river at his point is fairly fast flowing and wide, and during the 1800’s many wagons and animals were lost attempting to cross the river at a point where three islands exist. This prompted the creation of a ferry service which existed for many years assisting those wagon trains heading westward to the coast. Although the ferry service no longer exists, it is remembered in the town name as does the 3 Islands crossing as many businesses use this name.

    Our first stop of the day is in Boise, ID at an Oregon trail historical site. The area is now a park where many walk their dogs; but back in the 1800’s it was a crossing point of several trails and a location from which settlers would have had their first glimpses of the fertile Boise river plain. Many would call this far enough and today Boise is a prosperous city surrounded by lush farmland. Yes, they grow a lot of potatoes in this valley.

    Oregon trail historical site

    Leaving the Boise river valley, we climbed again into the hills and the land became more grassland and rolling. Stopping at a rest stop in one of these valleys, we enjoyed lunch in the van as we watched a variety of travelers exercise their dogs.

    After lunch, we continued westward and the fauna changed again to coniferous forests. By mid-afternoon we were back at about 1500m and approaching Deadman Pass, a 6 mile 6% downhill grade that twists and turns it’s way out of the Oregon hills. We stopped at a viewing sight at the top where we could see the vehicles descend and appear to shrink into Tonka toys as they drove down the hill.

    Deadman pass

    Once at the bottom of the pass, we only had a few miles to drive before we arrived at Pendleton, OR. Tonight we are staying at the KOA in town and it is full, I think we got one of the last sites, but the full hookups and hot showers will be welcomed. Tomorrow we head to the coast.

  • Day 16: June 4 – Santaquin, UT to Glenn’s Ferry, ID

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    Turns out that the I-15 was a little too close for Barb to get a good nights sleep. Tony, heard nothing…. Typical.

    A fairly early start to today as we’re off to Idaho (5 1/2 hours). A quick top off on fuel and then to Walmart for a few provisions before jumping back onto the freeway.

    The Salt Lake City area is a lot like Toronto in that all the nearby communities have now just blurred into one enormous metroplex. From Santaquin the 75km North to where we turned West on I-80 was all built-up urban landscape.

    Turning West onto I-80 took us out across the Salt Lake valley at the Southern edge of Salt Lake, here there is nothing, and I mean nothing but the road and a railway track. Eventually we came to the Western edge of the Salt flats and one of the most famous places in the world for those trying to set land speed records, the Bonneville Speedway.

    Of course there’s also nothing there, but the salt. Each year USAC marks out a new 10mile long “track” along which the speed demons will run their cars, motorcycles and other equipment. The picture below shows the area in which this happens, the mountains in the photo are evidently more than 10miles away. The vastness of this space is overwhelming as there are no reference points against which to measure distances.

    Above you can see a few hardy brave souls who have taken their vehicles out onto the salt flats. We hope that they all immediately go to a car wash after leaving as the cars are covered with salt ‘dust’ after simply driving about.

    Returning to the I-80 we quickly cross the state line into Nevada where we continued westward for about 45min before turning North towards Twin Falls, ID.

    Rolling grasslands reminded me a little of the Scottish highlands at times with some epic vistas. The picture below shows an area where it appears all of the smaller boulders that were in a glacier were just dropped leaving this hillside strewn with them.

    Arriving in Twin Falls we cross the Snake River canyon just West of the site where in 1974, Evel Knievel attempted to jump a steam powered rocket bike across the canyon. Evidently the ramp on which he built the launch structure still survives.

    Turning again toward the West we drive to Glenn’s Ferry, ID where we would be staying at the Y Knot Winery. We enjoyed a prime rib dinner and sampled some of their wines before retiring to the van where we watched a movie before settling down for the night.