(Updated 8/17)
Boise, Idaho.

On Sunday, we had a good, traditional Montana pancake breakfast at Martin's (since 1902) in Livingston's old train depot. That was our prelude to our second day in Yellowstone. We saw the Grand Canyon & Lower Falls, a spectactular show of nature. We also went to see the Sapphire Pool, the clearest, bluest water you'll ever see. It was a hot spring coming up from who knows where, steam everywhere. After Yellowstone, we drove through the magnificent Grand Teton National Park, where there are 14 jagged, granite, huge mountains neatly placed in a row across from the alpine Jackson Lake. We made it through there and into Jackson, Wyoming, a world-famous ski resort, and infamous home of those damn liberals!

Into Idaho. My impression of Idaho is brown hills & mountains dotted with shrubs amidst fields of golden hay. Not many people, not many houses, just more of the same. We drove along the Snake River Valley and made it to Lava Hot Springs for the night. This is a very small town tucked away in the mountains, just off US Highway 30. Wait a minute, what's this Lava Hot Springs, you ask. It's not in the Lonely Planet USA guidebook! Well, funny story. We were in Sheridan, Wyoming a couple days back, looking for a Wells Fargo ATM. We couldn't find any so I tried calling the customer service number. Apparently Wells Fargos are a rare breed in Wyoming, but they abound in Idaho, so I was told. The customer service rep sounded familiar with where the branches were in Pocatello & Twin Falls so I asked her if she was from there. She said yes. So I asked her if there was anything cool to see in the area. She suggested Lava. She was right.

There are hot mineral springs everywhere in town, and three public pools to dip in. The water is between 102-108 degrees Fahrenheit. It was really relaxing after a long day's drive. After the bath, we checked into the Cottonwood Family Campground and pitched our tent next to a waterfall. We slept & slept.

Yesterday, we cooked some Ma Po Tofu on my camp stove and headed west, always west, into Pocatello, Twin Falls, Filer, Idaho. We made a detour to see a balanced rock, driving through rows of cornfields to suddenly, abruptly find ourselves in a painted desert scene. It looked like somewhere in Nevada, although I've never been to Nevada. A huge 40 ft. by 48 ft. question mark of a rock balanced precariously above the others, in a 3 ft by 19 inch poise of nature's harmony.

Boise, Idaho. Once again, I'm on the web from my tent! We went into downtown Old Boise last night, had a meal outdoors in the Basque Town. Who would've ever guessed I'd be in the Old West of Boise, Idaho? It's actually pretty cool. The downtown is full of restaurants & pubs & movie theatres, people everywhere. This is the first town of any size we've been in since Sioux City, so it's nice to get that cosmopolitan vibe once again & Boise's happening like that. After our stroll, we checked into Idaho's #1 microbrew, the Table Rock Brewery, for a taste of an Idaho beer (I had an India Pale Ale, quite tasty).

Today, it's Oregon, my new home state. We're about one hour from it now, and will be in Eugene tomorrow afternoon, hopefully. From then the work starts. Have to find a job, have to find an apt., etc., etc. But two more days to enjoy ourselves. I'll do my best