Nampa Idaho - a closed circle

Following a peaceful sleep in Buhl, we were up pretty early that morning anxious to be on our way. We knew that the weather was going to take a nasty turn and we wanted to get on the road and to Nampa as fast as we could. Although the sky was quite dark the rain and snow had yet to start.

First things first - using the dump station at the Buhl Chamber of Commerce. What a great gift to travelers - thanks!! We have used this one twice now but both times when the office has been closed. We like Buhl, we liked it last year driving through and we felt that way again. Some towns just have a nice feel to them - right? - Buhl has it. 

Buhl is along the 30 west of Twin Falls, the 30 is also the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway. We found this neat little drive last year when we were avoiding the Interstate as long as possible. It is a GREAT drive - actually, we LOVE it and were really looking forward to our second time through.

Main Street Buhl.

The Byway travels through farmland - our favourite! Hand over a nice little farm here and we would take it happily! A well protected spot with more cows then Cassia and I could count. A little dark and cloudy this day but you can get the idea - also late winter so lots of golden grass. LOVE golden grass!

One of the features that really caught our eyes last winter were the waterfalls coming out of the rock wall  running parallel to the highway. We got the idea from the signs that there were springs as we were traveling through. This year we decided to stop in at the Thousand Springs State Park - alas it is still closed for the season. We grabbed this quick picture - glad we did because the rest, taken while we were moving, didn't work out.

Further along the byway we stopped at a very nice and very clean rest area. Derek, Cassia and Roofous went for a quick walk. Me - I wimped out and stayed in the truck - still trying to adjust to the cooler temperatures.

Cassia is almost always up for a walk. First time this trip with her toque. We bought it last year - black - to match her dads!

hmmmm - kind of an erie picture that Derek took - due to the dark sky.

A red nose! colddddddddddd! but a smile none the less

At the west end of the byway the road climbs out of the valley quite steeply. Just before that was the town of Hagerman - our very most favourite area along the 30. We really really like it here and would put it close to the top of the list. Although cold at this time of year - in the summer I am sure it could give Micanopy, Apalachicola and the Texas Hill Country a run for their money for the place we would love to live.

We stopped at the pull out half way up the hill to take some great shots of the valley....

and the storm clouds to the west.

It sure doesn't look good to the south - we were thrilled that we had made it through Nevada the day before - I can only imagine how much snow they were going to get.

By the time we got to the top of the hill and could get a good look west we knew we were in serious trouble in about - oh - 30 seconds. We were blissfully unaware of the looming storm until we got to well - Bliss. Yes - there is a town called Bliss! Right where the 30 and the Interstate meet. 

Pretty soon we were driving in this.......

Which quickly became this....

Thankfully there is a rest area just west of Bliss. With the wind and the driving snow coming from the west - of course the direction we were heading - we actually had a hard time just doing the few miles.

The three of us quickly got into the trailer and turned on the heat. We were prepared to stay there as long as it took - the morning, the day - even overnight. No pictures but things got much worse before they got better - about an hour of blizzard conditions. Cassia was happy watching a movie, me reading my book and Derek was nice enough to make breakfast.

Because we were up so early we were back on the road before lunch - the storm had passed!

Even a brighter sky in the distance.

The rest of the trip flew by and soon we were exiting the Interstate to our friends place in Nampa. We had come full circle since we stopped here on our way out back in October. Actually, when we entered the Interstate at Bliss we had crossed our path and closed the circle there. 

As we got comfortable and K and J's place we were thankful that we timed our trip as we had - the next day more snow fell in the area. We can't get much better then this - good friends and good food, a bedroom to call our own, a bathroom, and laundry. Plus three granddaughters for Cassia to play with aged 5, 7 and 9 AND a mountain of toys.

I am thrilled to say that it has taken me near two weeks but I am caught up on the blog since there isn't a whole lot to report from out stay here - we are couch potatoes really - just hanging out. The weather hasn't been all that great and so we have spent most of our time indoors.

We meant to have been gone by now but winter still has a grip on BC and so here we wait for better driving conditions until we make the trip up to Castlegar. 

Thanks for stopping in!

Teresa

Today's Interesting Link: Well you've probably all heard of Dave Ramsey but I hadn't! This link came up on my facebook the other day and in the spirit of this blog - living a life made simple - I will link it here. I was excited to see that Derek and I actually follow many many of the 29 Ways To Leap out of Debt. 

Of course we aren't in debt anymore but the list is also a good way of not leaping INTO debt - again.

Nevada - Beautiful Boredom

If you plan on taking this route through Nevada for the first time....listen up - because just as you get on the road at Ash Springs you will need to make an important left. Last year I almost missed it - Derek caught it at the VERY LAST minute - urrrrrrrrrrr - this year I was on the ball but Derek had forgotten - 'are you sure?!' he says.

Remember to take a left on to the 375 to then take a quick right onto the 318 - so that you don't wind up on the 

Extraterrestrial Highway! 

Although if you didn't know this highway existed you probably still wouldn't since the sign is pretty shot out! Too bad - would have been a great pic had we remembered to stop that is....

Anyway, once we made a right on the 318 our trip through the remainder of Nevada in one day was underway. This day began with 318 north to the 6 with a right turn bringing us shortly into Ely (gas), continuing north on the 93 until Lages where we took a left - the continuation of the 93 vs the 93 Alt to Wendover  to Wells (gas) and then carrying on ahead to Jackpot! (no gas). 

We could have stopped for the night in Jackpot but knew that bad weather was on the way and therefore wanted to get as close to Nampa as we could get - or really as far as Derek could handle driving in one day. From Jackpot on it was night driving and we arrived in Buhl, Idaho at around 7:30 pm.

400 miles or about 645 kilometers!

The longest - furthest day this trip.

We only stop for food and gas. Depending on the vehicle you have make special note of gas station locations! and here it is - ONLY IN THE MAIN TOWNS - Ash Springs (which you just left - go back if you forgot to fill up), Ely, Wells and Jackpot.

That's it? 

YUP!

Just starting out on the 318 - beautiful farmland.

Enjoy it - civilization is about to disappear.

I have made several references to the fact that driving through Nevada is lonesome. It is - it really is. There is a whole lotta nothin' out there! Although at the same time it is VERY VERY beautiful! It is also made less lonesome by the fact that it is a VERY VERY well traveled route. I call it the Idaho express - and may have to change that to the Idaho - British Columbia express - since they were the two main license plates. It is also a major truck route!

I have a love/hate relationship with Nevada - although we travel it in one day - it is a one longgggggggggg day. I am torn between the beauty and the sheer boredom of it. 

During our 2008 Desert Wandering tour we came up from Death Valley and landed in Tonopah - where it was snowing in mid April - I may add! We then followed the 376 through the Big Smokey Valley to the 50 AKA the Loneliest Road in America - to Eureka - a neat little town, then we took the 278 north to Interstate 80 to Elko. Elko is a very interesting place - we truly enjoyed our visit there! We stayed the night at the Thunderbird Motel even though we had our trailer just because of the cold temperatures. We then carried on the Interstate until Wells and then of course north to Jackpot.

We are sure getting to know Nevada - up close and personal!

This is one of the most interesting parts of the whole day.

A drive through a valley carved by the White River - awesome rock formations remain.

WARNING WARNING WARNING!

If you are one of our wonderful travel buddies still sunning it up in the south and don't want to read about or see - the S word - stop here! Exit our blog and go have a nice cool Meyer lemonade! 

If you think you can handle it - or even want to use it to gloat - well then carry on! BUT DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!!!

Our first look at snow! Cassia! SNOWWWWWWWW!

There are only 2 - yes 2 - rest areas on this route. The first is Sunnyside. We stop there for lunch - it is one of the only rest areas I know that has hot running water in the washrooms - AND it is out in the middle of nowhere!

Just after we took the right onto highway 6 this came towards us. We got a strange feeling that we should pull over....what gave us that idea - oh - I don't know - maybe because the cop was IN OUR LANE!

Just to the west of Ely along the 6 is the worst bit of road of the whole trip because you go through a pass. It is very high - almost 7,000 ft and curvy. The roads were clear but we could tell the snow was fresh - and there was a lot of it!

fun fun!

Also the steepest grades along the mostly flat highway.

Cassia finds all sorts of things to entertain herself in the back!

Ely - our first gas stop. I think you have to be made of something special to live in Ely - so so so far away from the rest of the world.

Just north of Ely - hmmmm - not looking so good up ahead.

Along the way we pass through the Heeby Jeeby town! We won't mention any names - this place is sad enough without us adding to the problems but whoa! This is the most downtrodden town we have EVER come across. With last years warmer temps people were standing on the street - the most forlorn looks we have EVER seen. It kinda gives us the shivers if you know what I mean.

Quick lock the doors! just joking - urrrr well no, not really!

Poor ol' Heeby Jeeby town!

Next up - the Pony Express rest area. Last year - not totally realizing the extent of this huge undertaking in one day we also stopped here. Actually, Derek and Roofous took off on Cassia and I for so long I was starting to wonder if he had head for the hills never to return.

This year - we just sailed on by. We have miles to make.

A close up of the Pony Express statue from last year. Imagine riding the Pony Express way back - and I think our trip is long!

Much of the time the road looks like this - long and straight.

I find the longest part of the trip from Lages or Lages Station on some maps (used to be a gas station but no longer) to Wells the longest part of the trip. It tends to drag - not overly scenic and a bit of a climb thus taking longer. 

Last year we spent a cold cold cold night in Wells under a closed Casino sign that was on it's last leg and swayed and creaked in the wind. We weren't going to repeat that experience. Not sure what you can get in Wells other then gas - but gas you can get. There are three truck stops - Flying J's, Love's and Sinclair. We stopped for some internet time at the Love's because it has a McDonald's in it - you know just inside the gas station through the CASINO.

Thankfully, by leaving early and wasting no time on the road - and Derek driving the speed limit of 65 miles per hour - faster then we usually drive - we made it to Wells with hours to spare.

Just as it was getting dark we pulled into and out of Jackpot. Not much in Jackpot except what? 

yes, Casinos!

All the rigs that we had seen that day - and many others we hadn't - were there, but we decided to move on. From last year we also knew of the Buhl Visitor Center and the free dump station they offered and a gas station beside it - we decided to overnight there. It was a good decision although it meant about an hour of night driving, which we try not to do very often.

But boy were we happy to FINALLY pull off the 93 onto the 30 and a mere 12 miles later hit Buhl and our home for the night. More about Buhl coming soon!

What a day! 

I'd almost forgotten what Cassia looked like with the three of us glued to our seats all day!

Thanks for coming along for the ride! You made it less lonesome! :)

Teresa

Today's Interesting Link: I have been spending a whole lotta time on Pinterest lately - leading me to this site and that one, oh and that one, and just look at that one! You would think I would have a ton of links - and I do! but they are almost all cooking blogs - I just can't get enough of them! Here is the link to one of the most popular of my pins yet! a recipe for Coconut Milk Shampoo - I cannot wait to get home to make it! I know I will be hooked!

Ash Springs' Warm Springs

Not so far up the road from Pahranagat is our next stop - the warm springs at Ash Springs. 

Now - I'm sorta thinking that this place IS a well kept secret because as we enjoy our soak I watch many many many RVs going right by - OR - they just don't like hot/warm springs - which I suppose is possible but quite crazy in our books. 

Hot springs - warm springs - we're there - you may have noticed!

Two things of note in Ash Springs, 1) a Shell gas station with often cheaper gas then Alamo and 2) the BLM Rec Area with a public warm spring.

The springs are right across the highway from the Shell Station. Last year when it was our first time visiting we had some trouble finding it - having been tipped off about it's existence from a fellow Hot Springer at the Holtville Hotspring LTVA.

Look for this road - and the black fence - across from and the north side of the Shell Station.

As you can see overnight camping is not allowed.

There are 3 options for an overnight place in this area near as I can tell - 

1) the Pahranagat NWR as we do -  and then a stop at the springs on our way north and then carry on

2) behind the Shell Station - I BELIEVE they are $18 for water/elec or 

3) boondocking BESIDE the springs. Unfortunately I failed to take a picture - as you are coming into the parking lot look to your left - there is a opening in the fence leading to a field. From what I have found on the internet it seems that people boondock in this space. Only drive into the parking lot or the field if you are a smaller RV such as a van, truck camper or small C class. We park on the shoulder on the highway among the semis.

There is a 'man made' pool ...... about waist high and the warmest as the spring feeds directly into it....

and a 'natural pond' ..... where you pretty much need to lie down and a tad cooler .

Derek and Cassia on our visit last year.

It wasn't the warmest morning so I put Cassia in her swimming shirt and shorts.

Yaaaaaaa for the large rock!

You can't be too ticklish to sit in the pond as you quickly become food for the fish!

Cassia has been in hot springs since she was 10 months old!

I really don't know the temperature of the springs - about like a nice warm bath - that doesn't cool off. It is very comfortable even in cooler temperatures. I almost prefer it to the hot springs because you don't get the tired, drained of energy feeling that hot water seems to create. It is also much better for Cassia of course.

If you do visit the springs - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take a piece or two of garbage with you. Why oh why do people feel the need to bring their snacks and leave the wrappers? and more importantly and way more frustrating is the brown glass pieces that I found on the grass right BESIDE the pond. There isn't that much garbage but why does there need to be any?

Washrooms are supplied but I didn't go in and so cannot speak about the cleanliness!

We seemed to have timed our visit just perfect this year - when we arrived at about 8:30 Tuesday morning we had the place to ourselves - for about an hour. Ahhhhhhh........

Now all warm and squeaky clean we got back on the road - a BIG day ahead of us to get through Nevada. We do this route in one day because of the higher elevations of the towns - too cold to stay overnight! The next post will be 'almost all of Nevada and some of Idaho in a day'!

Cheers!

Teresa 

Today's Interesting Link: These last few days I have been getting really interested in farming/gardening - obviously since spring is on it's way and I can't wait to get home to start making, baking and growing. Backyard Farming - The Urban Homestead is my latest find! You gotta love their header! LOTS of great info!