7-9-2025 Twin Falls, ID

Usually, the first night at camp is quiet and uneventful after a (sometimes scary) long drive.  The evening of the 8^th was no exception.  But the 9^th was great fun!  We have known Diane and Jerry for about 25 years, from the Boeing era.  Wonderful people!  We visited their gorgeous home for appies and cocktails yesterday.  Today, we rendezvoused at Centennial Waterfront Park at the bottom of the Snake River Canyon to board a pontoon boat. 

We four:  Jerry, Diane, Lucky Lindy & Rob

Our small boat carried 9 guests and 2 crew.

 

The canyon at this location is 486 feet deep and the drive to the bottom is pretty snaky.  That goes hand in hand with the river.  Yes, the Snake River.  No matter where you go in Idaho, there’s the Snake River, snaking around all over the place.  We took a jet boat on the Snake River in Lewiston and Clarkston a few years back and now, here we are in Twin Falls 400 miles south and once again we’re on the Snake River.  In Idaho, you can’t escape the Snake River.

Speaking of snakes, this is
the road to drive down to
the base of the canyon.

 The canyon was formed over millions of years, naturally, and the different colors of the strata tell geological stories of bygone millennia.  The bridge we drove over from our camp in Jerome to the park in Twin Falls is called The Perrine Memorial Bridge, constructed over a 4-year stretch in the 1970s.  I don’t know why this bridge is here, exactly.  Because, I suppose, if humans see a canyon, they have to get to the other side of it.  Why?  Because it’s there!  We are here and we want to be over there!  The bridge is 486 feet above the river and 3,600 feet above sea level.  If you want to be technical, the canyon is actually deeper than that if you add on the depth of the river.  The bridge is named to honor a fellow named I. B. Perrine (1861-1943), an industrious entrepreneur who is responsible for a vast irrigation system that changed the face of the entire region.

 

I. B. Perrine Memorial Bridge

Base jumper

The goal of the boat trip was to sail upriver to Pillar Falls.  It gets its name from the tall boulders (pillars) around which the falls make their way.  The water feeding the falls comes from the upper…yup… Snake River.  Our ride was smooth and comfortable and our boatmen knew a great deal about the canyon.  From our little pontoon, we witnessed base jumpers jumping from the bridge and flying their chutes to landing sites at the bottom of the canyon.  They can either hike back up with all their gear or they are picked up by boat at one of the landing sites.  By the way, the base jumpers don’t wear a reserve.  If your main doesn’t open, you’re pretty much shit-out-of-luck.  Not my sport.  I like adrenaline rush but I don’t have a death wish.  There were also kayakers and paddleboarders out for a fun afternoon on the water.  It is shallow at some points and at others it runs about 80 feet deep.  If you are not into water activities, there is also a luxurious, superb golf course on the canyon floor (the dry part).  It was a glorious day and so much fun to be with our friends again.

Pillar Falls is behind us.

Pillar Falls

The hydraulics here are fatal.

 

When the trip ended, Diane and Jerry led us up and out of the canyon but stopped along the way so that we could view a falls (If it has a name, I don’t know it.).  It’s a bit of a hike down the rocky path to get a close-up view, experience the rumbling and thunder and actually walk behind the falls.  Of course, I couldn’t resist.  Jerry, being a tough ol’ former Marine, walked behind me to block me from tumbling down or ahead of me to pull me up (and the other way around).  I felt safe with him having my six.  We made it!  Or more aptly, I made it!  There wasn’t a doubt about Jerry.  The falls is really beautiful and also refreshing to catch the spray on this hot day after our climb down. 

Jerry and me behind the falls

I'm sure this falls has a name

Looking at the canyon through
the falls from behind it

 

After that, we had an early dinner at Redhawk, a restaurant up on the rim of the canyon.  There are big red canopies over the deck tables to shield us from the blazing sun.  And what better to go with their marvelous food than a Lonesome Larry the Sockeye Salmon Lager?!  So, today, we cruised the river and saw the falls from the plan view, side view, back view and (from the restaurant) top view.

Redhawk Restaurant as seen
from the river

We four

 

Tomorrow, we are on our way to Eagle, ID on a highway along the…. wait for it…. Snake River.

7-6-2025 Elko, NV Part III

Yesterday was the parade down the main drag in Elko and today was the grand finale of the National Basque Festival beginning at 10 AM on the Basque Clubhouse grounds.  We arrived at noon and then realized that we had missed the bread making competition.  Shoot, I really wanted to see that one being a brand new bread maker myself.  But we were in time for the rest:  Dinner, drinks, music, dancing and competitions.

 I stood in the food line while Rob went and bought our tickets.  It was a bit of a wait but it was worth it, believe me!  The line went way out into the grassy park but when you got to the door of the clubhouse, it split into two around THE paella pan.  This was a real spectacle.  The paella pan is 7 feet in diameter!  It was full to the top with several meats, seafood, chopped vegetables, rice and spices including saffron. 

God-size paella pan!

After the fellow served the paella onto your plate you moved on to a long line of additional dishes:  goulash, beans, tongue in a wonderful gravy, lamb, tri tip, salad and bread.  There was one whole big table full of glasses of red and white wine and another long table filled with various desserts.  Outside, a beer and booze counter was set up.  If you were to walk away hungry, blame it on yourself!

Salad, bread

Meat casseroles

Desserts

More meat casseroles and beans

 

You carried your plates and drinks to long tables set up in the park and you inevitably met all kinds of new people from everywhere.  Music played, children danced, men did weight lifting performances and then more dancing.  The fellows wear jingle bells on their calves and black or red berets and the women wear aprons over their long pretty skirts and bloomers.   All were decked out in the traditional holiday outfits, even babies.  It was really a happy, gala event. 

Honorary Basque

Dancing

Note the jingle bells on their legs

About 5 layers of clothing.  This lady
said she was roasting!

More dancing by the little ones.

Proud little Basque girl

Ryan Stewart lifting 345 pounds

This fellow achieved his PR today:
315 pounds!  Was he happy!

 

I still have not achieved my goal of acquiring a t-shirt I saw years ago, “Basque lives matter.”

The Basque Clubhouse in Elko

7-4-2025 ELKO, NV PART II

 We drove 10 miles and arrived at the parade route early, at 9:15AM, in time to park conveniently and set up our chairs and cooler.  Then, Rob stopped, grabbed at his pockets and said, “Oh no no!  I forgot my wallet and my money.”  Well, that figures.  For breakfast, he had Cheerios topped with blueberries and milk of amnesia.  He eats that a lot!

 

It rained all night till about 3AM.  I thought for sure if this continues, the parade will be canceled.  But at last it stopped and the sun shone.  Noobee and the Jeepster are a mess.  The parade was the usual festive celebration.  There were a few floats, just two tiny little horses, baton twirlers, fire trucks and emergency vehicles with their sirens blaring, Americana music and thousands of happy patriots.  These are my people! 

Yay!  Happy Birthday, USA!

A Model T pick-up?  Cool!

Maybe they can come over and wash
Noobee & the Jeepster!

Little Republican-in-training!

Awww.... such cute ponies.

Some of the parades have turned into a candy-throwing and super-soaker extravaganza and this one was no exception.  Even the little kids got tired of picking up the candy after a while and we stood way back to protect ourselves and the camera from getting soaked.  Our chairs and my phone were not so lucky but they survived.

 

After the hour-long parade, we decided to spend some time at Muley’s Bar and Grill for snacks and bloody marys.  After all, the Jeep was already parked there.  Decisions, decisions.  The origin of the name is sketchy but there is a full scale mule deer at the entrance and he’s been sitting sentry since the creation of this establishment.  Muley is a colloquial name for a mule deer and wildlife and the great outdoors is the theme here.  The food was marvelous and the staff incredibly polite, friendly and smiley (for having to work on the Fourth of July) but the most fascinating things are on the walls.  Elk heads, deer heads, longhorn sheep, mountain goats and rainbow trout in a creative full-wall sculpture.  Kayla, the new manager, explains that one of their goals is to try to identify each of the animals and, if possible, credit the hunter/donor on plaques for each of the animals.  What a find!

Rainbow trout display

Meet Muley who greets guests.

I have never seen an animal with 
this many points.  What is it?!

Elk

The Basque people date back to the 9^th and 10^th century and come from a region where Spain and France come together.  In the US, they settled mostly in the western states and the total population of Basque folks in the US is 58,000.  Nevada is the third most populous after CA and ID.  The Basque religion, language, food, dress, culture and even their flag are unique trademarks.  Their main occupations are ranching and sheepherding but in addition, their cuisine is extravagant, gourmet and involves a lot of saffron. 

Traditional dance

Pretty Basque lady

Lots of little rascals
in traditional Basque garb
meant for special events.

The ball weighs 250 lb.

The National Basque Festival this Saturday and Sunday is kicked off by a parade through Elko complete with horses, dancing and music.  Events at the festival include dance performances in their native dress, a golf tournament, a handball tournament, weight lifting, wood chopping and a bread baking contest.  Of course, you are familiar with shepherd’s bread.

 

The Star Hotel opened in December, 1910.  It was constructed by Pete Juaregui at a cost of $11,000 with 11 rooms, one bath and wood stoves and was meant to house weary Basque sheepherders through the Winter.  (Where do the sheep go?)  It was expanded to 22 rooms later and it remains that size.  The dining room was and is typically Basque-oriented with long tables that seat as many as 16 people.  There was no menu in the early days, all the shepherds ate what was being served that day, “family-style.”.  Today, all 3 dining rooms were packed.  Our dinner was similar to the days of yore except we did get a menu for our main choice of meat or seafood.  Then, the serving began (10 courses):  A big bowl of soup and warm bread to start followed by a salad.  Next:  Green beans, spicy red beans, garbanzo beans, pasta, french fries and cod (Rob) rainbow trout (Lindy).  Bread pudding was the dessert de jour for Rob.  And no Basque dinner would be complete without a picon cocktail:  Grenadine (lowest layer), picon liqueur (middle layer) and brandy floated on top garnished with a wedge of lemon.  It is not just dinner, it is an adventure and amazing experience in the Basque tradition.

First and second courses

"Picon punch," not for the timid.

One of the 3 dining rooms.

7-3-2025 Elko, NV Part I

 It was a hairy drive to Elko.  The wind was brutal, blowing us into the oncoming lanes a few times, which stops the heart.  But we made it and we are settled down at the Iron Horse RV Resort in Elko.

 Today, we drove out through the countryside to Lamoille.  We remember having been here before but it was a great refresher course!  O’Carroll’s Café was serving lunch on their pretty patio decorated with crystals and hanging flower pots filled with fluffy flowers.  The Ruby Mountains are the backdrop to this little town and at over 11,000 ft. elevation, they are blue and topped with snow.  Just north a bit, the Humboldt Mountains still have their snowy peaks as well.  Why are they called the Ruby Mountains?  The original explorers found red stones in abundance in the area and thought that they were rubies.  They were actually garnets but the name stuck.

O'Carroll's Cafe patio

Sitting on the patio

The Ruby Mountains

The Lamoille Presbyterian Church has history dating back to 1904 when the construction began.  The original cost of the church was $3,899.15.  Over the decades, many upgrades and maintenance projects took place and make the original cost of the church look like a fraction of a down payment.  The stained glass windows, protected against weather and vandals with sheets of Lexan, are assessed today at $142,000.  At one point about 50 years back, the Presbyterian congregation numbered so small and the expense of maintaining the facility became such a stretch that the church was opened for Catholic mass services.  DEI don’tchaknow.  Now the “Little Church of the Crossroads,” is an historic landmark and is said to be the most photographed church in the country.  (I don’t know how they know this.)

Catholic Deer?  
Presbyterian Deer?  He wasn't saying.

Little Church of the Crossroads

The deer herd was just hanging around.
Makes me hungry!

No trip would be complete without a stop in Jiggs, NV, so we were told.  The GPS said, “In 1 mile you will arrive at your destination.”  This was confusing.  There was nothing but fields and brush for as far as we could see.  At last, we approached about 5 buildings, a plaque, a phone booth and a gas pump and found that we had arrived at the metropolis of Jiggs.  “Reliable sources,” say that the population of the town is 5 adults, 4 children and a dog.  It was originally a haven for outlaws, which explains what the plaque says, “The area produced two Nevada governors, a US senator and two murders.”  You decide who the outlaws were.  There is one business that still thrives:  The Jiggs Bar and yes, business is brisk at the bar and the pool table.  Interesting… rustic, remote and, in its own small way, quietly happy.  I only have one question:  Where's Albertson’s?

Jiggs Schoolhouse?  We weren't sure.
No plaque and all closed down.

A real phone booth!
I tried to drop a quarter in
but the slot was jammed.

The Jiggs Community Hall

The one open establishment,
thank you, God!