Awoke in Salmon, ID, not fifty yards from the swift-flowing Salmon River (in Lewis and Clark's day, were there salmon in this river???? Something to ask Siri later)....broke camp thinking we'd stop at the Saveway (yes, with a "v") grocery store on our way south, but it was closed (Sunday - some traditions die hard).....had lunch in a lovely little park in Arco where Molly could run herself ragged...sunny weather, so our plan to try to avoid the strong Pacific storm has succeeded, so far....
Pulled into Crater of the Moon National Monument - we'd driven past this desolate place in 1978 when we were out west for a winter visiting various ski resorts...but it is a wonderful spot to stop, and learn about volcanic activity here in the west (some as recent as two thousand years ago).....took a couple of nice but short interpretive hikes (Molly violating both the leash rule and and the one banning her hiking with us)....there is no grass here, only lava and eroded lava (cinder-like), but she eventually figured out it was ok to use that type of natural surface for her business....
Dinner was Osso Buco, potato gratin and green beans - really delicious! Dinner is a great time here on toutou, with jazz, candlelight (ok, electric candlelight for safety), good food and wine, and lively discussion about the day's events - both from here on the road, as well as events of more import like elections.....Amy does the clean-up while Molly and I relax, then we all go for a nightly walk, taking the garbage out along the way....before turning out the lights for the night (around 9:30 or 10), there is a little internet surfing (if we have service), or bedtime reading (which I did tonight, as we have no service here in the park)....reading a biography of John Wesley Powell. The 30 mph winds (associated with the storm, I guess) gently rocked our home, and us, to sleep....
Speaking of reading, since we drive a few hours each day, Amy has developed a liking, and a real skill, of reading a book out loud. The Big Sky is the book of the trip, and the action takes place in Wyoming, and, largely, Montana. It's a wonderful story of the days when trappers and explorers and mountain men and native Americans criss-crossed this great part of our country...it's always fun to come across a passage in the book that takes place where we are at the moment, or perhaps have been recently....
On to Salt Lake City in the morning - and civilization! Amy needs to replace her iPhone, we need provisions, and to do laundry...hope to visit the Temple and Tabernacle, as well, which I remember as being majestic....oh, and we have a rezzy at a nice Italian restaurant Monday night! After that, we plan to head to Canyonlands and Arches NPs, then, eventually, home next Sunday....
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