Sunday, September 10, 2017

Escaping Through Idaho

September 2-7, 2017
Kooskia, Cascade, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, ID

In early June we had reservations through September 12. It made for a stress-free summer in beautiful places.

Leaving Lewiston, Idaho, on Saturday I cancel our Montana stops due to current and forecasted smokey skies. We'll finish the holiday weekend in little Kooskia, then head south.

No we won't.

The drive along the Clearwater River is beautiful as long as we look down. The smoke gets worse as we head east.

Heavy smoke, zero cell coverage (even in town), no Internet coverage (even in town), and a very sad RV "park" means we're back on the road Sunday morning.

It's too bad because River Junction RV Park (creative website is not representative of reality) is in a lovely location along the water. The obvious permanent residents are in units that look like they were towed there - or they're living under tarps. The "river access" is non-existent through overgrown brambles and brush. The grounds are dirt and overgrown weeds, no WiFi although it's advertised, and only a couple 50 amp spots. 


Laundry out the bedroom window is a first.

One of several "rustic sites" at this sad little park.
I'm happy to find a vacancy on Sunday at Arrowhead RV Park in Cascade, Idaho. What a difference! Well maintained, and mostly over-nighters. Tent sites are packed but clean and quiet. Our waterfront site has easy access to the river where Bill is able to drop a few hooks. 

The morning's drive is another narrow two-lane highway that follows the Salmon River. We can't wait to come back to this area when it's clear. It is a wild and beautiful place.


A rare travel-day stop for us - along the Salmon River.

Most of the river is rapids (lots of rafting companies along the route), but a few smooth pools are like glass under gray skies.
A unique feature of the RV park is the many hand-carved totem poles throughout. They also give classes on how to carve them!






Cascade is a very small town so we are surprised to find an upscale bistro with outstanding menu. Remington's seats maybe 30 people, but is big on quality and service.


Poke with lots of seared ahi tuna - fabulous!

We really like this piece above our table but have to ask the server what it says....it doesn't. It's the sheet used to cut out the letters from the words out front. The owner liked it as it's own art - so cool!
With lots to see in the area, and a near perfect park, we would stay here a week or more if we had clear skies.

We don't. The smoke gets worse over the two days, and is horribly thick on Tuesday morning when we pull out. 


10 AM sun attempting to light the day.

Low visibility on Interstate 84.
Even more beautiful than the Clearwater and the Salmon, the Payette River follows the highway, with long stretches of roaring rapids, small waterfalls, and scenic boulders.

There is a lot we want to see in Twin Falls, Idaho, so we head there. Instead, we see exactly nothing here. By the time we pull into Twin Falls 93 RV Park I am feeling claustrophobic. At this point I don't care where we go, as long as there's clear skies. I think Nevada looks like our best option, but Wednesday morning the webcams show smoke there as well.

No place in a two-hundred mile radius is outside the smoke cover so I choose a route based on something more fun - meeting up with friends!

Wednesday morning I let Jim and Diana know we'll meet them in Idaho Falls at the Snake River RV Park for the evening. It's the highlight of our time in Idaho!

The park is adequate, and we enjoy catching up with a couple of our favorite people around the picnic table before heading into town for dinner. Afterwards we make a quick stop at the pretty falls that give the city its name. 


Jodee, Bill, Diana and Jim. We sure do like these two!!


When we go to bed the plan is to take off for Dubois, Wyoming, in the morning. We'll see the Tetons and spend some time along the Snake River. But once again, webcams show the smoke has moved that direction ahead of us. Who wants to be "in front of" the Tetons and not be able to see them? And who wants to spend those high park rates if you're not going to enjoy it?

Now what? Montana is seeing some clearing, but the fires are still burning. Utah is our destination in a few weeks, but there are fires near Ogden. At this point it's a roll of the dice, and we finally decide to just turn back south.

We make another single night stop in Pocatello to fill a prescription, and to check out a little brew pub recommended by Ezra's other grandma. Pocatello KOA is a small park with easy access from the highway, and is fine for watching the opening game of the NFL season. The pharmacies don't have what we need in stock, but the pub is a hit :-))


After the GPS leads us on a triple loop tour, we finally find the cute little brewery.

Great label art for their brews.
We have family in Ogden, and friends in Salt Lake City, but the clearest looking skies are in Park City, Utah, and that's where we head on Friday morning. 

Although it is frustrating not finding what we're looking for, it's fun having the freedom to make route decisions day to day. I love it when Labor Day is behind us, and reservations are no longer necessary!

Yes, leaving Idaho we finally escape the smoke :-)))


22 comments:

  1. Here's a great place to camp for $20 a night with electricity a beautiful watefall and not a far ride by toad to Grand Tetons,Brooks Lake and Dubois.
    Falls Campground https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/shoshone/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=36469&actid=29

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    1. Thanks! Sounds lovely, but with our residential fridge, and no solar, we don't dry camp :-) Such a beautiful area!!

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    2. They have electric and water for $20

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    3. https://www.campendium.com/falls-campground

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    4. I see now you said electric - oops!! Looks awesome, thanks!!

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    5. Just checked the link and unfortunately for you and me Falls says max length 32 feet.

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  2. The smoke/heat was a tough trip this summer--I am beyond relieved we are not living in smoke for the last few days.

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    1. It sure impacted a lot of us - mobile and not. Looking forward to a clear and mild Fall!

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  3. We've been in RV parks that are very different than advertised with people living in their parks. It's a big turnoff especially when stuff is stacked all around.

    Love the totem poles

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    1. Our experience with permanent residents has been mostly positive with folks taking pride in their homes, and being very friendly to their mobile neighbors. Wasn't the case with that one in Kooskia :-( The totems are great fun!

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  4. So glad we were able to meet up with you in Idaho Falls, Jodee and Bill! It is so good to finally be out of the smoke!

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    1. Us too! We always have such a good time with you two :-)))) I really do feel like we're "back on track" now that the smoke is behind us.

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  5. It is nice to have everyone back to school and work!! It does make short plans much easier:) How sweet that you were able to detour and meet up with Diana and Jim! It is a small world...we also stopped at the Portneuf Valley Brewery!! We spent the night at the fairgrounds in Pocatello and were the only one's there! Glad you are finally out of the smoke! It did get to be overwhelming.

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    1. Too funny - it's not the easiest little place to find!! We really want to go back and enjoy Idaho. Such a pretty state with lots to see and do, and we couldn't wait to get away from it this time :-(

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  6. I am so sorry to hear you are still being engulfed by smoke. That spot along the Salmon River looks fantastic. An RV park with totem poles and classes, you do find the coolest things. Love the presentation of the Poke. Sounds delicious. Love the sign over your table and its story. What a great spot to eat. Hope you give it up and just head for clear skies. So sad, so many fires in so many places. I don’t do much Facebook but the list by Diane Elizabeth Platz is really sobering.

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    1. We've been so lucky to avoid weather issues, but that smoke was horrible. Not being able to get out of it for so many miles made me crazy.

      Fortunately we found lovely blue skies and fresh breezes here in Utah. Hopefully I'll do less whining moving forward :-))))

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  7. Such a shame that so much of the NW is burning and smokey. Yet it is nice to be able to move. Glad you've found your way to clear skies.

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    1. I don't even want to think about what the Northwest looks like after the loss of millions of trees and habitat. So sad. Thank goodness we our house is on wheels!

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  8. Love that photo of your rig along the Salmon River! Even though you make the best of wherever you are, you guys have really been through hell with the smoke this summer. So glad to hear you've finally left it behind. We loved Park City -- if you're still there, the High West Distillery has the most amazing Campfire Whiskey (and I'm not even a whiskey drinker!) and wonderful food.

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    1. I'm trying to make more stops on travel days and that one was really pretty. We loved Park City and will have to try the distillery next time. I enjoy good whiskey so I'm sorry we missed it this stop! Hope you've stayed out of the smoke too!

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  9. Yes, you'll definitely have to go back to Idaho one day. It's a gorgeous state. When we were there last summer we really didn't want to go home! We were there just as our S & B house was put up on the market. I like the totem poles too :-) Glad you're smoke free for now!!

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    1. Every day we were in Idaho we knew we had to come back so see it under clear skies. The rivers are beautiful.

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