Anniversary Weekend

     Sitting at my computer this fine Easter morning, spring has finally arrived in the mid-elevation range and we have a few sights to prove it, namely -- crocuses and hyacinths blooming in the back, irises poking up under my office window, creeping sedums beginning their crawl and no snow in the driveways!  In fact, we are again driving to the front door on the steep track there, good news for Glenn as he negotiates fewer stairs that way.

     As to my other (note:  didn't say necessarily 'better' but in most ways he is) half.  We had a pleasant weekend trip for our anniversary, although the weather didn't cooperate completey.  In fact, on Friday, April 8 when we left and for much of the morning, it was snowing wet, heavy flakes.  So, we decided to make a few stops en route to our hotel in Mountain Home, Idaho.  The goals of the weekend primarily centered around getting away and out as a bridge between winter and spring; between Glenn's being able to walk and the recovery from his surgery.  Also, we hoped to see a few sights in our new home state that we just hadn't taken the time for before.

     Our leisurely drive Friday included some interesting spots.

(04/08/2011)  During a late-winter snow squall, Glenn stands in the doorway of the guardhouse at the Minidoka Relocation Center where 10,000 Japanese Americans were housed during the hysteria of World War II.  Little remains of the 950 acre campus, but it has been designated a National Historical Monument.  We recalled that as kids we learned about relocation camps in elementary school American history, but standing here made it all the more real and so very sad.

(04/08/2011)  Balanced Rock is somewhat symbolic for Idaho; it's frequently shown in tourist materials and the like.  The drive through the canyon is reach it was interesting as well.

      We also drove through the Thousand Springs area of the Snake River and stopped at the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Park as well as the visitor center there.

      The Hampton Inn where we stayed is a nearly new hotel, a bit more upscale than we normally experience especially when traversing the country between here and the midwest. After a dip in the whirlpool, we sought dinner. Glenn asked if I'd read anything about a local place, which I'd found one online. "The German House" called to us, particularly because we were married in Germantown USA (Frankenmuth, MI) and we were celebrating our anniversary. Dinner was memorable as we were the only people in the entire restaurant except the proprietor, Mrs. Hansen. An official German, she relocated to Idaho after World War II when she married an American GI stationed in Mt. Home. Dinner was excellent and fresh (Glenn saw her pounding the veal for his selection) and she was ever so pleasant.

(Saturday 04/09/2011)  Drive about 18 miles on gravel roads, including a patch traversing a gunnery range for nearby Mountain Home Air Force Base and several miles of open range.  Suddenly, the sign points right, a couple more miles and several more mildly interested cattle and it stops.  A simple sign says "Bruneau Overlook."  At 800 feet deep and 1300 feet wide, it is the deepest gorge in all of Idaho, along the Bruneau River.  Rafting trips are available in the area later in the year, but they generally last 3-5 days and cost over $1,000.



     Saturday we spent the day again just sort of poking around.  We visited the Bruneau Overlook (shown above), Bruneau Dunes State Park for a breezy and cool picnic and a look at the dunes.  Later that evening, we again hit the hot tub, got take out and watched our Michigan Wolverines fall one goal short of an NCAA National Hockey Championship title (robbed they were, a goal having been discounted due to a referee error!)

     Sunday, we again took a leisurely drive back toward Inkom just poking around.  We did pause at Malad State Park to see a gorge there, ate lunch in Twin Falls.

     It wasn't exciting, but it was a nice gentle getaway for the both of us.  Time to relax, reflect, and appreciate some new spots in the Gem State.

     Before hitting our house, though, we did stop by the Jurgens' where we found Miles making tracks.  See below:

(04/10/2011)  During the holiday 2010 trip to Sandpoint, ID the Jurgens and we visited a Goodwill Store during a rainy afternoon.  Josh found the four-wheeler in this picture for $15; all it needed was a new battery.  When we arrived at their house, Miles was "zooming" around the garden spot, up a this ramp and over and being, oh, so proud of himself.  At age 2 years and 7 months, he's already showing signs of being a daredevil!