Two in the Far North by Margaret E. Murie
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Yesterday on the way here I stopped at Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming, and the Oregon/California Trail Center and Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho. I was one of five people at Fossil Butte, including the Park Ranger. There wasn't exactly much to see. It is possibly the most barren national attraction I've ever been to.
The Oregon Trail Center seemed to be cool, but I didn't have time to do the one-hour tour with the wagon master simulating a pioneer trek along the Oregon Trail. If I had known, I probably would have skipped Fossil Butte and spent more time there. They had a cool gift shop, which still made the stop worthwhile. Retail therapy can make anything worthwhile.
Craters of the Moon was unique and fitting with the rest of the desolate landscape I spent the day passing through. I managed to squeeze one more use out of my annual National Parks Pass, which technically expired last week.
I am now in a Forest Service campground north of Sun Valley. I was delighted to show up without a reservation and find a great big pull-through spot in the shade with lots of trees. Unfortunately, Idaho is under severe fire risk and no campfires or charcoal grilling is allowed. I knew I should have brought our portable gas grill. So far that is the only thing I seem to have forgot.
Other than at the gas station yesterday, I haven't had to back up the trailer yet. I did have one close call in town yesterday attempting to do a sharp u-turn, but I made it out of that without causing any traffic jams. Here I will spend the week while working from a variety of coffee shops (right now I am at Tully's) and hanging out with Kelly who is the her final days of singledom.

L-R: This is about what all of Fossil Butte looks like. Craters of the Moon has cool rocks and not much else, but I still really liked it.

Comments
I used to follow Brian and Leigh (and Curtis) from time to time with the original Flying Cloud. I really like the new style of the blog and you take fantastic photos.
It must be wonderful to have a job that you can do "on the road" and travel from time-to-time.
I just returned from my "summer sojourn" of a two month trip in my Toyota Sunrader visiting Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Idaho. I work for a school district and am "back in the saddle," so to speak.
Are you glad you bought the "Flying Cloud?" I love the old Airstreams and felt a little sad when it went to you! However, the time isn't right and my "paid for" RV is just fine for the amount I travel.
Best wishes and stay safe on the road...
Posted by: Desert Diva | August 13, 2007 11:09 PM
Thanks for the note and glad you like the blog. I checked out your journey and it looks fabulous... Yes, we have a flickr account but nothing blog-related on it right now, we just haven't got around to working on that yet. My friend Kelly who I'm visiting is also a teacher and heading back to school next week; I think she should take to the road next summer as well!
Posted by: Lynn | August 14, 2007 02:09 PM