We are hurrying to get some projects done this spring and summer and one of those was doing a makeover for our dining room. We painted the main wall 'Adventure Orange' and it looks wonderful.
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| From 06172010 |
Also painted under the bar a beautiful terra cotta color and added two barstools
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| From 06172010 |
With the movement of the table, addition of a bakers rack and replacement of the monster light fixture, it looks like a brand new room and has opened up so much space. To finish it off our friend Lisa taught Jordan and I how to cover our light fixtures with beautiful cloth patterns. So now we're doing all the light fixtures in the house.
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| From 06172010 |
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| From 06172010 |
Cobi and I needed some much deserved alone time so we headed out this past weekend camping without the kid or any dogs. It was super fun to spend time chatting and laughing as well as exploring a part of Idaho we had not spent time in. We drove up past Anderson Ranch Dam to see how many hot springs we could find.
On the drive we saw antelope and many, many deer along with hawks, osprey and a pair of sandhill cranes with two babies.
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
When we pulled to a stop to get some pictures the parents laid in the grass and could hardly be seen but the little ones were oblivious- they did run away from us however and made it hard to get good pictures.
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
Continuing along our drive we saw deer and more deer. It was nice to see so many this season after not seeing many last year.
Our first stop was Bridge hot spring. The outflow is very nice but the seasonal pools need to be dug out before I'll get into them.
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
Next we stopped to take a hike at Willow transfer camp to see if we could find Willow hot spring. It turns out that the spring that used to have a good outflow and produce a pool has dried up a bit. There is still a seepage but no pool and the stream has changed route so there is now a ford required. It was interesting to hunt for this one. The area is beautiful and we stopped to catch some pollywogs too.
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
Arriving at our campground we decided to set up camp then head back out adventuring. Pulling in just as the previous tenants were leaving, we got our 'home away from home' all set and jumped back in the truck to find some fun.
This sweet lady was hanging out just across from our camp,
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
Our next stop was a quick glance at a roadside hot spring quagmire, Lightfoot. It wasn't anything you would want to soak in with the tepid temp and all that algea. So on we drove. Next down the long, potholed dirt road was a sweet soak named Pries.
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
it is a sunken wooden box right next to the road. We stopped here to have a snack and soak some kinks out of our legs. it was a difficult one to leave but we had more exploring to do.
The last one on our road (we had skipped one to come back to) was Worswick hot springs. This was truly an amazing find simply for the geothermal wonder it presents. The springs gush out of the hillside creating a large ecosystem of wildflowers, natural foods and unique foliage. Among the cascading pools there are a few that are soakable but most had people in them when we visited and we had another hike to get to.
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
while exploring this area we found wild strawberries (which we gladly tasted), wild onion and wild carrots among the multitude of medicinal herbs and wildflowers. While hiking around the hillside we met a couple of soakers, two young girls from Arkansas who were exploring around Idaho. It was neat to find out that one of them was a Couchsurfer! We wished them a great trip and showed them where the strawberries were before heading on our way.
Just as we were leaving we encountered this sweet little guy,
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
Gopher Snake
After all this fun we backtracked to a transfer camp and the trailhead to Skillern hot springs. We hemmed and hawed about the large incoming clouds, the wind, the length of the hike etc. and finally our sense of adventure kicked us in the butt and we set out along the trail. The views paid us back for our efforts immediately:
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
We saw this little guy on our hike up the trail to Skillern:
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
Another snakers- garter?
2.4 miles in we met up with the only other people we saw on the trail on their way back out. They had come to a creek ford and decided not to cross. they asked us if we knew where the hot springs were and we told them no, but that we were going to look for them too. They wished us luck with the crossing and headed out. We came to the creek only to find that there was a huge log across it about ten feet upstream. There was a distinct trail to the crossing so we were confused how the couple could have missed it. Having crossed the stream and hiked another .2 miles though we found the hot spring and were happy for the stream's help in allowing us to have it all to ourselves.
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
This sweet little gem sits above the river on the side of the cliff. It's not the hottest spring, around 99 degrees we read, but it was definitely a very nice soak while out in the wilderness and after that hike. We had a hard time prying ourselves out of the pool but finally did.
After eating some chocolate we headed back out. Encountering some very rude dirt bikes we were bummed but made it out with our spirits sufficiently lifted from the wonderful soak and beautiful scenery.
Back at the transfer camp after a 5 mile hike, we were beat and hungry so headed back to camp to make some dinner. Pulled into Baumgartner campground around 7:30 and were pleasantly surprised that we had no neighbors. :) Built up a fire and opened some champagne to go with our fire cooked brats and blue cheese and chips. Divine~ as we ate a deer wandered through our camp and we felt at peace (and exhausted) as we laughed and watched the stars come out. Time for bed!
We woke up much during the night as our mattress decided to deflate and stay that way. So near dawn we gave up on sleep and headed to Baumgartner Springs. The pool had been drained during the night and was just beginning to fill so while waiting we went on a short nature trail hike near the spring. It was a fun side spurt.
Finally about a foot of water in the bottom of the pool we got into the warm water and were happy for it.
As the pool was almost full, a beautiful young buck in velvet came walking to the edge of the pool, he was so close to us and so curious. Then he went on his way and just as the sun peaked over the hill a few people trickled in. We soaked for a bit longer until a few families arrived and the pool became crowded. So we dried off and dressed, had some snacks at the truck and headed back to camp for breakfast.
Spent the morning sitting around camp reading, making trip notes and napping!
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
The birds in the trees were singing so beautifully and the cool breeze and the warm sun made for perfect napping atmosphere. In the trees were many western tanagers, titmouse, jays and other beautifully singing birds.
After a couple of hours we packed up camp and headed out toward the reservoir. Stopped for a bit and tried some fishing but the wind was blowing pretty hard and it was cold so we decided to find other adventures. Headed out of the mountains and into the dessert. The prairies were in full bloom with daisies and camas.
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
Reminds you of a simpler time and we half expected to see Laura Ingles come bumbling over the hill.
With our afternoon in front of us we took a detour drive down to the Bruneau Sand dunes to see what we could see.
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| From Baumgartner 06122010 |
The dunes were majestic like always but the heat was awesome, the mosquitos formidable and our weariness taking over. On our way home we saw a coyote scaling a hill but couldn't get a picture of it.
As we pulled into town we went out to dinner to finish off our date weekend. Had some huge cheese burgers and drinks at the Ram, mmmhhh (and ran into our friend Andy there as well, I'm sure we looked and smelled wonderful by this point).
Finally arriving home- we unpacked, showered and fell into bed blissfully rejuvenated.
A big thank you shout out to Idaho Hot Springs guy whose site I liked to for each hot springs listing. You can see his main site here: http://www.idahohotsprings.com/index.htm
We hope everyone else is having a great summer as we are. Take care~ CK&J
