Adventure 15: Pocatello, Idaho

A Tight Squeeze for the Night

We left Dillon at nine-thirty under bright blue skies and an outside temperature of twenty-two. Our spirits were as bright as the weather, especially Judy's since she skunked me to win the Dillon cribbage open. (I'm sure she cheated.) We arrived in Pocatello just before 1 P.M. and squeezed into spot eight right between a couple of long-term residents. No matter, we're here for just one night, and we chose to stay in Pocatello so we could go to Mass at St. Joseph's, a classic stone church built around 1890. Pocatello itself is nestled in a natural bowl. Idaho State University, established in 1902, takes up a good portion of the old city. Suburban sprawl has crept up the Western hillside, and the population is large enough to support three high schools.  For the afternoon, we drove up to Lava Hot Springs and relaxed in the mineral baths. A cheap thrill for $10. When we were wrinkled, shriveled, and relaxed, we headed back to Pocatello. We rode for an hour heading South on the old Bannock highway. It was a good stretch of the legs, since the only other exercise we got today was walking around the old town neighborhood near St. Joseph's. It's too far to walk from the RV park, so we'll drive to early Mass tomorrow. We're both eager to get to our next spot (Rockport State Park) because we'll spend two nights there. We've already discovered that we don't care for one night stands, though these last two were necessary to get us out of the freeze, and who wouldn't enjoy a bucolic drive through farm country with the Tetons on one side and the Beaverheads on the other. Snowcapped mountains under blue skies are especially impressive. Most of all, we enjoyed the hot springs. We chose the uncrowded pools right behind the old hotel in Lava Hot Springs. Mostly, it was just Judy, the fall leaves, and myself soaking in the soothing 107 degree water. A scrumptious way to enjoy the good life, especially today.

Frac, the only Airstream in the park, was feeling a little fenced in.

 The frickin' sixty-seven year old stoker ready for action!

 She insisted on getting a photo of her captain.

 The courtyard behind the old hotel in Lava Hot Springs.

 Stop action photography. This wind feature was actually spinning.

 The hottest babe in the tub.

 Way hotter than that tattooed redhead in the background!

 One of several pools. This one was the hottest at about 107 degrees.

 St. Joseph's in its grandeur, though the parish is a shared conglomerate these days, and the school no longer operates.

 See you later, partners.