June 24 - 28 2007 Touring with Andi Wolfe ...

After the Utah woodturning Symposium Gigi, John Wessels and I toured with Andi Wolfe up through Ketchum, Idaho and then across westwards, spending nights in Baker City and the Dalles before reaching Portland for the national AAW Symposium

We dropped off Paul Fennell and Don MacDougal, returned John's rental car and headed northwards to Ketchum, Idaho




Driving north from Provo and Salt Lake City I was taken by a number of wind generators

The landscape here is pretty dry, just like parts of the Karoo in South Africa









The mountains of Idaho loom in the distance













I was taken by the number of large mobile homes on the road, each seemingly towing what another friend of mine refers to as an Urban Assault Vehicle.

The USA is such a large and safe country to roam such rigs make eminent sense







And another one ...













And yet another













Approaching the mountains in Idaho with a little snow still visible even at the hight of summer












Andi preparing to give the keynote address for the American Penstemon Society meeting. Andi presented talks about her work on Penstemon and also a short one on her South African fieldwork on Hyobanche















This is the hotel we stayed in in Ketchum














The next day we drove the circular route through Stanley, Chalis, Arco, Haley and Fairfield

Wonderful scenery










Great travel companions

John Wessels, Andi Wolfe and Gigi Laidler











And John took a picture of the three of us together

Gigi Laidler, Andi Wolfe and yours truly Dennis Laidler









This was an area where wolves had been spotted recently. Unfortunately we did not spot any on that day











Nice clear vegetation zones at different altitudes













John admiring the view












Western Cape Woodturners Association visits Idaho













Galena Lodge













Galena Lodge where we stopped for a walk and to do some birding












I loved the wooden construction and furnishings of this lodge











The horse trail guide's 'cottage'













One thing I really admired was the information signage wherever one traveled in the USA

Also the wonderfully constructed and maintained trails such as the Harriman Trail illustrated here which we walked along a short way









The bridge at Galena where we spotted an American dipper












The biodiversity can't match the Western Cape's fynbos but there is still plenty to admire

















A view across the sun valley road













A lot of the trees are suffering from a disease caused by the Mountain Pine Beetle

















And here is the full explanation on a signboard up at Galena Overlook













The sun deck outside Galena lodge where we had coffee











On the Sun Valley road gaining altitude through the conifer forest zone













The view from Galena Pass looking back down Sun Valley












The Sun Valley road climbing up to Galena Pass












A Wood Central sighting on the top of Galena Pass


















Beautiful scenery














Signage up at Galena Overlook













Galena Overlook












And the view of the Sawtooth mountains down the other side

What a stunning view











Really stunning













Overlook residents



























Sawtooth National Recreation Area













And now we are driving along the bottom of that valley ...











... looking up at the mountains

On the road to Chalis











To quote from Andi's blog,
"Idaho sits atop the edge of a hotspot - the same one that formed Yellowstone National Park. The North American tectonic plate is moving to the west, so the hotspot that forms Yellowstone was once under Idaho and, before that, eastern Oregon. That means that there are a lot of hotsprings all over Idaho and eastern Oregon. The smell of sulfur is thick in the air and the water coming out of the spring is near the boiling point"



Here is the outflow of the pipe that directs the hot water under the road













And here is where the hot water flows into the cold river

Rocks have been arranged to form a nice warm bathing pool








A group of students, fresh from the local hiking trail, enjoying the warm pool













The boiling fountain












The view down river below the hot spring













I climbed up the slope to investigate the source of the hot water


















And here is the source













Further along a lone trout fisherman had this stretch of river all to himself

Can you see him standing just beyond the rock causing the patch of white water














Such a tranquil scene looking downstream


















I was very impressed by all the adopt a highway liter control schemes and how private individuals, businesses and state organisations get involved
















We traveled the Salmon River Scenic Byway to Boise the following day but for now we continued on th Chalis










Driving between Chalis and Arco if I recall correctly













This was the first time I had ever seen geographical features largely caused by glaciation











And then we came across this wonderful earthquake caused scarp

Living in a the very geologically stable area of Southern Africa I found this feature particularly interesting









You can see the scarp running for miles along the base of the mountains












Here it is in close-up












Click on the two pictures to read all about the feature













Really interesting to see the theory in practice












And here the scarp can be seen far into the distance

Click on the picture to see more detail










Before the day ended we stopped at Craters of the Moon

Read all about this interesting place on the link











A dual Wood Central sighting at Craters of the Moon












What a desolate landscape

It was cooling down by late afternoon and the wind was howling










John Wessels, Andi Wolfe and yours truly Dennis Laidler hanging on to our hats and trying to remain upright











A close up of the volcanic rock













Still trying to stay upright for a last look at the unique landscape











On the 26th of June we set off from Ketchum to Portland via the Sawtooth Scenic Byway

We stopped for coffee here at Stanley

This is one of my favourite pictures and memories of the trip and is my current desktop







Stanley is apparently one of the coldest places in the USA but we visited there at the height of summer - beautiful

We were really not missing the Western Cape's cold wet winter at this stage!









Now we are off to Boise via the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway

We stopped at some isolated camp sites along this river

The next four pictures of the river are among my favourite of the trip












This is the scenery of postcards


















One has to pinch ones self to believe that it's real


















Thanks Andi for bringing us along this route instead of along the freeway

I hope that you enjoyed the trip as much as Gigi, John and I did

This is the stuff that real memories are made of!







and real pretty biodiversity 'nogal'













Lucky Peak Reservoir just north of Boise


This place brought back many memories for Andi - see her blog post - I'll place a link to it at the end of this post







We drove through Boise and down the freeway to Baker City where we checked in at the Super 8 Motel

Threw our bags into the room and drove off to do some bird and game spotting









Gigi and John enjoying the tranquil evening

Chimping!

It was wonderful walking along the river not worrying if the vehicle was still going to be there when one got back and not looking over one's shoulder - such an unSouth African experience











Sitting on the rock in the river was where I spotted my first real beaver












June 27 and we left Baker City early in the morning

Near a dam we spotted an Osprey nesting in the top of the tree seemingly unphased by the big trucks passing by














Andi and John checking out the Osprey nest


















And further along another Osprey nesting in an artifiacial nest box at the top of a pole

Nature needs a helping hand especially where forests, their natural nesting areas, are removed















One did not have to go far to see why it was necessary to provide the Ospreys with artificial 'trees' to nest in










Many of the trees on these trucks are Douglas Fir

What we South Africans refer to as Oregon Pine

During this day Andi was trying to find us an example of really old growth (unlogged) forest

No success however










A monument to the Oregon Trail opened by the early pioneers

And the USA even had its 'Voortrekkers'

These were called Conestoga Wagons

This was the only place I noticed bullet holes in the wayside signage about this monument.

I guess that is not entirely limited to South Africa!

















Andi took us to visit the John Day Fossil Beds

Most interesting

Read all about the National Park at the link above








The lookout point had lots of good information














And the view from the lookout point was quite spectacular





















































And there was another very informative information centre













Here is information about the solar power used by the centre












Working in Climate Change I was very interested in that the centre was a partner in the EPA's Green Power Partnership










Information about the other green power alternative used by the centre














There was a spectacular display of local fossils in the centre

I actually need to insert more photos here

Watch this space














Leaving the John Day Fossil Beds there was some spectacular geology that clearly illustrates the series of volcanic flows that repeated covered this landscape in the Northwest USA









The earth clearly tells its own history to those who take the trouble to learn its language and read the storybook of time












The Service Creek Stage Stop at the John Day Resort












Where we had a meal and Andi chatted up the very laid back locals

Another place one could happily retire to!










Then there in the distance is my first real volcano

I believe it is Mt Jefferson











And we traveled northwards towards the Columbia River George












With Mt Jefferson receding behind us













We came across this huge wind farm

Great to see so much green energy

Sad to think about the Western Cape's paltry three or four wind turbines








Click on the picture to see just how many wind turbines just in this one shot

There were many many more than I could capture in these couple of photographs








Another big volcano, Mount Hood I believe, in the Cascades Mountain Range

Click on the picture to get a much better view











Reached the Columbia River and turned left to The Dalles where we were scheduled to spend the night











More of the Columbia River Gorge story














Getting closer to Mount Hood approaching The Dalles where we spent the night











Further westwards along the Columbia River George the following day

Typically of such situations the road and rail running close together alongside the river

Until this point 'Union Pacific' was just something of books and movies






June 28 was our last day traveling between Provo and Portland

First stop of the day was Bonneville Dam on the Columbia river











One off the old turbines













and their story

Click on the pictures to read the interesting information
















































There was a very interesting Visitor Centre

Great staff and most informative

One could have spent much longer here










It is very important for the river ecosystem to have fish ladders at every barrier so that the fish can move up and down stream for breeding
















All the fish are counted by volunteers as they move through the fish ladder

This window is in the public viewing area










The swirls and eddies give the fish a place to rest and oxygenate the water


















John watching the fish












Andi took us along a very scenic route into Portland


















John just getting the right angle












I loved the beautiful old bridges along this route














Horsetail Falls

The scenery and waterfalls were just too beautiful
















Multnomah Falls was one of the key stops













Another beautiful visitor centre at the falls













The Multnomah falls


















The busy railway line passed by the edge of the car park











The lovely old sign on the railway bridge tells you exactly where you are

as yet another train passes by











The wonderful old bridge over the Multnomah Creek below the falls












Click on the picture to read about life in the creek













Friends and a beautiful environment - what more does one need


















We strolled up to the bridge


















On the bridge


















Wahkeena Falls












One could not help stopping at more beautiful streams that crossed the route

















Gigi chilling out


















Andi Wolfe, yours truly Dennis Laidler and Gigi Laidler


















I loved the drive through the forest













This is the view eastwards from Crown Point at the Western entrance to the Columbia Gorge












and the view westwards













I was taken by the words on the pillars inside the Vista House
















Oh so scenic!



















Inside Vista House


















Vista House itself














Memorial plaque for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area











Vista House standing on Crown Point above the Columbia River










I loved the American's appreciation of their natural environments and the efforts they made to inform the public about them and appreciate their value

See Andi's posts of this wonderful trip:
Day 1,
Day 2,
Day 3,
Day 4,