Road trip around the Owyhee Outback

Connie had Sunday and Monday off this week and wanted to do the Idaho "back Country" road trip. The plan was to take off Sunday morning, go to Silver City, look around, drive on through to Grand View. Then South to Mud Flat Rd. From there on back across the Desert to the only Camp Ground on that section of the Owyhee River and spend the night. Then break camp the next morning, drive on to Jordan Valley and then home.

I had most of my camp stuff gathered up Sat evening. Connie didn't arrive until one AM since she didn't get off work until 10 PM. The next morning we finished up loading the rest of the things that we thought we might need. While I was loading stuff in the truck I noticed a "Bull" Snake had gotten snared in some bird netting that I kept on one of my high shelves. The dogs had been rooting around underneath the shelving two or three days before, but I thought it was for a Rat. Too bad I didn't find him while he was alive.

I had intended to leave Tiger (Karen's Asthmatic Cat) at home, but every time I turned around he was on the Truck or in the truck,

 so we decided to take him along just for grins. I knew that he recognized the Fifth Wheel as his, but didn't know how he was going to handle a tent. No time like the present I guess.

As we started climbing the hill outside of Jordan Valley we began to see Mormon Crickets in the road. I had seen them in earlier years in Idaho on the way to Boise, but never this far west.

The further East we went the thicker they got. The road had been greatly improved since the last time I went to Silver City, and I was very pleased. It was rougher than a cob when John, Karen and I had gone through there on the way to Mt Home Air Base.

The Crickets were so thick that it sounded like I was driving through a bowl of Rice Crispy's cereal. They were every where.

The scenery and the flowers were pretty spectacular. The photo's do not do show either of them as lovely as they were in person. Photo's are nice, but they or at least I, cannot duplicate reality and being there.

We finally arrive and it was tourist city! There was no room to park, people and cars were every where. Connie was oohing and enjoying all of it and I was looking for the exit. Too many years of avoiding as many people in groups as I could to make a complete change in behavior I guess.

There were flowers every where, and so much spring time beauty that I couldn't quit snapping shots of every different flower that I could find.

 These appeared dead, but the little rusty stuff that made it appear dead, was actually the flower. 

Of course all the rock outcroppings merited a picture as well.

 This really tall and straight Aspen caught my eye. A spring in there somewhere.

 Another spring gave birth to this clump of trees on an other wise bare hillside.

 Then we got onto the high Desert with its rock drainage's.

 A ranch house in a lovely little valley.

 More eye catching scenery.

She thought she was hidden, and perhaps might have been from the normal tourist.

 We managed to figure out how to set up this tent that I haven't used for 10 or more years.

 We had the place to ourselves. In fact only one vehicle passed by us in the whole time we were there.

 I just let Tiger out, and he stayed quite close and the best part is that he kept checking in periodically. 

 Brick and Josie found a rock that apparently hid some sort of rodent. During the time that we were there they pretty well excavated the rock as well as mashed down all the grass for a 10 foot circle around it. A real good baby sitter.

 Tiger in the mean time practiced his stalking skills.

 The rock cliff that bordered the river was both beautiful and interesting.

 I called this rock- Mario Brother.

 Then the Moon began to rise over the horizon.

I had a hard time keeping Brick off Connie. He seems to think that she is his personal petting person.

 This is looking back down to the campground as we left.

 The Canyon has carved its way through the hillside.

 This was an interesting formation. If I remember correctly Connie said that the molten rock was spewed out into some kind of moisture, either water or snow, causing it to solidify in this manner.

 Our next stop was Jordan Valley for breakfast, and then on home.

The trip covered 270 miles, and was well worth it. The critters were very low worry and maintenance, the scenery was plentiful  and gorgeous. Other than forgetting to bring two frying pans, we had every thing we needed and a great time. We finished tired in body, but rested in our minds.