IDAHO - CRATORS OF THE MOON

On our way into Idaho late in the evening after harrowing encounters on a small dirt road we finally found this cute little camp spot. Who needs a bathroom or picnic table when you've got the back seat of a Chevy.




Craters of the Moon National Monument
(despite its fruity name) turned
out to be a totally cool stop. Okay,
it was a hellhole, ..but no horseflies!
















Dangerous playground


















Lava Tube













Max, Minna, Lucie and Roxy got their first taste
of natural hot springs at Wild Rose hot spring near
Craters.















Lucie

Our second hot spring was next to the South ForkPayette River near the Sawtooth Mountains.

WIND RIVER RANGE

New Fork Lake was our camp for four days. We were fortunate to get a spot right on the peninsula that almost divides the lake in two. The breezes kept most of the mosquitoes away but horseflies left many bloody wounds on the kids.

























Sticky geraniums and thistle



Geraniums and sagebrush

SUMMER TRIP - 2ND POST

MINNA WITH FRIEND

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SPOTS WAS A POND WE CALLED, "LITTLE BULLTROUT LAKE" WHERE MAX CAUGHT HIS FIRST TROUT, AND THE GIRLS BOTH CAUGHT THEIR FIRST TOADS 

CAREFULLY TENDING THE SNAILS IN THEIR SNAIL CORRAL (YES, MANY SMALL CREATURES DID GIVE THEIR LIVES TO BRING YOU THESE PHOTO ESSAYS) 

MAX'S FIRST EVER TROUT CAUGHT AT LITTLE BULLTROUT LAKE IN IDAHO 

LUCIE WITH MARIPOSA LILLY 

TROUT (AFTER) 

BROOKINGS, OR - STARFISH HUNT 

BROOKINGS, OR - CANNERY 

BROOKINGS, OR 

LUCIE TRIES A NEW BRAND OF TOOTHPASTE 

WE SPENT THE NIGHT AT A SMALL COUNTY PARK ON THE SMITH RIVER 

NEWBERRY CRATOR, OR - MONICA AND THE KIDS HEAD OUT IN OUR CHEAP ($70) BUT SERVICEABLE INFLATABLES.

LUCIE BRAVELY ENDURES A YELLOW JACKET STING ON THE EYE 

NEWBERRY CRATER, OREGON- A RELATIVELY UNKNOWN NATIONAL MONUMENT WITH CAMPING INSIDE THE CRATER ON THE SHORES OF THE TWO BEAUTIFUL LAKES CONTAINED WITHIN IT. THE SMALL CINDER CONE IN THE BACKGROUND IS ALSO COMPLETELY WITHIN THE CRATER. 

OBSIDIAN CLIFFS AT NEWBERRY CRATER 

WATSON FALLS- LUCIE'S FAVORITE PLACE 

TENT SCENE 

DAD'S WORLD FAMOUS "FOZZY BEAR PANCAKES" (WITH REAL BITS OF WORLD FAMOUS FOZZY BEAR)

WE VISITED CHRISTO'S RELATIVELY UNKNOWN "SLIGHTLY CURVED JETTY" AND MAX WAS INSPIRED TO CREATE HIS OWN MONUMENTAL ARTWORK..."MAN AND SPERMATAZOAN" 

THE AGONY OF SUNSCREEN! 

CRABBING AT COOS BAY- SOME FRIENDS FELT SORRY FOR US AND GAVE US SOME OF THEIR ROCK CRABS