Blissful

Oh the many things I’ve seen and it’s only my first day! I was able to tear myself away from my adorable nieces and nephew about 11am this morning. And I have to admit it was with damp eyes that I pulled away.

So I was off across the desert of Idaho. Now some may think that this would be a boring drive, but I love to watch the colors and contrasts across the hills. I attempted a few pictures, but the skies were very hazy today. I am guessing it was farmers burning their fields. One of the most interesting things I spotted were the space-age windmills that were atop high hills every once in awhile like white sentinels ticking off the time.

Once I reached my half way mark for the day I started seeing the potato trucks… ah the memories … picking potatoes, gleaning potatoes… I think I even drove a car for the first time in a potato field. So I called my mom to reminisce of the good ol’ days in the fields.

I had finished my 16oz Americano with cream and two packs of raw sugar (not Kaladi’s coffee but it was fair) and was anxiously awaiting the next sign for a rest area when I spotted a sign for Bliss, Idaho… what a great name for a town. About that time I thought it would be Bliss-ful to have a rest area in Bliss. Some transportation engineer missed a brilliant opportunity by not putting a rest area in Bliss. I found a public restroom in Glens Ferry… not nearly so interesting. Although I have a faint memory of learning something about Glenns Ferry in my 4th grade Idaho unit.

My photography goal for today was to get to Mesa Falls before sunset. I made it with about 30 minutes to spare. I remember why this was such a favorite place for me to escape to when I was in high school. Although they have made board walks and won’t let you climb around on the rocks anymore… that was a bummer. But I did capture a few good shots. I raced around with my tripod and shoulder bag of lenses trying to get as much as possible while I still had light. It was good to get out of the car and be in the mountains. I wish I could say that I was able to spend significant time at Mesa Falls, but it was less than an hour. Then I had to zoom off because it was going to get really dark and I had at least an hour to drive.

I am now sitting in my Best Western room that I splurged on because it had free wireless internet so I could post on my blog. So having eaten an eclectic meal from my cooler and food stash, I am headed to take a bath and settle in for the night. My plan is to be up before sunrise to go over the Teton Pass and take pictures in the morning light.