Craters of the Moon

Two days in a row! We are updating in real time now, making rapid changes to the itinerary... Tuesday we drove all the ding-dong-day to Brigham City, Utah, and then yesterday drove the final three hours to Arco, Idaho and Craters of the Moon National Monument. Since we got there so early, we crammed two days into one, and are now on the road to Great Falls, MT. It's a full day's drive, so tomorrow morning we will do some stuff in Great Falls and then head home again to St. Mary, Montana, the eastern side of Glacier National Park.

Last year, when we split the team into band nerds and those still on vacation, Mom, Dad, Lizzie, and Izzie visited Craters of the Moon here in southern Idaho. It was the first visit for the Gowboys. Definitely worth a visit, and a solid park as far as volcanoes go.

Gabe braves the wind on the cinder cone 

Volcano on the horizon

Now that's a good looking young couple

Got to see massive lava flows (don't worry, they are not currently flowing); run-gasp-walk-gasp-slog-gasp-crawl up to the top of the cinder cone where the wind was blowing 60 to 70 mph and play human kite; hike through a barren-yet-lovely landscape; and crawl down into and go exploring (without a guide! unsupervised!) in the cave system of a lava tube. Best moment: As 6 of the 7 of us (not saying who chickened out) go into the super-dark cave with ONE flashlight (you're welcome), Kieran sneaks up behind his Yaya and begins tickling the back of her neck. Hilarity ensued.

Wind from behind

And wind from the front!

Bit of pumice with mica (or iron pyrite)

As he emerges majestically from the cave

Izzie receiving her Lunar Ranger badge. She chose the NPS Ranger hat over the astronaut's helmet

At Craters of the Moon there is a huge emphasis on 1) the similarity to Hawai'ian volcanoes, because there is photographic and video evidence of actual eruptions, and 2) the relationship the park has with NASA and space exploration. I am fairly convinced that this is where they faked the moon landing. In fact, Iz didn't complete the Junior Ranger program, she completed the Lunar Ranger program.

BTW, dinner last night was awesome, with the house specialty: smoked baked potatoes. If you have a smoker, you have to try it.

'Murica

Currently we are on our way from Craters of the Moon to I-15 north. We are driving under a blue sky, past flat, green farms with tractors and haybales, with majestic mountains sitting just behind them. And we are listening to Aaron Copland. All that's missing from this scene is a bald eagle reciting the Gettsyburg Address. 'Murica.

We'll see you soon, from Glacier National Park.