September 29, 2010  Day 113

Two days ago I wrote a long blog about our trip across the High Desert, and before I could post it, the internet kicked me off.  This is one of the most discouraging issues on this trip.  I have lost several blogs, answers to e-mails, journal entries, etc., because somehow, I get kicked off.

This internet, in Mountain View RV Park, Arco, Idaho, is unsecured.  I am at the mercy of the number of people in this park who want to use the internet the same time I do.  In some cases, people upload many pictures, or stream videos, which makes it hard for the rest of us to even read e-mails.

OK, enough complaining:  We traveled most of today, also across the High Desert, three days, altogether.  At first it was fascinating; then it became long and boring.  Finally, I began to think about those pioneers who braved the elements to travel across this same High Desert in wagon trains, taking far longer than 3 days, and with no creature comforts, often not enough food, and too often massacres on the way.

The most interesting part of today's drive was the Craters of the Moon National Monument.  It is several hundred acres of weird, spooky, and utterly fascinating landscape created from lava flows a few hundred years ago.  I was driving, but Dave got some pictures.  I am not going to try to share them, as I don't want to lose this blog!

Yesterday and the day before, we were camped in a beautiful spot on the Snake River in Eastern Oregon.  The hills were barren, as all across the desert, but the riverside was lush and green.  It was a restful two days.

Tomorrow we leave for Grand Teton National Park.  I hope to write again from there.