Sept 16, 2021 - Day Ten-Going to Arco

 

Title: Sept 16, 2021 - Day Ten-Going to Arco
Hike Info : Description

Trail head: Lewis Lake Campground

Hike Info:

Type:Car

 

 

 

  Description:

Today we leave the Grand Teton/Yellowstone area and start our trek westward. The first leg will take us into Idaho. After that, Lawrence will go on back home to the Bay Area while we take Andrea to Bend, OR.

The first thing is to break camp, which should be pretty easy. I got up a bit earlier than the rest. There are some short trails behind the outhouse which I walk. One goes up to the water tank where there is a good view. Andrea and Lawrence take our air mattresses again-so much easier this way. We say goodbye to the Lewis Lake Campground with the teardrop trailer in the lead. This campground is one we will put down to stop again when we come back this way. When we pass by Lewis Lake, Sherri and I stop once again to convince ourselves that there is not really a moose in the lake-it really does look like there is one.

Andrea along the Madison River

Our course takes us past Old Faithful, the Midway Geysers and on to Madison Junction. We stop after turning westward for a few miles along the Madison River. Moving water is always interesting and mesmerizing to look at. This river is no exception. I can understand why a contemplative person is content to sit by water-either swift or still.

Our path leads us out of the park and through West Yellowstone. Here we turn south and follow Highway 20. The scenery changes from mountains to rolling hills and then to land which is farmed. We think it is time for lunch when we come across Harriman State Park in Idaho. Having lunch here is inviting, capped with a sign over a trail saying John Muir Trail. Who would thunk we could walk the JMT in about 20 minutes? (See the Park history for the reason for this trail.) But none of us are interested in paying $7 per vehicle just to have a spot to have lunch. 

 

John Muir Trail in Idaho???

So we drive about 45 minutes longer until we come to Ashton where we spot a shaded city park and have lunch there. Another place to enjoy on our travels. Then we are off. We all need to fill up with gas. Idaho Falls has a Costco, so we stop there. Afterwards we go into the store and buy a couple of bath towels and a few trinkets. Then off again.

We go out of Idaho Falls and catch up with Highway 20 again. I will say this is new territory for me and it seems a bit desolate. But that may be because I do not have eyes to see. Highway 20 joins with 26 Atomic City is close to this route with signs about how this was the site of the first fully atomic powered city. There is some sort of installation which looks a bit forbidding off to the north-I think it is the Idaho National Laboratory-the site of the first nuclear powerhouse. But we do not investigate as we are getting tired.

Andrea finds a KOA in Arco which looks reasonable. We found it. A lot of the campground looks grassy with trees around. But the Boondoggle is where we are. This is not a site particularly well suited for tent camping. Uneven surface, a pretty good wind blowing, and pretty rough looking plants. We set up and are content.

We ordered out at a local diner called Pickle’s Place. We order basic stuff and are pleased with the results. Andrea and I go on and pick up the meal and bring it back to our site. The actual restaurant looks like a place which does not particularly think COVID is too relevant to life here.

The KOA has several things which can be spoken of well: There is a laundry, good showers and pretty decent Wifi, plus a relaxing area with comfortable seats. What more can we ask for? We go back to our campsite and get ready for bed well after dark.