Summer 2010
June 16
The Potato Museum in Idaho, on our way to Craters of the Moon, was a must see (thanks Barbara). And though we only spent 30 minutes wandering the small building, our eyes beheld many a true wonder and we learned a great many things. Idaho provides 30% of the potatoes in the U.S. The world's largest potato weighted 18lbs, 4oz., and the average american eats...142 pounds of potatoes every year. There is a potato song. There was a display of hundreds of potato mashers. There was also framed artwork pieces of Marilyn Monroe in a potato sack mini-dress (see photo).

Craters of the Moon -- black lava rocks. A dark landscape with small bright flowers bursting through the surface. A sharp contrast to the white mountains in the background. We climbed a hill with no markings. A black hill looking slightly similar to freshly tarred pavement, but looser. On closer look, the black rocks had an iridescent gleam...blues, greens, yellows, oranges. I desperately wanted to take one with me. The steep hill, though only .2 miles had us panting midway up. Later, we walked to three lava tubes...Dewdrop Cave, Boyscout Cave and Indian Cave. They had advised that we needed a flashlight if we were going into Boyscout Cave. A quick tip for anyone suffering from claustrophobia...DO NOT GO NEAR THESE CAVES. I am amazed that they let people into these small caverns. You literally have to hobble, crawl, duck, and very cafefully place your feet so as not to slip, and feel your way into a cave. Several times the thought crossed my mind that we must be in the wrong place--no one in their right mind could alow the general public to climb into these tubes/caves without professional gear (i.e. headlamps and climbing shoes would have helped tremendously and a warning to carry everything on your back and to leave your hands free). It was quite exciting (and dark). We had only two flashlights, so Ella led the way, with me right behind her, then Max with another flashlight and Mark. We think we took a wrong turn in Boyscout Cave and so we were unable at any point to stand up--or even come close to standing. But it was pretty cool. The photos taken from Dewdrop and Boyscout didn't come out well, due to the darkness. Indian Cave was much, much larger and had openings through the top which allowed lots of sunlight. This cave, was 30' high, 50' wide and 800' long. Lots of room. The first and second below is of Dewdrop Cave. My flash worked alright there and I was able to capture Mark and Ella checking out the bright lichen on the cave floor. The third and fourth photo of the caves show Ella and Max standing on top of the giant piles of rock indicating a "collapse" in Indian Cave. All in all we loved the dark rocks and mysterious caves.

On to a relaxing nothing kind of day in Boise, ID.