Clyde Holliday State Park; Mt. Vernon, Oregon

Good morning, my friends. Well, it's good to be back on our home turf. One more day of driving today, and we'll be back at the Three Cats Ranch. We're both hoping the place isn't in too much of a shambles when we get there. We're expecting weeds galore, and possibly grass up to our knees. Whatever we find, it'll be good to be home.

We got on the road early yesterday, but there was time to do a little slow-stitching.

You'll be happy to know I used the last of that magic floss ball I was working with. When it gets to the center, it's hard to keep it untangled. I stitched almost four whole blocks with a single ball of Valdani floss.

Heading out of Twin Falls yesterday, we passed by this structure for the third time. It was only the first time I had the camera ready for a picture. What do you think this is? An old schoolhouse perhaps?

I inquired of The Google to see if it could tell me anything, but I came up empty. It's a rare day when The Google doesn't know the answer to my question.

In my searching, I learned about the "twin" part of Twin Falls, Idaho. As it turns out, there is another waterfall on the north side of town, known as the Perrine Coulee Falls. We didn't visit this waterfall, but I found this picture online.

(Image credit: "Perrine Coulee: Fall" by Ben L Keith is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.)

 

Also of interest about Twin Falls is that it gained national attention when daredevil Evel Knievel attempted to jump across the canyon in 1974 on a steam-powered rocket. The jump failed due to a parachute malfunction, but Knievel survived with minor injuries. The launch site location lies northeast of central Twin Falls, midway between Shoshone Falls and the Perrine Bridge, and it is still visible.

About half of our drive was along I-84, which is the same interstate that takes us through the Columbia Gorge. (We're not going that way, however.) We crossed over the Snake River at least twice, and sometimes we drove alongside it.

We passed by the turn-off for Glenns Ferry, Idaho.

Glenns Ferry was one of the most famous and treacherous river crossings on the Oregon Trail. Pioneers forded the Snake River at the Three Island Crossing until 1869, when Gustavus "Gus" Glenn constructed a ferry about two miles upstream, primarily to expedite freight but also for emigrants. His boat, which could hold two wagons, cut nearly twenty miles from the former route.

Continuing on...we saw barns and other rustic structures all along our way.

We passed through the community of Mountain Home, Idaho. Mountain Home was originally a post office at Rattlesnake Station, a stagecoach stop on the Overland Stage Line, about seven miles (11 km) east of the city. With the addition of the Oregon Short Line Railroad in 1883, the post office was moved downhill and west to the city's present site.

On the list of notable people was Richard McKenna, a novelist, who is best known for his historical novel, The Sand Pebbles. The Sand Pebbles was made into a movie in 1966, starring Steve McQueen. It received 8 Oscar nominations, including one for best actor, McQueen's only Oscar nomination.

Moving on, we passed through the state capital of Boise. I tried getting a picture of the Capitol, but it was far off the road, and this was the best I could do. 

Here's a better picture I found online.

(Image credit: "Idaho State Capitol w Flags Boise" 

by Boise Metro Chamber is licensed under CC BY 2.0.)

This list of notable people from Boise includes actor Aaron Paul. You might remember him in his role as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad. Also, Joe and Kathryn Albertson of Alberson's supermarket fame, actress Maureen O'Hara, musician Paul Revere (date yourself by remembering Paul Revere and the Raiders).

Just past Boise, we passed through the town of Meridian. We, in the northwest, are grateful to native son Wilbert Lee Gore, who created Gore-Tex. When you live with rain, you love Gore-Tex.

This whole area of Idaho is a special place to me from when I was growing up. My military family was always on the move, but my mom and dad were both from this area of Idaho. Most of our extended family lived in the area. I had both maternal and and paternal grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins living in the area. It was always a treat when we could route ourselves through the area and visit with them. My uncle was the principal of Borah High School in Boise, and I still have a few cousins there. Most of my family has either passed away or moved elsewhere.

Just down the road from Boise is Nampa, Idaho. My paternal grandparents lived there, and I loved visiting Nampa to see them. 

The name "Nampa" may have come from a Shoshone word meaning either 'moccasin' or 'footprint'. 

It also happens to be the birthplace of former Portland, Oregon, mayor Bud Clark. Bud Clark was quite a character. He's probably best known for this poster:

(Image credit: Credit: Archives and Records Management, City of Portland, Oregon: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/archives/article/304219 | The photo was taken by Mike Ryerson in 1978. Ryerson later sold rights to the poster to Mike Beard, owner of Errol Graphics.)

In the "Expose Yourself to Art" poster, Clark appeared to be wearing only a raincoat, but it was later revealed that he was wearing shorts and a T-shirt under his raincoat. The photo was taken by Mike Ryerson in 1978, then a staff member of The Northwest Neighbor. Ryerson and Clark originally intended to create a poster for the Venereal Disease Action Council until a reader submitted the caption "expose yourself to art." With $500 (equivalent to $2,300 in 2023), Ryerson printed 800 posters, which he sold for one dollar each (equivalent to $4.67 in 2023) from a booth at Waterfront Park. By 1984, the year Clark was elected mayor, Ryerson had sold more than 250,000 posters, with profits supporting The Northwest Neighbor.

Here's another picture of Bud Clark during his time as mayor. I have no idea whether he was a good mayor or not. We never lived within the City of Portland, and so his time as mayor had virtually no effect on my life. In any case, he was a popular figure in Portland. It would have been hard not to like him. As mayor, he was recognized for his eccentricities. He commuted to work by bicycle, and was known for his cry of "Whoop, Whoop!" His distinctive style led to an appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in October 1984.

(Image credit: By Steve Morgan, 

CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11185621

Okay and about an hour down the road, we crossed the Snake River for the last time.

Can I get a HALLALUJAH!!

We've passed through this area many times. I think this art on the freeway overpass might be new.

Oregon has its own share of rustic barns and other structures.

Heading down the road, eventually we began to see mountains in the distance.

And more abandoned homesteads.

And more barns.

Little by little, the mountains grew nearer.

Until we rounded a bend and there it is: Oregon, our beautiful home state. This is a part of the Strawberry Range.

We passed by a few more barns before reaching our final destination.

We drove alongside the John Day River, crossing over at least once.

Until we reached this nice Oregon State Park. We've stayed here once before.

Smitty seemed to recognize the place. He insisted on getting outside right away, where he flopped on the ground and took a luxurious dust bath.

And then he had some of this delicious Oregon grass. It's good to taste the green, green grass of home.

Sadie was content to snuggle up in her catio, putting out the do not disturb sign.

There are a few blooming things in the park. This are our state flower, Oregon Grape. The green berries there will open up into yellow flowers, and eventually, they will form purple berries.

My phone tells me this is Shrubby Cinquefoil.

And there are a few bearded iris still blooming in a bloomed out bed to the side of where we're parked.

So, I'm writing fast this morning. We have a long drive ahead, but I'm sure it will seem shorter knowing that home awaits us at the other end. It's time for breakfast, and then we'll be on our way.