Tarra's Travels: Sightseeing in Idaho and 50th School Reunion

April 11 to Dec. 31, 2021

Springtime in Montana.

Over Memorial Weekend we took a four-day trip to Idaho to see the sights and visit some friends. We drove around the famous mining town of Anaconda, but didn't stop.

Lots of boaters, floaters and fishermen on the rivers.

Our first stop was at Big Hole National Battlefield.

Wildflowers starting to peak out all over.

From this viewpoint we could see teepees set up in the far distance where the battle took place. On the morning of August 9th, 1877, the U.S. 7th Infantry Regiment opened fire on a camp of Nez Perce as the tribe rested near the north fork of the Big Hole River on their long journey to freedom. By the time the fighting was finished, more than 90 Nez Perce and 31 soldiers had perished. It is one stop along the 1,100-mile Nez Perce Trail as they tried to escape to Canada. It was the largest battle fought in the five-month conflict known as the Nez Perce War. The Army was enforcing a national policy of placing all American Indians on reservations to make way for States.

Yankee Fort State Park on the Salmon River Scenic Byway South Hwy. 75.

The scenery was absolutely gorgeous.

Everything was so green.

Next we stopped at the Craters of the Moon National Monument on the Snake River Plain. Beginning several million years ago, deep fissures opened up and periodically oozed flows of lava that spread across the plain. The activity culminated here along the 52-mile-long Great Rift when flowing lava and more explosive lava created this scene about 2,000 years ago. Beginning in the 1850s, armed skirmishes broke out between Shoshone Indians and emigrants traveling by wagon train to the west. Many pioneers tried new paths through Idaho that would avoid the Snake River, where they were most vulnerable to attack. Most travelers chose Goodale's Cutoff, named for Tim Goodale, an early guide on the route. In this area the route ran along the base of the Pioneer Mountains. They funneled through a narrow passageway between treacherous lava flows and steep mountains. Many times, they would expect to see their wagons smashed, but most passed through unharmed.

There are several 1 to 2.5-mile trails throughout the park. All concrete, fully handicap accessible with signs everywhere to stay on the trail, warning how fragile the volcanic rock is.

Yet, what do people let their children do? And even Dad joins them climbing on the rocks! Can't read? Bad parenting, disgraceful, disrespectful. etc. Oh well, moving on.

Yous truly, standing on the trail.

The Eastern Snake River Aquifer contains up to one billion acre-feet of water and is one of the largest and most productive aquifers in the world. Expansive fields of potatoes, beets, wheat, barley, beans and peas rely on it. It's also the sole source of drinking water for over 300,000 residents of southern Idaho.

At least 11 species of bats thrive here. Four species migrate through the monument and several others hibernate in the area's hundreds of caves. It is home to three of four known maternity colonies of Townsend big-eared bats in Idaho.

John declined to hike up this cinder hill with me.

From the top, I could not see over the slope to see the parking lot below, but what a view!

A narrow, but lengthy corridor passing through Craters of the Moon links the pronghorn between their summer and winter ranges. They are the fastest land mammals in the western hemisphere, but they are rather poor jumpers and need barrier-free habitat to survive. To ease their passage the National Park Service is removing or modifying fences and working with park neighbors to do the same.

Next we checked into our hotel in Ketchum, Idaho, just a few miles south of Sun Valley. This bench was at the end of the hallway by our room. No doubt we are in ski country now. Makes me a bit nostalgic for the fun ski trips of years past, but I'm afraid my skiing days are over. Besides, I can't even stand the thought of cold weather anymore. The winters south have really spoiled me. I did enjoy the use of the hot tub a couple times while John caught up his zzzzs.

This nice little museum was just kitty corner across the street from our hotel, so we had to check it out.

They had a huge collection of past national election campaign doodads and buttons.

Teddy Roosevelt campaign buttons.

No third term for Franklin! Imagine how they must have felt when he won his 4th term. I think we can all relate to their pain today, no matter which side you are for--4 terms!? Egads!

And I thought matches were always free with your cigarettes, but what would I know? I never bought cigarettes.

An old poker slot machine from back when you could actually see that you won and understand why.

The way they used to listen to music kids--played on little cylinders. This was even before my time, might have even been before my folk's time.

1888 wedding suit tailored in London and 1888 wedding dress. Queen Victoria started the white wedding dress fashion in 1840, but I guess it hadn't caught on yet out here in the wilderness.

Hilary has a highchair almost identical to this that belonged to John's mother, born in 1916. I'm not sure if it was new then or not. I remember seeing a similar one in the Eisenhower Presidential Museum in Abilene.

Buffalo horn chair made by a man in 1868 as he was coming across the plains from Indiana to Idaho.

Concertina used in 1837.

This golden eagle was captured by a man who was moving sheep from a camp to a ranch. While working, he spotted the eagle devouring a dead ewe. Eagles will commonly consume double their body weight, impairing their flight skills. Seizing the opportunity, he threw a blanket over it, and it sat in the local doctor's waiting room for many years.

This hospital bed was used by the Naval Convalescent Hospital that existed on the third floor of the Sun Valley Lodge from 1942 to 1946. The hospital's primary purpose was for the sailors to come and recuperate after suffering wounds during WWII. Soldiers and sailors suffering from fatigue or in need of psychiatric help were sent from the San Francisco Bay area to Sun Valley to rest. The hospital grew to 900 beds. At the foot of the bed is a baby incubator.

Official women's uniform of the U.S. 1948 Winter Olympics team worn by Jeanette Winn at St. Moritz, Switzerland. At 19 years old she was the youngest member of the team and the only one from Idaho. She was a slalom skier and the Olympic tryouts were held at Sun Valley in March 1947.

1929 Model A Ford Roadster. On the wall on the left side is a bull horn mirror that was used as a hat rack in a local bar.

1906 bike gear runabout, aka piano box buggy, aka doctor's buggy, $25.00 to $40.00.

Ernest Hemingway's home in Sun Valley in the distance.

Memorial to Hemingway overlooking the valley.

We hiked down the hill, but you can't get close to his house. It is on the other side of this very pretty golf course.

Back at the parking area we have a great view of some of the ski runs.

Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church with beautiful apple trees blooming all around it.

Ernest Hemingway's grave and his wife's and son's.

I thought this was a rather unique grave marker.

Special area for some of the locally famous dignitaries.

What do you do with an overabundance of old skis?

They make great fences.

This unusual sculpture was next to a downtown corner lot in Sun Valley that was for sale for $2.5 million. The price has probably only gone up since then. Boise has some of the highest priced real estate in the country.

Despos Mexican is where we had lunch in Sun Valley. It was very good, and the prices were surprisingly reasonable.

Sights downtown.

Sun Valley Visitor Center sided with log ends.

Our third and fourth days we spent with our friends in Boise. Thank you again Jim and Claudia for your gracious hospitality.

We walked from their home along the Boise River Greenbelt (25-mile park along the river) to the downtown area where we explored this huge Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial. I couldn't begin to get all of it even in three pictures.

There were many, many quotes like this on the walls.

"We must remind ourselves that the Holocaust was not six million. It was one, plus one, plus one..."

by Judith Miller, Journalist

Then we walked past the Boise Art Museum and ....

the rose gardens to the ....

Idaho Historical Museum (all in the 90-acre Julia Davis Park) where we spent the afternoon. Prospector Noah Kellogg discovered a rich lead outcrop in 1885. He named his claim Bunker Hill and it became one of the world's largest mining operations. By 1980, it produced 15% of America's silver and zinc and 17% of its lead. The world's largest lead smelter operated here. For almost 100 years Bunker Hill and Kellogg were at the center of the Idaho economy. The Silver Valley is mining on a grand scale. Prospectors did discover gold here in the 1880s, but silver transformed this region of self-employed miners into one of workers hired by huge corporations. The area continues to yield minerals of great value. The Silver Valley claims the Sunshine Mine, the nation's richest silver mine, the Lucky Friday, the deepest lead/zinc mine in the country, and Bunker Hill, the biggest lead/zinc mine in the United States, with more than 150 miles of underground workings. Hecla Mining Company, one of North America's oldest precious metal firms, was founded here in 1891.

Sacajawea, a Lemhi Shoshone woman, was born near modern-day Salmon, Idaho. As a child, Hidatsa warriors captured her and took her east to South Dakota. After fur trapper Toussaint Charbonneau won her in a game, they were married. Her knowledge of the land and language would prove beneficial to Lewis and Clark. When Charbonneau was hired as interpreter, they advised him to bring Sacajawea along and their two-month-old son, Jean Baptiste (Pomp).

Intricately beaded medallion with glass and pure gold beads on smoked deer hide.

This 1857 desk and chair sat in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 3, 1863 during the vote to make Idaho a territory. President Lincoln signed the bill the next day.

A Twin Falls farmer used this hand cornhusker from 1904 to 1950.

E-Z Way potato picking belt. It may not be perfect, but I sure am glad I live in this time period rather than any of the past times.

This lady is a friend of our friends and we got to meet her, as we ran into her when we were walking along the river path.

Back in Helena with the grandkids.

Grandma Clem came with Dawn in mid-June for a visit.

The kids were excited to see them both.

We got to see a few of Dallas's baseball games while they were here.

We all went on the Gates of the Mountain boat tour.

Memorial to the 16 men who lost their lives fighting the Mann Gulch Fire in 1949.

Another day we took the Last Chance Tour Train around Helena. It is a narrated tour and they have two small trains like this. They leave from the Montana History Museum near the Capitol.

Benny and Great Grandma Clem enjoying the train ride.

This sculpture is in front of the Montana History Museum which has been undergoing a huge expansion the last few years. I can't wait to tour it again.

There were three of these huge wasps on a tree in the yard one day. They appeared to be laying eggs through their four-inch-long tails and were completely unconcerned that we were all there within a foot of them taking pictures. They were there for a long time. We got tired of watching and came back later and they were still there.

The parade at my all-school reunion July 16th.

This year was my 50th High School Reunion and the first one I ever attended.

Just over half of my class was there. As far as I know, we have only lost one and that was shortly after graduation in a scuba diving accident.

Thank you to Curt for hosting our class party and to Mark for providing this nifty trailer for us to ride in the parade. It was really great to see you all after so many years.

This is John's "boy is this a fun banquet" expression. Thank you, Harlan, for catching this great shot.

Also, thank you to my old friend and neighbor, Mary Jane, for bringing this picture of us. I guess this was about 1960.

And for this picture of the main street of our hometown around 1950s, I'm guessing. DeLamere had a high population of 220 in 1930, about 85 when I grew up there and currently has about 30 residents. But it was recently voted North Dakota Town of the Year, due mostly to a cute little schoolhouse they moved into town and made into a bar that has become very popular in the area.

From my reunion, we scooted on down to Iowa to catch up with friends and relatives.

We set up camp at a good friend's cabin near John's hometown of Greenfield.

Very scenic with the rolling hills, moon over the pond and all the wind turbines lit up at night.

Thank you, Bruce and Gerry, for letting us stay and thank you also to Craig and Terri for hosting a get together with John's classmates again. We hope to see you in Yuma this winter.

We spent the weekend at Sexauer Park in Brookings camping with old friends. So much fun. Just like old times. Great to see you all. We look forward to doing this again sometime.

Then we went back to Sioux Falls to spend a few days with Dawn and back to Helena.

This is Hilary and Jeff's house with the new two-story addition between the house and garage. It is mostly done now except for finishing trim work, extending the new flooring into the original part of the house, and the master bathroom. They will keep working at that in their spare time, but with five little ones, spare time is scarce.

Inside the addition which also includes a mudroom, bathroom, storage room, front hall closet and another bathroom and bedroom/playroom upstairs.

On the stairway to the upstairs, they put this fish net thing instead of a railing which the kids hang clothes on. At the top there is a hole in the wall that is blocked right now. They are in the process of building a slide that will go down into the storage room. The kids are really excited for that to get finished!

On October 2nd, a little old lady coming the wrong way down a one-way street hit my back panel in the intersection and spun me around in a circle and continued on through the red light to hit ...

this lady head-on as she sat waiting at the red light.

At first glance, I thought it didn't look too bad. But then I noticed the tire was bent in at an angle. It was a $17,000 estimate, but the worst of it was waiting for all the parts to get here. They were not able to start working on it until around the first week in December. Then the guy got covid and had to quarantine at home. Long story short, after three months, it is finally supposed to be done January 4th. We tried to stay as long as we could through the cold weather waiting for it, but John finally had to leave on December 24th due to extreme cold temps predicted. I stayed here and will be driving the car to Yuma whenever it actually gets finished. I am not looking forward to that long drive by myself, at least 18 hours of driving.

Black Panther Dallas - 7

Grandpa's 70th birthday with all the grandkids, including Carter (22) who we don't see very often (school, two jobs, girlfriend, parties, etc.) and Hilary. Hilary and Jeff celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary this December. Doesn't seem possible. We just can't be that old!

Jeff doesn't often make it into my blog, as he is often at work or taking the pictures, like me, so there don't end up being many of him.

The kids have lots of flowers and fruit trees on their five acres and I add more each year. John and I did the vegetable garden this year, as the kids were too busy with the addition. These are a few from my wildflower patch.

Random pictures of the grandkids, a lot of them at Ten Mile Creek Park about a mile from their place on the bike path. I take the kids biking here quite often. They like to play in the icy cold water coming down from the mountains and climb in the trees.

Keira - 6

Tallia - 10

Benny - 4

I do my best to indoctrinate them to good music.

Mom, will you shave my head? I want a mohawk!

Ninja Dallas

Ninja Ben

Tierney is 13 now, so she really can't be bothered to come to the park with us and do kid stuff. She likes to bake stuff she makes up (no recipe), design clothes and draw. She is very creative and artistic.

Benny and Tally

Look, I'm Grandpa!

I can't believe Grandpa got down on the floor! Who is going to help him get up again?

Blankie snuggling time Grandma! Ohh, that's my absolute favorite time.

Hilary shingling the new roof on the chicken run. They have three bunnies, 11 chickens and 6 or 7 ducks now. The have lost a few of each and have created a pet cemetery out in the field with stone boundaries, markers and benches. Keira is such a bug nut, she has even buried some of her grasshoppers and worms out there.

Sadly, we lost good old Digger on October 9th, so he is also in the pet cemetery with all of the other dearly departed. Carter adopted him from the Humane Society about 12 years ago and he was the best dog ever. I think John may miss him more than anybody. They were walking buddies and Grandpa always fed and watered him and had treats for him.

Saying goodbye to Digger at the Vet's office. 😢

Keira lugs the chickens and ducks around. She puts the chickens in the baby swing and stroller and sends them down the slide and takes them in her playhouse to play with them. They really don't like it when she puts them in the swimming pool. And she just doesn't understand why they try to run away from her, when she loves them so much and she just wants to play with them.

Sprinkles made it out of the coop on one of those very cold freezing days and made it as far as this pallet by the deck and wouldn't budge. She would not step off that pallet back into the snow, so Jeff had to carry her back to the coop.

We do get an occasional quiet time, but they are few and far between.

Keira had been pestering Hilary that she wanted to make funnel cakes, so Hilary went somewhere with the big kids one day and said, as she left, you and Grandma can make funnel cakes. Say What ?!?! Boy was that a mess, and Hilary knew exactly what she was doing.

Benny is listening to Aunt Kathy read T'was the Night Before Christmas audio book.

The girls had to make something for a Christmas baking contest. Tierney made a unicorn cake and Tally made gingerbread cookies.

Benny as Joseph at his preschool Christmas program.

Dallas was so excited to get a pull-up bar and weights for Christmas. He says he is working on his six-pack, showing off his muscles everyday like some kind of macho man.

Whoops, wait, did I say macho man? Random fashion shows and skits of all kinds are a regular event around here. They are often written down, produced, directed, choreographed, mostly by Tierney, but the others will do them without her help, too. They all love to dance and sing and tell jokes and do gymnastics.