When this epic journey began over two and a half years ago, we crossed the country from Florida to California. We are now returning via the northern tier states and parts of Canada around the Great Lakes. From Rick and Leslie’s (thanks again) home in Minden we scurried across Nevada and into Idaho.
In Twin Falls, ID we stopped at the Perrine Bridge that spans the majestic Snake River Canyon.
BASE jumpers use the bridge as the launching point for parachuting to the canyon floor below. We watched one during our brief visit.
In 1974, with much media fanfare, daredevil Evel Knievel tried and failed to leap this mile-wide chasm of the Snake River Canyon on his specially engineered rocket motorcycle.
Camped at Craters of the Moon National Monument
Spatter Cones on scenic drive through park.
As we drove east across Southern Idaho we began seeing signs for Atomic City, which drew my curiosity. Searching online I learned that this area has contained more than 50 nuclear reactors and that we would soon be passing by the World’s First Nuclear Power Plant, Experimental Breeder Reactor I, commonly referred to as EBR-1.
Unfortunately, they don’t open for public tours for a couple more weeks.
Pretty cool looking stuff though.
We then continued to the far eastern edge of Idaho, where we turned north on the extremely scenic Routes 33 and 191 along the western side of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park.
Riverside Campground in Ashton, Idaho.
Lunch stop overlooking the confluence of the Powder and Yellowstone Rivers in Montana.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota was recommended by some of well traveled friends, so we decided to check it out. The park was established in 1947 as a national memorial to honor President Roosevelt and to provide a place to experience his beloved Badlands. Do you know that he established the US Forest Service, created five national parks, 18 national monuments,150 national forests, and dozens of federal reserves – protecting over 230 million acres of land? Amazing! Thank you Theodore.
Wind Canyon
Look who set up camp in the site next to ours!
Little Missouri River
Taking a hike.
Wild Horses
Badlands
Bison were reintroduced to the park some 50 years ago. They seem quite content there.
Travels with haRVy 
Bison looked tame but would not want to get close. Beautiful spring weather in your photos. Lewis and Clark’ Corps of Discovery sites along your track? 1802-04.
By: Jim Roehm on May 26, 2016
at 5:36 am
we just talked about bison in Pilates. Jane Beezer described camping in Yellowstone and waking to discover there were bison right outside the tent chomping on grass. Needless to say, they stayed very quiet until the bison left. They are mighty big animals!
Getting closer to Rhode Island…the weather is fine this week, the water warming up
By: Janne Roehm on May 26, 2016
at 8:45 am
Many tourists are very foolish around these wild animals that look slow but can run up to 30 miles per hour. Did you see that a tourist recently put a baby bison in their car because they thought it was lost? It had to be euthanized. Leave then alone!
Leslie
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By: sunnyharvy on May 26, 2016
at 10:00 am
“Say it ain’t so Joe.” Oh, how. We will miss your blogs.
Cheryl & Keith
By: Cheryl chamberlain on May 26, 2016
at 10:19 am
That Perrine Bridge spanning the majestic Snake River Canyon is amazing – and oh yes – Evil Knievel’s attempted jump! Rick had a drink with him once. Indeed – thank you Teddy for protecting 230 million acres of land. Oh my – buffalo camping next site over. What an adventure you continue to have! Thanks again for sharing. We LOVE your blog and slide shows! Very talented.
By: Leslie on May 26, 2016
at 9:23 pm