Howdy from Idaho Falls

Yep, we're back. Safe. Sound. And Tired!  That was quite the Work Trip.  It definitely tired both of us out far more than we ever expected or imagined it would.  It definitely wasn't a normal laid back camping trip.  All-in-all, we both think it was worth the extra effort.  We're looking forward to our next trip(s) on this NVUM gig.  We both now realize that work-camping trips are going to be a whole different kettle of fish.  So, in that sense, we are back in the R&D Mode for the upcoming trip(s).

Why do I keep using the word "trip" with an "S" in parenthesis? Good question! As you know, we've though of our next trip as a 18-day jaunt over into areas we've never visited. That's still an option. The most likely scenario is to split it into two trips and return home here for some R&R. After reflecting on this just completed trip, the stock option value of R&R has soared. We're buying into R&R Big Time. So, that's why we're using the word "trip(s)" in this blog post. We haven't totally thrown out the Marathon Trip idea but we're leaning heavily toward toward one 5 day trip and one 8 day trip instead of one 18-day trip. (See note added below.)

We returned at 7 pm last night and were far too tired to write a blog post. Geeze, I was even too tired to Tweet on the way home! We were draggin' our anatomy back across the Arco Desert, that's furr shure.

By and by, we will get around to posting a lot of photos, as usual, and writing a lot about the trip. It probably won't be today and might not even be tomorrow.

THE SNAKE'S UP--The Bureau of Reclamation is doing a release from Palisades Reservoir. The river rose almost four feet and is making quite a show over the falls. It rose from a little over 4,000 cfs to a little over 14,000 cfs. There's talk they might bring it up to 25,000 cfs. The release is timed to try to wipe out rainbow trout spawning beds upstream on what's called "The South Fork." Rainbows are Public Enemy Number 1 here. Fish & Game has a $60,000 bounty pot for them. Some rainbows are worth as much as $1,000! Fishermen are encouraged to keep all the rainbows they want regardless of size. People HATE rainbow trout here. I am not kidding. Why? Well, rainbows are death to the native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout. People are doing everything they can to avoid having the "cuts" designated as an endangered species. That's why they are trying to wash out the rainbow spawning beds. Interesting stuff.

HAS SPRING SPRUNG?--Saturday's high here in Eye-Eff was 70 and yesterday's high was 73. Heck, it was over 70 here in the shade when we arrived home at 7 pm! The tulips around town are spectacular and our tulips are just thinking about popping their blooms. The growth of the yard has picked up its pace. Most of the trees are nearing their leaf stage. We enjoyed great weather on our camping trip but we won't be as lucky on this next trip. Here's the AM discussion today:

THE LOW ITSELF WILL MOVE ONSHORE FRI...BRINGING ENOUGH COLD AIR TO RETURN SNOW TO THE FORECAST...THOUGH AT SNAKE RIVER PLAIN LEVELS IT SHOULD BE A RAIN/SNOW MIXTURE FOR ONLY A FEW HOURS IN THE MORNING. EXPECT TEMPERATURES TO DROP GREATLY THU NIGHT/FRI AS THIS LOW MOVES IN WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS AS MUCH AS 15 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL.

The annual birth of spring is a time-consuming ritual here in Eastern Idaho. The other seasons seem to turn on the flip of a switch. Not so with spring. Spring comes in fits and starts and seems to take forever to evolve into a full blown season. Last year, it was cold and rainy well into June. Hopefully, someone will flip the switch on Memorial Day and let the summer party begin.

More soon, it's time for more java and we're not talking script here!

Cheers, jp

Note added @ 8 am.  It sure didn't take long to resolve the "trip(s)" situation!  Less than an hour.  We've both FIRMLY decided to split the upcoming trip into two trips, one of 5 nights and one of 8 nights.  We DEFINITELY have to have that R&R break in between.  No "if's, and's or but's" about it.  Done deal.