October 14, 2013

Today's journey first took us to the Capitol building in Boise.  It has been called the Capitol of Light because they have made good use of natural sunlight.  Even though the building was not occupied because of the federal holiday, the building was open to the public for self guided tours.

 There is still an old antique elevator in the building but it is no longer in use.

This building is different from others we have visited in that the upper floors are open to the central rotunda allowing more light in the building.

 We thought that this was a standard practice in all Capitol buildings that went without saying.

This is the first of either House or Senate Chambers in any Capitol buildings we have visited that have had phones on the desks.  Maybe the lobbyists paid to have them installed. Notice how bright the chambers are.

 A monument on the grounds of the Capitol.

Heading out of town towards Twin Falls, ID.

 The mountain tops around Boise started to change to plateaus the more we headed south.

The Perrine Memorial Bridge is supposedly the only bridge where you do not need a permit to BASE jump. There are many who make the jump (with parachutes) every year.

A beautiful view of the canyon to the west of the bridge.  If you look carefully, you can see.....a golf course.

 The Snake River

Two miles east of the bridge is the Shoshone Falls State Park, also called the "Niagara of the West".  During times of high water flow, the falls resemble the Niagara Falls except the falls are only 212 feet high.

If one walks 1 1/2 miles up the cliff trail, you would be able to see the dirt ramp where Evel Knievel attempted to cross the Snake River Canyon with a steam powered rocket between his legs.  Evel is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the survivor of the "most bones broken in a lifetime".

 Tom didn't quite walk all 1 1/2 miles.  This is so wrong.

 The location of where Evel Knievel was supposed to land.

 The Shoshone Falls Park from the trail above.  Where's Grammie?

 Can you see her now?  Tom likes the zoom lens on his pocket camera.

We spent the evening visiting with one of Tom's former students in the city of Twin Falls.  After many years it was good to see Randy and Sue.  Tom only used his line  "Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies" only once.  A pleasant visit.  Thanks to them for our first "home cooked meal" in quite a few days.