Finally Fulltime—Journal 

6/25/03 Bend to Yellowstone, 711 miles 

We got a late start from Bend with final packing still eating up the minutes until it was nearly 10:30 a.m. before we said a tearful goodbye to Rachael and watched her small form waving us down the drive until we disappeared from view. I felt terrible for the first several hours, having my dream come true tempered by the sting of no longer having her live with us on a daily basis. 

Eastern Oregon is always the same, a fascination of emptiness for those who like the desert and an endless drudge for those who don’t. By late afternoon Marc had enough of driving, so we started looking for a boondocking spot along the Malheur River, which parallels Highway 20 for about 30 miles length. We found a great site, put out the chairs in a patch of shade to the rear of the RV and finally had a conversation about what fun our new life was going to be. It turned out to be a nice, quiet spot. 

Our second morning, we came upon it too quickly to stop or take a photo, but somewhere between MP 196 and Vale, OR on Highway 20 is a shoe tree! I don’t know if people in the East have shoe trees, but it’s a mysterious happenstance of life in the West that certain trees become designated “shoe trees”. Many are in very hard to get to areas; we were surprised to see this one so approachable as to be right along the highway! If you go this way, please show respect to the Shoe gods by leaving the pair of your choice hanging from the highest branches you can fling them.  

Our second afternoon’s stop was at Three Island Crossing State Park in Glenn’s Ferry, Idaho. Marc was familiar with this nicely done park from having stopped in to visit Ron & Barb Hofmeister (Moving On) when they were volunteering here a couple summers ago and Marc was driving truck.  

The park commemorates the pioneers who did the dangerous crossing of the Snake River and there’s the nicely done Oregon Trail Interpretive Center from which you can gaze across the river to the far bluff where the wagon ruts cutting through the bank are still very visible. Spacious sites widely spread out on acres of lawn under massive shade trees are a welcome relief from the heat of this area. There’s even a winery with a restaurant within walking distance!  

Day three, we peeled off the freeway to the red roads and enjoyed a leisurely, bouncy drive along Highway 26; passing by Craters of the Moon National Monument and ERB 1 (Experimental Breeder Reactor #1). For the complete story on these sites see our entry under Extended Trips, Wyoming 2000. A quick stop for groceries in Idaho Falls and we were on our way with the rising elevation of the Targhee National Forest, looking for another boondocking spot. We found one just east of Harriman State Park and joined several other RVers who mainly looked to be fly fishing the famous Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. The headwaters of Henry’s Fork is not far from here; called Big Spring, it produces 130 million gallons of pure water daily. 

It was an early arrival for us to the KOA, our final destination. Our initial impression was very positive; immaculate grounds full of pine trees between sites, asphalted roads, and a bustling modern office and gift shop with large windows overlooking all the activity. 

We met our employer and proceeded to get the site which would be home for the next three months. We’re so pleased! We have full hookups, including satellite TV, 50 amp electric and the most outstanding view from our windows. We back up to a large fenced meadow with waist high grass and a view to the mountain cleft through which the entrance to Yellowstone is located. The park is surrounded on all sides by mountain ranges, so the view from any window is superb. Marc & I joke that many people pay three million for log homes in the area to capture the view that we’ll enjoy for free! (Our agreement with our employer is that $75/week is deducted from our pay for our site; if we fulfill the terms of our contract and stay the entire time, the whole amount is refunded to us). The benefits to this lifestyle are just beginning to be realized! 

I’m sure we’ll have more to report after a couple weeks of working and having a chance to explore the area. We can hardly wait! We’re so happy to be here and have such a marvelous opportunity. We’ve already noticed harried campers pulling out, hurrying on to the next spot, trying to cram all the sightseeing they can in to their allotted too-short vacations. To know we have three months to explore this area is sweet.