A Noisy Start
A really, really early start. I usually sleep with earplugs in but left them in the motorcycle last night and was too lazy to go out and get them after I’d settled down into the tent last night. Big mistake. Fishermen were out on the lake with their boats at 3:20 this morning. They weren’t intentionally being loud but the boat launch was next to the campground and they couldn’t help but be a bit loud as they launched the boats. Fortunately, I was able to get back to sleep and slept until about 5:00 AM before the birds started making an absolute racket. This wasn’t the usual morning singing and chirping. This was bedlam. So, begrudgingly, I got up to see what the fuss was and this is who was perched about ten feet above the top of my tent.
Not only did he let me take a couple of photos with my phone, he hung around and let me dig my camera out of the big and take a lot more photos. And then he let me tear down my tent, pack up, and leave and was still in the same spot. Apparently, I’m not as intimidating looking as I’d like to believe.
Leaving the campground, I headed to the Minidoka National Historic Site. This is another of the Japanese internment camps used during the second world war used to intern individuals of Japanese descent during the war. Most of those interned were American citizens. At least in those days, American citizens imprisoned without due process were kept in the United States. A reason to be thankful I suppose.
Unlike the Amache site, this site still has some of the original structures – fire station, root cellar, a barracks building, and a few more. Interestingly, the barracks had been moved off site but was later donated back to the National Park Service. Unfortunately, the visitor center wasn’t open yet so I didn’t get to see the exhibits.
I did have an extended conversation with the maintenance man however. He has been with the site for several years and really feels passionately about his work in maintaining the site but also in what the site represents in American history. He’s particularly proud that they get survivors (his word, but appropriate) that return every year and often with generations of family. But he didn’t see any correlation with US citizens or those legally in the country being deported without due process.
He also couldn’t/wouldn’t make the correlation between people like myself getting paid for not working and him having to work more hours/not getting his usual summer interns.
So, I’m riled up a little when I leave the site. Trying not to get on a soapbox or take it personally that somebody doesn’t see things the same way as I do. And, then I roll into Hagerman, ID on my way to the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument and I see this sign.
I have not called the paster yet to see if this is one of those attention-grabbing signs used to draw the congregation in or if this is to be taken at face value. Anyhow, that got me worked up as well.
But I did get to the Hagerman Fossil Bed site and took in the views. Really not much to see and I didn’t take any pictures. This is a site Antje, Alex, and I visited in 1999 (or 2000) and we found a scorpion under a rock. Small almost translucent beige one. I flipped over a few rocks today as well but without success.
The visitor center is new since we were here last and is a nice building. The number of fossils displayed is really quite limited but it looks like they have a pretty active Ranger led program. Today it was on identifying plants indigenous to the area.
And on the road was more headed west on I-84. I typically try and avoid the interstate but there isn’t an abundance of ways to cross southern Idaho that don’t include the interstate.
Finally hoped off the interstate in Ontario, Oregon and headed to John Day. Much of the ride is absolutely wonderful – rolling to rugged hills, covered or spotted with ponderosa pine and other evergreens. Very scenic.
In John Day, I found a reasonably priced room at the John Day Motel. For some reason the clerk and his assistant both felt the need to open carry pistols but…. Hopefully you’ll hear from me again tomorrow evening!