With sights set on a post-Labor Day arrival in Yellowstone National Park, we trekked through the high desert of Eastern Oregon and across the Snake River Plain of Southern Idaho. We first stopped just outside of Boise. Anticipating adventures in Yellowstone, the kids focused on getting ahead of their school work. But we did manage to find some time to play dodge ball in the RV park pool and shoot some billiards.
Much like Bend, citizens and visitors alike enjoy river tubing through Boise. We could not resist giving our store-bought tubes another run. However, the tubing operations, including buses, were closed during the week this time of year. Fortunately, Boise has a 26-mile greenway path along the Boise River. We drove to the take out point at Ann Morrison Park in downtown Boise, packed our deflated tubes on our backs, and rode our bikes 6 miles upstream. We passed through Boise State University on our way to the put in at Barber Park.
We floated the six miles in virtual solitude, enjoying the scenery and wild life.
Unfortunately, I forgot to charge the battery in our waterproof camera and it gave out shortly into our float trip. Had I been more prepared, you would now be seeing wonderful pictures of the family plunging through rapids as the Boise countryside raced by. Yes, the Boise River was swifter than the Deschutes and challenged us to complete the journey in our thin-walled “River Rat” tubes. At one point, the loud roar of an upcoming, but unseen, rapid prompted me to ask a fisherman if it were safe to proceed. He replied that we might want to go down the right side as the current whisked us down the left. We did not quite make the right side before plunging over the rocks, much to our immense “enjoyment.”
In addition to enabling solitude on the river, our unconventional schedule permitted us to take advantage of a mid-week deal offered by a local FunZone. Four hours of unlimited go-karts, bowling, laser tag, and video games afforded ample opportunity for family fun (and daddy dominance).
Before the kids begged for a rematch, we packed up and headed for Arco, ID.
Looks like so much fun! From thrills in the great outdoors to excitement in the conditioned indoors!
Looks like some rough water!
Come on Mike, I expected much higher than a 127. Such a great family adventure you 4 are on, keep posting
I didn’t want to make everyone else look too bad!