We thought the ride to our prior stop was scenic, but that was nothing when you compare it to the ride along the wild white water of the Salmon River. Mark even found a great place to stop right beside the river and we enjoyed the view of the rushing water as our lunch time view. Best lunch stop ever!!!
Golfing highlight was at Quail Hollow Golf Club where we shot our best scramble score yet...a 66!!! Mark's swing is obviously much better than mine but I thought the swing shots tell of the team effort!! The course with all of its elevations and pristine condition just added to the fun!
We just had to celebrate so we hit the Hyde Park area of Boise and toasted our new golfing achievement with a glass of wine and some baked brie topped with cherries and pistachio nuts (YUM) at the eclectic 13th Street Cafe!
We played one other noteworthy course, Shadow Valley. The elevated tees gave us beautiful views and the course even had the diamond cut that you see on the pro tour. In the top photo you can even see the ball leaving Mark's club.
Even though we enjoyed some fun golf in the area, this was far from the highlight of this stop. There is a great float down the Boise River that starts at Barber Park and ends at Ann Morrison about 2 1/2 hours floating at 3 miles per hour. We rented a two seater kayak, floated down the river through a few Class 2 falls - one fell about 4 feet. When you get to the end they run a bus service that brings you back up river to your car. How great is that!! Sadly, I forgot to put the memory card in the camera so I can only share with you some web photos of this float trip. We went through two stong rapids and we did get soaking wet!
But, that was not the last of our experience with the Rivers in the area. We took the opportunity to take a Jet Boat Tour of Hells Canyon. It is the deepest Canyon in the US - even deeper than the Grand Canyon! It is 7,913 feet from the mountain peaks to the waters of the Snake River and 10 miles rim to rim.
After miles and miles of dry area you come upon the Snake River it is just a hint of what is to come...
The beauty of the river and the mountains is quite an amazing sight!
But the fun is yet to begin. We packed a lunch before the long drive. When we arrived at the Hell's Canyon Visitor's center we stopped and saw a video about the canyon, then enjoyed our lunch and watched a jet boat coming into dock.
First stop on the Boat was an upclose view of the Hells Canyon dam. Here is a view of the dam from the road (upper right) as well as the dam from the water and the captain aimed the jet boat right where the water is released (top left).
Here is where the real fun begins. After experiencing in a prior year rafting down the Trinity River in California through class 4 rapids it is amazing how easily the jet boat glides over the white water and takes the rapids so easily. You still get water spraying into the boat and it is quite a unique experience.
We took a stop for a hike from the Snake River to see where the Indians would camp and we also did a stop on a beautiful beach. The water was quite cold so Mark and I opted out of taking a swim but Mark took a short climb on the rocks to get a better view of the beautiful Snake River.
We stopped at Granite Creek, a tributary that feeds into the Snake River.
But the real highlight of the boat tour was the rapids known as "The Green Room!"
We made lots of friends, Bobbie and Mark from Texas (bottom left), Billy, the assistant from Caldwell Idaho (with me bottom right), Mark, our captain (top right) and me and Bobbie (top right). Yup, Mark was quite the popular name on this boat - what fun!!!
In addition to all the wonderful views of this exciting River we also bumped into some interesting wildlife. Well, we didn't exactly bump into the bear (bottom left) - he was obviously high on the mountain across the river from us. But, even though we have seen quite a few bears and some up close, a bear sighting is a bear sighting! They also told us some of the best sturgeon fishing in the Northwest can be found here. Salmon, steelhead and trout are also abundant.
We finished our visit with a trip to the Eagle River Pavillion and enjoyed the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra's Picnic on the Patio - presentation of "Harry Potter - Witches and Wizards." What a wonderful time we had in Boise, Idaho
Once again its time to move on - we have an overnight stop in Declo, Idaho and then its on to Park City, Utah
Even though we enjoyed some fun golf in the area, this was far from the highlight of this stop. There is a great float down the Boise River that starts at Barber Park and ends at Ann Morrison about 2 1/2 hours floating at 3 miles per hour. We rented a two seater kayak, floated down the river through a few Class 2 falls - one fell about 4 feet. When you get to the end they run a bus service that brings you back up river to your car. How great is that!! Sadly, I forgot to put the memory card in the camera so I can only share with you some web photos of this float trip. We went through two stong rapids and we did get soaking wet!
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