Mr Mike's Hippie Love Blog

Day 26: July 1
We got up kind of early and headed out for Twin Falls - further down I-80 E and then up HWY 93 through Idaho. I started driving and felt great - put on about 170 miles and we only had 70 or so to go when we had stopped for gas at the Flying J in Wells, Nevada. Sarah took over then and we made it to Twin Falls around 6 pm. We had reservations for Friday - Sunday and were going to sleep in Twin Falls' Flying J tonite (Thursday). We enjoyed scouting out the city a little bit and it looked really neat - quaint, but somewhat large. We found a few tattoo shops and thought about selling some of our gem stone ear plugs here. We also found out there were waterfalls near by and other natural attractions. We did the tour for a while and then went up to the Flying J - I used the internet for more info and got a chance to sample another bean & cheese burrito for the website. Was impressed with the Flying J burrito! We drank beer all night in the parking lot and slept well. Tommorrow back to KOA and relaxation.
Day 27: July 2
Today we started off by going right to the Shoshone Falls park just East of Twin Falls. It was a $3 fee to get in and worth it - we spent some hours here! There were two parks in one admission - the falls and a lake park which was on top of the falls. There wasn't a whole lot of water coming down the falls, but they were still quite nice. We found a trail that led us up and around the opposite side of the falls - which gave us a hell of a view of everything. We found a little landing where we sat for a while and there were a few hawks flying around - we were up so high they flew right underneath us. This to me had made the whole trip worth it - I love hawks and big birds and here we were listening to them call while flying just feet from us - wow. We hiked the whole falls and then made our way over to the lake park - which was a busy swimming hole today - people getting ready for their 4th of July weekend. We sat with our feet in the crystal clear water (which was cold) and you could see lots of fish investigating our toes. We saw a German Brown Spotted Trout swim by as well - bigger fish than the others which were mostly sunfish or blue gills. The brochure also told of 3 hidden ponds that were to be nestled in the canyon with glacier blue water and so we decided to try to find them. This was a hike and it was pretty peak sun now - there was a cheese puff trail and we finally ended up finding one. However, it was filled with teenagers and they were all looking at us pretty wierd when we came through to the clearing. Nobody was swimming except for some younger kids - and we really felt like we were intruding - I guess this is their hangout. This pond was amazing though - the gray canyon wall wrapped 3/4 the way around it and the water didn't even look real - but it did look like it was cold in there!! Next we hiked all the way back to the RV - heard some rustling in the leaves and saw a Quail and a bunch of babies running around; and further down the trail we saw a woodchuck running in the brush.
We loaded up and ran to Fred Meyer's for supplies - we bought beer and a Tofurky (we decided to have Thanksgiving on 4th of July) then headed up to the KOA. We had a nice spot at the end of the park - really private. This park had a cable hookup for 2 extra dollars; so we got in and plugged in - cranked up the air and turned on the movie channels. We had some dinner while watching TV, drank beer and went up to the hot tub - but it closed shortly after we got there. So we went home and relaxed after a short soak - I went to bed soon thereafter and Sarah stayed up late watching the TV.
Day 28: July 3
KOA life for an extended stay lets you do whatever you want pretty much - so we slept in late with the air pumping - it is easy. I started drinking beer around noon and was having a blast. Our afternoon was pretty laid back - I was playing playstation while Sarah was exploring around the outskirts of the campground. We went to the hot tub after an early supper and found a little kitty in a plant with a hooded sweatshirt by it - we figured it was some little kids or something. I got right in the tub and Sarah sat with the kitty awhile - then the little girl showed up with her mom. They were surprised to see the cat was still in the fake plant and went on to tell us they had found it and asked at the front office and it was stray. The little girl's mother did not want the kitten and kept telling her daughter that we were going to take care of it. We did bring it back to our campsite for the next couple days and Sarah fed it tuna and cheese. The kitty was very hungry and ate two bowls of this stuff. She hung around all the day long and played with us. Otherwise today was more celebrating of the 4th - I always seem to do it up more on the 3rd of July for some reason - but what does it matter.
Day 29: 4th of July
Today we had planned to make our Thanksgiving feast for the 4th of July - we were going to attempt our first Tofurky. For those that don't know this is the vegetarian alternative to Thanksgiving turky meal - it comes complete with wild rice stuffing and "giblet" gravy. We slept in very late today and were going to take it nice and easy for the 4th - we had expected to be able to see Twin Falls' fireworks display from our campsite. We did realize we were running low on Tecate for the holiday and that we needed to make a run into town for more beer. We have been drinking alot of Tecate on this trip so far - it's a good mexican drinking beer that's for sure. Seems to take care of you in the hot climate pretty well. So we went into town - to Fred Meyer's - and grabbed more supplies. We had a date to play mini golf after we got the beers going a bit. This mini golf course was horrible though - 1.50 a piece just didn't seem right - the course was very warped - the astro turf all ripped up and some of the holes were down right impossible. We put on funny hats and sunglasses and people stared at the drunken weirdos playing shitty mini golf - take that Twin Falls. Yeah it was a good time, but Sarah kicked my ass - oh and while we played the mini golf we had a forum on the status of the cat. We had decided to keep it while we drove home at least (with certain guidelines for travelling) and were going to go to PetSmart the next day to grab everything that she will need - litter and food and etc. We had the tofurky going in the crockpot all day with potatos, carrots and sweet corn all simmering together - and it was starting to smell really good in there. We really had too much food planned though - you don't really eat as much while on the road. Mostly little meals about twice a day or so - definately not big Thanksgiving type meals. So anyway we were pretty well drunk when it came time to eat and Sarah started serving it up - Oh man! It was all so good - but the tofurky was a little weird - kind of like a rubber basketball with turky flavoring - the wild rice stuffing was awesome and the sweet corn that we roasted in the crockpot turned out really good - all very full of garlic. It was great - but I ate way too much (lots of sweet corn) and I got filled up pretty fast. It was so much too much that it made me take a nap. Sarah woke me up for the fireworks and I had a few more Tecates while we watched the show. I guess I had just missed a big owl that was in the tree right outside our RV. The fireworks were visible, but further away than we had expected - there was another display going on to the north and I'm guessing that was Jerome's. It was a nice time - afterwards I went back to sleep and slept a long while. Sarah stayed up with the little kitty - who slept on the picnic table in our blanket.
Day 30: July 5
Well our 3 day vacation was over and now it was time to pack it all up. I got up somewhat early and started putting the inside back together - and needed to fill up water and all that. Went outside to fill up the fresh water and found the kitty playing with the new neighbors - they asked if it was ours and I said yes - wow I am agreeing to taking a cat in the RV. We had decided to head up to Ketchum for the Allman Brothers show (Ketchum was only about 70 miles or so to the north) and today we were going to head up there and get a look at Ketchum. I had been to Ketchum once before when Dano, Deborah and I were following the Big Wu out to the High Sierra Festival in California. The Wu actually had a show in Ketchum - which looking back now seems kind of out of place - but I had remembered the city being rather rich and snooty - and they didn't let us down at all. This is by far the snobbiest city we have hit thus far. We were poking around the city today and trying to find somewhere we fit in. We went down to a city park - which was really just a bike trail - with parking, and i was able to steal some wi-fi internet from a nearby lodge. So we stayed there for awhile - and I used the internet for everything we needed - figured out where the venue is and all that. Next we went to find the venue and it wasn't there at all? There were some risers and things as if they were going to build a stage - but that seemed odd. We also found a place that looked kind of rundown that simply said "Burgers and Beer" which looked a little enticing. It was getting close to sundown so we left town towards the Sawtooth National Forest. We had been passing signs that say "National Forest Access" and we were eager to learn more about our options - so we headed down a winding trail and found a parking lot with trails leading into the forest. We thought this would be a perfect place to stay tonite - there were alot of people on bikes and horses getting ready to go home. We did a quick hike on the trail, but it was getting dark soon. We spotted 3 different species of woodpecker on the hike and a few chipmunks - but it was quick. Then we settled in to the RV and I found out that my little inverter has enough power to fuel the tv and playstation! This was revolutionary because I no longer have to use the generator or have the RV plugged in to play or to watch movies! So I played a game of Madden - my season is almost over and i had finished my NCAA season with winning the championship - but the movies aren't working quite yet (need an RF modulator and the other PS2 cord). Sarah made supper while I played and we retired rather early.
Day 31: July 6 ABB in Ketchum
We left in the afternoon to head back to town and try again to find the venue - which was indeed being built today. We found a parking place close to the show and relaxed with the kitten - we had a couple newspapers to read and found out there was a farmer's market in town today. We were walking around town and window shopping awhile - we went in to an awesome gem store with huge quartz and everything - thousands of dollars of great stones. We tell the store owner he has a great place and try to spark some conversation - but we get the big cold shoulder - i suppose we didn't look like we would be buying his 1200 dollar piece of amethyst so why should he bother talking with us. Then we made it to the farmer's market and find that it is the most expensive market known to mankind - Sarah could give more examples but I remember her being disapointed. We were not received in this town very well at all - most rich people do not like hippies. We did find a nice deal on some cherries that were very fresh. We were sick of getting stared at and having these richies turn their noses up at us. We went back to the RV and checked in on our kitty - who was just sleeping the day away. At this point we didn't know if we were going to stay in town for the show or just hit the road - it was obvious that we were not going to be able to sell any food here - but maybe we could sell a piece of clothing or two. So we decided to walk down to the venue and see if we could find our way onto the guest list or something. We were able to get a good feel for the show and get info on parking our rig in there - but nobody around to try to get in. We finally just decided to go to the "Burgers and Beer" joint and see what's really going on in Ketchum. We walked in and the place was rockin' - full of people getting ready for the show - Jerry Garcia's "Run for the Roses" was playing on the juke box - very good sign. We ordered a couple beers - 32 ozs for 4 dollars and sat inside for a bit - I noticed one of the band's crew was in there waiting for a burger. The bar was called Grumpy's and they had seating outside and along a patio - the sign also said "Sorry we are open" gotta love it. We ended up outside where we saw a couple Phish kids on the patio... we get to talking and all sat at a table. Enter TJ and Sara - they have been on tour for awhile too - his mom lives in Ketchum and they are chillin' up here for a bit - they were on first leg of phish tour and then caught some Dead. We had another round of the 32's and then headed over to the parking lot - but first picking up a 12 of High Life and TJ a 24 of Natural Ice or as the cool kids call it "Natty Ice" the beer of tour kids. We started out having a good time with these two - but as they got drunk it sort of changed. In the parking lot we ran into two other kids that were from Eugene. She was selling pouches that she had made - but he was selling mushroom chocolates - and i think eating quite a few as well. TJ and Sara also ended up eating some of the chocolates - so now we are surrounded with people on mushrooms - again. I don't want to sound off but it seems as we get older we get more annoyed with people on drugs - I dunno - We've just seen way too many kids do way too much stupid shit on tour over the years - a majority of which were drug related. I can't say I am against people using drugs on tour or at the show - but at least know some moderation. Plus now there are different drugs on tour than when we were on tour in the old days - anyway it is always going to happen that you run into somebody on hallucinogens at the show and that is just normal. I know that we couldn't live that way anymore with the responsibility we have - but the tour kids need to be fed and that's where we come in. Sarah and I ended up setting up the boutique and drank some beers - we just stay on the edge of the mess - chilling in our camping chairs. The parking lot was set up as a benefit for a skateboarding park in Ketchum - so it was run by a bunch of skateboarders - a majority of these guys ended up around our RV in the lot. And since TJ grew up in Ketchum he seemed to know everybody - there was one kid called Pigeon who hung out with us for a long while. He borrowed me his black Elvis shades because I told him that I was going to be able to get into the show with these on. So my drunk ass went a-wandering up to the gate with my dark Elvis shades so nobody can see - I was having a good time talking with the security guard who was in charge of the re-entry. His name was also Mike. You see the show has no reentry, but there are all these rich people who need to come and go - you see the rules don't apply to you when you are rich enough to live in Ketchum... so I was watching this gaurd use his discretion on who he should let out and who couldn't go - and i was starting to get sick of these rich bastards thinking they can do whatever they want - i started having some fun with them and giving them a hard time about policy and how policy applies to them as well - man i made a couple people very mad. Anyways after some of this and talking to mike he just says "Hey why don't you go in there and have a good time" and opened the gate and let me in - he gave me a ticket stub and everything!!! Wow i was overjoyed - so I hauled ass inside and started heading towards the front row! Boy the crowd on the inside was mixed - there were a lot of people on mushrooms in there (i wonder how many got them from that kid) and there were a lot of rich fucks standing there and not moving - lots were on lawn chairs with binoculars - so this is how rich people enjoy themselves. I was mixing it up and talking to a bunch of motionless people - "Isn't this great" I would say and they wouldn't even acknowledge me. Whatever I got in for free and who knows how much they paid. I got up front and watched Warren Haynes belt out a few tunes - he was jamming on his guitar at one time and I threw my hands in the air and pointed at him - he smiled back and nodded - Warren Haynes acknowledges me - but not most people in this crowd. I stayed up front for 4-5 songs One Way Out & Ain't Wasting Time No More stand out. Then I wanted to get a beer - but I only had a dollar I went up to the beer line and started talking to these younger guys (30ish) telling them that i was going to try to get a beer and thought if i reused somebody elses cup that they might fill it for a buck. The security golf cart went by as I was talking to these two and the policeman who shut down the boutique in the lot was on there; so I tell these two that the cop is the meanest of the police and security we have met so far - one of the guys then says to me "You just let me know if you are having trouble with them, I'm the Assistant District Attorney" OK I say - and I tell em I am going to go get my dollar beer. There was a blondie serving the beers and charming big tips out of the guys - next was my turn and I say will you please sell me a beer for a dollar - and she looks disgusted at me "Honey I am getting more than that in tips for these beers" then I say well I will reuse this cup here - nope - well how bout half a beer for a buck - nope - then I finally say well can I ask those guys that are filling the beers - while I was asking one of those guys was already bringing me a beer and says he'll pay the rest. I thanked him and smiled at her - then walked away and say HA to the Asst. DA him and his buddy applaud me and I take off back to the show. I finished this beer and then went back outside to be with Sarah - I had enjoyed my time inside and now it was time to get back to mama. The scene out here was pretty chill, but kind of odd. The kids were really full of shrooms now and Sarah was sitting with the kitty on her lap talking to normal people. We had made plans to go to the Craters of the Moon with TJ and Sara the next day, and then they invited the shroom boy and his girl. I dunno - these kids were all loaded now too and turning into goofballs and I didn't want to hang out with them anymore. The kitten jumped off Sarah's lap and went for a run under cars; it took us awhile to get her back and once we did we packed up and got out of there - by ourselves. I gave TJ our cell number but he never called it. We drove 20 miles down highway 75 and stayed at a rest stop. Good night.
Day 32: July 7
Today we only had a short drive to the Craters of the Moon National Monument. We woke up at the rest stop and went walking along a little creek - saw a lot of little moles going in and out of holes on the bed of the creek. We noticed it was very windy today as we hit the road - we got to the park and they told us there was a wind advisory with winds reaching 50 mph! So we decided to camp at the park for 10 dollars and spend the day exploring it - our plan was to leisurely travel home to meet with friends and family. Sarah's grandmother's birthday was coming up and mine and my brothers - so we had a lot of celebrating to do! Craters of the Moon was quite diferent - it was so ugly but very interesting. Lava flow from 2000 years ago has made all these formations and caves - we were happy to be able to spend a day exploring here. It was just too bad that it was so windy - we missed out on two trails because they seemed too dangerous in the wind. The caves kind of spooked me - but Sarah enjoyed them also the Devil's Orchard was neat; that was the area that had the most green growth - growing in the cracks of the lava and the trees here were so wind whipped and sand blown that they took on a diferent sort of personality. We took alot of pictures for the website. We did the park and went to bed pretty early in the campground. That's that.
Day 33: July 8
Today we were heading towards Yellowstone National Park through Idaho Falls. We had decided to go out for Chinese for lunch and I found The Great Wall in Idaho Falls. Sarah also had the great idea to try selling some of our gem stone ear plugs at the tattoo shops and looking for head shops to sell hemp in. So we made it up to Idaho Falls in about 2 hours and had a great lunch. Then found a few shops and sold a couple pairs of ear plugs. We stopped in at a bar and had a tap beer in the middle of the afternoon. There are no head shops left in Idaho, however, they have all been shut down. We stopped at Albertson's on the way out of town and stocked up on groceries. We spent quite a few hours in Idaho Falls finding everything and we had no plans of where we were sleeping. We left town towards Yellowstone and found a campground in Targhee National Forest around dusk. This was a nice place with a raging river (Henry's Fork) I haven't been able to find this campground on the map - but it was awesome. All for 10 bucks again and it was such nice sleeping weather because it cooled down quite a bit at night. We made a fire and drank some beer - went to bed after a long time at the fire.
Day 34: July 9
We got up pretty early and took a long hike down by this river. Sarah had hurt her knee - shmacking it on the cupboard in the RV - she walked with a walking stick. She was checking out the driftwood and things by the river. After that we left expecting to be in Yellowstone later this afternoon; we were still about 3 hours away. We went up through Montana just a bit - past the earthquake of 1959 - and we also saw a horse that had gotten out of it's fence - very confused and didn't know what to do. We stopped in West Yellowstone to buy some beer and were able to add it to the map in the parking lot. Next we were in Yellowstone! Sarah was driving us inside the park and I was watching for wildlife - we spotted a younger moose in a creek within 20 minutes!!! Awesome! but we weren't able to get a photo. Next we saw two female elks wading in a marsh and were able to pull off and watch them for a bit. People sure drive like crap even inside National Parks - we were finding out. Sarah and I weren't sure what we were doing today but we knew that we didn't have enough time to spend here. We weren't sure yet if we were going to camp here or leave or what. Very unorganized. But we made it to the geyser trail on the lower basin - man those things stink. And then to Old Faithful with it scheduled to go off in about an hour. In that time we found a campsite at Grant's Village (18 bucks) and got a good seat to watch Old Faithful. Man was that cool I was happy to be able to see it very magnificent and huge. We were leaving Old Faithful and there was a huge buffalo right on the side of the road - eating grass WOW - we can't wait to come back with a week or more time to spend here. We made it to our campsite and settled in - drank some beer and went to bed early.