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So we took an easy day, ending in Pocatello, to stage for our run … and after hearing only positive things about Elko, we pointed the Hyundai and hit the gas, thinking that we’d have a quick driving day with some fun in Nevada.

Now, as technologically dorky as Spammer and I are, we didn’t pore over Google Earth prior to setting out … we sort of pick roads at random … and what we found along the way was no less than the most amazing road we’ve ever seen.  I’ve road tripped more than 30000 miles in my life, and what we saw today was pristine, awe-inspiring and just a little bit scary.   Check out the pictures, and if you have the chance, get to Jarbidge, NV.

Oh, so there will probably be some drinking and checking-out of the brothels … possibly gambling. Stay tuned.

Today, we took a side road that cut through Humboldt National Forest. It starts in southern Idaho and ends 40′ish miles north of Elko, NV. It changed my life, and we guess that no more than 10,000 people have ever seen what we saw today.

Gobs of photos after the jump.
 First we drove past the Salmon River Reservoir: 

and on into the Bruneau Desert flats

And then into a jaw-dropping canyon. And I mean CANYON. 

Zoo took a moment to throw a stone…

And then, since I was driving this leg, into the base of the canyon. We drove along at 20 mph, wondering how far it really was to Jarbidge, because we were nearing a half tank of gas… Nothing like a little uncertainty to make you enjoy things more ;)

So we stopped and shot up into the canyon walls a few times. Zoo said, “Fuck Arches! [National Park) And fuck the tourists! This is awesome.” I soooo agree.

After stopping for lunch and gas (what a relief) in Jarbidge (see post) Zoo took the wheel and we drove higher and higher…

When I dreamed of road tripping this time of year, I saw in my mind’s eye the aspen and birches turning yellow… and I got it. Stunning.

And the landscape changed for the third time. Now the mountains were carpeted with scattered trees.

And then the landscape changed yet again, now getting into desert-like conditions with jutting rocks on mountainsides here and there…

And then Hunboldt ended.

The desert became even more desert-like. The mountains squashed down into hills.

We were on private land, and cattle ranches surrounded us… but not much cattle.

And then 5 1/2 hours later, we hit pavement again. Did I mention that it was 95% dirt roads? Yeah, that’s a road trip! 

Dirty Hyundai. Love ya!

See the whole trip as time-lapse

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Can you See Zoo Broker’s profile in this one?

And drove down the mountain to find that industry never stops.

Well, this place was a pretty harsh dive, boring to boot.  At least we got these chips as souvenirs.

My advice?  Unless you like your bikini-wearing women looking like they were recently preggers, move on.

Here is a small gallery of today’s photos:

Montana

Yosemite (west side)

Sign right as you enter Idaho from Montana on Route 20.

A 23-photo pano I stitched looking to the right of the sign above:

Idaho Falls
 

Idaho, lonely and open.

Pulling up, we see they have a sense of humour …

But the steaks? Spammer reports the ribeye was solid, if not up to the standards of Omaha.  I can say that the Prime Rib Au Jus was awesome.  Here’s the obligatory pic:

Mmmm … meat!

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We met this character in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He had the most adorable puppy / finger-biter … we talked about ligers and the problem of wolves eating livestock and wild elk and such. Apparently a big problem.

He introduced himself as “Cowboy Jim”. So does that make “Cowboy” his first name?