Pictures of the Week 2010-9
Hello All,
We found Boise to be an extremely clean city of about 200,000 people. If you add in the bedroom communities surrounding it, there is a total population of about 600,000. It was easy to see why the “City of Trees” is known for having the heart of a small town--everyone is friendly.
Nestled against picturesque foothills, Boise offers residents an array of opportunities and a relaxed atmosphere that affords a lifestyle rich with possibilities, but with a lower cost of living than most metropolitan areas. It’s a place with affordable housing, minimal traffic and limitless access to the outdoors. Considered part of Idaho’s “banana belt,” the area’s moderate climate is pleasant year round. During the mild winter months residents often enjoy fifty-five to sixty degree weather while skiers twenty miles northwest of town enjoy a perfect powder day on the slopes.
Boise has a very active Basque community. There is a lovely area downtown known as the “Basque Block.” It is a focal point for Basques and non-Basques alike. It consists of restaurants, sidewalk cafes, clubs, museums, cultural centers, and a Basque market.
Basques first started arriving in the area in the late 1800’s. Many began working as sheepherders, as the land owners had a lot of sheep and needed workers. Some also worked in mining and logging. They were known to be honest, hard working people, and more and more came to the area as work was available. Numbering about 15,000, Boise’s Basque community is one of the largest such communities in the United States.
Dave’s high school buddy John is Basque. His father was one of the sheepherders that came over from the old country. He is very proud of his unique heritage. John and his wife Pam showed us around the “block.” Note in the following photos the beautiful flower baskets and how clean the area is.
We found Boise to be an extremely clean city of about 200,000 people. If you add in the bedroom communities surrounding it, there is a total population of about 600,000. It was easy to see why the “City of Trees” is known for having the heart of a small town--everyone is friendly.
Nestled against picturesque foothills, Boise offers residents an array of opportunities and a relaxed atmosphere that affords a lifestyle rich with possibilities, but with a lower cost of living than most metropolitan areas. It’s a place with affordable housing, minimal traffic and limitless access to the outdoors. Considered part of Idaho’s “banana belt,” the area’s moderate climate is pleasant year round. During the mild winter months residents often enjoy fifty-five to sixty degree weather while skiers twenty miles northwest of town enjoy a perfect powder day on the slopes.
Boise has a very active Basque community. There is a lovely area downtown known as the “Basque Block.” It is a focal point for Basques and non-Basques alike. It consists of restaurants, sidewalk cafes, clubs, museums, cultural centers, and a Basque market.
Basques first started arriving in the area in the late 1800’s. Many began working as sheepherders, as the land owners had a lot of sheep and needed workers. Some also worked in mining and logging. They were known to be honest, hard working people, and more and more came to the area as work was available. Numbering about 15,000, Boise’s Basque community is one of the largest such communities in the United States.
Dave’s high school buddy John is Basque. His father was one of the sheepherders that came over from the old country. He is very proud of his unique heritage. John and his wife Pam showed us around the “block.” Note in the following photos the beautiful flower baskets and how clean the area is.
Although it was a short visit
to the Boise area we liked what we saw and added it to our list of possible
places to relocate to.
After bidding our host and hostess farewell we continued on our journey west. Departing the area we backtracked on US-95 northwest to Cambridge, ID where we turned west on ID-71. We followed it all the way to where the road ended at the Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake River. It was an absolutely beautiful drive. We then backtracked to the Oxbow Dam where we crossed the river into Oregon. We followed the road on the Oregon side of the Snake River till it ended at the entrance of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. To go further into the canyon from this point you need a boat, raft, or kayak. The following are a few photos along the above mentioned route. It is an area we plan to come back to and explore more thoroughly some day.
After bidding our host and hostess farewell we continued on our journey west. Departing the area we backtracked on US-95 northwest to Cambridge, ID where we turned west on ID-71. We followed it all the way to where the road ended at the Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake River. It was an absolutely beautiful drive. We then backtracked to the Oxbow Dam where we crossed the river into Oregon. We followed the road on the Oregon side of the Snake River till it ended at the entrance of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. To go further into the canyon from this point you need a boat, raft, or kayak. The following are a few photos along the above mentioned route. It is an area we plan to come back to and explore more thoroughly some day.
The further you travel into
Hells Canyon the more rugged it gets.
Some day we would like to experience a jet boat ride deep into it.
We then backtracked to
Copperfield, OR, now Oxbow. It is known as Oregon’s most notorious “Bad” town.
It was a rowdy mining and railroad village whose population eventually reached
about 1,000 by 1899. By about 1910 rampant lawlessness prevailed. In 1914, the
Oregon Governor sent a dispatch by Miss Fern Hobbs, his secretary, with a squad
of National Guardsmen and a colonel in command, as enforcers, to close all
saloons, seize firearms, burn gambling equipment, clean up the town’s morals,
etc. Local officials refused compliance so Miss Hobbs, displaying an order from
the governor, declared martial law and within only 80 minutes closed the town’s
bars, burned the gambling houses, collected weapons then left her army as
security while she departed on the waiting train. After the guardsmen left,
nearly all the town suddenly burned.
About 20 miles south of Oxbow we turned north on a road to Joseph, OR. This road would take us through the Wallowa Mountains and the Eagle Cap Wilderness area. We would then follow OR-82 to La Grande where we had reservations secured for the night. However, our plans were suddenly changed when we came upon the following.
About 20 miles south of Oxbow we turned north on a road to Joseph, OR. This road would take us through the Wallowa Mountains and the Eagle Cap Wilderness area. We would then follow OR-82 to La Grande where we had reservations secured for the night. However, our plans were suddenly changed when we came upon the following.
Not to be deterred, we followed OR-86 to Baker
City where we intercepted I-84 to La Grande. We then took OR-82 to Joseph. It
was a lovely drive but also made for a long day as we had to backtrack to La
Grande for the night. While at Joseph we explored Wallowa Lake and park. It is a
popular camping destination for Oregonians and visitors from nearby states.
While at the park we stopped to take a photo of a young forked horn buck in
velvet. It was quite obvious that people had been feeding him, because as soon
as we stopped the car and Barb rolled down the car window to shoot the photo,
here he came!
He came so fast that we
couldn’t keep him in focus. We thought he was going to stick his head right in
the car!!
But after he figured out that
we were not going to feed him he was out of there--kind of looks like he has a
frown on his face.
We stopped to take a photo of
another nice four-point buck that wasn’t interested in us even long enough to
stop eating.
Seeing these animals up close
made for a nice conclusion to a long wonderful day of traveling.
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns