Hilgard Junction State Park and Three Island Crossing State Park.

Tuesday on the road by 8 am for the short drive to Pendleton for a little shopping and then less than an hour more for our destination today of Hilgard Junction State Park. A very small rustic park that we stayed at 3 years ago. A great place for Freya with lots of grass. It is below the highway so a little noisy, but fairly quiet overnight. Only drawback is no cell coverage but for one night, no problem. We are now in the land of flies ... they are everywhere. Fortunately with the breeze they were not too bothersome sitting outside. The fly swatter inside is getting lots of use. lol

No one here but us at the end. 2 other campers plus camp host.

Freya enjoying splashing in the river.

A lovely little river called the Grand Ronde the Oregon Trail had to navigate over.

We enjoyed a lovely afternoon in the sunshine and went for a nice walk through the park.  The thermostat says 80 F. Actually had to sit in the shade. Ray had a toes up for a while to ease his back while I started a campfire. They have wood here for $5 a cart full. Once the sun started setting it got quite cool so in we went for dinner. 

This morning we woke to temps outside of 38 F as we are over 4,000' in altitude. 

On the road by 8 am to the Three Island Crossing State Park. I have wanted to see this park since reading about it on Wheeling It's blog. A beautiful park with lots of gorgeous trees. They have an interpretive centre regarding the Oregon Trail but it closed a few minutes before we went to check it out. Another time ...

Site 77

Look who's driving! lol

Three Island Crossing was the most important and difficult river crossing in Idaho. Crossing the Snake River was always dangerous, but when the water was low enough to negotiate, everyone crossed who could, to take advantage of the more favorable northern route to Fort Boise. During high water, most emigrants were forced to travel along the South Alternate route into Oregon - a dry, sandy, dusty, and hot trail that wore out man and beast.

On September 11, 1843, William T. Newby ". . . crossed Snake Rive[r]. First we drove over a part of the river one hundred yards wide on to a island, the[n] over a northern branch 75 yards wide on a second island; then we tide a string of wagons together by a chane in the ring of the lead cattles yoak & made fast to the wagon of all a horse & before & him led. We carried as many a[s] fifteen wagons at one time. . . . The water was ten inches up the waggeo[n] beds in the deepe places."

Walk along the Snake River's edge, there's this old ferry for the crossing left to rot.

Looking back at the Interpretive Centre

The ferry crossing with the trail going up the left side of the hill.

You can see the old Oregon trail up from the flats up the mountain.

Showing 1 of the 3 islands mentioned.

Ray and I are on Mountain Time now so an hour ahead. We actually made until 9pm to go to sleep. lol Both of us getting over this damn flu/cold. It was considerably quieter to stay here than our last few stops.

Thursday morning we were up at 7 am and on the road by 9. Temps were chilly overnight at 42F. It wasn't long before it started to climb with sunny skies. Short run today into Twin Falls to the Twin Falls 93 RV Park. It used to be good sam but not now unfortunately ,,, did not find out until we checked in. Oh well, need to get the laundry done and get our TV system working.