Random Pictures of Nevada and Idaho

In addition to the large load of Instagram pictures I took with my phone, I also had my camera with me. Most of my pictures were taken from a moving car with slightly dirty windows, so they're not my best photography ever. I just wanted to capture how...tedious Nevada is. I used to just say "ugly" but I think tedious is a better word. There are actually some beautiful aspects of Nevada's scenery. They just...don't change much. And I saw real, true tumbleweeds crossing the road in front of us, and my share of dust devils.

Let's just say I'm still very much in love with my gorgeous California.

Idaho is slightly better, but there's not a tremendous amount of compelling scenery until you get to the Snake River Gorge.

Anyway, I took lots of pictures, got some great sign pics, and even a few duck pics. Here they are, in all their streaky-window and sometimes blurry glory.

First, the early-morning drive over Donner Pass...

I've never seen it foggy up there. Rainy, yes, but not foggy.

Into Nevada...and through Nevada. And more Nevada...

Taken because I'm a music nerd.

There are some pockets of pretty in Nevada.

Approaching Reno.

East of Reno.

There's a lot of this in Nevada. A. Lot.

At least traffic is light.

Something new! Mountains!!

Taken from a gas station parking lot.

Nevada isn't even the biggest US State, but it feels so endless.

More Nevada...

Finally, to Jackpot, near the Idaho state line.

It's not huge, but it's happenin'.

Finally, we got to Idaho. Twin Falls is in the southern part of the state, thank goodness.

A lot of abandoned old houses and barns along Highway 93. 

As flat as parts of Nevada, but at least there's some green. The sky goes
on forever.

Into Twin Falls.

One section of the highway in the southern part of
Twin Falls had TONS of great old motel signs. I was
scurrying to get pics of them all.

These old neon signs are fantastic.

Camo building.

That's one way to make tea. Yes, I brought my own teabags with me. It
tasted vaguely of coffee.

I texted my friend Shae from Target. I was feeling tired and morose. She
suggested I buy something silly and useless for myself to cheer me. I found
this. Now that I'm home, I've painted him and christened him Tater Swimmy.

Thursday had very little time in the car, so the pics are better.

I got this one as we headed to Jerome for the funeral. Aaron and Co. live
in Jerome, which is just north of Twin Falls, across the Snake River Gorge.

She had some sweet friends.

Leaving Jerome.

After we returned to the hotel, I walked over to the Snake River Gorge visitor's center to get some pictures. It was a mile walk along a busy highway (on sidewalks! I'm not that brave!!). Semi trucks were breezing past me at 55 miles per hour, which was disconcerting to say the least. But it was worth the walk The views are amazing, even in overcast weather.

This bridge is huge. The gorge is very deep, so this is impressive building.

So much of Idaho is flat, then this. It's breathtaking.

And treacherous.

It was windy, so I held on to Cali. He enjoyed the view, though heights
make him nervous.

Self-portrait of a lady and her duck on a windy afternoon in Idaho.

Another shot of the bridge. And the drop.

My camera's zoom is awesome.

The Idaho flag and Old Glory.

Looking back at the viewing platform where I took many of my pictures from.

We went to dinner at Outback, which is right next to the visitor's center.
After dinner, Mer, Trish and I went out to look at the view.

 Friday morning found us back in the car, heading south towards Nevada again. There had been rain in the night, and we caught a few sprinkles along the way.

Idaho Joe's, caught at the last possible second.

I couldn't remember which signs I'd managed to get on Wednesday,
so I took some duplicates.

The next several pics were really taken to get the clouds and the sunshine.
The sky is huge in the western states.

A lot of agricultural business in Idaho...

Storm clouds.

Where the storm ends.

Nearing Nevada--the snowy mountains are in Nevada.

Finally, back to Nevada, for more tedious hours of crossing a large chunk of the state. Dad drove from Twin Falls to Wells. I drove Wells to Winnemucca (about 180 miles). Mom took Winnemucca to Reno, then Dad took Reno to home.

All the times I've driven across Nevada, I've never managed to get this
sign picture. Finally.

Welcome back to Jackpot...

I was about 1.5 seconds too late hitting the button.

This little pocket of human life in the middle of absolutely nowhere. I
cannot imagine living there.

Getting closer to Wells, where I took over.

Coming into Wells, Nevada.

While Mom drove, I sat in the back where it's harder to get decent pictures (tinted windows). I cranked the seat back and had a quasi-nap. Mostly fitful dozing and listening to music with my eyes closed. When we got to Reno I was so dazed that at first I didn't realize there was a man in the women's restroom (he was checking the stalls for toilet paper, etc.) I just stood there dumbly, rubbing my eyes, 'til he left.

In Reno.

You have no idea how happy I was to see the word Sacramento on a road
sign. That means we're getting closer to California.

Boomtown

Nevada has casinos, smoke shops and fireworks shops. (And I just noticed
you can see the reflection of my phone in the window.)

Finally, finally, we were back in California. Hallelujah! I'm a California Girl in my heart. You can take me out of California, but I'm always going to feel like a big blue lib in a place like Nevada or Idaho.

I only took iPhone pics in California, and those, of course, are in my Week in Instagram post from yesterday.