| Typist: Bethany Under an almost full moon and next to the roaring Popo Agie river, we got a great nights sleep at Sinks Canyon State Park near Lander, Wyoming. We woke last Friday morning, to the smell of sun warmed juniper and sage, ready to explore this awesome, dog friendly park. I had noticed last night, a pet waste bag dispenser at the campground pay station (next to a sign asking that dogs to remain on-leash at all times out of respect and for the safety of the park's wildlife.) There was also a dispenser and sign at the nature trail head. Before we even started our hike, I was in love with Sinks Canyon State Park. The hike started with crossing the Popo Agie river on a suspension bridge. Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley were very |  A sunny morning in Wyoming |
brave on the wobbling bridge. Brychwyn and Wilhelm took it slow but Huxley charged across. We followed the interpretive nature trail through wildflower filled meadows, stands of old conifers and soggy groves littered with aspen.
Um... is this bridge supposed to be moving?
Phew! We made it across!
 These stairs are better than that bridge |  Wildflowers smell great! |
Sinks Canyon
 Pines |  Aspens |
A cave on the West side of the canyon
 The trail was shady |  And breezy |
East side of the Popo Agie River, Sinks Canyon State Park
Not the bridge again...
No problem!
I didn't want to leave Sinks Canyon State Park. Of all the places we've visited and seen, this is one we absolutely must return to. Sinks Canyon is such a feast for the senses plus such fascinating geography and an amazing history. We only sampled a tiny bit of what this large state park has to offer and I am anxious to get back and explore more very soon. It is such a pleasant surprise to have discovered somewhere so wonderful on our journey. As I begrudgingly packed up camp to leave, 'R' Blood on the Tracks Boys did some more sniffing and exploring at our campsite on the edge of the Popo Agie river.
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The Popo Agie river running through a split rock next to our campsite at Sinks Canyon State Park
My disappointment about having to leave Sinks Canyon State Park was quickly forgotten thanks to a dog, of course. Surprisingly, this attitude change was not caused not one of my dogs (who also seemed to not want to leave Sinks Canyon) but by a border collie named Piper. As we exited the park, I pulled over to meet a nice couple from Lander who often ride to the park, taking turns carrying Piper in their bike trailers. Piper was a sweetie and the couple was so kind. They turned around to ride past me again so I could get a picture of "Piper doing her thing." This was a great moment that invigorated me for the long drive ahead but it also solidified our need to return to this great spot in Wyoming.
 Piper's mom and one of Piper's trailers- Dad and Piper are close behind |  Piper, loving the ride in the trailer with her dad |
Piper in one of her trailer's
Day five drive from Sinks Canyon State Park, Wyoming to Craters of the Moon National Monument to Twin Falls, Idaho, Cascadia: 481 miles
 Continental Divide wrestling | Our next stop was yet another amazing surprise. I pulled off the highway at a "State Historical Marker" to enjoy the view of the Wind River Mountain Range and the Great Divide Basin just before the Continental Divide. It so happened we stopped at South Pass State Historical Site, the stopping point for emigrants on the Oregon Trail after Fort Kearny. How cool! I started to wish I had planned following the Oregon Trail home to Cascadia but accidentally following was really fun. I enjoyed the 360 degree view while the dogs wrestled in between 360 degree sniffing. |
A lovely wind swept scene at South Pass with Wyoming on our "States I've Visited' shirts
We were having such a wonderful day I completely forgot that this was the other leg of our trip that we had been unable to make camp site reservations. Those of you who followed the planning of this journey across the country and back know that I was nervous about choosing stays in camp grounds that do not take reservations. But our stay at Sinks Canyon State Park had gone so well, I didn't think too much about our late evening arrival at Craters of the Moon National Monument. After all, their website says "the campground rarely fills, and finding a campsite is usually not a problem" and the ranger told me when I called "I have never seen it fill up." Well, it does fill up. They even have a "Campground full tonight" sign. I know because we saw it when we arrived. When the ranger at the entrance booth began to tell me "the nearest camping is..." I interrupted with "I'm not camping in an RV park. I have a small tent." Maybe she was going to tell me there was some fantastic new tree filled, no asphalt, tent friendly campground right around the corner but I doubt it. My trip planning research showed only 2 other "camping" options near the monument, and they were both poorly rated RV parking lots. That is why I had checked in with the monument about camp site availability. I wonder if the ranger who had "never seen" the camp ground fill up was working last Friday. I certainly hope she was and that other weary travelers will be spared being steered as wrong as we were.
So, surprise! The sun was low in the sky, we'd driven all day and were well over an hours drive from any lodging. Ugh. The dogs and I parked at an overlook of the monument and I called Jason. He was able to search options for what the dogs and I could do next. There was no lodging along our planned route West. We'd either have to back track or detour. We chose to detour to Twin Falls, Idaho. Jason called the Motel 6 and the Super 8 to check prices and pet friendly room availability. While he did, 'R' Blood on the Tracks Boys and I briefly enjoyed Craters of the Moon National Monument.
So, surprise! The sun was low in the sky, we'd driven all day and were well over an hours drive from any lodging. Ugh. The dogs and I parked at an overlook of the monument and I called Jason. He was able to search options for what the dogs and I could do next. There was no lodging along our planned route West. We'd either have to back track or detour. We chose to detour to Twin Falls, Idaho. Jason called the Motel 6 and the Super 8 to check prices and pet friendly room availability. While he did, 'R' Blood on the Tracks Boys and I briefly enjoyed Craters of the Moon National Monument.
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Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho
It was windy and dusty but the boys absolutely loved sniffing the lava rocks. I wish I knew what kinds of awesome smells those porous rocks held that had them so captivated but I was glad they were enjoying themselves. Once again, the happy, carefree attitudes of Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley lifted my spirits and what had been a frustrating situation for me, turned back into a fun adventure for us all. We were together in what was apparently the best smelling place we had visited on our whole trip. What else did we need?
Well, we did still need somewhere to spend the night. Jason liked the dog walk-ability sound of the location of the Super 8 Motel in Twin Falls better than the Motel 6. The Super 8 also had more reasonable pet fees. So he made us a reservation on the ground floor near the back door. It's a good thing Jason was able to get us that reservation because the sign said "Sorry" when we arrived. But before we went into our motel for the night, the fifth day of our trip West had one more fabulous surprise for us: a spectacular sunset and a stunning moonrise over the Snake river gorge, with the waterfalls of Twin Falls sparkling their way down the cliffs. Adventures are always full of surprises and we Cascadian Nomads definitely wouldn't have it any other way!
Well, we did still need somewhere to spend the night. Jason liked the dog walk-ability sound of the location of the Super 8 Motel in Twin Falls better than the Motel 6. The Super 8 also had more reasonable pet fees. So he made us a reservation on the ground floor near the back door. It's a good thing Jason was able to get us that reservation because the sign said "Sorry" when we arrived. But before we went into our motel for the night, the fifth day of our trip West had one more fabulous surprise for us: a spectacular sunset and a stunning moonrise over the Snake river gorge, with the waterfalls of Twin Falls sparkling their way down the cliffs. Adventures are always full of surprises and we Cascadian Nomads definitely wouldn't have it any other way!
 The Snake River |  Sunset over the Snake River |
Full moon in Twin Falls, Idaho
Goodnight!
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