My day actually started at 1:30am when the fire alarm in the motel went off. I hurriedly threw on clothes, grabbed my bags, opened the door and smelled nothing burning. I hung in my doorway as people lazily sauntered around looking for the fire. There was no fire. There was a dusty heater that hadn't been turned on in months that set off the alarms. Joy. Back to bed.

The theme for today is Basque. After being denied Basque food last night, I was encouraged to seek out Basque breakfast. Alas, it was not to be. half a cup of bad coffee, or should I say continental breakfast jolted me down the road as I passed the same closed restaurants. Yesterday was Hwy 80. Today was a new one for me Hwy 95. What a beautiful drive.

Hellie in Winnemucca

Wildflowers in Oregon

to get from Nevada to Idaho you have to go through Oregon, though looking at a map you would wonder why. Nevada and Idaho share a border. After hundreds of miles cruising at 80mph, Oregon is a different story. 55mph and you better stick to it. So I did.

You know those ear worms you get? One of mine for a number of years has been the B-52s song and theme from the movie Your Own Private Idaho. I haven't actually heard the song in a long time, but during the drive, I played a playlist (a mix tape for those you who are romantic about such things) that Justine put together for me and that song popped on about 20 minutes from the Idaho border. Perfect timing alone on the road to Idaho. Who the ho? I the ho. It's just so much fun to say.

Welcome to IDAHO

Boise is fascinating. the downtown is awesome. A State capitol, a big college town, and Northwest spirit. Great shops, cafes, restaurants, you name it. 5 minutes outside of downtown Boise is SPRAWL with a capitol yuck.

Idaho State House

Gurnika Bar

After lunch I wandered around downtown and found their park which is about to undergo a centennial facelift. Justine I wish you could have seen it. It looks like it should be really nice. The onle thing that the park already has and I hope they are keeping is a beautiful rose garden. Huge. I was a bit confused by the drano blue fountains (water features, right Justine?) so I grabbed a picture of them. I took a picture of a rose, but only Justine gets to see it, cause it's for her.

Blue Fountain

I'll drive over to the couch surfer's I'm staying with in a little bit and fill you in on what happens with that tomorrow. I was going to stay in Boise tomorrow, but I think I just did the whole town in half a day, so maybe I'll hit the road.

Ha! I went a whole post without mentioning Burning Man. Oh crap. Well, here's a picture of me eating some corn from yesterday

Corn on a stick

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written by  JRadhirsch on September 2, 2008 from Boise, United States
from the travel blog: The Great American Road Trip
tagged Basque, Notburningman and Drano
Send a Compliment

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I spent two months in Boise opening a store in '96. My favorite area was "Little Basque" and I rarely went anywhere else to eat during that time. I'm totally happy you're blogging your trip, and find I look forward to each entry!

written by  Melissa Hoobler on September 2, 2008

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I was sharing a virtual bite with you as I was eating my corn tonite. Yummy

written by  jrad's mom on September 2, 2008

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yay for idaho! :)

written by  RA on September 2, 2008

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maybe they want you to know their water is clean? and also undrinkable?

written by  cara on September 2, 2008

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Oh! Wildflowers and lonely trees! Oh! False start fire alarms! Oh! Water features spewing diluted drano! Oh! My Own Private YouDaHo! Oh! Basque food YUM! Secret roses just for me! *melt*

I also am immensely enjoying the backdrops of whatever is behind what you are taking a picture of. Such as the restaurant behind that yum Basque food.

written by  Justine Smith on September 2, 2008

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Purty flowers in Oregon :) And I'm enjoying Idaho as well (never been there...until now...via this amazing technology called a "blog").

written by  the Zote on September 3, 2008

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