Drive Home

OK so we already know I'm a little weird so this will come as nothing new. But, I LOVE THE DRIVE FROM PROVO, UTAH TO MERIDIAN, IDAHO. Most people consider it to be a pretty boring drive. This time as I drove up to Meridian I took note of those landmarks that I so love. I want to share that ride with you.

I'm skipping over Salt Lake and Ogden area. When the I-15 splits to I-15 and I-84 is where I'm going to start. Once you get on the 84 you drive less than 5 minutes and there is an old barn on the right side that is full of hay and falling apart. I love how it is situated. For the next several miles there are a bunch of old buildings that I love to see. I love to think about what it was like to live when it was in its prime.

The next trip marker is Snowville. I don't think I have ever seen snow in Snowville. It is a small little town in the middle of nowhere. I don't think I've ever stopped there but yeah.

One of my favorite parts is shortly after Snowville when the grass cover hills turn into a valley of either tall shrubs or short trees. I'm not really sure if they are trees or shrubs. But anway, the point is when I get to these beautiful (ok not so pretty) plants I realize I am almost in the great state of IDAHO!!! YAY! I love that sign.

Along this next stretch the road has been driven over so many times with little repair that there are wheel ruts where my car fits perfectly. Don't need to use your hands (I do use them). It is almost like being in one of those rides where you are in the car and just sit there.

While on this road there is a exit to another road called Juniper Road. Not sure why, but I love this road. I think it is a funny name.

The next point of concern is Sweetzer Summit. It is the highest elevation on this drive home at a whapping 5197 . I'm not sure how you pronounce it but I know to drive through this section very carefully.

The next town that I love is called Idahome. It makes me smile everytime I pass it because it reminds me that I am home in Idaho. Love it.

After Idahome is where the Dairy Farms begin. Cows on each side and everyonce and a while you get a nice whiff. Enough said.

The Snake River switches back and forth over a lot of Idaho and I love it when I get to cross it. That river is so stinkin' big! I wonder everytime what it would be like to float on it... I still wonder.

Midpoint/Gas Stop = Burley. Exit 208 (also the Area Code for Idaho). I like the Maverick because the bathrooms are nice.

As you drive on there is a hill on your right side. This hill is man made and as you get closer and closer you reazlise that on this hill is 2 water slides that the family who lives there has built. This hill is no small hill either. Talk about getting jealous.

The next town is Twin Falls. I sometimes stop for gas here. It is so much fun to drive over the huge bridge and look all the way down. I really like the water falls but it has been a while since I've seen them.

At this point the towns are closer together and there are TONS of farms of all kinds. I love watching the little planes flying over fertilizing the crops. In the city of Jerome there are TONS of cows and a huge Jerome Cheese Factory. I have always wondered if they give tours... I'll have to check on that.

Ok the next part is one of my favorites!! On the left there is a grove of trees. These trees are well known and loved by any BYU student that makes that drive from Boise to Provo. They are all in perfect lines and so much fun to drive by.

Once you get out of the farms and towns there is a lot more of the honestly beautiful plains. A new addition to this drive is the windmills on the southside of the freeway. They stand so majestic and tall. Love them!

Second to last marker of love is the Three Island Crossing over the Snake River. It is a little green valley in the middle of usually brown grasses. Right around here is the Little Valley Elk Farm. Another thing I would like to go visit... I think.

The last big marker is the Great Wall of Idaho. It makes me happy every time I drive over it.

I hope you have enjoyed my trip to Idaho. :D

Fourth of July Weekend

My family came in for the Fourth. My sisters were attending EFY and my parents were coming into town to pick them up. My cousins, the Lindseys, were going to spend a lot of time with us. We were all planning on all watching the Provo Freedom Festival Parade Saturday morning. In order to get a good spot we decided to camp out Friday night. On Friday I got to the spot outside of my apartment complex on University Avenue at 3:00pm. I had a lovely talk with the girl who was saving the spot next to me. 

It was very interesting to realize once again how much people love talking about themselves. If you truly want to "win friends and influence people" you need to let them know how important they are. By just listening to them and asking questions about them, they are drawn to you and consider you a very cool person. This is what happened with this girl who lives upstairs from me. I asked tons of questions about her and just let her talk. We didn't talk too much about me. And later she talked to my mom and she said how much she liked me.

We all went down to the Festival and walked around. It was a lot of fun. We sat and listened to two band/groups sing. The first was Brad Robins - a young attractive guy and the second was Jericho Road. Heather and I were on third row singing at the top of our lungs.

The camp out wasn't too great. I don't plan on ever doing it again. There were tons of people walking by our tent and the motorcycles kept going around and around. I think I got about 2 hours of sleep. Heather Lindsey and Chelsea Warren stayed out with me. It was a good experience and I'm glad I did it... but never again.

The parade the next morning was good. It started to rain part of the way through which was sort of fun. We then just spend the rest of the day with family. It was really fun!! I love spending time with family!