the journal

The Olympic Village is a short drive from Salt Lake City and up several thousand feet.  Once you get there the place is totally impressive – even in the summer.  The coolest part was the swimming pool training facility for ski jumpers.  Many ramps provided beginners to advanced an opportunity to practice their skills once they descend into the pool at the bottom.  But wait, what happens if you land on the water and it’s calm like glass.  Well, you really hurt.  So this pool has an underwater piping system that breaks the fall by shooting air to the surface and making a major bubble cushion.  Little tykes about 5 or 6 years old were trying the jump.  Athletes from the Australian Olympic team were there and a summer camp was going on.  We visited more of the park with a tour that allowed us access to the top of the jumps and luge track.  Yes, these people are out of their minds.  The track carries bobsleds, luge and skeleton sleds that can go up to 90 mph.  The ski jumps were unbelievable.  Just look at how far it is to the ground.  Not for me.  Finishing our tour we visited the museum at the village and there were phenomenal photos from the 2002 Winter Olympics.  But the best thing I saw were the huge puppets used in the opening ceremonies.  Really great place to see.

Just a short 10 minute drive up the hill from Olympic Village is the charming town of Park City.  That photo on the top is from the window of a fur shop on the main strip.  Park City is also the home of the Sundance Film Festival but I didn’t get to see Robert Redford.  We just had a great lunch and walk about. 

Boise was such a cool city.  I really loved the art influence and of course our hotel.  I picked this hotel because of the photos I saw on line.  Yes, they have MY chairs.  The design of the transformed Travelodge was fabulous.  The bedroom was cutting edge modern, the bath had a fully tiled shower stall that had a shower head built in the ceiling and a really modern square sink.  The short walk we took in the evening brought us to “Donnie Macs Trailer Park Cuisine”.  Indoors and outdoors with live music and the best decor ever.  I perused the art and culture activities in the local newspaper kinda like our “Creative Loafing”.  It was a full schedule of visual and performing arts that would have kept me busy for a while.  Debbi and I took a walk in their “Hyde Park” neighborhood.  This charming section of town is like Tampa’s with great old houses and tree lined streets.  Can you tell that I like Boise?

What was I thinking.  Am I this rugged outdoors girl with no fears. NOT.  The night before our trip we had a meeting with the head guide to let us know what to expect.  We got lessons on how to pack in our waterproof bags, where to eat in the little town of Cambridge and what to expect on the river.  Oh, and by the way, they warned us of the poisin ivy and RATTLESNAKES.  I think I could have cancelled on the spot but talked with the woman in charge and she let me know how rare it is but just be careful.  So a good night sleep and off we go to the Snake River in Hells Canyon.  Our first day we have several Cat IV rapids and they were totally fun.  The rafting in the paddle boat was really great and Debbi was in the front.  There were six of us and our guide (Jeffrey) in that boat with others in kayaks and on the oar boat.  Our campsite was cool and the meal was great.  But the highlight was playing cards with my Elliot, Stephen and David, the young guys on the trip (10, 17 and 22 years old respectively).  Elliot’s dad also played with us and we had a ball playing poker, “I Doubt It” and other card games.  Oh, but I wanted to tell you about the guide’s little practical joke.  Before dinner when I was sitting in the “dining room” he tried to convince me that a snake was on the ground behind me.  I knew he was just joking so I ignored him until he, frustrated that I wouldn’t look, went a picked up the snake to show me.  Even though it was a rubber snake I freaked out, called him a really bad name and threw a chair at him.  So much for the first day.

After camping on the river we were off to a great day of rafting, swimming and georgeous views.  It was lots of fun and our paddle boat had a new guide.  This time we had Eli and he introduced some new games to the trip.  Elliot rode the front of the boat holding on to the rope as we went over the rapids (mild ones of course).  His dad Tom tried as well and they both had a great time doing so. I wanted to try the kayak but fell into the river where the current was really strong.  The paddle boat had to come and get me as I floated quickly away.  Second time being really scared.  But the campside was fabulous on the rocky beach.  We skipped stones for a long time while sitting on the water’s edge in the folding chairs.  Another great night under the stars.