Summer Adventures {Lost River Valley}

That girl of mine did it... she passed her driving test somehow AND the written test - good thing I taught her that a blinking red light does not mean to stop, turn around and find some other route to drive, because that question was on the test and had she missed one more...   

Anyway, this meant the girl needed something to drive.  Not that she couldn't drive my car, but I didn't want to be stranded.  We shopped around... do we get a car for her or a car for me and give her my car or a car for the husband and give me his truck and the girl my car?  What to do???  

Then we test drove cars and I found just the one I wanted... a 2013 Buick Lacrosse with 14K miles on it in black - the color I wanted the least, but... it was that or something that didn't ride like a dream!   I haven't yet managed to take a picture of it - soon.  And no, that girl of mine doesn't get to drive it.   

Like, ever.  

BUT... the next day, the husband had to drive to the dinky land of the Lost River Valley for work.  At least I think that's what it's called.  So, the new car and I tagged along while the girls headed next door to babysit their cousin.  

One of the worlds most boring drives has to be across the desert from Idaho Falls to Arco.  It's nothing but sagebrush .  I pity the hundreds of people travel this route every day to work at the INL.   Once you reach the other side though, the Lost River Valley is rather beautiful, dotted with cute little towns such as Arco, Moore, and Mackay.   

I could live there - except I'd quickly tire of that long drive to civilization, I'm afraid. 

First stop - the clinic in Mackay.  We were there all of 15 minutes, just long enough to take a picture of this here street light.  It is by far, the most interesting thing in Mackay.    

 Just what every new car needs to experience on their first road trip with me - driving through a cattle drive.  So much for that wash job the dealership had done.

 Second stop was the hospital back in Arco, at the base of number hill.

I'm not really sure what these numbers represent... graduation years or perhaps sports numbers.  The lowest number I saw was 23, and it looked like it had been painted recently, not in 1923.  But... the hill is full of numbers.

 The valley to the south of the hospital.

 Really, there wasn't much to see on our little drive, although, I know there is a LOT more to see in the Lost River Valley - besides Aunt Karen, who he ran into at the hospital.  Perhaps sometime when the husband isn't going there for work, he can take us out there to some of the beautiful country he grew up hunting on.

On the LONG drive home, the husband had to do a little work on his iPad, so he actually let me drive.  I never get (or want) to drive.  He quickly discovered one reason he likes to drive... riding is boring and he just doesn't have the attention span for it.  So he took pictures of my  new ride and pestered the driver.

Miles traveled:  215

Next up:  Windmills