Rain and dry waterfalls

Today was a REALLY rainy day. We drove 260 miles and it didn't stop to rain once. It got very bad on the last third of our trip to Pocatello, in Southeast Idaho. We mostly used Interstates and were able to drive 80 mph most of the time, but, unfortunately, didn't see much of the landscape, just noticed that there were feed lots for cattle, dairies and grain fields on our way.

Our first stop was in Twin Falls, respectedly at the overlook above town. The famous Shoshone Falls were rather disappointing: just a little trickle of water instead of the massive waterfall we knew from pictures. Apparently, due to the Shoshone Falls Expansion Project, the water of the Snake River (pic) is only fully flowing April to October (at least that was what the sign said).

Idaho is a state of only about 1,5 mio. people, tourism isn't really a main economical factor, though the state is very conveniently situated and borders different states: Washington and Oregon to the West, Montana and Wyoming to the (North)East, Canada to the North and Nevada and Utah to the South. Right now, in the Southeast corner of Idaho, we are only about two hours driving time away from Salt Lake City and about three hours to Grand Teton (Yellowstone) National Park. The influence of the Mormons already becomes noticeable in more "temples" in this area, and, the church also operates the unique (though a little weird) Museum of Clean in Pocatello. This museum serves to sell the idea and value of Clean, to put Clean in the minds of all: clean lives, clean homes, clean language etc. It was closed on Sundays.

Pocatello is a city of approx. 55.000 people, named for a Shoshone chief and surrounded by the Fort Hall Shoshone-Bannock Indian Reservation. It is known as the “Gateway to the Northwest” and pioneers, gold miners and settlers traveled the Oregon Trail and passed through, followed by stage lines and the railroad. Unfortunately, the Fort Hall Replica is only open in summer and we were just able to peek in and see the grounds (pic). The Fort was built on the Oregon and California Trails as a small outpost on the banks of the Snake River in 1834 and was operated as a trading post in the wilderness. Also, the closeby Bannock County Historical Museum was closed, as well as the Sandpiper Restaurant, an Idaho institution. Not our day today!

To console ourselves, we drove from Pocatello's little downtown to the Portneuf Valley Brewing (PVB) - in some sort of warehouse/industrial district, not too easy to come across randomly. Owner and Brewer Penny Pink opened it at the current place in 2002 and now it's a comfy place with great pizza, great beers and live events three times a week. PVB has ten beers on tap among them one rotating Seasonal and one Brewers Special. We especially enjoyed the Shady Side Black IPA - a pitch black American-style IPA. Our medium size "Meatlover's Pizza" (pic) was too much to eat for the two of us, so we got a box and it'll be lunch or dinner tomorrow.