the turquoise trail

{idaho} I crossed the state line into Idaho and stopped off at the un-manned tourist info centre with very limited attractions to promote.  There was one brochure for some hot springs, so I headed off in that direction only to discover that they have very limited operating hours and were closed.  Most of my drive was spent passing by potato fields or cows.. Welcome to Idaho! Instead of a soak in the hot springs I settled for a walk around Idaho Falls, which is kind of a side-ways falls in the middle of a river.  It was very great place to go for a walk before I finished the last hour of my drive to Victor.  The last few minutes of my drive wound through the national forest, which had more deer than I could count!  I was glad they all remained unattached to my van. Idaho Falls So many deers... My arrival in Victor was also the arrival of the rain, which would follow me for the next several days.    I spent the night with Dana at her go...

{utah} It was a very short drive from Page across the state line into Utah, where I left civilization and gained cell service.  Utah has been high on my list of states to see for a while, so I was very happy to get across the state line and start exploring! Welcome to Utah! My first destination was Grand Staircase National Park, although I hadn't done my due diligence to realize that most of the park is only accessible by 4WD.  I stopped off at a little ranger station where Buckskin Gulch was recommended, so I headed towards that.  It was about 9 miles down a questionably drivable dirt road to the trailhead, where I followed wire pass through a dried-out wash into a slot canyon.  Not very far into the canyon there was a 8-foot drop over a boulder with the 'stepping stone' of a old log.  It was challenging to descend, but would prove more challenging to ascend.  The canyon was about a mile long before it came to a T, with the option of going to the l...

{new mexico} I crossed back into New Mexico in the late afternoon, too late to visit the tourist info centre & late enough to call it a night in the first town, Gallup.  I found a little asian restaurant for some well-cooked stir-fry, then found myself parking spot for a quiet night of Walmart camping.  Well, I think it was quiet - I was dead to the world thanks to the pain killers from the dentist... Welcome (back) to New Mexico!  As I was driving up to Albuquerque the next morning, the radio revealed that according to recent statistics, Gallup is the 15th most dangerous city for violent crime in the US.. fabulous.  It wasn't a place you'd choose to spend a lot of time, either way.   It was a couple hours from Gallup up to Albuquerque, where I headed to the old town district for a look around the historic square.  There was a wide selection of galleries and shops featuring native art, an old church & lots of adobe buildings with chile pep...