2018.09.19 - Winnemucca to Boise

Wednesday, 09/19/2018, we've left Winnemucca, NV and are headed to Boise, ID for a stay at the Snake River RV Resort in Homedale, ID. Originally, we were going to head east to Elko, then north on Hwy 225, cutting northwest to Homedale on ID 75 along the Snake River, but it prooved to be too long for one day.

We elected, instead, to head straight north out of Winnemucca on 95, a much more direct route. Since it was theoretically a shorter route, John decided that a short side trip thru Paradise Valley would be nice and would add only about 30 miles to the day's trip. We gassed up in Winnemucca and, within an hour took the turn-off to Paradise Valley. It didn't take long for it to sink in that everyone's vision of "Paradise" isn't the same. We were kinda thinking greenery and maybe some mountains. Alas, it wasn't to be.

  A side trip towards Paradise Valley, NV

When we turned off 95, the sign said it was only 18 miles to Paradise Valley. At about 10 miles into the side trip, we pretty much figured the town to be located at the base of the mountains in the photo above. Arriving in Paradise Valley, we found our "greenery" and a small town nestled at the north end of the valley. 

Entering the town of Paradise Valley

We made a slow cruise thru town and turned where the roadsign indicated 36 miles to Highway 95, just what the Google Map showed. About 2 miles out of town the paved road turned to gravel and headed up into the mountains on a serious set of switchbacks. "No dice", we said, turned around and backtracked the 20-miles to 95 the way we came in. We lost about an hour, but now we know the road to Paradise Valley. If we were driving a Jeep instead of a 36-ft motorhome, undoubtedly it would have been a worthwhile side trip. 

Hwy 95 towards Oregon & Idaho was pretty mundane. As you passed out of Nevada, into Oregon and evendually into Idaho, the scenery really didn't change much.  All high desert with views of distant mountains and long stretches of highway between. Rene found it a good time to catch up on some knitting, text messaging, etc. -  

Leaving Nevada, entering Oregon - A Welcome sign and fresh paving

Rene's "Windshield Workshop" 

At Burns Junction, we made the turn towards the northeast, headed towards Idaho. We stopped for lunch at the end of a State Highway Weigh Scale that was closed. Across the highway was a classic RV "resort" and Cafe that had obviously seen better days. Now closed and boarded up, it looked like it may have once been "the place to stop" in that there was nothing for miles in either direction. 

 RV Resort and Cafe at Burns Junction

After a trip thru some interesting canyon lands and lava capped mountains, we entered Idaho shortly after passing thru the Jordan Valley. Crossing into Idaho looked pretty much like entering Oregon, except, for whatever reason, they didn't bother with a welcome sign. We did get properly warned about Idaho seatbelt laws, so it wasn't entirely uneventful.  

We did stop at an overlook just outside Boise where you could see the entire Boise Valley. A couple on a motorcycle let us know that the view was much better at the viewing platform at the top of the hill, but it was getting late and we didn't feel that a hike was in our stars. After a 30-minute highway construction delay we followed a farm combine down the grade and made the final leg to Homedale and the Snake River RV Resort. It's right on the Snake River and our spot faced the river on a grassy lawn with full hook-ups. We're staying two nights with a day-trip (destination TBD) planned for tomorrow.

Boise Valley Overlook

       View out our front window of the Smake River

Happy Hour on the Snake River