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The prelude to my Scotland trip began on Pi Day. My phone alarm went wild with weather alerts. “Get to a safe place!” For nearly an hour, I spent quality time in the basement with a book, blanket, and flashlight. The lightning ignited the sky like the 4th of July. Hail, however, was the main attraction. Some stones measured 1.5 inches in diameter with wind gusts of 90 mph. Miraculously, none of my windows were broken. Around 4 am, I crawled upstairs and went to sleep. I’d assess the damage later. Daylight came. Part of the barn roof was missing. I was debating whether or not to cancel my trip. No, I thought, the damage will be here when I get back. I left the house for the airport but didn't get far. The gate was blocked by a fallen tree branch. I tossed it into the woods. The next obstacle was a downed maple. Fortunately, a road crew was in the process of removing it. I barely made it to the airport in time for my first flight. Approach to the Newark New Jersey airport. The dreary weather didn't exactly paint the landscape in a favorable light.

November 23, 2024. Lake Garda and the Alps were my first glimpses of Italy. I flew United Airlines from Saint Louis (STL) to Rome (FCO) with a connection in Dulles (IAD). Amazingly, all my flights were either early or on-time .

Shoshone Ice Caves are part of the Black Butte Crater lava field. Over 12,000 years ago, a shield volcano erupted. Shield volcanoes form closer to the ground than other types of volcanoes. They are wider than they are tall. Their flatter shape resembles a shield on the ground, hence, the name. The Black Butte Shield Volcano created a lava tube after an underground eruption. Inside the lava tube, cold air became trapped causing ice to form. Today, the lava tube contains both roofed and collapsed sections. Shoshone Ice Caves are a unique part of this complex system. The caves are approximately 1,700 feet long, 45 feet in height, and 50 feet wide. Along the trail to the cave, visitors will notice bright yellow splotches of lichen in the rock outcroppings. The path is approximately 3/4 of a mile one way. In addition, there are 80 stairs descending into the cave for a total of 160 stairs to complete the round trip. I recommend wearing sturdy shoes because some of the surfaces are uneven. The temperature inside the cave was 28°F (-2°C) when I went. You'll need a coat or a jacket regardless of what the outside temperature is so plan accordingly.

August 11, 2024. August in Southern Idaho is similar to weather you might find in a desert. Mornings start off cool, but the temperatures quickly rise to near 100+ in the afternoon. The fact that it's a dry heat doesn't matter. It's hot, and you'll need plenty of water wherever you are traveling. The crystal blue skies that glittered in my Idaho guidebook were nowhere to be found. Instead, I experienced the milky haze of pollution from distant wildfires. To escape both the heat and the smoke-laden skies, I headed toward the Shoshone Ice Cave. A road sign advised me that it's "one of the great wonders of the world with over 20,000 tons of ice!" I was so busy reading the sign that I missed the turn and ended up at the Bear Claw Trading Post. They have a nice parking lot with bear statues. It reminded me of the touristy places that I used to visit along Route 66. Not to be outdone, the Shoshone Ice Cave parking area has a few quirky figures of their own. The first is a giant, alien green brontosaurus known as, "Dino," ridden by a cowboy caveman. Many visitors have their selfies taken with Dino. I was content to experience the scene from afar. As for the snake sign, I didn't see any. I suspect it's there to deter people from climbing on the statues. Another figure is the 10-ton Chief Washakie, a famous leader of the Shoshone people. He is the only Native American to have a U.S. military outpost named in his honor. The outpost is called Fort Washakie and is located near Riverton, Wyoming. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the lava people statues on the trail leading to the ice cave. They are mentioned in the book, "The Story of the Shoshone Indian Caves," by Russell Robinson. He theorizes that some of the lava people made their homes in the caves while others temporarily sought refuge there during storms. Besides rehabbing the Shoshone Ice Cave, Robinson spent a lot of time exploring other Southern Idaho caves. Some of the items he found included, "arrowheads, lances, beads, and pictographs." Visitors will want to explore the on-site museum and gift shop to find out more. The lava people statues are somewhat cartoonish in appearance and have not fared well being out in the sun. Their once brown skin now appears white. Their lower limbs look like melted wax. And the male figure has a 20th-century hair clip! Maybe it's to keep his wig from blowing away in the wind. Anyway, these time travelers are just another part of the experience. In addition to statues, there are a number of totem poles like the bright and colorful one below. Even though these figures have little to do with the Shoshone Ice Cave, they gave me something to do while I was waiting for the tour to start and before I descended into the ice cave.

After mastering the 80-stair descent, I found myself 100 feet under the lava. The first point of interest was the make-shift memorial where the bones of a prehistoric bear were displayed. The remains were discovered by Russell Robinson, the cave's previous owner, in 1963 after the ice had receded. A walk bridge crosses the icy lake. In the early 1900s, Olympic ice skaters would train inside the cave. Thanks to the abundant ice, the nearby town of Shoshone once won an award for the coldest beer in the nation. During the tour, I heard about several legends. The first one involves a curious 10-year-old named Alfa Kinsey who lived on a nearby ranch in the late 1880's. He was on a quest to find the lost family goat. Here's where the details get a little hazy. One states that the goat was standing on the ice near the cave's entrance where there shouldn't have been any ice. Another one claims that when Alfa found the goat, he noticed cold air pouring out of a small opening in the ground. I'm sure there's other versions of this tale floating around on the internet. Suffice it to say that the Shoshone tribe knew about the cave long before Alfa stumbled on it. To them, it was known as, "The Cave of Mystery." One of their legends claims that Edahow, the Princess of Light and Fertility, was buried in the cave under a mass of ice. The Evil Spirit of Darkness had lured her there. The Shoshone believed the ice would one day melt and free her. Well, they were right about the ice melting but that's another story. At this point in the tour, our guide directs our attention to a face in the ice. Could it be Princess Edahow or is it her rescuer? Is there more than one face? By this time, my imagination was running wild. So much so, that I actually found a jack-o-lantern in the ice. Alas, I have no story to go with it. Another area of the cave is devoted to people tossing coins into a pool of ice. One person must have thought about inflation and threw in a $5 bill. I just know that wish will come true. Lava stalagmites My favorite part of the ice cave was the gothic archway. Nature's architecture is truly amazing!

August 10. Magic Valley. Glenn's Ferry, Idaho. In 1869, Gustavus "Gus" Glenn built his ferry business to move people and wagons across one of the most treacherous crossings along the Oregon Trail. He succeeded in cutting 20 miles off the journey which is significant if you are traveling in a covered wagon! He also made the journey much safer. In 1871, the town of Glenn's Ferry was established. The Oregon Short Line Railroad and a post office soon followed. Today, the town has a population of 1,311 residents. Points of interest include: Three Island Crossing State Park, Oregon Trail History and Education Center, a giant quail sculpture, scenic overlooks, murals, and a quaint downtown area. If you get there past 4 p.m. like I did, the museum as well as many other places will be closed. California Quail sculpture, painted on a flat, wooden plank.  It was the creation of Carmella Vineyard owner, Roger Jones, and a local carpenter named, Rupert. California quail are native to Glenn's Ferry. I saw one at Three Island Crossings State Park. Alas, I wasn't quick enough. Apparently, quail don't pose for photos so the sculpture pic will have to suffice. 1931 marker.  It was dedicated to all the pioneers who crossed at Three Mile Crossing. The area was known for its three islands that were stopping points for people who forded the Snake River. Three Island Crossing State Park Sign Three Island Crossing State Park cont.  Scenic overlook, wagon, and museum Note: I only got to visit the inside of the museum and education center for two minutes because it was past closing time. An employee made sure he locked the door as soon as I left. Town Murals The fence looks like it's part of the mural. Grain mill backdrop. A train rumbled past right as I was taking a pic. Dining. My first stop was Beck's Rail House. Standard American Cuisine. A pepper-jack cheeseburger and fries tasted pretty good after a long flight and drive. And for dessert, I stopped in the Fudge Factory Grill & Ice Cream for Raspberry Cake.

Departing the ice cave, the heat was oppressive. After climbing 80 stairs, I needed a drink but had forgotten to bring my water bottle. The first thing to go was my jacket. We strolled past rocks, sagebrush, and a natural bridge. Suddenly, our group came to a halt. Someone had spotted a lizard. By the time I reached the same spot, it was gone. The Landscape Natural Bridge Lizard ahead! After completing the tour, I bought a geode inside the gift shop; and it was time to get crackin'. Evidently, I picked a geode made of steel. It would not crack. I did manage to pound all the dust out of the cloth. The tour guide observed my struggles and suggested I pick out a smaller one. I made the exchange at no charge. I fared better with this one. It only took me 100 or so tries. By that time, I had an audience. I gave half of my geode to a young girl who patiently waited for me to finish. The giftshop also sells mining bags where you can pan for fossils, gems, etc. I bought the fossil bag. It had a lots of shark teeth. Panning was tricky because of flies and wasps. They liked to land in the sluice area to drink the water and cool off. Unfortunately, the wasps had stingers. This added to the adrenaline rush of the entire operation. By now, the temps had soared to over 90 degrees. The wind had changed directions and the smoky haze that had been there in the morning was gone. It was crystal blue sailing the rest of the day. Additional Info: Shoshone Ice Cave is open seasonally and the hours can vary. It's best to check their website before you visit. Shoshone Ice Cave Website Address: 1561 N Highway 75, Shoshone, ID 83352 Tour Cost: Adults $15.00 (No discount for seniors.) Children $10.00 (4-12) Children 3 and under are free. Visitors should be aware there are no restrooms other than porta potties. Cell phone service is spotty at best.