Grand Canyon...Idaho...

What does the phrase “small town America” bring to your mind?

Grand View, Idaho qualifies as small town America. There are less than 500 citizens who live there according to the 2000 census. It is located in a glorious valley of the Snake River in Owyhee County. You probably don’t appreciate the beauty of a small town if you are busy or don’t like meeting people. One of our favorite places to find in a small town is the cafe that the locals frequent. In Grand View at the Y-Bar Cafe we found ourselves talking with a County Commissioner and a City Council member. Friendly, gracious and knowledgeable men.

Based on some of the things they told us we determined to take a side trip to visit the Bruneau Canyon.

It took us on the back roads along the Snake River which had been our original plan. The last 6 miles of the way were on a gravel road lined on both sides with these incredible sunflowers.

And

no the Grand Canyon is not in Utah, it’s still in Arizona. Bruneau Canyon is in Utah. Bruneau Canyon is 1,200 feet deep and 800 feet wide. It doesn’t really come close to the Grand Canyon in size but it’s still very impressive. During the spring run-off there are Class VI (not navigable) rapids along the Bruneau River. Shear drop off from a flat plain, the kind that Thelma and Louise drove off into nothingness. I don’t think it’s a place many people get to.

This is August and the spring run off is long past. The Bruneau River we saw was sluggish and low.

One of the things I enjoyed most was the air - a lovely clean sweetness permeated the air and it came from this shrub. Do you know what it is? I don’t.

My last two entries here have been slow to publish and initially show up without comments. That has resulted in some of you really early readers - especially Angelika - being unable to leave a comment.

If it happens again, I believe if you return sometime later (how much later, I’m unsure, perhaps 6 hours) comments will be available. I certainly apologize if it does happen again.

We do enjoy the road less traveled and Grand View, Utah & the Bruneau River & Canyon are beautiful places that are likely to see us again.