So we left Twin Falls and headed for 'Craters of the Moon' National Monument, just west of a little place named Arco, Idaho.
http://www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm
This place was awesome. Such an unusual lunar landscape. It was the training place of the Apollo astronauts for their rock collecting mission on the moon.
Furthering the children's Earth Science study - we had flown over the San Andreas fault line, which had sparked discussion about tectonic plate movement - we spent the day exploring volcanic eruptions and its shaping of the landscape. The park has a 7 mile loop drive, with stops along the way, encouraging people to get out and walk on clearly marked pathways to experience the environment. We walked up a cinder mountain "the pinnacle", looked into the mouth of a spatter cone, and walked through the remains of a lava tube, now a cave.
Once again the kids completed their curriculum workbooks, received an iron on patch, and were sworn in as park rangers at Craters of the Moon National Monument. The best bit of the swearing in was being able to wear a space suit helmet - well in keeping with the lunar theme.
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| Mr Oliver in the rocky field. Our RV in the background. |
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| The kids and spatter cones |
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| Trying to look into a volcano hole! |
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The park ranger getting Oliver to demonstrate being a seed in a crack, and Phi being a seed on rock - guess which seed does better
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| Helping Benedict as we climb out of a hole in the ground, exiting the cave |
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| Another 'crater' |
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"I don't need to hold your hand mum, only when I am on the rocks"
"What are we walking on Benedict?!" |
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| That is Oliver under the space helmet, with Victoria, being sworn in as Park Rangers |
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| Sophia under the helmet this time, with Benedict |
We are now in West Yellowstone and will be spending the next 5 days here. So much to explore in this area.
As far as the driving is going, all is good. Ken and I share the driving and are getting more comfortable with placement of the RV on the road every day. Highway driving is fine now, towns still create nervousness. It costs about $150 each time we refuel / US$4 per gallon.
We are now another hour ahead (Mountain time).
