Idaho Falls - with a twist

A first! I think I was able to upload a photo today. Actually, several firsts. One, following Margaret's appointment with the doctor (complete with two shots), we made a road trip. Second, it appears I was able to upload a photo. Too early to tell if this is unique event, or something I can count on. (I may have been premature in my joy - when I clicked on PREVIEW, it doesn't show the photo. Maybe needs more work?)

Anyway, today was a day of many "firsts". After a pretty good night (considering the temperature dropped into the upper 40's - guess they may have an early Fall), we went out to breakfast. Visited "Smitty's Pancake and Steak House" in Idaho Falls. Margaret went for the Swedish Pancakes and finished the whole thing. A good sign.

We started for the clinic and Margaret announced she was ready for a manicure / pedicure. Another good sign. An hour later, she was groomed and ready for the day! So off to the clinic. Bad news, her oxygen "exchange" rate - a measure of how congested the lungs are - was back to where she was on Monday. Not good. But she felt good.

So off to one of the local attractions - Mesa Falls - about 60 miles north of Idaho Falls. Actually two falls - lower and upper. The enclosed photo is the upper - more photogenically attractive - although both are pretty. The walkway, overlooking upper Mesa Falls, goes right along the river / falls. Good thing I'm not averse to heights (joke there!).

The river - officially the Henry fork of the Snake River - cuts through basalt at the edge of a lava flow / mesa at the north end of the Snake River valley. The water originates in West Yellowstone and starts out at 52 degrees (based on natural hot water springs in Yellowstone) and a result, never freezes in Winter! They were to have built a power plant here but never got the required permits. The falls here are 114 feet high. The lower falls, are only 60 feet but the walkways / overlooks never get closer than the canyon edge (so the photos aren't great).

Anyway, Margaret did well on our first outing following the diagnosis. She was able to walk to the overlook - didn't try for the lower walkway down by the river, because of the steep steps, thought it better not to try. After a short time in the car, she felt good. So if the doctor gives her a green light tomorrow, we may be off on Friday.

The nebulizer, she got yesterday, seems to working well. I think that after a round of double anti-biotic shots at the clinic, she should be ready to roll. After all, we didn't go farther today than we expect on any given travel day. It's the "return-to-the-clinic" for 3 more visits that is the deciding factor.

Folks here continue to be super. The couple (4 sites down from us) from Bradenton, FL, got their furniture today and are ready to move in. But the moving company messed up including breaking stuff and loosing a priceless antique. They are disappointed but expect to move in over the week-end. A side benefit of life in a RV - being able to live "away" from home until it's ready.

By the way, if you haven't already, run - don't walk - to the video store and get RV with Robin Williams. We thoroughly enjoyed it last night. We related to almost everything in there. We haven't made all the mistakes he made, although we were simpatico with him / wife talking to the GPS unit. He called his Lola - we call ours, Miss Prissy! But the conversations are the same.

Fortunately, I haven't had the black water sewage dumping episode, but I know what it could be like.

Hope you enjoy. Maybe I can figure out how to post some more photos. Margaret took some great shots of Suki-cat figuring out why I was cleaning the windshield!

later,
Wayne