"You're livin' in your own Private Idaho, on the ground like a wild potato" - the B52s

"It's like going to Idaho and eating carrots -- I like carrots -- but not when I'm in Idaho!" - Jerry Seinfeld

I have no idea what the B52's meant way back when they sang that song in the early 80s, but for the 8 hours or so I spent in Idaho, I did seem to have the state mostly to myself.  And the Seinfeld quote has no relevance whatsoever except that it mentions Idaho.  To be fair, I did not visit the southern part of the state which contains the leading cities of Boise, Pocatello, and Twin Falls, but rather, cut through just below the panhandle on US12, then up to Moscow before entering Washington.  My plan was to follow the Lolo Trail -- where Lewis & Clark had to ditch their canoes, buy horses from the Indians, and make it across the mountains to the other side -- definitely the roughest part of their journey.  Again, read the book, it's fascinating.  As soon as I crossed the state line, I saw the following, which was my favorite road sign of the whole trip...

Every day may not be a Winding Road, but this one was... (Mile 7041)

The Lolo Trail Crossing Marker... (Mile 7044)

I pulled over several times in this beautiful wooded wilderness.  This is what it looked like...

The Clearwater River in Idaho (Mile 7077)

And once out of the woods, the historical significance was not lost on the local business owners (Mile 7130)

After the 77 miles of winding road plus a number of other small towns, the forest turned into barren golden hills, and the temperature shot up to about 103 degrees.  At the Washington border, where the Clearwater River meets the Snake River, are the twin cities of Lewiston and Clarkston (cute, huh?  they schlep across the whole continent, and what do they get?  a town named after them in Idaho??)  Anyway, I found the towns unspectacular but after passing through, going north on US95, I suddenly, unexpectedly climbed a couple of thousand feet up Lewiston Hill for awesome views of the surrounding countryside.  Breathtaking.  A dramatic scenery change from a few hours earlier, dry, golden rolling hills in every direction.

Views from Lewiston Hill (Mile 7224)

Idaho has Amber Waves of Grain, Big Time...

Just 20 or so miles up the road was the town of Moscow, Idaho (Mile 7262) -- another college town -- home to the University of Idaho.  School hadn't started yet since it was still the middle of summer, and the pretty little town was very quiet and very hot.  I walked around town and campus for a bit, bought a t-shirt at the bookstore, and I was off!

On to Washington!!