Today's drive took us from Provo, Utah to Sun Valley, Idaho. Sun Valley is not Switzerland but if you had me close my eyes and had transported me here, there are a few things that would remind me of Switzerland.
This building could be in Zermatt. The Swiss love their flowers hanging down from window boxes, too.
The scenery from Provo, Utah to Sun Valley, Idaho was different from the day before.
We passed by Salt Lake City,which is the capital and most populous municipality of the state of Utah.
"Known as The Beehive State, Utah residents are revered for their hard work and community. And, like a hive that homes thousands of honeybees, Salt Lake City is full of diverse neighborhoods that more than 200,000 people call home."
"Salt Lake City is the world headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The city was founded in 1847 by followers of the church, led by Brigham Young, who were seeking to escape persecution they had experienced while living farther east. The Mormon pioneers, as they would come to be known, entered an arid valley and immediately began building, planning, and extending an extensive irrigation network which could feed the population and foster future growth. Salt Lake City's street grid system is based on a standard compass grid plan, with the southeast corner of Temple Square (the area containing the alt Lake Temple in downtown Salt Lake City) serving as the origin of the Salt Lake meridian."
You can just see the church spires.
The capitol building.
I think the area from Provo to Salt City City and a little beyond is like a long thin bowling alley with mountains on either side.
Salt Lake City is also a city with no zoning laws. Well, that is what I think. I see refineries next to apartments next to mining operations next to residential areas. Lots of pollution due to the high temperatures and an inversion layer. Also, I could not believe how many cars we passed that had California plates. I know many Californians are leaving and are moving to Utah, Idaho, Colorado or Arizona. Oh, Texas, too. Early this morning, we saw at least 6 moving vans with California number plates. They are expanding some sections of the highway going into Salt Lake City to 6 lanes. Welcome to the new California.
There are too many billboards!
We went past Hill Air Force Base.
The base was named in honor of Major Ployer Peter Hill of the U.S. Army Air Corps, who died test-flying NX13372, the original Model 299 prototype of the B-17 flying Fortress bomber.
We saw cattle grazing on the open range and cows in huge open barns. Of course, you have to have hay for them.
Mounds of hay are covered.
Fields of potatoes
Fields of corn
Trucks carrying sugar beets
The I. B. Perrine Bridge is a four-lane truss arch span located at Twin Falls, Idaho. It carries U.S. Highway 93 over the Snake Canyon, connecting to Jerome County and Interstate 84.
The Perrine Bridge is approximately 1,500 feet (457 m) in total length, with a main span of 993 feet (303 m) and a deck height of 486 feet (148 m) above the Snake River, it is the eighth highest bridge in the United States. The elevation above sea level for the bridge deck is approximately 3,600 feet (1,100 m).
The bridge is named for I.B. Perrine (1861–1943), who spearheaded the early 20th century irrigation projects in the Magic Valley region and is largely credited as the main founder of Twin Falls; a statue of Perrine is at the visitors' center at the south end of the bridge.
The Tesla charger is located in the visitors' center which is next to the bridge. Thank you Elon Musk for finding such a picturesque spot.
Snake River
There is a golf course across the river.
Popular place for boating and kayaking.
To the east, along the south rim of the canyon, lies the dirt ramp used by Evel Knievel when he unsuccessfully attempted his Snake River Canyon jump on the Skycycle X-2 in September 1974; the jump failed because of a parachute malfunction. The ramp where he made the leap sits on private property about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) east of the bridge and is visible from the bridge as well as various vantage points along the Canyon Trail. A memorial to Knievel is located near the bridge; it was dedicated in September 1985, at a small ceremony attended by Knievel.
The Perrine Bridge is a popular BASE jumping site known all over the world; it may be the only man-made structure in the United States where BASE jumping is allowed year-round without a permit Jumpers often use the nearby visitor center as a home base before and after parachuting from the bridge.
Watching them base jump
The first documented and video-recorded/photographed jumps from the bridge were in 1987, by three residents of Twin Falls (former U.S. Army paratroopers) who static line jumped the bridge using military surplus MC1-1B parachutes. It was done after a test drop of a 55-gallon (210 liter) drum in a T-10 parachute harness and canopy was used. Multiple successful jumps were conducted without incident or injury. In the early 1990s, bungee jumping and parachuting off the bridge gained popularity, but was still against the law; by the end of the decade, BASE jumping was legal. In July 2006, Dan Schilling jumped off the bridge 201 times in 21 hours to raise money for charity;Schilling was hoisted to the top of the bridge by a crane after every jump.
BASE jumping is popular in Mürren, Switzerland. (another nod to Switzerland).
We even came upon lava flows
We are happy to be at Sun Valley where it reminds us a little of Switzerland
Good night from the Sun Valley Lodge!
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