HARVEST HOST (ALMOST) & GOLF MT HOME IDAHO- July 2019

A first for us on our travels.  We decided to dry camp at a Harvest Host location in Mt. Home at The Desert Canyon Golf Course.  Probably not the best weather as temperatures was 100 when we arrived.  We were concerned about lack of air conditioning for Max (OK and truth be told - us too).   While we were talking to Mary Beth, our host about the heat, she asked if by chance we were Elks.   YES we said.( or maybe we shouted it).  "Well you are in luck " says Mary Beth, "our Elks Lodge has hookups.  And if you aren't busy tomorrow night, you can come to my husbands 65th birthday party at the Lodge."  Well, full hookups and a party hard to turn that down.

After "chilling" in the RV at the Elks that night, we played golf at Desert Canyon Golf Course.  This is a beautiful municipal course...but the greens were FAST ----speed of light fast.  But a beautiful day.

                                                           

Since we had time we decided to take a short drive to Brunei Canyon Overlook.  The visitor center said it was windy and somewhat rough, but with our Jeep it should be OK.  But whatever we did DO NOT TURN LEFT TOWARDS THE AIR BASE.   Apparently there is still bomb testing and things tend to drop from the sky. We finally found the road and after 30 minutes - they road turned rough - ROUGH - ROUGH.   We gave up the idea of seeing the overlook - but we did get a great picture of the Warning Sign.

                                                         

That night we helped celebrate Mike's 65th birthday at the Elks.  During the party, we met an older local Basque couple.   He had  interesting stories of the Basque migration and his family.

Coincidentally, there was a Basque festival in the adjacent park the next day.  We are familiar with French Basques as there is a large community in our hometown.  But Mt. Home was settled by Spanish Basques.  They emigrated from a region in the Pyrenees mountains(part of northern Spain and Southern France.  The local park has a beautiful hand painted mural of this region.  Next to mural is a fronton court.  Typical of their homeland.  The court is built with heavy stone and is 85 x 32 x 39.  The front wall resembles a Basque home in Spain.  The game of Peolota is played on the courts--players used either their hands or wooden panels.

               


Also in the park is a wagon used by the Base sheepherders...the FIRST RV (lol).  The husband of the couple we met at the Elks, actually lived in a similar wagon while his family herded sheep.   He had interesting stories and we were so glad we were able to attend the Basque Festival.....Living history and delicious lamb.

Next we are headed Northward to Boise and Lake Couer d' Alene....

                                             
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