The trip to Hells Canyon (Riggins, Idaho)

Our summer vacation this year was to Riggins, Idaho, which is in the Hells Canyon area.  Our rafting guide told us a neat story about the town and how it got it's name.  One night, two men were betting and one of the men, having no money left, bet his wife.  Sure enough, he lost and the other man expected him to pay up.  A fight broke out and the other man lost his eye in the infamous brawl in the region.  When a post office was built, a town name was then needed and they settled on Gouge-Eye after that brawl.  The US government refused to accept the name, and it then became Riggins after the first Postmaster.

photo from http://travellogs.us/2007Logs/Idaho%202007/83-Riggins/0930Riggins.

We had a nice drive through the Palouse region, and admired the greens, blues and golds of the country-side.  We like to enjoy the journey as much as the destination, and stopped off at antique stores and the Artisan Barn, which is a 3-story barn where several artists display their work and use as a studio.  We talked to some of the artists, including a lady who wove beads into interesting necklaces, such as one that I really liked which showed a leafhopper.  Apparently this genus of leafhopper was named after her Grandfather who had been an entomologist and discovered that particular species. We also saw the artwork of Carrie Vielle whose show we had just gone to in Spokane at First Friday.  She works in female figures, and I especially like her mixed media drawings.

Getting the roadtrip started in style

The scenery on the trip down 

The Artisan Barn, just outside the Idaho border

Justin posing by the wheel fence

Overlooking Lewiston, Idaho

We hit a huge torrential downpour at one point, and oddly enough, on our trip back, it was the only place where it rained again, albeit much gentler.  It made for some pretty pictures though.

The fog sets in and the rain begins

A random trestle in the downpour

Right after the rain.  We don't know what made that neon yellow color, but it was pretty 

More fog prettiness

Somebody's house? Rental property? 

When we reached the town of Riggins (population 410), we were surrounded by steep mountains and the Salmon River.  Our lodging, The Little Salmon Lodge, was just outside of town right on the banks of the Little Salmon River, and the staff were very friendly.  That night we played horseshoes and went down to the river to splash around before relaxing in the hot tub that overlooked the river.  We watched the bats fly around us, and eagerly awaited the next morning when we would go horseback riding!!

From the Little Salmon Lodge website