- Road closed - a huge detour is necessary
- On the interstate through the vast expanse of Idaho
- Apocalyptic mood over the Craters of the Moon
- Spend the night in the car
After a frosty night with temperatures around freezing point and a training suit and hat in the sleeping bag, we head straight for the Oxbow Dam. After all, there is a long way to go today. The weather is splendid, the morning sun still casts shadows for a long time when we soberly discover that the planned road is blocked. Barrier down, Road closed! Unfortunately, our route can only be accomplished with a long detour. But first of all back the way we have driven so far and then to Enterprise, our starting point yesterday. We now have to bypass the extensive Hells Canyon to the south.
Due to time constraints, we decided to take the interstate from La Grande. We have to cancel the planned route to Stanley and through the Sawtooth Mountains. After an interesting and surprisingly dry start in Oregon, we headed over to Idaho, where the wasteland wins the upper hand. The land is flat overgrown with grasses and bushes and hardly offers anything worth seeing. The radio now provides entertainment.
After a refueling stop shortly before Boise, we reach the junction to the Craters of the Moon. The highway there is lonely and long. After a good ten hour drive and over 700 kilometers we arrive there. The weather is getting worse and worse, thunderclouds hang low over the country and there is an almost apocalyptic atmosphere. This fits in with the gloomy, lava-shaped landscape. We cancel the planned night in the motel due to a lack of alternatives and decide to put up with another camping night. Since heavy rain and wind would make camping on the roof at over 1800 meters above sea level very uncomfortable, we decide to spend the night in the car. With the seats folded back and in the sleeping bags, you sleep better than expected.
