Day 5: Arco to Lava Hot Springs, ID: Sputnik to Spudnik and Taking in the Waters

Today we left the nuclear town of Arco, ID and headed to Lava Hot Springs, ID. On the way through Blackfoot, Mr. B spotted a sign for the Idaho Potato Museum. Now, don't laugh. Yes, we did it visit the museum seeking some comic relief. However, in the end, it turned out to be a really nice small-town museum. Whoever put the exhibit together did a first-rate job and made the subject of potato interesting.

The potato is indigenous in the Andes Mountains of South America. The Spanish brought it to Europe in the late 1500's. Europeans then brought potatoes to North America in the 1620's. It's here in Idaho that Luther Burbank developed the Russet Burbank potato that we know and love today. The average American eats almost 43 pounds of potatoes annually. The facts go on, but I'll let you discover them for yourself when you pass through Blackfoot, ID.
Just a hour or so past Blackfoot is Lava Hot Springs. Our campsite is a beautiful spot on the Portneuf River.

The river goes through the town where inner-tubing is a big summer activity, but it's the year-round activity of "taking in the waters" that got us. Mr. B can fill you in on this.
Mr. B signing in. After a lovely evening by the fire with a Padron and some WhistlePig (100% Rye Bourbon, highly recommended if you get the opportunity) I will insert a few pics. First, since we are on the topic of "taking in the waters", here is a picture of the hot spring facility.

There are several pools, flowing downhill from hottest (112F) to coolest (102F). I had to "man-up" by the end and take in the hottest waters. It was just me and about a dozen Japanese tourists who showed up in a tour bus. The Japanese are SERIOUS about taking in the waters. Nikko-Style! I am the Onsen King.
So we got to see some trees, and the colors are coming in here in the gorge we are staying at. The picture on the left is the view from the RV sight. The other is slightly upstream and looking down the path of the river.

So, all in all, an epic day. Very touristy, but so far our "found" adventures have all been good surprises.