SHORT STORIES OF LIFE ON THE ROAD---Part 3

THE BEST REST STOP IN AMERICA?? MACKAY IDAHO

An eight star rest stop: 1. It's free  2. Has water 3 A dump 4. A beautiful view 5 Phone service 6. Internet access 7. Quiet 8. Close to town

Don't know why they do it---but it's much appreciated

Small town--We walk its entirety--chat with it's deputy'

He declined to be photographed---the cop killings in Vegas fresh in his mind.

Thank you Mackay

Salmon Idaho campground with a great show behind my rig. A mother osprey with 3 chicks.

We stay a few days enjoying the drama.  The father flew in with a small fish.

Days are hot---90+ and mom shields her 3 chicks with her wings.

A fish wheel---whose purpose is to protect fish---specifically baby salmon--on their way to the ocean.

This complicated and expensive machinery is necessary because farmers and ranchers along the river dig canals to divert water to their fields and pastures.  Too often the small fish headed downstream mistake the diversion for the main channel and end up dying in a field.  This machine prevents that. 

 here's how :   Tiny salmon who swim into this canal (from the left)are channeled by these vee positioned  stainless steel tubes to a focal point where they are swept into a tube that sends them back into the main channel.  Water flows freely through thousands of tiny holes in the tubes and then makes it way to the large water wheel----- turning it with enough power to sloowly rotate the steel tubes.

Here's a single wheel version perhaps easier to grasp.  Water is flowing from right to left--turning the paddle wheel which rotates that rod---which slowly turns the perforated cylinder.  The tiny salmon fry are shunted into that notch on the right and down a buried tube.

and out this pipe back into the river.

(damned clever contraption )

The steel cylinders get clogged and must be cleaned occasionally.There are hundreds of these all along the Salmon river---many versions for special situations---and PAID FOR BY THE BONNEVILLE DAM.

I'm fascinated by hermits.  Years ago I met this one and paid 2 dollars for a tour of his cave.  He played his guitar and sang me a song.

So imagine my surprise to see him featured in the Salmon Museum.

PREVIEWS OF COMING STORIES.  AN EMU EXPERIENCE---VISIT TO A LABYRINTH--I CHALLENGE MYSELF TO SPEND THE NIGHT ALONE IN A VERY SPOOKY PLACE.