Last Days in Twin Falls

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Today Ron and I are going to visit a friend of ours who lives here in Twin Falls.  Back in 2011 when Ron and I were vendors, we met Gordon and Susan Harris who were Idaho Good Sam State Directors.  They asked us to come to their Samboree here in Idaho the next year.  We attended the Samboree as vendors and then traveled to Twin Falls to take in the sites.  Gordon and Susan graciously took us up to Sun Valley, Stanley, the Hemingway Memorial and Redfish Lake where we spent a wonderful day enjoying the sites and getting better acquainted.  We have kept in touch ever since but not had a chance to get back up here until now. 

For the past two years Gordon had been suffering with pancreatitis (a disease we know about first hand since Ron had the same thing back in 2002).  Unfortunately, Gordon lost his battle with this terrible disease in February.  We were so sad to learn of his passing and want to spend some time with Susan offering our sympathy and support as she goes through this difficult time without Gordon. 

Since Gordon was a charter member of the Model Railroad Club here at the Fairgrounds, Susan asked us to stop by the building to see what Gordon had been involved with and to see his trains.    The two gentlemen working in the building this morning mentioned that they missed Gordon’s presence and took the time to show us Gordon’s trains which are still on display.

We picked Susan up at her house and went together to have dinner at a local restaurant.  What a wonderful visit we had catching up on things since we last saw each other, talking about Gordon and their life together  and observing how well Susan is doing.  She is a strong woman and is already doing very well on her own.  It was wonderful to see you, Susan.  We look forward to keeping in touch and hopefully seeing each other again one of these days.  What wonderful people you meet on the RV road. 

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers in our family – My wonderful husband, Ron Ballard, Kent’s father; my children’s father, Wilbur Birchler, the father of Bill and Laurie; my son Bill Birchler, the father of Ariana and Sarah; my son in law, Kyle Taylor, the father of Kaylee and Garrett; my nephew, Matthew Avellar, the father of Carson; Kyle’s Dad, Robert Taylor; and my Dad, John Avellar ; my brother Jack Avellar, Matthew’s Dad; Ron’s Dad, John Bickford;  and my daughter in law Lisa’s Dad, John Franchini, the last four all deceased though nonetheless very missed.   Thank you for being the great Dad’s you all were and are. 

Today is our last one in Twin Falls and we have just spent it relaxing, cleaning the RV and doing a bit of shopping.  I have not mentioned anything about the city of Twin Falls so thought I would include some info and pictures of attractions taken on a previous trip.

Twin Falls, located in the south central part of Idaho, has long been the center of 500,000 acres of prime farmland irrigated by the Snake River.  It has been known as one of the nation’s most prolific crop producing regions.  The city sites atop the basalt cliffs some 486 feet above the Snake River Gorge and is obviously very rural. 

The city is on the south side of the river and the freeway on the north so one is crossing the river to get into town and to leave.    The Perrine Bridge is a four lane bridge with a pedestrian walkway that allows you a view of the cliffs and river below.  

Perrine Bridge

This is the only place in the United States where BASE jumping from the bridge is legal every day of the year without a permit.  Jumpers from all over the world jump off this bridge which is 475feet above the Snake River in the gorge.  We park in the Visitor Center and walk under the bridge to the east side where others like us are watching the people on the far side of the bridge getting ready to jump.   Several minutes pass before we see two different jumpers leave the bridge.  Below on the ground is a target which the jumpers are aiming for and manage to arrive at.  Below there is also a boat, presumably waiting to pluck a jumper from the river should he/she miss the target and land in the water.  Exciting to watch but not to try.

  

Leave the Bridge to drive down another steep road to Centennial Park (owned by the city of Twin Falls) and a golf course.  A lovely park with covered picnic tables and a view of the river nearby.  We can also see the Perrine Falls which drop down from high up on the side of the cliff.

Perrine Falls

Signing off until we reach Boise