Unexpected Invitation

No real agenda today, other than to wander and explore the area around Hagerman, which includes Thousand Springs State Park and Hagerman Fossil Beds.  Looks like several things are worth checking out there.  Even though it’s actually in the wrong direction; we’re driving east instead of west, there’s a few things in the Twin Falls area we’re looking to investigate also before heading back to the Boise area.

It took us about an hour to drive to the area, then we made a bunch of stops to check some things out.  Our first get-out-and-hike stop was at Malad Gorge State Park.  Set on the rim of the Malad Gorge, several stops along the drive in the park offer great views of the Gorge and the Malad River below.  A footbridge crosses the gorge right next to the Interstate 84 bridge, and we commented that people driving on the Interstate probably never realize this is here.  This is part of the Thousand Springs area where water just gushes from everywhere in the canyon walls.

While I was flying my drone to take these pictures, a guy came across the bridge and struck up a short conversation about flying drones, and about people who kayak over the Devil’s Washbowl waterfall far below us.  He then walked the rest of the way across the bridge and started talking with Deb.

After I landed the drone, I came up to Deb and this guy, who were talking about Frank Lloyd Wright houses.  Their conversation had turned to FLW and when Deb mentioned that we usually try to visit any FLW houses in the area when we travel, Henry told us he lived in one, located about three miles away from here.  He also invited us to come for a tour.

So a half hour later, we found ourselves at Teaters Knoll, a FLW house we didn’t even know existed, being given a tour by the owner, who we chance-met on a foot bridge in an out-of-the-way state park.

We always find the FLW homes fascinating, and this was no exception.  One thing that contributed to the wow-factor of this home is that it is perched on a cliff overlooking the Snake River, probably one of the few FLW homes built to capture this sort of scenery.

We spent almost two hours talking with him and looking at his home.  Henry is an unassuming guy who obviously loves the architecture and loves this home, as he has lived here for 40 years. What a treat to get a personal tour.

As we have lived in a very small space for nearly four weeks, we really didn’t have much to show our appreciation.  Deb had the idea of grabbing one of our jars of Michigan Cherry Salsa and giving that to him as a token of appreciation.  Since he is originally from Midland, Michigan, he appreciated the gesture.

We later found out that he is the great grandson of the founder of the Dow Chemical Corporation in Midland, and, being an architect himself, is both an author and a sought-after speaker on the subject of Frank Lloyd Wright.  His uncle was an apprentice to FLW and a mentor to Henry.

This was the highlight of the day and all happened through a chance meeting on a bridge.

We visited a couple more sites. The Hardy Box Canyon Springs, which is the 11th largest spring in the nation.  More water gushing forth from the ground.  So much water, it has its own canyon.

And Ritter Island.  The actual island is only open between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but this area is surrounded by waterfalls gushing forth from the canyon walls.

We were there literally until the cows came home.

Unlike up in the mountains, there’s not a whole lot of places to camp.  We found a place, at the fairgrounds in Filer, just west of Twin Falls, where we are now parked on a large expanse of grass behind all the arenas and empty animal barns.