It's easier to "make time" when you're heading west, and even though our flight out of Philly left around seven-fifteen we were on the road in our rental by ten-fifteen Mountain Time; you gain two hours. Out of the airport in a 2014 Toyota RAV-4, left onto I-15, and into the desert. I took these pictures at the first rest stop.
A digression on driving in the West: the speed limit on the Interstate is often 80 mph. At one point I was going 87 mph and a guy passed me in a pickup pulling a horse trailer. They're pretty manly out here, and certainly crazy.
We got to the Idaho Falls Sleep Inn around two, checked in and did some repacking and resting, then headed out for our provisions. More on this later, but you're trying to buy just about as much as you think you're going to need for the ten days in the Park as it's a bit hard--and
much more expensive--to buy food once you're in. Between the Super Walmart and Albertson's, two ice chests, the paper products, food, and, of course, bear spray we spent about $200.
After provisioning, we ate dinner at Jalisco's
http://tinyurl.com/nf6tlhb and then walked in and around the greenway and parks along the Snake River, right across the street from the restaurant.
