Events of Thursday, July 15, 2010

 Today, we woke up early and got right to showering, eating breakfast, and getting ready to leave our campsite at the Hagerman RV Village. We checked on the four baby birds we found yesterday in the grass, and found them with mouths open for the food that mama bird brings. The smallest bird was back huddled with its siblings so we were relieved.

 We started out at the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument’s Visitor’s Center and learned not only about the 200 fossils found in the Hagerman, Idaho area, but also went through an exhibit on a Japanese American Internment Camp that was located  outside the nearby city of Minidoka. After the visitor’s center we went on the scenic drive/tour of the monument. We went on a few brief hikes and learned that the Oregon Trail also passed through Hagerman Valley.

Then, we started the drive to Minidoka. On the way, Mom spotted a mysterious sign and sent dad into a shop to find out about it. He came out with a mysterious looking plastic box and put it into the freezer. Hmm? We stopped to have lunch at Centennial Park in Kimberley, Idaho. There were really nice grassy hills with big trees and rose bushes, (and sprinklers, Mom got really wet! It seems the arc of the sprinkler hit the door of the RV just as she opened). We had a little picnic, then hopped into the RV and started driving again.

 

After a while, we reached Minidoka, Idaho. We learned a lot about the situations of the internment camp – how the families were separated, how the Japanese hierarchal family structure was disrupted, how their loyalty was questioned and how they made so much out of nothing. And as Abby said, “It was really depressing.” It was kind of sad, but the mood changed when Daddy brought out the mysterious box ………. POTATO ICE CREAM‼ The spoons were passed around and we all dug in! (We had left the ice cream scoop at home – it didn’t meet the criteria of having a dual purpose). Potato ice cream is surprisingly delicious and refreshing, but left an interesting after-taste. But this taste of the local “culture” was definitely the highlight of the day! We jumped into the RV again for the 3 hour drive to Salt Lake City, Utah.

After dinner at our KOA campsite, we took a shuttle to the Conference Center in Temple Square, Salt Lake City. When we arrived, we went into the huge building and listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They were rehearsing for their hundredth year of recording and they sang a lot of good songs. Ben’s, Daddy’s, and Mom’s favorite part was an organ solo where the organist  did some impressive stuff with his feet. Caitlin, Abby, and Lindsey liked all of the pieces that they knew, especially an African song called ‘Betelehemu.’ We then hopped back onto the shuttle, or an 11 person van, and all of us kids sat in the back together. We swam in the campsite’s pool until 10 pm and then showered down and went to bed after a busy and exhausting day full of potato ice cream and singing!