Stanley, ID

This place had the best huckleberry milkshakes. The dog is asleep, not dead. And he did not move once while I was taking his picture.

Challis Lanes, Challis ID

Historic St. Mary's Mission -- Stevensville, MT

Random Pictures from the Trip

All of these were taken somewhere in Oregon

Ice Cave Ranch

And some apparently abandoned property has its own story. I ran across this fascinating development on I-93 in Idaho. This is Dugout Dick's Ice Cave Ranch (not to be confused with the Shoshone Ice Caves). For a while, Dugout Dick, who built these homes into the side of a mountain, rented them out for $5 a night. Reportedly, Dugout Dick, who is 92 years old, has been institutionalized, and the hillside homes are no longer for rent. Many in the community apparently consider these to be an eyesore, and I can't say I blame them, but it really is something to see.

Abandoned Property

One thing you see a lot of if you take a road trip through California, Oregon and Idaho (and probably other places as well) is apparently abandoned property. There are deserted and broken down houses everywhere. It's so curious to me -- who up and leaves their property to rot? Living in an area and a socioeconomic category where owning a house is so deeply valued (even when it makes no sense), it's amazing to see a house abandoned, falling down from years of neglect. There must be some deep psychological meaning behind my attraction to abandoned property, but it really fascinates me.

Back in Oakland

I am (mostly) happily back in Oakland. It was a great trip, and I'm not looking forward to going back to work, but I am happy to be back in my own space.