Lava Hot and Soda Springs

We met Merissa and her family the Wilson's at Lava Hot Springs. It was a great day. A little cool it seemed but not really. I think it seemed cool because the water was a bit warmer and so when you got out of the water the breeze stung a bit of coolness at first. We have forgotten our charge cable for our water camera so we haven't been able to take as many picture as we would like around the water(s). Above is Merissa with Sof and her niece Eliza.
Here is Sam with Makaylee (sp?) Merissa's niece. She's 9 and she and Sam had a blast. Sam in his ever suave social graces, trying to woo her I guess told her he wished he had brought her some gold. I guess he thinks he has to buy his friendships.
So after 14 years of coming/driving through Soda Springs ID we finally decided to stop at the hot springs geyser, mainly because Jason and Merissa "recommended" the restaurant which is right next to the attraction. The geyser erupts every hour on the hour due to a man made timer inserted. It was pretty cool as the onlookers could actually go up to the spouting geyser and touch it. (See Sam above) The bad news is the very hard water got onto the window shield of the truck and it is near impossible to get off and the food at the restaurant wasn't that good. We determined in the end their breakfasts would have been much better. But I think that's what Jason and Merissa recommended in the first place.

We are considering driving through Yellowstone park on the way home. It would add about 4 extra hours. I'm not sure I'm up for that mainly because we got to see a cool geyser and actually walk up to it and touch it. At Old Faithful the viewers are gated off about 200 feet. But I do love the Park so we'll see. Depends on the mental state of the entire family in the end.
Post eruption. Sofie timidly walking on the slightly slick travertine.
Too scared to touch by herself but wanted to feel the warmth of the hot springs
Below is a video of Sam and Jason jumping off the 2nd platform at Lava's pool. It is high. It may not look like it but it is scary. Thanks to Uncle Jason for stepping up for me as I was too scared to go myself. Next year Sam thinks platform 3!