"THE GREAT BASIN-TAKING IT IN"

P. HOLLY 8/17/2007

BOISE IS PART OF THE NORTHWEST AND IT IS ALSO A ROCKY MOUNTAIN STATE.
BUT IT'S LARGEST INFLUENCE IS THAT OF THE GREAT BASIN,THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD;FOR IT STANDS JUST AT THE EDGE OF THIS GIGANTIC MASS OF LAND WHERE
NO WATER REACH'S THE SEA AND EVEN THOUGH THE SNAKE RIVER AND BOISE
RIVER DO REACH THE SEA THE GREAT BASINS SHEAR SIZE EXTENDS MUCH OF IT'S
TOPOGRAPHY,FLORA,FAUNA AND WEATHER RIGHT INTO THE BOISE CITY LIMITS
AND UP TO THE BEGININGS OF THE THE ROCKY MOUTAINS JUST NORTH OF THE CITY.
EVERYTHING TO THE SOUTH OF THAT IS BASIN COUNTRY.ENORMOUS ROLLING HILLS AND STEPPE'S OF SAGEBRUSH,THE HOT DRY AIR-GIANT OUTCROPPINGS OF STRANGE ROCK FORMATIONS THAT SEEM CARVED BY SOME ANCIENT ARTIST AS
THEY ARE SO UNIQUE AND FULL OF BEAUTY.THE AREA'S EVETUALLY EXTEND INTO
FLATLANDS THAT SEEM TO GO ON FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES.PACKED WITH SAGEBRUSH AND EVAPORATED LAKE'S OF SALT.WHEN A NEW ROCK FORMATION
APPEARS IT TELLS THE EXPIERIENCED DRIVER EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE.
I FIND THIS LAND TO BE STRANGELY SPIRITUAL.THE LONG STRECHE'S OF ROAD THAT SEEM TO GO ON FOREVER WITHOUT SINGLE TRACE OF MAN/WOMAN OR ANY CIVILIZATION.LIKE A MEDITATION ONE'S MANTRA BECOMES THE SINGLE
WORD:"DRIVE".AND IT IS IN THESE PLACES WHICH MANY WOULD DESRIBE AS
NOTHINGNESS THAT A CETAIN SPIRITUAL BLISS CAN BE FOUND.THE MIND TURNS OFF IT'S RANDOM THOUGHT PATTERNS AND FOCUS'S ON THE ONE:"DRIVE".
IT'S QUIET.THERE IS NOT A SOUL FOR MILES.SOMEWHERE ABOVE THE SILENT HUM OF MY JEEPS ENGINE AND THE GRACEFUL RADIENCE OF MY FOUR BRAND NEW TIRES-I'M GLIDING ALONG AND I FEEL GOOD.AT PEACE.IF ONLY JUST FOR ANOTHER
HUNDRED MILES OR SO.I'LL TAKE IT.

CAUTION:ALLWAYS HEED RULES FOR DESERT TRAVEL,WATER,FOOD,FLASHLIGHT,TOOLS,MOBILE OR 911 PHONE AND BLANKETS.