tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36292622.post-44338996014883836702007-08-16T23:32:00.000-07:002007-08-17T00:14:33.836-07:00"THE GREAT BASIN-TAKING IT IN"P. HOLLY 8/17/2007<br /><br />BOISE IS PART OF THE NORTHWEST AND IT IS ALSO A ROCKY MOUNTAIN STATE.<br />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<br />NO WATER REACH'S THE SEA AND EVEN THOUGH THE SNAKE RIVER AND BOISE<br />RIVER DO REACH THE SEA THE GREAT BASINS SHEAR SIZE EXTENDS MUCH OF IT'S<br />TOPOGRAPHY,FLORA,FAUNA AND WEATHER RIGHT INTO THE BOISE CITY LIMITS<br />AND UP TO THE BEGININGS OF THE THE ROCKY MOUTAINS JUST NORTH OF THE CITY.<br />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<br />THEY ARE SO UNIQUE AND FULL OF BEAUTY.THE AREA'S EVETUALLY EXTEND INTO<br />FLATLANDS THAT SEEM TO GO ON FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES.PACKED WITH SAGEBRUSH AND EVAPORATED LAKE'S OF SALT.WHEN A NEW ROCK FORMATION<br />APPEARS IT TELLS THE EXPIERIENCED DRIVER EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE.<br />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<br />WORD:"DRIVE".AND IT IS IN THESE PLACES WHICH MANY WOULD DESRIBE AS<br />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".<br />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<br />HUNDRED MILES OR SO.I'LL TAKE IT.<br /><br />CAUTION:ALLWAYS HEED RULES FOR DESERT TRAVEL,WATER,FOOD,FLASHLIGHT,TOOLS,MOBILE OR 911 PHONE AND BLANKETS.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/36292622-4433899601488383670?l=peteholly.blogspot.com'/></div>P. Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385069241511180305noreply@blogger.com0