hot tubs in state spud

lava hot springs, lava, idaho

having not gained my sea legs on this trip yet, i had to make a stop between carson hot springs and lava hot springs with a brief rest at a motel 9 in elko, nevada. (it was actually a motel 6, but roadside prophets has brainwashed me. bottle rockets, motorcycles, and john cusak playing a pirate is an excellent combination for a movie.)

my favorite freeway billboard that i had seen so far had a picture of the statue of liberty holding up her torch and it read:

battle creek, nv
voted armpit of america
washington post

we didn't think you were looking!!

the town of lava hot springs, idaho, bases its entire economy on the fact that they have a ~lot~ of naturally fed mineral hot water. it's not really a bad gig when you think about it. the town is super tiny and the main street can be easily walked from one end to the other in a span of five minutes. along the way, you'll pass a small market, a couple stores full of native american art and/or pewter d&d wizards, as well as a bar or two. you might pass a few obnoxious kids, but they're only obnoxious because there's nothing to do in the town except for harassing tourists wearing badly fitted swimsuits.

one thing i've already learned on this trip is that hot springs attract hippies. you can see evidence of them everywhere, from tie dyed bits of fabric to purple crystals and patchouli wafting from underneath awnings. bathing in the glory of mother earth's waters always seems to have that appeal to the new agey as well as the nouveau agey crowd.

home hotel, located in lava hot springs, is a great place to stay if you find yourself in the area. it's on the side of town that has the geothermal pools (as opposed to the other side of town which has the spring-fed olympic swimming pool.) and for a pretty reasonable rate, you can get your very own room for the night and a private mineral soak in your very own unbelievably large bathtub. the room itself is pretty small and consists only of a bed and worn down tv, but it won't matter because you'll find that you spend all your time in the bathtub anyway.

next to the ubiquitous gideon's bible in the hotel room, there is a 'lava hot springs guide,' which is essentially a binder with xeroxed fliers of the small number of local businesses to patronize. the 'community' page lists an impressive five houses of worship. this is matched by five meeting places and times for gatherings of alcoholics anonymous, one meeting for each day of the week.

there's ads for trap shooting events, gator tube rentals, wagon rides, and a ranch that will cater to your deepest cowboy city slickers fantasies. one local inn states that 'we are an actual working barn and are able to accommodate your large animals for a fee. with four stalls inside a warm barn, they will enjoy the stay.'

tempting, but i think i prefer the hot tub.

<05.08.04>

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