Went to Walmart for some shopping and lucked out that part of the parking lot was set aside as a pit stop for the American Solar Challenge. Universities from all over put together teams that build a solar powered car and then enter the 1700+ mile race starting in Omaha, Nebraska and ending in Bend, Oregon. Each team is allowed 45 minutes in the pit stop to recharge the solar panels, change drivers and work on race logistics for upcoming routes. They take off in the order in which they entered with exactly 45 minutes of rest. I asked does the lightest person on the team get to drive and they advised that every car must carry 160 pound passenger and if you way less that that they add lead pellets to bring you up to 160 pounds. Cars can go over 65 MPH but if they get a speeding ticket they are disqualified.
After lunch we drove down to Brueau Dunes State Park. Bruneau is often referred to as “Idaho’s Sahara” and includes a 470′ high sand dune which towers above the desert floor. Beside the large dune formation there are 2 lakes and associated marshes near the large dune. Probably more interesting than the sand dune was going through the Snake River Canyon and across the Snake River to get there. When they take that Snake River water and use it to irrigate the desert it turns into lush green farmlands, without the water there is nothing.
