Day 15: Bruneau Dunes State Park

David wakes up at 6:30 and we all gradually get up and are on the slopes around 8:30. It is only now that we realize how huge the lava landscape is as we drive miles past the black earth and the craters. However, this part is not accessible to visitors. We have about 200 kilometers ahead of us. After a few kilometers, Rene and I switch driver seats. I am allowed to drive this big camper with my Class B driver's license in the USA, but due to my lack of driving experience with such large vehicles, I have so far refrained from doing so. With such a good driver like Rene, why should I? Now I am behind the wheel. Fortunately, there is a straight road ahead of me and very few cars. I drive about 90 kilometers. Mostly straight and few intersections. Gradually, I get used to the size. The steering has a lot of play, which is quite tiring over time because you have to steer the wheel with both hands. I didn't have to park or drive in reverse. Let's see, maybe I will drive again.
We arrive at Bruneau Dunes State Park at 11 a.m. The special feature, as the name suggests, is the large dunes in the park. From a distance, it looks like a gravel pit as it doesn't quite fit into the landscape. We borrow a sandboard and want to glide down the dunes with it. I carry David and Rene the sandboard. We walk up the small dune about 60 meters, which is very exhausting. When they reach the top, Erik and Rene slide down on the board. They are fast and sand comes flying towards them from below. So, they keep their mouths shut. Now they have to go up again. I thought it would be easier. The second ascent is even more difficult, and then they rush down again. This time with sunglasses for protection. They can't do a third ascent anymore, as the slope is too steep. So, I walk along the ridge on top and they walk below. We hope to find a less steep slope a bit further on. I also want to glide down. Rene and Erik struggle up once more, and I get ready for the descent. Unfortunately, the slope is not steep enough, and we get stuck several times. Erik also falls off several times, so there is no real joy. After that, we can't pick up speed anymore. We stall every few meters. It doesn't work alone either. Finally, we give up exhausted. We then walk 600 meters to a small lake. There is also a larger dune about 120 meters high, but we don't feel like it after the hikes of the last few days. Now we want to go back to the car, which is about 1 km away. Erik refuses to walk any further in the middle of the way. I can now understand my parents well because as a child, I hated hiking and staged several protests, even refusing to walk altogether. I'm sure they wished back then that I would also have a lazy walker. Erik complains loudly until we reach the car, and Rene puts him down again. He is so tired that he falls asleep quickly. Unfortunately, David wakes up on my back after his nap and refuses to sleep. So, we relax a little in the car. By the way, we find out that there is also a Junior Park Ranger program in the state parks. Now Erik has one more badge. His vest already has 5 badges. We now attach a hook to Erik's fishing rod and try to catch something in the lake. Only algae gets stuck, so we quickly give up. In the evening, we barbecue and enjoy corn on the cob. Many birds live here in the park and chirping can be heard everywhere. There is a strong wind blowing all day, and now we are sitting outside and it's as if someone has turned off the wind.