Leaving Wyoming on Route 22, you’re immediately ushered up into the Teton Mountains, climbing higher and higher, feeling the RV strain as it pulls its weight uphill while cars line up impatiently behind, looking for a chance to pass. Just before crossing into Idaho, off to our left, we saw a stunning sight — a sea of clouds and mist suspended between the mountains, like a cauldron of fog cradling the valley below. I reached for the camera but we couldn’t pull over. And that’s okay.
Some memories are meant to live only in your mind. Not on film, not on Facebook. Sometimes, those fleeting, unrecorded moments are the ones that stay with you the longest.
Idaho was a brand new state for both of us, and we decided not to push the drive too far that day. For most of our route, we found ourselves on the back side of the Tetons, and strangely, they looked different — less majestic from some angles, more remote and weathered from others. It was like seeing an old friend from a new perspective.
We chose another Harvest Host site for the night, this time in Rexburg, and parked at the Legacy Flight Museum (yes, I know — another parking lot sleepover, despite our earlier sketchy experiences). But this place turned out to be truly special. The museum honors the history of flight and military service, reaching all the way back to the War of 1812 and continuing through today.
Inside, we explored a carefully curated collection of wartime planes, memorabilia, weapons, field rations, dress uniforms, and personal letters sent between soldiers and their loved ones. One of the most touching parts was reading those letters and learning about the history of WASP — the Women Airforce Service Pilots — whose stories are often underrepresented. They also had a detailed exhibit marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Mission.
It’s one thing to view military aircraft up close — impressive in their own right — but it’s another thing entirely to read the intimate words of men and women who served, to hear their voices echo through time in their letters and photographs. What a gift to the community and to travelers like us, who appreciate the deep sacrifices made by those in our Armed Services.
It’s a shame that some people still believe everything should be free. In truth, nothing is free but kindness, and even that takes intention.
Oh — and in case you’re wondering — we survived the night in the parking lot. No weird knocks, no restless anxiety. Our curse is broken, and our faith in quirky overnight stops has been restored.