July 10, 2025 | Day 21
Thursday, July 10, 2025 | Day 21
Afton, Wyoming
Today we said a bittersweet goodbye to Afton and to “BeBaw” and “MeMaw”—the names given Ty and Andrea by their own grandchildren, and now affectionately used by Xiomara and Kaleo. True to form, Jonny couldn’t pass up a good photo opportunity, even at an ungodly hour. Before sunrise, he photographed Ty on a trail run, capturing the quiet beauty of dawn and the dedication of a man who is not only a devoted coach but also an accomplished ultra marathoner. Together, they met up with Valerie for a second shoot. As a heptathlete, Valerie competes in seven demanding events; today’s training with Ty focused on javelin and shot put.
We closed out our time in Afton with farewell ice cream at Shumway Farms. Coming from Tillamook, Oregon—a dairy town with its own famous creamery—Jonny has unshakably high ice cream standards. Shumway Farms passed with flying colors. We loved it so much we picked up two pints to go. Our giant fridge/freezer combo in the van is already proving to be an MVP on this trip. From there we rolled east toward our next destination, stopping at Fossil Butte National Monument. The exhibits were fascinating, but the real standout—at least for my sense of humor—was the surprisingly extensive collection of fossilized poop on display in the bathroom. Dinner was a quick Taco Bell stop in Rock Springs before we pushed on towards Laramie.
