July 11, 2025 | Day 22
Friday, July 11, 2025 | Day 22
Laramie, Wyoming
We slept last night at a Love’s travel stop on the western edge of Laramie. It wasn’t the quietest spot, but it felt safe and having a bathroom on hand all night made the occasional semi truck noise seem worth it. This morning we drove to Depot Park near downtown and ate breakfast burritos at a picnic table with a view of passing trains.
Carnival rides were being assembled in one corner of the park. The kids watched with curiosity and eagerness, but were ultimately satisfied with a ride on the playground swings. After wandering the park and watching trains rumble past from atop the Downtown Footbridge, we meandered into downtown where a street fair was underway with live music and vendors. We quickly learned the carnival and fair were part of Laramie Jubilee Days, the city’s week-long celebration of Wyoming’s statehood anniversary.
A bathroom break led us to the Wyoming Women’s History House, where the young woman working the desk warmly greeted us. She let us use the restroom, then offered me a fresh cup of coffee she’d just brewed in the break room. We chatted about our trip and she provided us with a long list of things to do and see in the area. She also gave us a quick lesson on Wyoming’s role in women’s suffrage—how, as a territory, it became the first in the nation to grant women the right to vote.
After lunch and a grocery stop, we headed east. At the Sherman Summit Rest Area, we topped off our water tanks and visited the towering Abraham Lincoln statue. Within minutes, the weather shifted from breezy to wild. Thunder, lighting, and a sheet of rain transitioned to hail right as we merged back onto the highway. We pulled over, certain the van was being destroyed by the largest hail we’ve ever seen. After fifteen minutes, the storm passed. We set off again only to hit more hail, finally taking refuge under an overpass while the last ice chunks fell. By some miracle, the van emerged without a single dent, and Kaleo napped through all the commotion. Not everyone was so lucky—later, while scouting campsites along Forest Service Road 700 near Vedauwoo Climbing Area, we met a couple whose car had major dents and a shattered headlight from the same storm.
We eventually landed at a dispersed campsite with stunning views. The storm cleared just as quickly as it arrived. We went for a hike, scrambling over the granite formations that make Vedauwoo so distinctive. Back at the van, we enjoyed a cozy meal, then Jonny and I worked worked while the kids watched a movie.
Surprise doughnuts!
