“Hello, this is Coddy” I answered with all of the happiness I could muster.

“Hi Coddy, this is Sharon with Aspen Grove” a woman responded. “It sounds like you are having a rough day, but let’s make the most of your situation. I really think this is… what is the word… serendipity!”

“Serendipity?” I questioned, “Like a happy accident?” the frustration in my voice was so palatable that it caught me off guard.

“Exactly!” she replied, “a happy accident.”

That was the first conversation that I had with Sharon who turned out to be a beam of sunshine in what had been an absolute cloudy day. 

Our day started out like any other. It was a travel day, so Bryon and I woke up early, packed up camp and made our way into Jackson, WY to run some errands before making our way 20 miles to our next stopping point. 

Everything was going smoothly until Bryon noticed that our dashboard was lit up warning us that something was not quite right under the hood.

After a few minutes of debating what to do, we realized that we were going to have to take the van in to a mechanic – which meant we would need to find a hotel or Airbnb to stay at so that we would have a place for the dogs. Also, it was a Sunday, so no auto shop was open. 

To make things worse, Jackson is an incredibly expensive city. The cheapest accommodations we found that were dog friendly were about $350/night.

After hours of searching for a more reasonably priced place to stay, we came across Aspen Grove which had dog friendly cabins for rent for about $100/night. It was an absolute steal, but it was an hour and a half away from Jackson. 

With no other options, we decided to book a two-night stay and make our way 80 miles west to Aspen Grove. 

When we were about 30 minutes away from Aspen Grove, Sharon called to confirm our booking. She was excited to have us and was optimistic that our stay was going to be serendipitous. As previously mentioned, I was a bit frustrated by the time she and I spoke, but her cheerful disposition encouraged me to see the glass as half-full. By the time we pulled into Aspen Grove, Sharon had taken it upon herself to reach out to mechanics in the area and had a list ready of places that we could take the van to – something that we were beyond grateful for!

As if that wasn’t enough, Sharon even offered to loan us one of her vehicles so that we would not be stuck at the mechanic all day. 

Both Bryon and I were floored by Sharon’s kindness and her determination to help us in our time of need. We will never forget what she did for us and can only hope to pay it forward. 

What was more astonishing than how well we were treated was the realization that we were not getting special treatment. We quickly learned that Sharon and her husband approached all their guests with the same gusto and compassion that we were welcomed with. 

While Sharon’s approach to helping her guests is reason enough for anyone to stay with her, Aspen Grove itself is icing on the cake. This all-inclusive oasis is tucked away near Snake River in a small town called Rigby, Idaho. The campground provides incredible amenities such as paddleboats that you can take for a spin around the campgrounds pond, yard games (latter ball, batche ball, frisbee golf, etc.), an assortment of bikes that you can borrow, sports equipment, a library, and much more. All of this is at no extra cost for guests. Also, all cabins, tenting areas, and RV lots are equipped with fire rings and access to potable water. 

Even though the reason behind our stay was stressful, it was serendipitous, and we were able to relax and make the most of our situation, as Sharon had suggested. 

Over our two day stay, we were also impressed by Sharon and her husband’s love and dedication to what they were doing. From sunrise to sunset, they could both be found around the campground working tirelessly to make it better. Their love and passion for what they were doing left us, and other campers, wanting to also leave the campground better than we found it. 

The best part of our stay though, was no doubt our accommodations. 

We were staying in a brand new, Amish built, cabin that had two queen sized beds and a rollaway cot, plenty enough space for both of us and the dogs. Our cabin also had a refrigerator, microwave, and air-conditioning – something we have been living without for the previous 7 weeks. 

We could not have asked for a better place to stay while the ol’ van was in the shop. For anyone who might read this, if you happen to be crossing through Rigby, Idaho, just know that you will not find a better place to stay than at Aspen Grove. 

Van update

So, our van was able to be fixed and we had her back within 8 hours of dropping her off. 

Apparently, the mass airflow sensor went out on us and was causing a lot of different problems. Luckily for us, we were in “Chevy nation” as we were told, and the mechanic was able to get the part and have us on our way. It ended up being a $500 hit to the budget, but it could have been a lot worse. 

Now we are back on the road and finishing up our time in Yellowstone before heading of to Billings, Montana.