Hope

Back when we first started coming to Trout Creek to visit Tom’s parents, we were struck by a couple of things as we crossed Idaho.  Just east of Sandpoint and Ponderay, there were three little towns in sequence that always cracked us up as we passed their signs.  Hope.  East Hope.  Beyond Hope.  The other was the bridge that appeared to rise into the sky and stop.  The first time we crossed that bridge it was night and it really did look like it went up and just ended.  It curves back down and around, but you have to trust and keep going to verify that.

A few years ago we noticed that while the Hope and East Hope signs are still along the highway, Beyond Hope has disappeared.  Earlier this week I went to Sandpoint to do some “bigger” shopping and was watching for Beyond Hope.  All I found was a sign for a resort.  On the way home I took a detour to see if there was any sign of a town.  All I found was the resort.  It’s mostly RV park, but there are a few cabins around it.  I guess after being beyond Hope for so long, they lost Hope. 

Hope and East Hope just isn’t the same as Hope, East Hope, Beyond Hope.