Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Day Off...

One in a row! We have the day off and the weather is beautiful!! We slept in, lounged in our jammies for a while, cleaned up, then headed out on the motorcycle.

We drove south to the Jenny Lake area. There is a great one-way single-lane road that runs by the lake... just made for motorcycle cruising.

Jenny Lake is considered by many to be the most beautiful area in the park. In my humble opinion, Colter Bay Marina area (where we work) absolutely blows it away. Jenny Lake is much smaller. Their perspective of the Tetons isn’t as spectacular as ours. Their marina consists of a couple shuttle boats to take people across the lake so they can hike, and a few kayaks and canoes. We have more boats, better boats, bigger boats, and better looking captains.


When we were done looking around Jenny Lake (hey, it’s small, it doesn’t take long) it was time to decide where to head next. We discussed going into Jackson, but we’re planning to do that tomorrow with the truck. I suggested we head north, beyond Colter Bay to Leeks Marina... they have the best pizza in the area. Agreed!

The speed limit in most of the park is 45 mph, so it is a leisurely riding pace. Every curve presents another great view of the Tetons. This is truly exhilerating. When we got to Leeks Marina (actually just a boat ramp and a lot of mooring balls, no slips), we were treated to another very pretty sight: it’s a wooden sailboat, built in 1959. It is a real classic.


I pulled up to where the owner was setting it up in the parking lot and said, “I’m sure you hear this all the time, but that is an absolutely beautiful boat!"

He replied, “I just got it. You’re only the second person to say that, but it sure is nice to hear that.” As we talked, I found out he will have the boat in our marina. I told him that I am one of the cruiseboat captains there... “There is a very pretty Nimble 20 on a mooring ball in the Colter Bay Marina. That has been my favorite sailboat there... I’m afraid that guy is now going to be in second place for the best looking sailboat on the lake.” The guy beamed.

We went into the pizza place (the only building at the marina) and ordered “The Maintenance Man,” a meat-lovers delight. It was delicious! Could be the fact that we haven’t had a pizza out in about a month... or, it may be that the pizza here is as good as everyone in the area says. We are believers.


After lunch, we drove north until we ran into road construction, just beyond the park border. Only two miles from the entrance to Yellowstone, we will head back this way some other time.
We drove back home, with a plan to take a walk down to the lake. I put away the bike and we both changed into shorts. Can you say: “White legs”?

We took Izzy for a walk. The campground is pretty full, so we had to stay on or near the road so we didn’t go into other people’s sites. Little Izzy did well with that... with a bit of coaching. We let her wander on her leash around the coach, so she could be a jungle cat (forest cat?).


Then it was time to find our way through the campground (this place is HUGE), through the RV park, and down to the lake. How’s this for a nice picnic spot with a view of the lake?


We played tourist... we walked by the amphitheater where the Rangers give their nightly presentations. We walked the Lake Shore Trail to the Visitors Center where we looked at some of the exhibits and watched a very well done film about the fires of 1988. Then, the long walk back to the coach. My feet are tired, but it was a great day off!

3 comments:

Charlie-Captain's Cat said...

Very very nice Jim. You be careful on that bike! What a great place. 98 degrees here in VA today, too hot to do much outside at all. I need to retire. Can you see our 4 cats on a leash? "Oh what a tangled web we weave when we first try to walk 4 cats on one leash!"

Charlie

C.Michael Taylor said...

Sure looks to be the "Life of Riley" you two are leading...even the work where you not only get cash...but food too. Now that is a cool gig.

Captain Jim and the Blonde said...

Charlie - 4 cats on a leash would be hysterical. Izzy looks like she walks well on the leash, because I stop when she stops. She has trained me to heel. ;-)

C Michael - We retired so we could go where we want, when we want. Spending a season here is pretty special. The work isn't always easy, but it is something we enjoy. Before we retired, we had talked about working in the National Parks once in a while... it gives you an entirely different perspective from a vacation... it makes me appreciate this place even more.