We couldn’t have picked a worse week to take vacation. Last
week was awful. Smoky, smoky, smoky. We had fires all around us so it didn’t
matter which way the wind blew. It brought in smoke from every direction. We
had planned to go boating, maybe spend some time in Glacier Park, and take a
drive down the scenic Swan Valley just east of here. Instead we sat on the deck
looking at the smoke. We couldn’t even enjoy the view of the lake or mountains.
Just smoke.
 |
| There's a lake there somewhere. |
Last Thursday we almost went out in the boat in spite of the
smoke, but had to admit we wouldn’t enjoy it so we didn’t. But I guess there
was one feeble consolation. “At least we didn’t pay a bunch of money and drive
or fly across the country for a vacation we can’t enjoy.”
This week the smoke cleared out, but that’s because it’s
been raining every day. Dean stopped to get gas today and the customer in front
of him was complaining about the weather. It turns out they were having our “at
least we didn’t” experience.
They had spent a week here last year and enjoyed it so much
they planned to spend two weeks here this year. They rented a lakefront cabin
at $2000 a week and invited another couple to join them. They had rented a boat
last year but thought it was too expensive so they borrowed a boat and towed it
here from their home in Nevada. They were looking forward to two idyllic weeks
of boating, exploring Glacier Park and enjoying the lake and mountain views
from their deck. Instead they got a week of smoke and a week of rain.
“We went out in the boat one day even though it was smoky
because we thought, what the hell, we’re on vacation and we towed the damn
thing all the way here. But it wasn’t any fun.” They haven’t been doing
anything but sitting on the deck watching the smoke and then watching the rain.
And after being cooped up in a cabin for nearly two weeks, they’re getting on
each other’s nerves. The good news is the rain is supposed to clear out for at
least one day tomorrow. The bad news is tomorrow they have to drive back to
Nevada.
Reminded me of this poor bastard.
