The Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue and crew...
- Thread starter JamesTXSD
- Start date
Wild Blue is out of the water and has been cleaned inside and out. She certainly looks bigger when you take on that task. The hull is in great shape, and with the fresh coats of wax, she looks brand new. The plan for the morning is an oil change and then off to put her in indoor storage. The travel trailer will take her place in the driveway, and in a few days we'll be heading north.
Here's a couple cleaning tips for the C-Brats: I mentioned this one before, but vinegar water takes off the hard water stains on the motor and windows. I even used some of it on the stubborn salt crystals on the hull. I waxed the top of the boat while she was still in the water... less distance to fall and a softer landing (this is only theory, and not tested out, btw). There has been a lot of discussion about rust on some of the metal fittings on these boats. All the railings are of very good quality, and a bit of Nevr Dull cleans them right up. The water, gas, and waste caps all had some discoloration on them, but the Nevr Dull cleaned that right up. Joan bought me a detailer brush that looks like a large battery operated tooth brush, and it made short work of those caps. The only real stubborn rust/discoloration was on the bimini/camperback fittings that King Canvas uses; and these cleaned up fine with the Nevr Dull and brush. When I had all the metal cleaned, I used the electric buffer on the metal (with some wax residue on the bonnet) and they absolutely glisten. On the fiberglass, there were a few dull areas in the color strip on the hull where fenders rub that needed several coats of wax to bring the shine up. The electric buffer really helps with that; I like a smaller 6" model to hit all the nooks and crannies. Don't forget to wax the motor cowling. Starbrite brand Rust Stain Remover with oxalyc acid does a good job in removing those rust colored stains from the hull... the worst on our boat were on the tie-down eyes on the transom. It took several applications to get rid of them entirely. Be sure to flush that area will plenty of fresh water and then give it a good coat or two of wax.
I know it will be a sad parting when we pull away from storage this morning. Wild Blue has been our constant travel companion since we picked her up almost two years ago. After our time "playing at working" for the summer, we will be anxious to get back out on her once again.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Here's a couple cleaning tips for the C-Brats: I mentioned this one before, but vinegar water takes off the hard water stains on the motor and windows. I even used some of it on the stubborn salt crystals on the hull. I waxed the top of the boat while she was still in the water... less distance to fall and a softer landing (this is only theory, and not tested out, btw). There has been a lot of discussion about rust on some of the metal fittings on these boats. All the railings are of very good quality, and a bit of Nevr Dull cleans them right up. The water, gas, and waste caps all had some discoloration on them, but the Nevr Dull cleaned that right up. Joan bought me a detailer brush that looks like a large battery operated tooth brush, and it made short work of those caps. The only real stubborn rust/discoloration was on the bimini/camperback fittings that King Canvas uses; and these cleaned up fine with the Nevr Dull and brush. When I had all the metal cleaned, I used the electric buffer on the metal (with some wax residue on the bonnet) and they absolutely glisten. On the fiberglass, there were a few dull areas in the color strip on the hull where fenders rub that needed several coats of wax to bring the shine up. The electric buffer really helps with that; I like a smaller 6" model to hit all the nooks and crannies. Don't forget to wax the motor cowling. Starbrite brand Rust Stain Remover with oxalyc acid does a good job in removing those rust colored stains from the hull... the worst on our boat were on the tie-down eyes on the transom. It took several applications to get rid of them entirely. Be sure to flush that area will plenty of fresh water and then give it a good coat or two of wax.
I know it will be a sad parting when we pull away from storage this morning. Wild Blue has been our constant travel companion since we picked her up almost two years ago. After our time "playing at working" for the summer, we will be anxious to get back out on her once again.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Here's for you, Joe...
Molly got her spring bath today after we got Wild Blue put away. She said to tell you "Hi!"
And, here was our last look at Wild Blue for a while...
She has fresh oil, lower unit lube, filters; she'll be ready to roll when we get back.
I got a message from Dan that he was too busy to get a Captain Jim this week... some lame excuse about doing a paying job for a client and coaching his baseball team to their best season ever (and on their way to the playoffs). He's a hard-working boy, guess we can give him a week off, eh? :wink:
And for Harper - we will make some posts from Yellowstone, and will be anxiously reading posts from all the C-Brats out there on their boats!
When our daughter was in college, she wanted to spend a summer working at an amusement park. She applied for a singing/dancing job and got hired as a "puke ride" operator. Still, she thought it would be fun. I told her, "Someone has to work hard so all those other people can have fun." It turned out to be her least favorite job ever. When I was describing the job at Yellowstone and how anxious we were to get going, she said, "It sounds like my amusement park job experience... remember, someone has to work hard so..." :twisted:
Best wishes,
Jim
Molly got her spring bath today after we got Wild Blue put away. She said to tell you "Hi!"
And, here was our last look at Wild Blue for a while...
She has fresh oil, lower unit lube, filters; she'll be ready to roll when we get back.
I got a message from Dan that he was too busy to get a Captain Jim this week... some lame excuse about doing a paying job for a client and coaching his baseball team to their best season ever (and on their way to the playoffs). He's a hard-working boy, guess we can give him a week off, eh? :wink:
And for Harper - we will make some posts from Yellowstone, and will be anxiously reading posts from all the C-Brats out there on their boats!
When our daughter was in college, she wanted to spend a summer working at an amusement park. She applied for a singing/dancing job and got hired as a "puke ride" operator. Still, she thought it would be fun. I told her, "Someone has to work hard so all those other people can have fun." It turned out to be her least favorite job ever. When I was describing the job at Yellowstone and how anxious we were to get going, she said, "It sounds like my amusement park job experience... remember, someone has to work hard so..." :twisted:
Best wishes,
Jim
Jim
On a different thread you mentioned your training on the Queen starts in less than a week. Well maybe or maybe not unless its while in dry dock. On the end of the 2nd dock over in this photo taken yesterday is where the Queen usually docks. The weather was beautiful so that ice may go quick, it will have to for any boat launching next weekend when the marina is supposed to open.
We were planning on being there the 24th, but after yesterdays visit think we'll wait awhile. The week of the 4th of July is looking pretty good to us now. We had planned on spending last night at the Norris campground, which was supposed to be opened, but due to the cold nights and snow depth they delayed the opening for another week.
It really was beautiful up there yesterday and if that kind of warmth continues the snow and ice will be gone quick.
Jay
On a different thread you mentioned your training on the Queen starts in less than a week. Well maybe or maybe not unless its while in dry dock. On the end of the 2nd dock over in this photo taken yesterday is where the Queen usually docks. The weather was beautiful so that ice may go quick, it will have to for any boat launching next weekend when the marina is supposed to open.
We were planning on being there the 24th, but after yesterdays visit think we'll wait awhile. The week of the 4th of July is looking pretty good to us now. We had planned on spending last night at the Norris campground, which was supposed to be opened, but due to the cold nights and snow depth they delayed the opening for another week.
It really was beautiful up there yesterday and if that kind of warmth continues the snow and ice will be gone quick.
Jay
Hi Jay,
We have been checking weather there daily for the last month. Your photos certainly say those thousand words... although most of the words I would use for that scene are not printable on this family forum! :shock:
Here's a post I was working on when I read yours...
Well, it's been a couple weeks since we put Wild Blue in indoor storage and hit the road. We have visited Moms on both sides and are now back in the beautiful Black Hills. As we rolled west on Thursday with temps comfortably in the upper 70s, we saw the disappearing remains of snowbanks in the ditches. :shock: Yep, we are back in the frozen northland.
Somebody breathed on me in the last two weeks of visiting, giving me a bug that kicked my butt... even my hair hurt, fever, nasty cough, more snot than ... well, that's probably more info than you wanted. A visit to the doc, a shot in the butt, and a lighter wallet. 24 hours later, I feel much better. The most traumatic part of the doc visit was the fine doctor - he graduated high school with our daughter. I shot his senior portraits. He was a nice kid. I have socks older than him. (OK, not so bad, since I try to stay in areas where socks aren't necessary.)
We are currently staying in the RV resort that prompted the purchase of our tent as a "camping unit" last year ('cause you can't stay in a boat, for goodness sakes :lol: ) With the trailer, we fit right in.
Yesterday was interesting for us (in a totally non-boating related kinda way). A friend of ours owns a motorcycle dealership in Sturgis (yes, that motorcycle "Mecca", land of thundering Harleys). He and I visited a couple weeks ago about what bike might best fit our current needs... I’ve bought a lot of bikes from him over the years, and he’s really good at matching up the person with the bike. When we showed up, he had a couple bikes ready for us to try. I tried his pick, declared it a fun ride, but perhaps the weirdest looking bike I’ve ever seen, and then rode another 7 or 8 bikes. As we came back from one ride, he’d have another out of the showroom, ready to try. We rode big cushy cruisers (my pick), sport tourers (Joan’s pick), and compared them all to that first bike. When he rolled a custom/chopper-looking bike off the floor, I put a halt to procedings. Joan took a look at the little p-pad and said, “No way.” Our friend laughed and said, “Jim needs to take this one out by himself.”
1900cc, more horsepower than our C-Dory, and radical styling... not even close to what we want, but I had to try it. Amazing! For the radical look, it was very comfortable (well, for the rider). And performance like being shot out of a cannon. Certainly not the bike for us, but if Joan ever leaves me for a rich guy, I will come back and buy this motorcycle! In the end, we decided on his choice - the smallest, lightest, least-expensive bike he showed us. It was easy, fun, light-weight, and something we’ve never owned before - a “dual purpose” bike, made to run on the roads and in the dirt. This one is certainly more biased towards road riding, but it’s not the touring or sport touring styles we’ve leaned towards the last 20 years or so. Technologically, it’s a decent little bike - a Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom (never owned a Suzuki before, either). 90º v-twin, good balance, more power than most of the Harleys we’ve owned, dual front disc brakes, rear disc, water cooled, 4-valve, 6 speed... upright riding position, and described in the motorcyle press as an “adventure touring” bike. I was impressed with how light and effortless it was to ride, and still had plenty of zip to pull us both around. It just took me most of the day to get beyond the looks.
At the risk of sounding superficial, I told my buddy, “It’s certainly not much to look at.” His response, “You spent your career dealing with pretty. This bike has a cult following, and those people see the beauty in what it can do. You’ll get beyond the looks when you’re cruising in the mountains in Yellowstone and the Tetons and you can go anywhere you want.”
Good point. And, it should get around 50 miles per gallon... of that cheap gas stuff instead of the spendy diesel.
No, this isn’t going to replace boat cruising for us, but it will add to our summer entertainment. We’ve done long distance motorcycle cruising in the past, and we are in agreement that we’re not intending to do that again. And Molly says there is NO WAY she’s doing a motorcycle (although we did have her on a 4 wheeler last year in California).
Today is Sunday, May 18th. It got to the upper 80s here in the beautiful Black Hills, lots of sunshine... it’s going to be a real shock to the system as we head west and gain another 4,000 feet of elevation. Good thing we got some motorcycle riding in today, ‘cause it’s gonna be a while before we get the bike out in Yellowstone!
Wish us luck.
Jim B.
----------------
And then I see Jay's post! :xseek When we got back from a ride today, we switched to shorts and sandals (ah, the "banana belt" of the Black Hills)... guess we'll have to break out all the winter clothes we brought (yeah, we planned for this cold stuff). Who knows, this may be enough to bring Tom back out of the woodwork... I'm sure there will be a "frozen snot" comment in there somewhere. :xtongue
We have been checking weather there daily for the last month. Your photos certainly say those thousand words... although most of the words I would use for that scene are not printable on this family forum! :shock:
Here's a post I was working on when I read yours...
Well, it's been a couple weeks since we put Wild Blue in indoor storage and hit the road. We have visited Moms on both sides and are now back in the beautiful Black Hills. As we rolled west on Thursday with temps comfortably in the upper 70s, we saw the disappearing remains of snowbanks in the ditches. :shock: Yep, we are back in the frozen northland.
Somebody breathed on me in the last two weeks of visiting, giving me a bug that kicked my butt... even my hair hurt, fever, nasty cough, more snot than ... well, that's probably more info than you wanted. A visit to the doc, a shot in the butt, and a lighter wallet. 24 hours later, I feel much better. The most traumatic part of the doc visit was the fine doctor - he graduated high school with our daughter. I shot his senior portraits. He was a nice kid. I have socks older than him. (OK, not so bad, since I try to stay in areas where socks aren't necessary.)
We are currently staying in the RV resort that prompted the purchase of our tent as a "camping unit" last year ('cause you can't stay in a boat, for goodness sakes :lol: ) With the trailer, we fit right in.
Yesterday was interesting for us (in a totally non-boating related kinda way). A friend of ours owns a motorcycle dealership in Sturgis (yes, that motorcycle "Mecca", land of thundering Harleys). He and I visited a couple weeks ago about what bike might best fit our current needs... I’ve bought a lot of bikes from him over the years, and he’s really good at matching up the person with the bike. When we showed up, he had a couple bikes ready for us to try. I tried his pick, declared it a fun ride, but perhaps the weirdest looking bike I’ve ever seen, and then rode another 7 or 8 bikes. As we came back from one ride, he’d have another out of the showroom, ready to try. We rode big cushy cruisers (my pick), sport tourers (Joan’s pick), and compared them all to that first bike. When he rolled a custom/chopper-looking bike off the floor, I put a halt to procedings. Joan took a look at the little p-pad and said, “No way.” Our friend laughed and said, “Jim needs to take this one out by himself.”
1900cc, more horsepower than our C-Dory, and radical styling... not even close to what we want, but I had to try it. Amazing! For the radical look, it was very comfortable (well, for the rider). And performance like being shot out of a cannon. Certainly not the bike for us, but if Joan ever leaves me for a rich guy, I will come back and buy this motorcycle! In the end, we decided on his choice - the smallest, lightest, least-expensive bike he showed us. It was easy, fun, light-weight, and something we’ve never owned before - a “dual purpose” bike, made to run on the roads and in the dirt. This one is certainly more biased towards road riding, but it’s not the touring or sport touring styles we’ve leaned towards the last 20 years or so. Technologically, it’s a decent little bike - a Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom (never owned a Suzuki before, either). 90º v-twin, good balance, more power than most of the Harleys we’ve owned, dual front disc brakes, rear disc, water cooled, 4-valve, 6 speed... upright riding position, and described in the motorcyle press as an “adventure touring” bike. I was impressed with how light and effortless it was to ride, and still had plenty of zip to pull us both around. It just took me most of the day to get beyond the looks.
At the risk of sounding superficial, I told my buddy, “It’s certainly not much to look at.” His response, “You spent your career dealing with pretty. This bike has a cult following, and those people see the beauty in what it can do. You’ll get beyond the looks when you’re cruising in the mountains in Yellowstone and the Tetons and you can go anywhere you want.”
Good point. And, it should get around 50 miles per gallon... of that cheap gas stuff instead of the spendy diesel.
No, this isn’t going to replace boat cruising for us, but it will add to our summer entertainment. We’ve done long distance motorcycle cruising in the past, and we are in agreement that we’re not intending to do that again. And Molly says there is NO WAY she’s doing a motorcycle (although we did have her on a 4 wheeler last year in California).
Today is Sunday, May 18th. It got to the upper 80s here in the beautiful Black Hills, lots of sunshine... it’s going to be a real shock to the system as we head west and gain another 4,000 feet of elevation. Good thing we got some motorcycle riding in today, ‘cause it’s gonna be a while before we get the bike out in Yellowstone!
Wish us luck.
Jim B.
----------------
And then I see Jay's post! :xseek When we got back from a ride today, we switched to shorts and sandals (ah, the "banana belt" of the Black Hills)... guess we'll have to break out all the winter clothes we brought (yeah, we planned for this cold stuff). Who knows, this may be enough to bring Tom back out of the woodwork... I'm sure there will be a "frozen snot" comment in there somewhere. :xtongue
Hi Jim,
Nice bike!
I have a friend that is going to Alaska by ferry and riding his bike back. I considered going with him and thought that a V-Strom would be the bike to get if I did. I decided this is not the time for me to do it.
I will tell him to look you up if he comes back through Yellowstone.
Steve
Nice bike!
I have a friend that is going to Alaska by ferry and riding his bike back. I considered going with him and thought that a V-Strom would be the bike to get if I did. I decided this is not the time for me to do it.
I will tell him to look you up if he comes back through Yellowstone.
Steve
Sam Walker
New member
Jim, being a current/past? BMW RT owner, I would be interested in some feedback between it and the new toy. I have been thinking about a 650 Wee-Strom for riding between Sacramento and Monterey, CA as a less expensive alternative to the RT. What do you think? Also, did you get the ABS or non version of the Suzuki? I have ridden the Suzuki and really like the ride.
Hi Sam,
The DL650 is smaller, lighter, and will be easier to handle on unimproved roads compared to the RT. The RT is a MUCH better road machine, but this little bike is surprisingly peppy (handles two of us fine at any speed we want) and fits the toyhauler. I only have a couple hundred miles on it, so I'll post more when I get a chance to ride more.
--------------------------------------------
Big news (for us, anyway). We are in Yellowstone! Got into the employee RV park yesterday, and it is much nicer than we expected... paved sites, a cement patio, and near proximity to a very nice comfort station with great showers! We check in for work tomorrow.
We are in a "black hole" for cell communications, so I am posting from the truck at a roadside pull out about 15 miles from our trailer. In the snow. It was beautiful when we pulled in and set up yesterday, but is snowing to beat the band right now. All part of the adventure. 8)
Here's a look...
Yellowstone Lake is still frozen in...
Our home for the next 4 months...
And, the view from the trailer this morning (SNOW ) :disgust ...
We are supposed to get a land line this weekend, so I'll be able to post and view.
---------------------------------------
And, finally, another Captain Jim episode...
Best wishes,
Jim
The DL650 is smaller, lighter, and will be easier to handle on unimproved roads compared to the RT. The RT is a MUCH better road machine, but this little bike is surprisingly peppy (handles two of us fine at any speed we want) and fits the toyhauler. I only have a couple hundred miles on it, so I'll post more when I get a chance to ride more.
--------------------------------------------
Big news (for us, anyway). We are in Yellowstone! Got into the employee RV park yesterday, and it is much nicer than we expected... paved sites, a cement patio, and near proximity to a very nice comfort station with great showers! We check in for work tomorrow.
We are in a "black hole" for cell communications, so I am posting from the truck at a roadside pull out about 15 miles from our trailer. In the snow. It was beautiful when we pulled in and set up yesterday, but is snowing to beat the band right now. All part of the adventure. 8)
Here's a look...
Yellowstone Lake is still frozen in...
Our home for the next 4 months...
And, the view from the trailer this morning (SNOW ) :disgust ...
We are supposed to get a land line this weekend, so I'll be able to post and view.
---------------------------------------
And, finally, another Captain Jim episode...
Best wishes,
Jim
Jim
Good to know you made it there and are settling in. Looking forward to your photos and other views of Yellowstone this summer.
We had the same weather front hit us here. Yesterday afternoon sunny and 85 degrees today 35 and at times near blizzard conditions, but that's pretty normal spring time in the Rockies. Like you said its all part of the adventure.
How far is your commute. Know some of the summer employees stay right on Loop A of the Bridge Bay campground of course no comfort station with showers.
Jay
Good to know you made it there and are settling in. Looking forward to your photos and other views of Yellowstone this summer.
We had the same weather front hit us here. Yesterday afternoon sunny and 85 degrees today 35 and at times near blizzard conditions, but that's pretty normal spring time in the Rockies. Like you said its all part of the adventure.
How far is your commute. Know some of the summer employees stay right on Loop A of the Bridge Bay campground of course no comfort station with showers.
Jay
Hi Jay,
The commute is an easy 4 miles. If it ever quits snowing, we'll do it on the motorcycle! :shock:
We have settled into work. As you know, the lake is still frozen, so it's going to be a while before we can get boats in the water. In the meantime, Joan and I are part of the "opening crew" getting things set up at the marina. Our co-workers seem nice, and the setting is beautiful. I will be delighted to see the temps warm up.
The trailer is working out fine as our "summer home;" we are trying to get set up with a land line and some network TV for our satellite system. We are in a "black hole" of cell coverage, so it has been tough on me not being able to check in here daily. I am posting this while having lunch in Cody... had to come in for supplies and more long underwear! :disgust
My new "office" is impressive...
Great view (best seat in the house), 3 310 hp diesel engines... plenty of engine monitoring equipment, not much for nav gear (compared to sweet ol' Wild Blue).
I hope to get a chance to look through all the posts here... I miss the daily exchange with all you C-Brats.
I'll post again when we get some coverage.
Best wishes,
Jim
The commute is an easy 4 miles. If it ever quits snowing, we'll do it on the motorcycle! :shock:
We have settled into work. As you know, the lake is still frozen, so it's going to be a while before we can get boats in the water. In the meantime, Joan and I are part of the "opening crew" getting things set up at the marina. Our co-workers seem nice, and the setting is beautiful. I will be delighted to see the temps warm up.
The trailer is working out fine as our "summer home;" we are trying to get set up with a land line and some network TV for our satellite system. We are in a "black hole" of cell coverage, so it has been tough on me not being able to check in here daily. I am posting this while having lunch in Cody... had to come in for supplies and more long underwear! :disgust
My new "office" is impressive...
Great view (best seat in the house), 3 310 hp diesel engines... plenty of engine monitoring equipment, not much for nav gear (compared to sweet ol' Wild Blue).
I hope to get a chance to look through all the posts here... I miss the daily exchange with all you C-Brats.
I'll post again when we get some coverage.
Best wishes,
Jim
Sam Walker
New member
Thanks for the bike feedback, Jim. I will be looking forward to your impressions of the V-Strom. Do you think that the RT is that much better to justify the price difference?
Take care up there and stay warm. :crook
Take care up there and stay warm. :crook
Hey Jim... I've been a bit busy of late and not much C-Brat time. I am attempting to get caught up a bit. Yellowstone Gig... WOW...that looks like it should be fun...and do want to see more of "your office."
I now have another reason to make it out to Yellowstone.
You have unfrozen water here anytime you want Brother. Yall come on out.
Byrdman
I now have another reason to make it out to Yellowstone.
You have unfrozen water here anytime you want Brother. Yall come on out.
Byrdman
Sam Walker":246eek2a said:
If I were running long distances, then yes, the RT is that much better. We're seeing the V-Strom as a day-tripping kinda bike. Think CD-16 vs CD-25... each has a place and each does what it does well. Same with those bikes. Remind me in a month or so, and I'll let you know what some time in the saddle does for my opinion of the bike. I'm impressed so far.
Patrick - thanks for the invite. When we are done with this job in September, we'll be making some decisions about where to cruise next. Not sure when, but we will get out your way. The Yellowstone boat captain job is this summer's adventure; we love the area and look forward to being able to explore it more as things warm up. Running the boat (and burning someone else's fuel) is just part of the fun. Who knows... if this works out, maybe I'll look for a job somewhere more "tropical" for a season next year?
Yesterday was a day off for us; we made a run into Cody, WY... shopping, lunch out, wireless broadband, more long underwear... all the essentials. Coming back home, we had a bit of a traffic jam. No, not cars, several bison were walking in the road. Other employees here call them "bear jams", regardless of the animals involved. Tourists stop, get out of their vehicles, leave all 4 doors open, gawk, and try to get dangerously close to these beasts. Not smart, nor legal.
It only snowed for a few minutes this morning, and made it all the way up to 45º by late morning. It has a long ways to go to make it to my "comfort zone." 8) I'm dressing in layers, even wearing heavy socks and real shoes... lots of new experiences these days. :wink:
We were able to get a land line, Distant Networks on the satellite TV, and dial up internet... so, let's see... I'm where we were about 10 years ago for being wired. :crook Yeah, I'm still funnin'... we didn't come here for the "amenities"; it's just nice to be able to stay in touch.
And finally, Dan sent another Captain Jim today... apparently Steph (our daughter) has told him about some of our early RV experiences. Retiring... buying a boat... towing it with an RV... who knows where this is going?
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Here's a look at Yellowstone Lake from Wednesday...
The ripply stuff at the bottom of the photo is liquid water; the darker stuff above that is ice.
Today was a day off for Joan and me. We went touristing south and were surprised to see that the ice was out of the marina as we drove by. I stopped in to take a photo, and they were launching the safety boat for the Scenic Cruiser. One of the other captains said, "Your boat's next!" I asked the manager if I could get in on this and he told me to check in.
Here's a shot of the snow-cat they use to move this thing around...
The motors were stubborn to start after sitting all winter, but finally we got the center one fired up. Need the starboard engine, since it controls the hydraulics that control the steering. Finally got them going.
We backed the boat off and moved it to the shop dock (where we can plug the engine heaters in). Now the practical training/check-out begins.
Joan is up to speed in the marina office - ready to rent boats, schedule fishing guides, selling tickets for the Scenic Cruiser, fishing licenses, etc).
Let the season begin!
Best wishes,
Jim B.
The ripply stuff at the bottom of the photo is liquid water; the darker stuff above that is ice.
Today was a day off for Joan and me. We went touristing south and were surprised to see that the ice was out of the marina as we drove by. I stopped in to take a photo, and they were launching the safety boat for the Scenic Cruiser. One of the other captains said, "Your boat's next!" I asked the manager if I could get in on this and he told me to check in.
Here's a shot of the snow-cat they use to move this thing around...
The motors were stubborn to start after sitting all winter, but finally we got the center one fired up. Need the starboard engine, since it controls the hydraulics that control the steering. Finally got them going.
We backed the boat off and moved it to the shop dock (where we can plug the engine heaters in). Now the practical training/check-out begins.
Joan is up to speed in the marina office - ready to rent boats, schedule fishing guides, selling tickets for the Scenic Cruiser, fishing licenses, etc).
Let the season begin!
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Jim and Joan, this is an exciting adventure for me to watch vicariously. Keep up the frequent postings of this adventure please.
Yellowstone Park is of particular interest to me since I lived a major portion of my life in Montana. When I was in college two or three of us guys would travel up to the park on the weekends in the summer to date the college girls that worked in the stores, restaurants etc. :lol: . Oh, the good old days. :wink
Also used to snowshoe in the park during the winter, but no girls around at that time of year :crook .
Yellowstone Park is of particular interest to me since I lived a major portion of my life in Montana. When I was in college two or three of us guys would travel up to the park on the weekends in the summer to date the college girls that worked in the stores, restaurants etc. :lol: . Oh, the good old days. :wink
Also used to snowshoe in the park during the winter, but no girls around at that time of year :crook .