WORK

July 8, 1999

Today is our first full day of work. Yesterday and the day before, we spent four hours working at a window checking people in, making reservations at other campgrounds, and checking people out. Since this was part of our training, we had help close at hand, but we weren't closely supervised. I only had one person get upset because I took a long time with him since I couldn't get his credit card to go through. The campground fills up each day, or at least the spots are reserved, and we have to turn people away. Turning people away is not fun since we know they are on vacation and are looking forward to staying on the lake.

On Monday evening a group of us drove over to the Old Faithful Lodge for a concert of patriotic music to celebrate Independence Day. Before the concert, one of our coworkers took us on a long walk through the geyser basin. There are many interesting hot pools and geysers beside the famous Old Faithful. Our guide has come to the park for years in the wintertime. She and her husband love it so much they are trying to get a position this winter in the lodge. They sold their business last year and are hanging out in the parks, they're obsessed with backpacking and kayaking. Anyway, the concert was a great "big band" event.

After work yesterday we drove toward the south entrance to see the campground on Lake Lewis. It's a primitive campground, perfect for tent camping. From the campground, a person can canoe across the lake up a river into an even larger lake. If they want to get away from people, they can. There are wonderful spots along the shore to camp and since it's so remote with no road access, there won't be anybody for miles.

It has started to drizzle and there is a chill in the air, 56 degrees. Maybe it will be a slow day at work, "check outs" are easy.