Gusto: Afternoon Cruise with Austin and Carrie at Lake Pend Orielle

Started the morning with a robust walk around the south loop of Twin Lakes with Sonya. Cool air, steady pace, and one of those mornings where the lake country just feels good for the soul. Back at the condo we eased into a little stretching, followed by another cup of coffee while beginning to lay out the next several weeks ahead. The pool deck project is about to move into full swing, Jake will be arriving soon, and later in the month Jack is coming up for a ten-day stay, so there’s a fair bit of stewardship and planning beginning to stack up on the dock table.

Around 11 we started putting together our cruise provisions for the afternoon aboard Gusto. Chicken and beef kebabs were prepped along with a Mediterranean snack tray, and a batch of Mojitos mixed up and chilled down for the outing. Planned to meet Austin and Carrie at the parking area around 1 PM before heading out on the lake. We also had plans later in the afternoon to meet Richard at the lake cabin around 3:30 for a walkthrough and viewing.

As the day unfolded, Sonya and I came to the conclusion that float home living likely carries more inherent risk and complication than we really want at this stage of life, so we decided to cancel the viewing. Instead, we feel more settled in the idea of keeping Epic Storage along with the Stealthcraft boat up north as a flexible base of operations. The thought now is that we can simply rent a cabin during the stretches I’m here, continue traveling back and forth by air, and rent a truck capable of towing the boat when needed. Simpler, lighter, and far less financial drag while still giving us access to the North Idaho lifestyle we enjoy.

The afternoon cruise turned out beautifully. Had a great run aboard Gusto with Austin and Carrie. Grilled the kebabs onboard, enjoyed a few Mojitos, and made a relaxed loop around the lake under mostly calm conditions. A little wind came up toward the end of the outing, but nothing troublesome, and docking went smoothly. Finished the evening back at the condo, winding down quietly and settling in before turning in for the night