A Lake-Side Encounter

Friday was one of those unexpectedly good days with the sun shining brightly from the outset. We checked-out of Whitefish, stocked-up at the local Safeway (and helped persuade some folks from Indiana to sign-up for a 'Safeway Card'!) and set off for Missoula, our next stopover. Pretty soon we sighted Flathead Lake, the biggest natural freshwater lake this side of the Mississippi.....and it is big, deep, and beautiful! We stopped off to admire the lake and the snow-capped peaks surrounding it and then seized the opportunity to call into a local cafe for coffee. As usual around here, everyone was really friendly......even offering to screen the England game for us if we called-back later! Quite by chance we began chatting with a couple at an adjacent table who had just eaten breakfast. Larry and Beth respectively hailed from Texas and Alaska and now share a quest to find the ideal place to retire to in the States.....a tough choice! Anyway, it transpired that they are currently spending the summer 'house-sitting' for a friend in a cabin by the lake......well, when I say 'cabin, its actually the prime piece of real estate on the lake-shore, enjoying an unparalleled view of the lake and its surroundings! Larry and Beth were kind enough to invite us back to their place to sit in the garden for a while and have a guided tour. Wow! Larry has a lot of grass to cut, but at least he gets to 'sit' on the mower! The 'cabin' itself is huge and the 'shop' at the rear of the property incorporates a self-contained apartment and two boats!! We spent quite some time talking with Larry and Beth and enjoyed every minute of it....two great people!! Eventually, we had to leave to drive the remainder of the lake-side route towards our ultimate destination. We were promised wildlife sightings and nature delivered with a herd of young deer sprinting from the undergrowth and across the '70 mph' road! Having arrived at our motel late in the afternoon it was time for 'laundry' and then a great pizza (and IPA) at the MacKenzie River Pizza Company! A great day full of scenery and a chance to meet new friends! As for a musical reminder of the day's R&R playlist......well it took some sleuthing to discover that its called "The Happy Organ " by Dave (Baby) Cortez.....