Cartwrights Go West Day 14 - Summer 2014

We spent yesterday on Placid Lake northeast of Missoula. To say it was beautiful is a bit redundant; we've found that to be the case with every place we've visited in Montana. The real hit yesterday wasn't the beauty, though, it was the 4-person tube Travis bought recently to pull behind the boat. He tells how he received a rewards check that they normally tuck away in a savings account. But with check in hand while walking through Costco one afternoon, he came face to face with a tube carrying a price tag that was only 8 cents more than the check. Has there ever been a greater sign someone was meant to own something? After yesterday, I'm convinced the answer is no.

We had the boat in the water by 12:30, and by 1:00 the 4 kids had mounted the new toy. Five minutes later they were having the time of their lives - at least thats what their wide eyes and fist pumps indicated - and 4 hours later they were still going strong. 

Before getting on the tube, they had to get acclimated to the water. A few diving routines did the trick: 

And then it was on to the big time:

Needless to say, the captain was their hero yesterday. A fun time had by all.