Working at The Outfitter is never boring. Whether it’s going across the bay to rescue kayaks left abandoned due to high winds or trying to successfully carry multiple, much-needed ice cream cones from Kilwins back to the store on national ice cream day, things are always busy…Last week we had a tornado scare, which actually excited a few of us because it was so unexpected. As the tornado alert reached our phones, I answered a call from someone inquiring about an immediate kayak rental. I was thrown off by this request, to say the least, but responded politely that the weather “wasn’t great” at the moment.
All this craziness at the store is relatively normal, so when our days off arrive, we—the staff—use our time wisely. Emily likes to garden and Laura enjoys taking trips up to Sturgeon Bay. You can usually find Jack mountain biking at Boyne School Forest or Avalanche Mountain. Paige enjoys being out on the water boating and swimming with friends, and Katie has taken up camping. Last week I biked the Little Traverse Wheel Way to Petoskey with my mom, got a fantastic sandwich, and biked back. It was a quick trip and the beautiful views from the bike path reminded me of how lucky I am to call this area home during the summer. Other days off I’ve attempted to learn to golf with the (much needed) help of my brother, paddle boarded, laughed a lot at family dinners, and enjoyed the sunsets.
The busy pace of the store and enjoyable interactions with customers is a gratifying part of serving the community as a member of The Outfitter staff. The days spent away from the store locate us in the community in a more active way and remind us all of what this special place has to offer. . . .
Get out here,
Jane