Well I have reached the final month of my contract. We are also into fourth of July weekend and the numbers of tourists is insane. Major traffic jams are happening around the main geological attractions. I have always said do not visit this place between Memorial Day and Labor Day, unless you have a lot of patience with crowds and traffic. It is a pretty place, but I see many tourists losing their temper and patience, especially those with small children. I also don't recommend anyone bring a child under the age of 10 to this park. I have seen the kids in the store just whining and crying about being bored. This place is not an amusement park and it takes a lot for the adults to get the kids be interested in the nature around us. The kids are tired of being cooped up in a car for hours and they get tired rather quickly just walking around. I have also seen where parents were not ready for what the altitude does to their kids. They get headaches and cold like symptoms. We keep over the counter drugs in the store and sell a lot of medicine for kids and adults. Just my two cents for those visiting.
We lost an employee this week who could not seem to get with the program concerning breaks while working. The person was so addicted to cigarettes that he could not go an hour without them. When he was called on taking too many breaks and leaving his job for others to do, then he blew his top and quit. So far he is not missed and the air around the store is much fresher.
With the added tourists, we are getting more truckloads of items to sell in the store and in the grocery. Grocery alone gets delivery trucks of goods 4 days a week. So on those days we have to receive the items, inspect the items and put the items in the storage area or out on the floor if the shelves are empty of the item. Since the temperature is rising we are selling a lot of water and Gatorade. We get 90 gallon jugs of water twice a week and the shelf will be empty after two days. You need to stay hydrated at the altitude and water goes off the shelves fast. Ron, my boss, orders as much as the company will allow twice a week. I think he would like to order twice as much, but there are 11 general stores in the park and the company wants every store to have the same amount.
With the vast amount of tourists that are visiting us, we are setting new records for sales. The company also got news this week that Delaware North will have the contract for Yellowstone for another 15 years. I think the company has many plans to improve the dorms and the store, but since the buildings belong to the Nation Park Service, they have a lot of paperwork to submit and get approved before anything can happen to the buildings. Maybe they will put some money into getting new washers and driers. The ones we have are really showing their age.
On my day off I went to Idaho Falls to see the new Indiana Jones movie. It was good. I also drove around Idaho Falls to say goodbye, as I don't think I will be back there before I leave at the end of the month. I also stopped by the Johnny Sack cabin at Big Springs to see if for the last time too. I may see these places in the future, but Cathy and I will be taking vacations in other areas for a few years. For my second day off I will not be driving anywhere as the crowds are just too much. I will probably just take a hike around the dorm area or I may just stay in the dorm and read and rest.
Thanks for reading and enjoy your Fourth of July holiday. 84,957 steps in the store this week, roughly 37 miles.
 |
| A seagull hanging out a the cabin |
 |
| Big Spring creek at the Johnny Sack cabin |
No comments:
Post a Comment