The 80/20 Rule

You may have heard of the 80/20 rule. In a given situation 80% of the work gets done by 20% of the people available. I’ve seen it applied to investing, creative endeavors, overall productivity, etc.. 

So far on this trip it has applied to me in 80% hard work, 20% enjoyment. 

Typically, I love being in the mountains. The beauty, the cooler temps, almost chilly evenings, peace, quiet. 

Yellowstone holds all that promise and more. 

Monday morning (7/26) meant laundry (at the best laundromat ever-really) and shopping. Apparently everyone on the east side of Yellowstone had the same idea. But we eventually departed for Lake Yellowstone. 

As we begin the final 90 minutes to Bridge Bay Marina, I’m excited for cooler temps and a long stint of sailing and NOT having to step and unstep the mast frequently. We are not exactly proficient or efficient at it. 😂

A strange sight at Sylvan Pass inside the Park

Still not to the marina but getting closet

We pulled into the inspection parking lot a little before 5pm expecting to begin stepping the mast right after the inspection. Arrgh! Inspection hours ar 8a - 4:30p. Can’t put the boat in the water without an inspection. Oh boy! Another camp-in-the-parking-lot night. 

In the meantime, Sid discovers the reason the Bridge Bay is so named. There is a bridge between the marina and the open lake! Who knew?

Even better, the bridge is not tall enough for our mast, when up, to pass underneath. We spy one other sailboat in the marina with a mast up (not as tall as ours) and begin asking the regulars about it. “Yeah, that guy never takes the boat out of the marina harbor.”

Sid begins to talk about stepping and unstepping ON THE WATER everyday. Remember: We can’t do this process on land, on a level, stationary boat in under 6 hours; my mind begins to imagine what this will look like and something close to panic creeps into my bones.

Fortunately, over dinner I can calmly state my questions and propose my objections. As dusk approaches so does a lovely distraction, 2 large elk bulls. They were majestic and returned for the next several nights about the same time. 

By morning, Sid has decided we will not attempt sailing, but will motor around and explore the lake. I am relieved, but it turns out to be premature.