There are some places that you go that you have a level of expectation. You go to a great restaurant, you EXPECT great food and to be treated well. Once in a while, you might make friends with the owners, and over time, you become accustomed to being treated like family and all of your needs met.
Rarely do you find that on the first visit. It's like going on a first date and suddenly discovering that you've just met the love of your life. It doesn't happen often.
I'll tell you something else that rarely happens.....when not only the owners and staff, but fellow patrons go out of their way to create a unique opportunity for you ALL to become instant old friends.
I was fortunate enough to find one of those places this week, and suddenly I have a whole bunch of new friends.
Imagine, you're sitting in your cabin and there's a knock on the door. A staff member asks if we would like to go for a boat ride on the lake. Well, yes, as a matter of fact we would. Then we get down to the dock, and not only do we get to go out on the lake, but in a fun fast boat, with a couple of folks who simply made the day spectacular, not to mention memorable. Imagine my surprise when he hands me the wheel, and says, go ahead and drive.
We sped across the lake seeing islands and gorgeous Idaho countryside. I wondered if this happens all the time. Turns out that our host had a death in her family, AND YET, took the time to call and arrange our boat ride. Astonishing.
There is something very special in the air in Henry Idaho....a "town" so small that you can't afford to watch the road or you'll miss it. But size, clearly isn't the issue here, it's the people in the community that make it special....and isn't that always the way?
Several weeks ago while roaming hither and yon through the Idaho countryside, we stopped at this little place because the sign said "Cafe." Great, I'm hungry as usual so stoop we did. I ordered a salad and the fish. Now anywhere else in the known universe, you'd get a little side salad and some frozen fish and chips. What I got was a salad like my mother would have made for two. It was huge, and it was delicious.Then the fish came and I swear they must have run down to the lake and caught the fish...again, outrageous.
After dinner I commented on the size and quality to our "server" who turned out to be the OWNER of the cafe, campground, bait shop and I'm not sure what all else at this truly wonderful stop. A conversation ensued and we talked about the history of both Henry and the Campground. Turns out, this has been a family endeavor for several generations. We were invited back for three days of fun in the sun and so, here we are.
I can only tell you that if everyone gets treated as well as we have, it's no wonder the place is busy all the time. we met folks from Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and beyond....not to mention one wayward and generally lost New Yorker who had the time of his life.
We stayed in a well prepared, well put together Mini Home. On the East coast we'd call them a "park model" home, in the South they are Tiny Homes. NO matter what you call it, the bed was comfortable and there was everything that was required to set up housekeeping and be comfortable. the shower was great...and plenty of hot water. There was even a supply of movies, a huge wall mounted SMART TV and a generous helping of bandwidth on our WIFI connection....and YES, we had 4g LTE Cell Service on my Verizon phone.
We've been invited back sometime in September, and I have to say, I'll be there. This was a great three days of fun and memories, new friends and even a "cool one." What more can...
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