The campground is nestled on a large lake, and the marina isn’t far from the cabins and beach area. It’s tiny, with a small building for renting out paddleboards, kayaks, paddleboats, and canoes, and a larger brown building that handles the boat and jet ski rentals. There’s a system of docks, both a public one for boats coming in and out of the lake and a private one that’s solely for the use of rentals. The public boat launch is busy, with boats coming and going. The parking lot off to the right is huge, and it’s almost totally packed.
Steph gives me a half challenging, half fearful look as we walk into the building that sits just about right on the lake. The docks run past it, and there are all different kinds of boats and jet skis tied there. The building itself is just a wooden structure, old but not dilapidated, with a concrete floor. There’s nothing in the way of niceties inside. Just a counter at the back with two younger guys—probably in their early twenties or even late teens—working behind it.
They’re both dressed in matching forest green ball caps and t-shirts with the park’s logo of four animals on both.
One of them leans on the counter. He’s tall, so he looks gangly doing it, while the other eyes us from whatever he was just writing down. There are signs on the walls behind the desk, charts with the daily boat rental rates, the charge for gas, and all the other things you have to pay for, as well as another with the safety requirements and regulations.
“I’d like to rent two jet skis for a few hours.”
“Right.” The younger, ganglier kid shoves two clipboards at me. “Just fill those out. It’s a hundred dollars an hour.”
“Okay, thanks.”
I take the forms, passing one clipboard over to Steph. She’s still wearing the same shorts and tank she had on this morning, but I know she put her bathing suit on below. I’m wearing a long-sleeved shirt and shorts since I want to cover up as much as possible so the sun can’t sizzle me into a crisp again. It was bad enough yesterday, and it still hurts a little even if it looks better. I don’t want to repeat the experience today. Or tomorrow. Or ever.
“I don’t know how to fill this out,” Steph whispers, indicating the form. “It asks if I have previous boating experience, which of course I don’t.”
“Then put no. Just fill it out honestly. If there’s something we need, I’ll get it.”
“Like a boater’s license.”
“It doesn’t say anything about that.”
“Hmm, alright. They’re going to laugh.” She eyes the guys behind the counter who are doing their best to pretend like they’re not watching us. “At me. When I go to start it, it’s going to be so obvious that I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“I’ll explain everything. It’s fine that you don’t know. Lots of people who haven’t been on them before probably come to rent them. Don’t worry.”
“I hate looking stupid.”
“Me too, but somehow, I manage to roll with the punches. Or head gashes and sunburns.”
She sighs. “Fine.” Her pen scratches over the form. Then she shoves it back at me. “I’m done.”
“For someone who picked this as a fun activity, you don’t seem like you’re enthusiastic about it or that you’re going to even try to enjoy it.”
“I’m only doing it because you said they’re awesome, and after a few minutes, I’ll relax and have a good time.”
“There you go. Am I ever wrong?”
“All the time.” She walks over to stand at the window overlooking the docks. She crosses her arm and taps her toes.
I finish with the rest of my form and pass both of them back to the guy at the counter. He doesn’t say anything about a license or even really look at the forms. I noticed there was a waiver attached, so that’s likely the most important part. If anything happens to us on those jet skis, at least we can’t sue.
“Great, I just need payment.”
I pass over my credit card. One swipe, a signature, and four hundred dollars later, we’re ready to go. I get two keys and two lifejackets. We don’t get asked what size, but they’re good quality lifejackets—the ones people use for water sports. The guy shuffles over to the window and points at a yellow and green machine and a black and orange one.
“Those two alright?”
“Sure.”
“Any problems, just come back and let me know.” The guy frowns at himself. “Shit. I forgot to ask about insurance. You want insurance?”
“I, uh, the lake isn’t rocky, is it?”
“There are some reefs here and there, but not around here. Stay out of the main parts, and you’ll be fine.”
“We should be able to manage.”