Another Day – Another Adventure – Weeks 7 & 8
Monday, June 19, 2017
It was a quiet day in camp. Just the normal stuff, nothing monumental. Beth did make some more signage & install it here & there, trying to make the park rules easier to see & adhere to for all campers.
We did begin clearing all the debris (leaves, pine cones & sweet gum balls) off all the open sites in preparation of our transferring to Campground #1 later in the week. We wanted to leave Campground #2 in the best shape possible for the new host when she arrives. There will be a week’s gap between our departure & the new host’s arrival so we will be pulling double duty (with much appreciated help from the Camper Cabins Hosts). It’s still the best “job” imaginable. Mother Nature is AWESOME!
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
We submitted a bunch of work requests – a few were repeats – in hopes all things needing attention in Campground #2 would be seen to before the new host arrives. Unfortunately, the maintenance staff at the park is down several people. They did get to it as quickly as possible & for that we were grateful.
When Beth went home to work, she found Oliver TLC all stretched out in a LARGE cedar bowl she had on the 36” deck table. That is one big cat! He was literally overflowing! And he was telling her off about leaving him constantly.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
It was our day off so we spent a good deal of time at home, doing laundry, paying bills, cleaning & a little napping on the couch. It was awesome!
Perry had a City Council meeting in the evening so Beth & the pups returned to camp without him. On the way back into the park (at about 6:30pm), Beth saw a woman sitting in a lawn chair on the porch by the front door to the office. The office had closed at 5pm so she was worried the woman had a problem or needed help. She stopped to check on her & the woman just laughed & said she was a camper & couldn’t get wifi at her RV so she had her husband drop her off there where she could connect to the park’s internet. Her husband would return in an hour or two to pick her up. Resourceful!
Thursday, June 22, 2017
The variety & uniqueness of people makes camp hosting so interesting. We had a Class C arrive, towing a jeep, that was driven by a single woman. She was a retired New Orleans Police Officer. She had her little dog with her for company &, together, they travel far & wide. We stopped to chat with this cigar smoking American Hero. She told us she had been shot while on duty the year before (thus her early retirement) & she makes a practice of being out in nature, enjoying the quiet that was not afforded to her living in New Orleans. And later we saw her fishing off the pier at sunset. What a great life she had created!
Friday, June 23, 2017
Campground #1 Hosts packed up & left first thing in the morning (a week earlier than originally scheduled), sending us a text letting us know. They had new adventures awaiting & we wished them safe travels. We got our normal chores done & then desended on Campground #1 to prepare the host site the way we wanted it for our new “home”. Then we did a deep cleaning of the bathhouse there, as well.
We packed up our camper, hooked it up to the truck & hauled it & all the “extras” we use over to Campground #1. We were scheduled to be in that spot until the end of August.
Once we got Wilbur in place, leveled & secured, we put up the dog fence & the grill. The rest would have to wait as we were exhausted & needed showers to wash away a full day of sweat. It did feel good to be back in our favorite spot though.
Saturday, June 24, 2017
The morning arrived with different sounds to get used to. Campground #2 host site is set back off the road & was very woodsy. There was little traffic (other campers) going by so it was pretty quiet. Campground #1 host site was right next to the road with the majority of camp traffic & a good bit of foot traffic. Sugar & Spice were antsy about all the people traipsing by. Something they would get used to over time.
After our breakfast, we set up more of our camp. The gazebo went into the rock garden Perry made back in February when we were hosting. He added lights to that & the covered swing nearby. Beth made a trip to Home Depot & bought a couple hanging flower baskets & some potted flowers to add to the décor. The picnic bench is all pretty with the potted plants in a wicker basket & the river rocks she bought for painting all around it. We put the camp chairs, a wooden bench & the fan in the gazebo as we would be using it extensively during our stay. It’s location RIGHT next to the road made it ideal for visiting with campers.
One camper arrived with a brand new pop-up she had never even set up before. And she had three grandchildren & a feisty little dog in tow. We really din’t mind helping people with problems while setting up or issues during their stay but when asked to basically guide & DO all the set up is pushing the situation too far. Bless her heart.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
The day arrived with complaints from nearby campers to the new pop-up camper, saying her little dog was loose & barking all night. The park rule is all dogs must be on a restraint & supervised at all times so we did have to call the park staff to get involved in that case.
As we were sitting in the gazebo, Beth observed a motor scooter arrive at the bathhouse with a man & woman who were not wearing helmets – they were, however, carrying the helmets. The girl went around to the women’s room while the guy appeared to angle the scooter into the door of the men’s handicapped room. Perry went over to the bathhouse & knocked on the door, asking if he had his motor scooter in there. He confirmed he did as his last one was stollen when he left it out on the road. Perry told him to get the bike out of there immediately & he complied. The guy told Perry they were staying in the “webalos” when asked if they were campers. Assuming he meant the Yurts we didn’t call the Duty Ranger right away which we probably should have. The girl returned & stayed with the motor scooter while the guy took a shower. Then she went to the women’s room (the women’s handicapped room was out of order) to have a shower. We could hear the electric hand dryer run for long periods of time so Beth went over to check on things. Lord have mercy! The girl was dancing around the room as naked as a jay bird! Being taken by surprise & not really knowing what to do, Beth ducked into one of the toilet stalls & used it, then left. We called the Park Manager to come out but it took her awhile as she was on another issue. Unfortunately, the duo got away before she arrived. But the mess – Lord have mercy! Best we could tell, they had no soap or towels with them so the girl took the bottle out of one of the hand soap dispensers & used that in the shower. She also took the trash can into the shower, filled it with soapy water to perhaps wash her clothes. That may account for the long use of the hand dryer. Drying her clothes & body maybe? The men’s handicap room was a mess, too. There was a large amount of mud & toilet paper in the bowl & on the seat of the toilet. Maybe he washed his shoes? Whatever, we cleaned up the mess & will be calling the police if they ever return. It takes all kinds.
Meanwhile, we had to call the Duty Ranger to contact the pop-up camper owner as her dog was left at camp & he was running about for over 2 hours. Even after she returned, Beth had to remind her an additional 3 times to keep the dog on a lead. Bless her heart.
Monday, June 26, 2017
Although Monday & Tuesday were supposed to be our days off, things were so busy in camp we opted to stay & do the audit (our week) & clean the bathhouses for Campgrounds #1 & #2. We did go home for showers (sometimes our home shower just felt so much better) & to do some grocery shopping.
Perry made a list of all the campsites he had completely blown off & cleared the firepits. As people check out of the others during the week, he would do them too before new campers arrive. It was a dance to get them done before new arrivals at times. He was also doing the same in Campground #2 although the Camper Cabin Hosts had been so helpful in cleaning the firepits over there, too.
We did have a BIG mess to clean in the men’s room in Campground #2. It will not be described here but just know some people are GROSS!
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
We cleaned more vacant campsites & did a light touch up of the bathhouses. Then we went home to chill & do laundry. Beth had lunch with her friend Shannon, a much needed visit with ideas & opinions to stimulate the brain. Later we went to the County Commission meeting in Winder.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
After doing the audit & having our standard breakfast, Beth left camp to drive to Colbert. Her friend Rhyse, recently back into the hairstylist business, cut her hair perfectly. So thankful for this gracious & talented friend!
Perry ran home for a bit & stopped at Becky’s in Statham for a haircut as well.
Back at camp in the afternoon, we decided to go clean out ALL the firepits in the Tent Walk-in areas. They were overflowing with old ash, unburnt wood, & loads of trash. This area & the lakefront sites are not our responsibility but, when they are not done, it makes ALL the hosts look bad.
Later, we came across a big party going on over in Campground #2 (we were still keeping an eye on that area until the new host arrived). The group wasn’t particularly loud but there were 8 trucks all around when there is only supposed to be 2 per site. Perry politely asked that they move the extra vehicles to the overflow parking which they kindly did. Many in attendance had firearms on but no one was threatening. Thank goodness!
Thursday, June 29, 2017
The new host in Campground #2 arrived! Her name is Sandra & she’s no bigger than a minute. However, she has a BIG personality. Fun times ahead!
Beth went home to have lunch with her friends Tracie, Sandra & Lisa & to share thoughts & ideas on how to deal with some difficult people. Now there’s a topic that can wear you out! The girls did have a few laughs over the misadventures of these pesky people so not all was unproductive.
That strange issue of a motor scooter being taken into the bathroom a few days before was followed up by a bike rider doing the same. It’s hard to believe people actually think this is okay! Lord have mercy!
We had a good many LARGE RVs arrive & most need 50amp sites. However, the park only had five. We did find out that there is a converter that one can plug into both the 30amp sockets which converts it to almost 50amp. Not quite as good but better than nothing. The RV stores carry them in case anyone wants to check them out.
We had a quiet dinner that was only interrupted a zillion times with people wanting firewood or directions or something else. It’s nearly comical – sit down for dinner & that’s when people will show up.
Friday, June 30, 2017
The park filled up completely with not an RV, tent or yurt site left. Even the Camper Cabins were at capacity. Unfortunately, rain was predicted through Independence Day & it started early. That’s an unpredictable problem when one wants to get out in nature.
Robby, Lisa & Lily were supposed to visit for dinner but called to say Lily had gotten lice in day camp. Robby never experienced that as a kid & Lisa didn’t either but it’s pretty common & easily treatable. Store bought remedies are harsh & can cause side effects so Beth recommended coating her hair & scalp with coconut oil (nearly everyone has some on hand) & wrapping her head with a shower cap or plastic wrap for awhile. Then washing it a few times to get the dead critters out. Poor Lily. She was not happy about the situation.
Because we had taken out some burgers Beth made a couple weeks before, we grilled them & had a salad for dinner without the kids. No lice allowed at camp! Maybe Lily would be able to spend the night the next weekend!
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Perry spent many hours fixing a trench that formed at the entrance to site #4. The recent HEAVY rains had been playing havoc with the gravel & the park staff had been short handed so no one had been able to fix the areas. He hauled large rocks & gravel from various piles & filled in that trench. It was so bad, the current camper could not have even gotten his camper out if he tried. The repair held up nicely to the afternoon rain storm so maybe that would be one less situation the maintenance people would have to deal with.
Another camper had a tent top over their picnic table but the intense rain brought that down on top of them, too. It was a mangled mess that the six women who were camping there had to deal with as they were packing up. Another woman wanted that campsite so she helped them break it down & load it into their truck. The six women were 2 ½ hours late in vacating their spot but no one got mad. All was well.
Late check-ins can be challenging. During peak season, reservations are a must. The park is constantly full, especially on the weekends. And the sites are a first come first serve. We had a camper who drove a long way show up at 9:30pm looking for a site. They had reservations & we had one site left. They didn’t much care for it’s location & got a bit testy but we chalked it up to them being Hangry. Bless their hearts.
Sunday, July 2, 2017
The Park Manager called for a host meeting at 2pm to discuss the upcoming holiday traffic in the park. As was the situation with Memorial Day, MANY come to Ft Yargo to picnic & enjoy the lake & trails. The park is HUGE but there is a limit to the number of people & cars even it can handle so traffic control becomes necessary. Perry & two other hosts volunteered to wear fluorescent green vests & serve as parking conductors along with the staff on Tuesday.
Because the 4th was on Tuesday, many campers stayed longer than usual & those sites that were vacated filled up immediately. Another full campground as the sun set again. And the rain continued.