September 8th 2020

With the last long weekend of the summer craziness behind us, it’s now time to look ahead to some of the fall projects to prepare the park for the winter. With the over night temperatures dropping into the 10ºC (50ºF) this will most likely be the last week for the swimming pool, unless there is a big warming in the near future. Something about getting out of that 80ºF (27ºC) swimming pool into that cool fall air that just seems to take the fun out of it.

There is a new Northlander park model moving in today, with the set up crew scheduled for tomorrow (weather permitting) and with that we are watching the start of the park going through another end of season change, as the deadline is fast approaching for renewals to be paid, we have already seen some people pulling their trailers out and the 2021 season people moving in almost the next day.

The 2020 season has seen a lot of people taking advantage of the high demand for recreational properties here in Ontario, and selling off their units, as well an influx of transient travelers, looking to get seasonal spots as the pandemic turmoil continues. And I think one of the biggest surprises is how many transient campers have enjoyed the seasonal experience and are settling in for the long stay.

The reasons for staying are various but it appears that many are still concerned that next year we will still be battling this Covid pandemic, so settling in seems to be a way of stabilizing next years travel plans. We hear almost every day of canceled trips, not only this year but travel hopes for next year. As many believe until there is a proven vaccine, a lot of people will just hunker down. I personally know a lot of people that are not traveling at all this winter, a lot just fearful of the disaster still going over the border just south of us.

We have yet to venture out to a restaurant for a sit down meal, oh we have supported many local establishments by purchasing take away meals, and we did take in a patio when they first opened but it as not a very pleasant experience, so have not had the urge to partake again. Although we are hoping to get to a restaurant in Bayfield in the next couple of weeks for a dish we had last year, and it’s one of those meals that just wouldn’t do well as a takeout dish, and a half hour drive, so we will see how that goes when we get there.

Right now we are looking for a new cellular plan, I’m still using our old business plan and while great, for our lives back then, it is not working well now. As we need full coverage both here and internationally, and the Canadian companies seem to be leap years behind what some of the other countries plans have to offer, and mobile data is another expensive hurdle. But I have about a month to put something together and because our American coverage provider has failed because of the pandemic, as they catered just to snowbirds and vacation travelers with a variety of plans as short as 48 hours and up to a six month snowbird plan. I’m also working on an international plan that could fill all our needs as we travel, with just one phone and number.

The next few weeks will see many decks and sheds moving from one end of the park to the other as they are sold by those who are leaving the park and purchased by the new people in the park. This has to be one of the most entertaining things that we see during the year. With groups carrying many different items, chunks of decking, and fully assembled sheds, gazebos and the like.

Labour day weekend

Let’s start by stating the obvious, there are some people that just should not be left on their own to make any decisions.

So we are still trying to control the spread of a pandemic, and I’m hearing lots of excuses, the one that sticks out is “pandemic fatigue” which is an easy way of saying “I don’t want to follow the rules anymore”.

So this weekend one of the parks busybodys decided that having a group of twenty people spread over two sites would be a good way to try to circumvent the park rules. And no one is accusing the busy body of having any real understanding of the park rules, but it appears that just add a little alcohol and people just hear what they want to. And manage to twist everything to meet their immediate needs. But the biggest stumbling block is everyone idea of their bubble.

So what does (or at least what it should) your bubble look like … it is really pretty simple but because it doesn’t work for some people they seem to come up with their own ideas as to what it is … so this explains it. Because some of these people have a bubble at home, a bubble at work, a bubble at the park, a bubble for their golfing buds, so many bubbles it must be champagne … just saying

This excerpt is from the Ontario Ministry of Health web site …

Follow these steps to create a safe circle.

Step 1: Start with your current circle: anyone you live with or who regularly comes into your household

Be sure to include anyone that would come into regular close contact with you and the people you live with.

This may be:

• family members, including children
• your roommates
• another parent to your child(ren) that lives outside the home
• a babysitter or caregiver

Considerations

If you add people outside of your household to your social circle, be sure to include anyone in their households as well. You may not see them often, but they would still be considered part of your current circle.

Remember that everyone in a household must be part of the same social circle.

Step 2: If under 10 people, you can add members to your social circle, including another household, family members or friends

As you add additional members, ask yourself:

• Do they live with or come into regular close contact with anyone else? You may never see them, but they would still be considered part of your social circle.
• What makes most sense for you or your household? That could include another household with similarly-aged children or family members that you want to spend more time with.

Considerations

If you live alone, you may want to start with family members or other close friends. People may, or may not, choose to participate in a social circle depending on their unique circumstance, and risk of developing complications from COVID-19, for example people:

• over 70
• with compromised immune systems
• with underlying medical conditions

Remember that your social circle can include fewer than 10 people. It’s always best to start slow and safely add more members later.

Step 3: Get agreement from everyone that they will join the social circle

That means they agree to join only one circle, and physically distance with anyone outside the circle.

Essential workers can be part of a social circle, so long as the other members are aware of the risks and agree to them.

Step 4: Keep your social circle safe

To keep the people in your social circle safe:

• continue to follow public health advice, including frequent hand washing and sneezing and coughing into a sleeve
• continue to physically distance with anyone outside your circle by keeping two metres or six feet apart from them

If someone in your circle feels sick

They should immediately inform other members of the circle, self-isolate at home and not come into close contact with anyone, including other members of the circle.

They should also get tested.

Find an assessment centre to get tested for COVID-19.

Everyone else in the circle should closely monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19. If you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19 you should also be tested.

Step 5: Be true to your social circle

No one should be part of more than one circle.

So the next sign goes to this group that have broken almost every social distancing rule and has and continues to endanger everyone else in the park as they switch from bubble to bubble … 😡 because it fits the present social occasion.

The next sign go to all the dog 💩 owners that don’t think they have to clean up after their pet. Here in the park and every where else, the dog walkers in Fonthill come to mind as well.

And the last sign goes to all the slobs that think some one else should pick up after them. NEWS FLASH: your mommy doesn’t work here so pick up after yourself, and teach your offspring that as well, no body here wants to pick up your garbage!