Day 2 of park preparation for opening May 3rd, well to say I’m a little stiff and sore would just barely scratch the surface, yesterday included using a lot of muscles that I have not used for a few months. Gardening not my thing as much as Laurie’s, but it is one of my tasks, all the walking yesterday in a pair of workbooks that I haven’t worn for years, digging to fix water leaks, just a lot of being busy.

But I survived and actually looking forward to cleaning up the rest of the gardens today, hope to get the leaves off the common area and the community centre cleared out and ready to be cleaned and prepped for opening day, I was told that about 75% of the 200 plus campers show up on the opening weekend, as they are all responsible for their own yard area so picture spring clean up for about 150 campers the same weekend….should be fun….I think

I have a number of work orders to un-winterize is some units for people for opening day, not sure what that will involve other than charging the water system and flushing the antifreeze from the lines but that will be getting done next week, I’m also in charge of picnic table maintenance when requested, a number of the campers have patio furniture as they are all seasonal with storage sheds. Yesterday I was introduced to most of the electrical sub panels where all the 30 amp breakers live and where most of the problem areas are located, there are a number of different sections to the park as it has expanded over the years so a number of different styles of water and electrical connections and breaker boxes. So quite a steep learning curve for an old fart like me.

Well it’s almost time to turn in for the evening, progress report only have one small garden left to clean up an hour at best, got the Toro zero turn mower out today and cut the grass on the common area (also mulched up the few leaves left on the lawn). Been a few years since operating a mower like that but it all comes back with a little time, tomorrow will be a day of finding the leak in the water system and I understand we are cutting some trees tomorrow so another new adventure. Was bright and sunny today only got up into the mid 40’s today, suppose to be warmer tomorrow but dry, as we have rain coming for the weekend and even a little snow forecast for Sunday….not looking forward to that.

The park has suffered some erosion and has has about 300 truck loads of fill dumped along the edge to help slow it down, but all that truck traffic has made a mess of some of the roads. The company is to be in next week to regrade the roads and add a little gravel to get us up and operational for opening day. We are about 100 feet above the water level, and with climate change the water levels in the Great Lakes are rising.

This summer we are co-managing a campground on the shore of Lake Huron with the owners, the park has about 250 sites all seasonal. It is a full time position, five days a week, we get two days a week off but not weekends, the compensation package includes a site with utilities as well as a weekly wage. We start on April 23rd and work till the park is closed for the season sometime near the end of October. Full details will follow as we go through our orientation and training but it appears I will be the pool boy and operator of the honey wagon or stool trailer, I know I had you at pool boy……

This is our plan on how to subsidize our upgrades to the coach, as well as maybe getting some really neat positions at a variety of parks around the country, there seems to be a fair demand all across the country some as simple as camp host to this type of managing position. This years upgrade hopefully will be a lithium battery bank to increase our dependence on solar while boon-docking in Arizona this winter to reduce the generator dependence and help run essentials such as furnace fans over night when it’s cold. We are always looking for ways to reduce our power load, but still enjoy the comforts of our electronics.

it is about six in the morning and I have just put the coffee on the stove, there is nothing better than fresh perked coffee to get you ready for the day! Laurie made oatmeal for breakfast and off we went to find out our tasks for the day, priorities from my list getting the water to the second half of the park, we have fixed a defective tap and repaired one leak, but still have another leak to be found. Need all the landscaping ready for opening day, leaves raked and removed, ornamental grass cut, shrubs trimmed, as well as the lawn moved. Washrooms and laundry facilities cleaned and prepared for opening day. The weather is not cooperating today started out warm and breezy but turned into wet and cold with a low tonight of a few degrees above the freezing point. While it was raining, I worked on one of the golf carts, bad connections on the terminals, a little clean up and we seem to be back up and running, the park is big enough that the cart saves a lot of time and miles.

Other duties include splitting fire wood, pool maintenance, weekly pump outs (half the park is not connected to sewer), maintenance of the play ground and courts area, troubleshooting issues with power and water throughout the park, as well a delivering firewood and such to the guests throughout the season. I know the next couple of weeks will be tough with a lot of landscaping as well as road maintenance, and helping get trailers placed on lots as rigs come in, we placed one today. Well it seems like it has been a long day, heading for a hot shower and won’t be long out of bed…..