The south end of the beach at Hua Hin, Thailand.
Where are Kevin and Ruth now? Hua Hin, Thailand.

Where are Kevin and Ruth going next? Maldives on March 23rd.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Week one, complete.

Our first week of work was a resounding success, even if I do say so myself! There are still no campers booked to arrive until Thursday the 16th, and that's the latest that we want to have everything ready anyhow in time for the onslaught of May long weekend campers who will arrive on the 17th. We'll have no problem accomplishing that goal.

But it comes at a cost. We have each put in about 54 hours over the last seven days. And we're a little tired, but we won't take any time off until we know the campground is ready, and even then our time off will probably be spent going into the city for groceries!

We've had a contractor in the last couple of days repairing some of the erosion damage from the spring thaw. There were four campsites that needed a lot of work, and he'll probably be done today so that we can put the finishing touches on them.

"Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go!"

We spent part of yesterday trimming back any tree branches that were growing into the roadways or the parking area of the campsites. As RV'ers, we know that there's nothing worse than trying to get around tree branches that might scratch your new motorhome or trailer.

Fortunately, we have all the right tools to do the job!

I spent some time working on the playground installing all of the stuff that had been taken down for the winter. And repairing the swings. I found two new swing seats that needed to be installed, but the bolts for the old ones were so rusty I had a hard time getting them off. Still one that just won't loosen, so I put some oil on it overnight and that should help.

Kevin, installing the tetherball.

And repairing a swingset.

Of course it can't be all work and no play!

I got the leaf blower working. It's an older one, and like all of the other motorized equipment here, it hadn't had anything in the way of maintenance or cleaning in who knows how long. The air filter was so dirty I'm surprised it worked at all! So I got it all cleaned up and we tried it out on one of the worst sections. It does a much faster job of getting the leaves and everything into a pile so that it can be bagged, and Ruth's raking will now be a lot more efficient. She doesn't want to use the machine (it is kind of heavy on your back) so I do sections and get the leaves ready to be bagged and she does that and the final cleanup. We forgot to get a picture of me with the machine!

Ruth, hard at work with the rake! I think she's probably done more than fifty bags like this by now!

The campground is situated on the side of a slope leading down to the lake. Above that are wheat fields. Miles upon miles of wheat fields. One of the farmers up here works 8,000 acres! Yesterday evening, we walked up to the fields to watch the sunset.

Can you see our cell tower?? That's what supplies us with our internet. 

Walking up the hill to watch the sunset.

There it is!

We're quite far north, so the official sunset is about 8:45pm just now. So it stays fairly light until after 9:00pm, and then it's light again just after 5:00am. We should have gone back up the hill after it got dark to see if we could see the northern lights! Maybe we'll do that on the next crisp clear night to see if we can get some northern lights photos for you!

19 comments:

  1. That leaf blower sure will make life easy for Ruth, too bad its so heavy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a backpack style so once it was one it really wasn't too bad, and yes it did make it easier.

      Delete
  2. Ah Tether-ball! I had completely forgot about tether-ball.
    The principal at my former school had put up three "courts" (mind you, I had to research all the dimensions and rules, since it was somehow left to me to figure out the markings)
    It was my routine EVERY SINGLE DAY to put up and take down the balls. Gah!
    Had a system worked out though with one of those "Easy Reachers", you know, the garbage picker-upper gizmos? (Caretaker's friend/essential tool) and could clip them on from the ground. Still a drag though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, Kevin had to check the internet to see what height to set the ball at. Thinking that the ball will just stay there for the season, hopefully it won't disappear overnight.

      Delete
  3. There is beauty to be found no matter where you are. You will likely have many evenings of northern lights, lucky, lucky you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right, there is beauty everywhere. Some people are just too busy that they don't see it.

      Delete
  4. You two are like your own landscaping business - this gig is perfect for K&R!

    ReplyDelete
  5. To see the Northern Lights is on my bucket list. I hope you get some wonderful photos to share with us! Grace (in Tucson)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not sure if we will but we are keeping our fingers crossed. Wish we could have seen them when we were in Iceland last October they are spectacular there.

      Delete
  6. With the 11-year sunspot cycle reaching its maximum this fall, you have a great chance of seeing some spectacular aurora borealis up there this summer. Does your new camera shoot video?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The best time for viewing the aurora borealis here is october to March. Hoping that there is a chance either this month or in September, not sure the summer will be a good time.

      Delete
    2. Forgot to mention that yes, our camera does do video.

      Delete
  7. Yes lets us know if you can see the Northern Lights if so I might be your first New Jersey USA camper next year...Sunset was great, not like looking off the bow of a boat at sea but great.
    Just 1800 short miles away from the ocean....LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We'll let you know. I can just imagine what a sunset of the bow of a boat at sea would be like. One day maybe we will get a shot of a sunset like that.

      Delete
  8. You writing about the Northern Lights has got me to thinking. I wonder if I might have a chance to see them in northern Minnesota.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can bookmark the current aurora borealis forecast at http://helios.swpc.noaa.gov/ovation/images/Aurora_Map_N.png

      Delete
  9. What are the rates for RVs in the park? We found parks in Ontario expensive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, it's not "cheap" let's put it that way. $26 per night for an electric site, or $18 for non electric. Includes all taxes and fees. However...you also have to pay $6 per day per motorized vehicle simply to enter the park. Regular users can benefit by purchasing a season pass for $40.

      Delete

There are more comments on our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TravelwithKevinAndRuth

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.