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.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Well that was a busy day!

It started at around 8:10am. Knock, knock, knock.

Okay, so I go answer the door. It's a guy from the restaurant saying they have no water. I walk over to our sink and check our faucet. Nope, no water there either! That meant the whole campground had no water.

This is not a good start to the day.

The water system here is a bit of a maze. It's been added to and rerouted so many times there are pipes and hoses running everywhere. I've pretty much got it figured out how the system works though.

What a puzzle!

I checked everything that I knew of, but couldn't figure it out. One of the cabin owners is our resident plumber and knows the system inside out. I had to go recruit his help! We got the pump working again. There was a pressure switch that hadn't "switched" when it was supposed to.

My radio then goes off. We have two way radios between the registration office and myself. He says a guy in cabin 5 wants to see me. Okay, so off I go. Turns out they have a tree on their property and the ants have been feasting on the roots and he thinks it's going to fall down. I disagree, but it's not my call. The board of directors need to make that decision and so the problem is out of my hands.

Next up, a camper locks their keys in their truck with the engine running. They were a group of twenty something year olds. "Do you have a coat hanger?", they ask. I do one better than that. I used to be a licensed auto body technician in another life, and I had a kit of tools specifically made for breaking into vehicles. I kept the most useful tool of the kit when I got away from that life in 1999 and have carried it in our vehicle wherever I go. I spent five minutes trying, and they said they would continue if I would lend them the tool. No problem...carry on!

One lower section only has one empty spot. 

There are about 12 tents full of young people partying in the overflow section.

We went and delivered some more wood, and then did a garbage run. Sure enough, most people don't seem to be concerned about the ten cents they throw into the recycle bins for empty drink containers. Beer cans, soda pop cans, drinking water bottles. We've probably collected about $20 worth already and the weekend's only half over! 

After lunch, I get a call to do a wood delivery for the young kids who had locked their keys in their vehicle. They paid for four extra bundles but when I got there they said they wanted two of them delivered to site number 10. Hmm. That's strange, but I didn't question it. I went and did the delivery and got the whole story. Turns out they had run out of wood in the middle of the night and wanted to continue. So they went and tried to "borrow" some wood from another site. And were caught in the act! So this was them, making restitution! Too funny...kids will be kids.

Then, a call from a camper family who arrived yesterday. They got to their site to find that their neighbours (more young people) had dogs and that there was dog crap left in what was then a vacant site. They didn't want me to clean it up, they wanted the dog owner to clean it up. Sounded fair to me! I spoke to the young people later on to make sure they got everything settled and everybody seems happy.

Canadians are a hardy lot!

Ruth went down and did some beach cleanup. Just the little pieces of driftwood like you see in the pic above. Now, keep in mind that only eight days ago this lake was covered in ice! It's still VERY cold! 

The water is freezing. These girls don't seem to care!

Sorry, no northern lights last night. We'll try again tonight. Went and did my final rounds around 11:15pm. A little chatter going on, and some fireworks from a private property further down the lake. No fireworks allowed on park property, but this is not park property so not my problem. Off to bed...tired!

Kevin, getting some more wood.

35 comments:

  1. I can't believe that they are just sitting in the water fishing, those toes must be numb....

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    1. I think they had consumed enough alcohol that they didn't feel them anyhow!

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  2. Well, I suspect the busy time will fall off after the holiday weekend, but that far north, no question you have to grab it when you can. You have to "Make hay while the sun shines" in farmer speak.

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    1. Yep, you sure do and everyone was enjoying the lovely weather.

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  3. I hope you get free food at the restaurant in return for being awakened at 8:10am :)

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    1. Nope, we were already awake and it's part of the job.

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  4. Wow! Quite a day. It's always amazing to me that, no matter how prepared I am for whatever, something(s) comes up that I never even gave a thought to!!! You two are doing one heck of a job; and, for me, I love sharing in it albeit from a place where I can't offer to help!! What about a contest for the kids to see who can pick up the most driftwood? Maybe a prize for the winner........

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    1. Nah, the kids are happy just playing in the playground and it gives me an excuse to be at the beach :).

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  5. Sitting in water that cold......I will reserve comment

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    1. I can just imagine what that comment would be!

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  6. The Northern Lights were spectacular and I've seen them many times when I lived in Minnesota. Love the header with pic of the lake though! Blue water and green trees are the best! Live in the desert now so miss the water and trees. Thanks. The Park looks great and you have done a great job in the clean up.

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    1. Thank you very much for your generous comment. I don't blame you for missing the water and trees, we love them too!

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  7. Before I even read your post, when I saw the header picture, I said HOLY MOLEY that water was frozen a week ago. Those folks must be freezing. Great write up of your day. Glad you are making some extra cash on the lazy folks.

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    1. Yep, can't believe the people that went in the water. We told them there was ice on the lake just 8 days ago and they laughed, we think they are nuts!

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  8. I cannot believe that they are skiing and sitting in that water. The water temp. has got to be freezing. Too cold for my chicken body after this long down here.

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    1. Those girls out on the wakeboards must have been frozen, expecially when one of them fell off and the boat had to go back to get her, the others ended up in the water too and they didn't even have wetsuits on! About a half hour later they were back at it again, crazy is all I can say!

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  9. 08:00 until 23:00 - you guys are going to earn your pay for sure this summer! Good luck!

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    1. We aren't working all of that time but we are on call. Kevin even managed to have a half hour nap. We are having fun!

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  10. Sure doesn't sound like the mellow time you had at HC. Love hearing about all the calls you are getting. Seems like your are going to have a busy summer if this keeps up. Body Shops, aah grew up in them myself. Dad owned a Body Shop, Garage & tow service when in my teen age years. I jumped out of the business in my twenties. Stories to share if we meet up next winter in HC.

    rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

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    1. No, it's not as relaxing as Hacienda Contreras but we are enjoying it and really it is only the weekends at the moment that are going to be busy like that.

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  11. Sure wish there was an edit feature or I need to proof my post before I publish, LOL!

    rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

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  12. Wow - you guys are definitely earning your pay. But so far it sounds like everyone is cooperating quite well and getting along. That is a good thing. Those people in the water are nuts.

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    1. Yes, we had a great weekend, and really no big problems. We agree with you, they are nuts!

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  13. Take a deep breath. Tomorrow, you get to do it over again!

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  14. Campgrounds can be fun always something going on, looks like you are enjoying it.

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  15. As a family who has camped in countless campgrounds, I love reading the perspective of those in charge of running the place! Sounds like hard but rewarding work to me.

    Tricia @ www.roadtriptheworld.com

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    1. I think the hardest part was just doing all the spring clean up. Now with that behind us it is just to keep up with the grass and make sure the campers are happy. It is nice to hear the comments from the campers and what a great job we are doing, mkes it all worthwhile.

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  16. I think you will need a long vacation when this summer is done!

    The day after the ice melted here on Elliot Lake I took the kayak out for a paddled. On the way past the beach two teens were horsing around and wound up throwing each other in the lake, probably to impress the young woman with them, after a minute or so the skinnier one runs ashore and starts stripping off his wet clothes. I said," you do realize there is still ice floating in the next bay", to which they replied, "really"? Then they high-fived each other, too funny.

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    1. Yep, we will have 7 months to relax and enjoy. It is all worth it!

      Your story is too funny!

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  17. I'm late reading yesterday's post - all those people enjoying that cold water - we had to laugh - good for them! My goodness, we didn't even get to DE yet and people in Canada are catching fish! Too funny!
    Connie in PA

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