3 day off

There's not much to say about Saturday and Sunday.  Brad had host duty while I worked the gate, a

We didn't bother her,
Brad, Rudy and I all sitting outside.

super busy Saturday, much slower on Sunday, which was a welcome break for both of us.  Crock pot meals for dinner and Sunday was just a veg outside on the chair night. 

Monday is our day off, so Roger (one of our rangers) stopped by in the morning and offered to run over the camp host sign for us, ha ha.  I should have left him, by 9:30 people were knocking on the door looking for sites and asking other questions.  About 11:00 we headed out to the Horsetooth Mountain to do the "easy" hike to the falls.  The definition of  an "easy" hike out here is open for interpretation, straight up and down a places on a very narrow, busy path.....but we made it.  It was only about 3 miles round trip and took us about 3 hours to do the hike, and the water falls were down to a trickle.....but at least we can say we made it.  Back home to rescue Rudy, dinner on the grill and a couple more campers stopping by with questions, but we survived. 

Tuesday we planned on getting out of here by 9:30, at 10:30 we finally hit the road, stopped for gas and then a 1-2 hour drive to Shari's.  We got there in time for lunch, then sat and chatted for a while, but about 4:00 she had to start the running with the kids, so we headed home.  Shari, Matt and the kids are back in their mountain home, which is nice, but it still has a terrible road getting to it.  We enjoyed the visit and forgot about camp hosting for the day.  It was a beautiful ride up to and home from their place and home, a quick stop a the store and home for a light dinner. 

Beautiful sunset over
Horsetooth Mountain. 

Wednesday was a fairly quiet day.  Scott was up a Estes Park for the week and came down for a little visit.  We chatted for a while, had lunch then talked until about 2:00 when he headed home.  Not much happening, a few campers stopped by with questions, check-ins and one actually reported a snake in his camp site, so we called the Rangers and had them remove it, better his site than mine.  We a nice meal, played in the water for a while, then headed in for the evening. 

Thursday we went back on host duty, with about 15-20 check-ins.  Brad headed into town for supplies that he needed to build the refrigerator platform, then when he came home I headed in for the weekly grocery run.  I'm glad I was gone when the destruction started, and he actually had most of the mess cleaned-up until I got home.  Now he needs to find somebody that does wood work and have them build us a base front and sides for the refrigerator.  After I got the food put away, Brad went back to work inside, and I stayed outside, so I didn't have to watch.  We had dinner on the grill and then about 9:00 there is a knock at our door.  One of the regular campers had come up a day early figuring they would find a site for the night.....no luck, we are booked full.  So we ended up calling the rangers to get one of emergency sites released and put them in that one.  Back home about 10:00 and off to bed. 

 



The beginning of the mess!



 

The front is missing

 

Rudy wondering where
his food dish went!!

Friday was a busy day, about 40 check-ins.  Lots of people looking for sites, people with 2 units (RV/Campers) on their sites and just a lot of general questions.  Brad did manage to make breakfast on the grill, then browned burger and grilled peppers so we would have them to make Spanish Rice in the crock pot tomorrow.  Between all the customers we still had a nice dinner of Steak, mushrooms and garlic bread, not bad for my B-Day.  I did get lots of birthday wishes, by phone call, texts and facebook, I even got a birthday box from Lynne.  She was sending our mail, so she included some chips (Middleswarth BB-Q), a new wine glass and chiller cork, not a bad day.  Off to bed, back to the shack tomorrow.

 

Saturday and Sunday I was back in the gate house and was busy both days, at least they go fast that way.  Brad had the camp host position all to himself, which wasn't bad on Saturday as he only had 3 check-ins, but Sunday he was super busy.  He had about 30 check-ins and some times, it's just hard to make people understand that they have to leave on time because somebody has booked their site.  They seem to be busier than in the past, where people could stay late on Sunday and play in the lake, but not this year.  We usually have about 3 sites open and they are tiny 20 foot sites and not on the water, so they aren't usually full, except for Friday and Saturday.  I was exhausted both Saturday and Sunday, so Sunday we had a campfire and did hot dogs over the fire.  It was a great relaxing way to end a very busy weekend.

 

Brad, Diane and Rudy   

Some Water Fun

Tuesday: We headed over to rent a boat for a couple hours but after we put on bathing suits packed a lunch drove to the Marina, they had no boats to rent.  So.... we can home I got in the kayak and Diane in the tube and we made it about 10 feet from shore when a loose Lab started terrorizing Rudy.  Back to shore saved Rudy and headed back out on the water.  We weren't  50 ft.  from shore when a thunderstorm rolled in,  so we came in and gave up on water sports for today.  We did some general clean up around the camper before meeting Larry and Sue for happy hour.  The head ranger finally came over to tell us that Larry and Sue were leaving for a few weeks and to see if we were OK with that.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute to change someone's work schedule.  We got everything worked out and he was happy.

Sitting outside the Firehouse!!

 



This one is waiting for Bingo,
right beside the door

Wednesday:  We headed to town for groceries and such which is still a challenge with the small refrigerator. Diane gets a half dozen eggs, one quart of milk and generally the smallest package so the stuff fits in the frig.  As we pulled in we saw that our new neighbors(scallywags the rangers had to move) had hooked to our water supply. We unloaded  the groceries and I called the boss to complain he came over only to tell us we would have to put up with it for 2 weeks.  Happy hour came early as the four of us complained about these new guys.   Burgers for dinner and off to bed early.

Thursday:  We did rent a boat (nice pontoon boat) today for a few hours.  We went around the whole lake and in and out of each cove.  The lake is small for some of the big cabin cruisers out there.  It was a nice ride and we even anchored for a short swim.  We had a short happy hour with Larry and Sue  as they are finishing their packing.   Diane talked with Lynne and we had hot dogs over the open fire and stayed outside until 10 PM.



The Dam 6 miles away!!

Link to more pics:
Reservoir Tour





Friday:.  Larry and Sue left this morning around 8:30 headed to southern California for  a wedding so we are running the campground for the next two weeks.  Normal Friday check ins and check outs we are once again full so no walk ups today.  The wind has picked up these last few days and actually blew our lawn chairs over today.   Pork and sauerkraut in the crock pot for dinner.

Fun week, Brad and Diane

No Rain, oh yea we are back at work!!

Last Wednesday 7-8 we headed up to the AO (Administration Office) to fax off a paper for Brad.  After that we headed up to the mountain top for lunch, then into town for some refrigerator shopping.  After about 4-5 stores, our heads were swimming and we still haven't made a choice...we need to do that soon.   Back home to rescue Rudy and light meal and just hang out waiting for the rain to end. 

 

Thursday we are back on Camp Host duty, so Thursday and Friday we were busy.  Once again every campsite is full so we need to make sure people keep moving.  We had a person on site 22 that was leaving, then sites 16 and 17 were moving into his site and site 21 was going to 17, I think Friday very few left but did the campground shuffle.  We were entertained by the pop-up campers moving

Now Sue knows why
it's empty everyday!!

after only putting in one side and the amount of easy-ups doing the 4 person walk from site to site.  It all went well with no real problems.  It was a busy, but good day and by dinner time we were glad to be able to sit with no more running. 

 

Saturday and Sunday I was back in the ticket booth at the South Bay campground.  I was busy on Saturday and crazy busy on Sunday.  Once again all the launch areas, day use areas and general parking filled up and we had to send people home.  Poor Brad had camp host duty all to himself, Saturday wasn't bad, but Sunday he had about 35 campers checking out and 30 checking in.  Then on top of all that, people were parking in other campers sites, or some just blocked the road.  He was on the radio a lot on Sunday and when I got home, we were both exhausted.  We had a quick meal, ham steak on the grill with asparagus, cleaned up and I think we were both in bed around 10:00, another busy day tomorrow. 

 

Monday we are finally off duty from everything, no camp ground hosting to do, no gate keeping, but Shari and the kids are coming up for the day.  Brad got ready, headed over to HQ to do his check out, then into town to grab some burgers and salad for lunch.  I stayed home, did laundry and some general clean up that needed done getting ready for our company.  Brad wasn't home to long when the clan pulled in, a quick hello and the kids all changed into the bathing suits and headed out to the water.  They started out a little timid, but before long all 5 of them were out by the trees, swimming, kayaking or in the tube....they were having fun.  The plans were to have a quick lunch, the off to rent some paddle boards, no luck, the black clouds were blowing in with thunder rumbling in the back ground.  So we were all sitting outside talking when the lightening hit the mountain right behind us and the thunder rumbled immediately afterwards, 7 people scrambled for the door and I ran to get my dry laundry down.  We all made it inside without getting wet, but after about an hour of 8 of us smashed into the moho like sardines, Shari decided to head out.   The rain had let up, but we still had the thunder and she had to leave soon anyway to get McKayden to Soccer.  It was fun while it lasted, just wish the weather would have been nicer.  We had a very light dinner and Brad headed to bed early, but I managed to watch the nightly news, then off to bed. 

Brad, Diane and Rudy


All 5 on the kayak and
they still couldn't sink it!!

Monkey in the Tree....
no wait, that's the
grandkids!! :-)

 

More Rain

Sunday:   I was back at the Gate house.  After selling hundreds of tickets on Saturday, I didn't even manage to sell 100 today.  I was to work until 4:00, but Lucy came in early and sent me on my way at 2:00.  Over to HQ to do the paper work and I was home by 3:00, yea.  We were on a stroll through the CG, when the rain came again, back home dodging rain drops, not getting too wet.  Larry and Sue went to check the other side of the CG, but Sue came back, it was too cold on the golf cart.  She grabbed a drink and headed over for a visit, with Larry following shortly there after.  We sat and talked way too long, so it ended up being sausages on the grill instead of steak....we'll save them for tomorrow.  It was a nice relaxing evening, even though the rain was moving in.



Our 'Ugly' Ducks coming
in for a visit!!

 

Monday:     What a way to end a really nice holiday.  The rain started last evening rained steady all night and all day today.  It is cloudy and cold high temp of 62.  We stayed home all morning working on bills and paper work thinking it would clear up.  It didn't.  Our printer crapped out so we headed into town to Office Depot.....our luck the store has been torn down, part to new shopping center.  After a few wrong turns(the GPS told me to) we ended up at Best Buy.  We looked at refrigerators as well and ended up being their almost an hour and just as we left Diane realized she was missing her phone.  Back in found the phone and were home by 5:30.  No happy hour, to much rain, but the steaks have been thawed for two days so Brad made them in the rain.  They were good but not as much fun cooking when you are running in and out.  And yes we did have to turn the furnace on.



Tuesday:   The rain continues,  36 plus hour of anything from a light mist to a steady rain.  But we

Where did the mountain go?

will not succumb and had breakfast on the grill outside.  The rain continued all day.  When we couldn't stand being inside anymore we went to town.  First we checked out Wilbur's wine and liquor store, were we bought a bottle of wine we didn't need. Then to the Big 5 sporting goods store for a tube purchase, then to Petco, another purchase, this time some dog toys Rudy just had to have.  Next was Whole Food which has huge section of prepared and expensive foods, we left there with some over priced but very good salads and soups.  At this rate three more days of rain could bankrupt us.  We all put on sweat shirts and sweat pants for happy hour but still only lasted a half hour.  We had our salads for diner  and off to bed early.

A very damp Brad, Diane and Rudy.

Happy 4th of July

Wednesday   We were back on Camp Host duty and things are a mess.   We had a lot campers checking in today and also a lot of people trying to picnic at the camp sites.  I explained to one guy who spoke very poor English he could not use the camp site he was very nice gathered all his belonging and left.  A few hours later we saw him again at the other end of the park, this time he was

Decorated for the Holiday!

almost done with lunch and we just left him alone.  It turned out OK as that camper did not arrive until early evening.  We had happy hour with Larry and Sue and all their family that is in this area.  Back to our place for diner and a little relaxation. 

 

Thursday    The campground is basically full through Monday the 6th of July.   Diane headed into town for groceries as I made rounds  handing out flyers for the special events, picking up trash and just saying hello to the campers.  Diane returned with "the groceries"  and they didn't all fit in our tiny frig.   I added ice to the cooler we filled that up, and still needed some room so diner would be the biggest stuff (chicken quarters) and veggies.  We made two more rounds passing out more fliers.  By now people recognize us coming and ask what do we have for them now.  We are still getting afternoon thunderstorms almost every day, some strong some more of a nuisance today's was a big one. We were over talking to Larry and Sue when we were chased inside.  It passed and we grilled our chicken and even sat outside for a while after it passed. 



Talking on the phone waiting
for the rain to end!!

 

Friday    We had a nice breakfast made on the grill as Diane will be returning to work for her weekend shift.  We made several trips around the campground we had just two check outs and two check ins.  People are settling in for the big holiday weekend, fires burning, boats buzzing around
and kids just everywhere. After our last round we had a short happy hour with Larry and Sue.  Diner would be the next biggest things in the cooler, burgers and fresh corn on the cob.   And Diane did manage to get a short kayak trip in before dark, that seems to be the best time.   Around 9pm the ranger knocked on our door to see if we could watch a dog that was left unattended and we said of course.  Big mistake(well not big) but when he gets here with the dog it is a 80 lb pit bull mix.  Turned out to be a really nice dog but the owners not so much as the ranger had issued them a citation.

 

Rudy had a tough day,
soooo many people!!

 

Saturday     Happy fourth of July to everyone.  What a crazy day.  Diane headed off to her gate keeper position and I put diner (beef BBQ) in the crock pot.   I did get a chance to call Beverly and chat for awhile.  That was the last break I had.  The park was completely full by 10 am and the rangers were turning people away at the entrances.  As ten or so cars left they would let some more in always leaving more in than left, the county wants all the money they can get.  People started parking along the roads and blocking the exits.  Words cannot describe the chaos.  As I was making the last round a guy walked up handed me a dog(leash and all) said it has been running loose turned around and left.  Now, I'm on the golf cat with Rudy half way down the park but, we made it.   Diane sold over 700 passes and was exhausted.  We had diner, cleaned up, visited with Larry and Sue just a short while and then Diane was off to bed.  I did dishes put up the off duty sign and Rudy and I headed to bed.

 

 

Brad, Diane and Rudy

Getting Ready for July 4th.

Saturday morning I headed up to the Inlet Bay Booth for my weekend of work.  It was actually pretty slow, which was good as Brad found a Kayak for sale on Craig's list, called the guy and said we would take it....now to find a way to get it to our campground.  Brad worked on that all day, with no

Nice for in the Inlet!!

luck, but after I did my check out, on the way home it hit us, Larry has a family member visiting, that has a truck.  We pull in and Brad goes over to talk with Larry, but Larry ended up taking Brad down in his van to pick up the kayak.  It was a quick 12 mile round trip to JJ's and they are back in about 30-40 min.  They get back, we check out the kayak....a pretty good buy, but then it's time for dinner.  After dinner, Brad had made hog maw in the crock pot, we were sitting out side and I just couldn't stand it anymore, into the kayak and a short paddle around our little inlet, it's a bit too dark to venture any further.  I liked the way it handled and it seemed pretty sturdy to me, I'm happy with it. 

 

Sunday morning it's back to work for me and off to town with Brad.  He hung around the CG until about 11:30 then headed in for some things that we needed, but when I got off at 3:00, I beat him home.  I had just hooked up Rudy to take him for a walk when Brad pulled in, so he walked Rudy

A Loon floating
around the Inlet!

and I headed over to do my daily close out.  It actually went pretty fast and back home, a quick drink, then off to Larry and Sue's for dinner.  They have their family over so we joined them for Burgers/dogs and all the fixin's.  Not bad and they are all very nice, we hung out for a little while then headed home to let the family have their visit time.  We sat out for a short time then headed in for the evening, since it is already after 9:00 and I was exhausted from the crazy day in the pay booth. 

 

Monday morning I head back to the Gate house for my one and only weekday of work.  I was sooooo bored, after selling about 500 tickets on Sunday, Monday I didn't even break 100, what a long day.  Brad had the day off, so I figured he would try a little fishing on the kayak, no luck.  Larry

Holiday Decoration.

and Sue had to run into town and asked Brad to doggie sit, Dakota.  He has separation anxiety and when they pulled out, he sat and stared at the spot where the car had been parked for about 5 min., then the sad howling started.  It was so bad that Brad and Rudy had to go sit at their house to get him to quit.  They were got back about 2:00, stopped and chatted with me for a while, then home to save Brad from the dogs.  All in all, not a bad day. Dinner on the grill, a quick paddle around the inlet, then head inside for the night. 

 

Tuesday we are finally off, not gate attending and no Camp Hosting, I should do grocery shopping, but I am doing little to nothing today.  A quick paddle in the kayak, breakfast on the grill, cooked by Brad, a ride over to South Bay CG to check out the Airstream they rent, but that was the majority of our day.  A couple of kayak trips and stroll around the CG, cheese and crackers for lunch and then the real lazy way out, back to Larry and Sue's for dinner.  Their family was back visiting and Larry had made pork BBQ for dinner, delicious.  We visited for a while and talked for an hour or so, then back home to rescue Rudy from his kennel.  It was a great day for recovery, that I really needed. 

Thanks, Diane, Brad and Rudy