A changing relationship

Long time followers may recall that Monday is Massage Day, a much coveted time around here so off he went while I did a bit of tidy up around the rig, laundry and the like.

We went out for supper last night to Moby's Pub with our former campground's owners. Had a great time, its quite interesting to see our relationship and the way we interact with each other morph from business to becoming friends.

It was great to see them more relaxed yesterday, they had invited us over to their house last week or so for dinner and at that time they were dealing with a couple of stressors but last night he was positively giddy. Highly unusual.... but good fun. It was a great time, we had a lot of laughs and spent 2 hours enjoying their company.

As we were about to leave the restaurant we got a text from the new Managers asking us to dinner at Moby's for Thursday so stay tuned for that.

Brad brought home a couple of packs of Xmas cards a couple of days ago and I got right to them, yesterday they were mailed out. We have quite a few that have to get to England and as they have our newest address on them, getting them off early allows others time to send to us as well. After dinner we stopped by the campground to deliver a few there but only the new Managers were home so we'll have to go by and try again today.

July so far

Busy days around here, and I don't have many pictures because its just been too busy to go too far. Here is what I do have:

Some Happy Campers

Often Brad will take campers with low profile vehicles up to the top of Mt. Maxwell in our Jeep and these girls were some of them - I sent him up with the camera on this particular occasion. 

Beautiful and expansive views of the surrounding area can be had from the top of Mt. Maxwell but the road is not one you should take a small car on.

The owner came in to give us relief one day so we went to our new favourite beach and then to Hasting's House for dinner.

Hasting's House is a high-end restaurant/hotel. We were definitely not dressed appropriately but they let us in ( likely because we run this campground) since it was quiet in there just before a wedding. We are eat & run people, we don't hang about after a meal and tie up a table, so it worked out well.

We hadn't intended to make this stop but we were appreciative that they allowed us in looking like we'd been dragged through a bush backwards... or at least not looking up to par. Our waiter was great with a good sense of humour as well.

The campground has been super busy, apparently we're breaking records and that keeps us hopping all day. For the most part, the campers are having a great time and appreciate the small little details that we do to make their stay enjoyable. We've had some great reviews on Google and Tripadvisor which is always nice. We do find that some people don't realize that we are new managers and previous reviews can affect how they interpret their stay, but 99% are absolutely fantastic and we have met some fascinating people so far this year.

Yesterday we received a review that we were the best campground in the Gulf Islands! That sure made our day!!!

This is swim club weekend ( there are also firefighter and baseball events on this weekend) so the campground is absolutely full for the second weekend this month... most every day we are running at about 60% capacity and around 85% on weekends which is great, especially during the week and it keeps us on our toes to say the least. Never a dull moment.

Puttering

We've been busy working on the grounds. Time is ticking by so fast seems like just yesterday we moved into this spot, now its almost April. That 3.5ft of snow has really delayed things and now we have a push on to get everything ready.

This is the largest garden and I spent a total of 3 days sorting it out.

A different angle on our spot.

Yesterday we set about dealing with the bathrooms. Using a spray can lid and a turkey baster we sucked out all the antifreeze from the toilets and I sprayed bleach on all the walls in the bathrooms as there was some mildew on them from the winter season. Today I hope to get them cleaned properly and hang new shower curtains in the shower house. 

It appears we have a broken pipe in the ground (extreme cold temps this winter - for this area) so that will need to be sorted.

We plan to put a fresh coat of paint on the bathroom floors to freshen everything up. Not sure we'll get to that today but would like them to be cleaned and ready.

I have also done some further work on the operational system so that we can work smarter not harder during the busy season. We'll have to see how well all the changes I've implemented work out.

Room done and grounds work

We finished the sitting room walls and ceiling on Sunday and then set to work out in the grounds, the snow is finally gone and the temps here are hot hot hot. As much as we want to have the sitting room finished we have other priorities, the campground becomes 'open' on April 1st and we want it to be ready. We will be away for 3 days at the end of March ( I better start making plans for that) so we have to focus as time is ticking quickly.

Walls and ceiling up.

This big garden area has been cleaned up, that was a 2 day job.

I pulled out my golf cart, Brad's was out all winter as you know but mine was put away in storage for the winter. Now she is free once again.

Painted some bird houses in an attempt to add a bit of colour to the place.

Might paint the back panel of this birdhouse at some point but it wasn't yesterday.

There are a ton of wasps so Brad went to town and bought 4 catchers, the war of the wasps has begun.

At the end of the day, I put our camping chairs and Robbie's bed in the new room so we could get a feel for it. Aaahhhh, relaxing.

Sitting room progress

We made a noticeable difference to the sitting room yesterday... 

All walls were insulated

Outside trim removed and roof trays begun

We needed to make some adjustments to allow for air flow within what will be essentially attic space.

Bug screen was added and blocks put on to allow for airflow

Roughly 1/2" gap below this top trim now, allowing air to pass into the attic

Holes made at the top end of roof

With any luck, today I can get mesh over the top holes, finish the roof trays, insulation in the roof and the vapour barrier put everywhere. If we have time, perhaps begin putting up the plywood walls.

This space feels so very different now compared to when we began and soon it will be toasty warm too.

Changes to the plan

Okay so as I mentioned there was a bit of fun over the 'Conservatory' name for our little shed remodel, so we have changed it. Deb at Kastle's Journey said it should be the 'Sitting Room' and it just seemed so obvious that we ( read: I ) changed it instantly.... big thanks to Deb as I was drawing a blank for anything good.

When the owner came by to do the lift of the building (to allow for better air flow underneath), he felt that it should be insulated and a proper job done of it, keeping in mind that it is still a shed of course. Not about to argue, we agreed and we are moving forward with the build now that the lift is complete.

The walls that were dividing the seating area from what was a potting area have come down and we now have a much larger space to work with. The new floor has been added with vapour barrier under the entire shed.

After the lift, with the vapour barrier

Floor bracing

Floor added

Even the owner was involved

There is meant to be some rain today, according to those who never get it right - but not until this afternoon, so I think I will do the painting on the ceiling this morning. Because of the mould issue that was in this space, having bleached it to oblivion, I purchased a mould deterrent paint which will go on before the insulation goes in. It will only go on the problem areas so it won't take very long to do but could save many problems later.

This sitting room is now 8 ft wide and 16 ft long, its like having a 2nd motorhome. This will be a great addition to our little Manager site here at the campground and I'm really excited about it. Not only will it be a nice added space for us, but if/when we move on it will be a great advantage/incentive to those who come after us.

Now that the floor is down, we will be able to work in here whether its sun or rain which is good news since the rains delete the snow and when the snow is gone -- there is other work to be done... and the sitting room goes on hold.

The campground owner has been supportive of my idea to create this little outdoor space and I'd like to thank him for allowing us to do a more extravagant space. I had originally figured I'd make it just a comfortable shed but now it will be an actual outdoor space and that is awesome.

With it now being a wide open space, it should not take very long to get it sorted and ready for my furniture builds... speaking of which, I have found a second and I believe much easier/better option for the couch/bed that I plan to build but I'm still looking into both options to figure out which one I will use as I want to use as much of the salvage wood around here as possible. Sounds like a jimmy rig but trust me, it'll be great - you will see.

Move to BC they said...

...they don't have winter, they said...

This morning.

The snow is over my rubber boots.

I moved the (lifted) Jeep and the engine compartment was dragging through the snow. We have a snowplow guy coming but no ETA as the roads take priority obviously.

Incredibly beautiful nevertheless

One of our campers decided to snowboard down the driveway before the plow comes.

 Snow was too deep and fluffy I guess, he just couldn't get it going, but fun to try.

Last night the snow measured 7" on top of the solar golf cart.

This morning...

22"

You may remember this picture from the Blog header in the fall.

I took this one last night at the 7" mark. Same angle, etc. So I think I'll take one for all four seasons. 

(current header picture)

No matter the weather or the season, this place is a Magical Wonderland!!

Yes, even in the rain.

Suck it up Princess

Its been a little busy around here but other than yardwork around the campground and doing our usual eating out at our usual haunts which I've talked about several times already, I just didn't know what to say. Writer's block I guess you'd call it. 

We realized that the storm had damaged a fence, so we had to take out a few posts and replace them.

I made some fairy doors which I plan to put around the grounds (in common areas) for kids to hunt for in lieu of a treat of some kind. The doors are nothing fancy but the kids won't care and the weather will destroy most anything anyway.

Susan and I went for a walk around Mouat's park, which is very close to here but I didn't realize. I had taken a different park to be Mouat's park so it was great to find another trail in another park we hadn't experienced yet. Thank you Susan.

Someone created this and set it in Mouat's park

A handful of no service campsites in this park also but apparently it is abused quite a bit.

Beautiful spot

Not sure who runs these, but I hear Banana Joe maintains them. Banana Joe is a guy I see often on FB and sometimes share his pictures.

This was taken several days ago downtown, the tulips are rising

Ganges harbour, Brad and I took a stroll along the waterfront and sat on a bench and just enjoyed the moment - for about half an hour, it was great. Look closely and you can see the ferry heading in to Long Harbour in the center

A closer pic of the ferry

Beach down Beddis road

Brad and Robbie enjoying the sunshine

This boat is a hot topic on the island at the moment.....long story.

Essentially, this boat is on pontoons, during the storm a pontoon was damaged and the boat started sinking, it was towed ashore as seen here, but some islanders don't want it on the foreshore and many people have been trying to tow it out but apparently it was brought in on a super high tide which won't be seen again until Nov we're told... after a couple of weeks of much kerfuffle, a couple of nights ago it caught fire. I don't have a pic of the burned up shell yet but suffice it to say the boat is a goner.

On my way to Pickleball the other night I had a blonde moment. Whilst plugging in my seatbelt my thumb caught on my pocket as I was bringing my hand back up to the steering wheel, hurt like hell but off I went to Pickleball anyway, not thinking much of it... yes, I played a few games through the pain - frankly, that's just the sort of crazy person I am... 

Several days later after trying to stabilize my thumb with tensor bandages, I finally gave in and went to the Dr. Yes, me, at the Dr.... he said basically the same thing I had been saying, 'suck it up Princess' (he doesn't know I'm a Queen - we just met LOL) so I went back to Pharmasave and bought a proper thumb stabilizer thingy for my hand, Dr says at least a week - maybe two. I'm having a great deal of trouble typing with it on so if this post isn't perfect - suck it up Princess! 

We've been working - when it isn't raining (this is the rainy season) on cleaning up the campground, raking the bazillion leaves, cutting back the blackberry bushes that are rampant here and pruning the trees before they wake up. Generally getting the grounds ready for the season, yes we have plenty of time yet, but there is a lot to do to get it the way we want it and if we do a little bit every possible day it won't be a mad rush at the season opening.

I have been studying up on Keyhole Gardens, as I have noticed that campgrounds (KOA is a prime example) are taking on a farm to table thing of late and I thought we could do a garden of camping vegetables like lettuce, tomatoe, potatoe, onion, etc. Salt Spring Island has been having a drought in summers apparently, so I've been trying to formulate if and how this idea could work within our little campground here. Keyholes, done correctly, do not attract vermin and do not require weeding (something to do with the height that I don't understand). Problem here -Deer, so it will need to be enclosed somehow. Anyway, all of this is still in the possibility/planning/conception stage.

Our laundry system is still working out well and I'm very pleased with it so far. It will be better when I can hang things outside of course, but the dryer gizmo does work very well, just requires smaller loads which it turns out works better for me anyway.... I've always done laundry as a once a week kind of thing but this twice a week is so much easier. Not having to go to Duncan once a week means a tank of gas last us about 3 weeks. Bonus.

I've been taking a lot of bookings for the summer months already, I mean who thinks about June/July/Aug in January - RVers, that's who! I wasn't expecting this many calls so far ahead of time but it's sure great to be busy. Salt Spring Island is so incredible in winter I guess it isn't surprising that so many people want to ensure their spot for summer. Can't wait to see how Mother Nature will improve on what we've been experiencing here so far... I do want to increase tent bookings and we plan to offer more sites next winter for snowbirds and full-timers. 

A lot of work yet to do.