2011 RUNNING & TRAVEL ADVENTURES

 

   
 
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   PAYING FOR OUR "FREE" CAMPSITE, p. 2

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20

 
"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."
 
~ Will Rogers
 
 
(Continued from the previous page).

SIGN, SIGN, EVERYWHERE A SIGN . . .

For us, the worst part of the host job is getting up early so Jim can attend the 8 AM maintenance meeting on weekdays.

That's when the male rangers and male CG hosts gather to hear updated park information and divvy up each day's jobs. Women don't usually attend, although this year "The Sisters" go to the meetings most days because they are staying with their husbands in the two maintenance host sites only a few yards away.

Not only does Jim dislike the meetings for various reasons, we are both used to getting up when we wake up, not when we're jarred awake by an alarm clock. Isn't that what retirement is all about??

We were able to do that more easily last year at Brazos Bend than we have been so far this time. Jim's no slacker, but he's already finding ingenious ways to avoid those 8 AM meetings and start his tasks later! He still gets in 'way more than the required work hours.


Jim mixes up some paint in the park's paint shop.  (2-9-11)

It's too bad that Ben is gone. We miss Ben and his wife Bev. They are long-time BBSP hosts who had to leave a few days before our arrival a couple weeks ago.

We spent a lot of time working with Ben in the paint shop last year. It was easy for us to just show up at the more reasonable hour of 9 AM to work with him. He knew he could count on us. There was little reason for Jim to go to the early meetings on days he painted. We found out everything we needed to know that was said at the meetings from Ben and he let the maintenance supervisor know if Jim was helping him that day. Otherwise, Jim attended the meetings.

The park is full of informative and cautionary wooden signs. Last year, many of them needed a new coat of paint; others we painted were brand new. Jim preferred painting the backgrounds with broad strokes. I enjoyed doing the detailed lettering. We share the same traits when we're painting a room or staining a deck -- Jim wields the roller, and I do the detail work with a brush.

We both had fun going out on the ATVs to gather and replace the signs on the trails. Here are some we refurbished and replaced this year:


Turns out, we and Ben did such a thorough job with the signs last year that there isn't much sign painting to do this winter, but Jim and I did spend a few hours on that job the last two weeks.

I kind of wish there were more signs for me to paint this year. I like that job.

EYES & EARS FOR THE PARK STAFF

Another common campground host job at various parks is keeping tabs on campers and other visitors. We are extra sets of eyes and ears for park staff in that regard.

Two of the five host couples who are currently here at Brazos Bend rotate weekday shifts called "park closures." I'm not sure how the job came to be called that because these folks ride around the campgrounds, tent sites, and shelter area several times during the day, in addition to seeing that day users are out of the park before the gates close at 10 PM. (Overnight guests get the gate code so they can come and go after hours.)


One of the residents in a pond on the Big Creek Trail loop   (2-18-11)

This is a good job for someone who is physically unable to do some of the more active host jobs. One or two people ride around in a park truck and note on a diagram of the RV, shelter, and tent sites which ones are either vacant or occupied, then turn the sheet in to staff at HQ so they can verify who's where.

The job is fairly easy, although there can be complications when hosts notice something awry. We've heard some interesting stories!

However, hosts aren't out there to enforce the law. That's the rangers' and park policemen's job. The most we can do when we see someone doing something they shouldn't is to either contact park staff PDQ or diplomatically explain park rules to the offender.

Not being able to enforce park rules can be both a blessing and a curse for volunteers.

On our first afternoon here this year Cody and I took a hike around the lakes. I was disappointed that so few alligators were out. So, apparently, were other visitors.

There was a small group of foreigners on the spillway bridge. I was at the other end, taking a picture of them, when I realized one of the young men threw a rock at an alligator in the water about 50 feet away to prompt it to move. The other visitors were taking pictures and laughing:


Outed!   (2-6-11)

I felt I needed to do something about it RIGHT THEN so I went back to talk to them as diplomatically as I could (after ascertaining that they spoke fluent English).

I later found out I did the right thing -- I told them about the large potential fine for disturbing any of the park's wildlife and explained various consequences to the agitated 'gator and the next visitors that come into its territory.

Although I hadn't picked up my park volunteer shirts yet and wasn't wearing one of them, I did identify myself as a campground host. That may have given me more credibility with the group, because the man apologized and the group moved on.


You wouldn't want to get this big boy mad; he's about 12 feet long and lives in Pilant Slough.  (2-18-11)

The situation could have turned out ugly, however, which is one reason park staff don't want hosts and other volunteers to be too assertive with wayward visitors. Fortunately, in other hikes and rides around the lakes both on duty (in my park shirt) and off duty I've seen very little mischievous behavior that needed intervention.

WEEKEND PATROL

Which brings me to another new job for which we've trained this year -- weekend patrol. This is similar to the daily patrol I described above except it runs from 2 PM on Friday to 2 PM on Sunday and involves a lot more campers.

The first full weekend we were here we trained for this job with one of the other host couples as they explained the duties. Then this current weekend, a busy one because it's the Presidents' Day holiday, we were on our own.

It's been interesting!


Park truck at our disposal this weekend  (2-20-11)

We got the park truck, keys, and radio from the daily patrol person after he completed his rounds at 2 PM on Friday. Inside were the sheets on which we would record the unoccupied RV, shelter, and tent sites (because that was easier than recording the many sites that were occupied) -- and a powerful search light to use after dark.

That was for the trailheads and picnic areas, not in the campgrounds! Don't think the campers would appreciate that.

During our first round at 6 PM on Friday we were to check which RV sites, tent sites, and shelters were still empty, then take the sheet to HQ for staff to see. We were also supposed to answer peoples' questions and report anything amiss.

In addition, we might be called upon at any time to check in/out folks who rented the dining hall and the one shelter that is locked and enclosed (#3). That meant being ready at a moment's notice to drive over to that nearby area to run through the check-list with the guests, explain how to work all the equipment, answer questions, and remind them of the rules of use. Everything has to be clean and in order before they can get their deposit back.

We might also be called at any time to check on anything else the staff wanted us to do -- and that happened several times this weekend.

THE FIRST CHALLENGE

Friday also happened to be the second time I was assigned to train with Rilla at headquarters for my job at the entrance gate. Poor Jim had to go out on our first campground check by himself, and it was memorable.

One of the things he said when I went to work at HQ at 4 PM was that he hoped there would be no "issues" during his 6 PM round.

Ha! He had an "issue" almost immediately -- someone with an RV was assigned to a particular site in the 200-loop and it was occupied by an unauthorized young couple there for the day who were using it as a picnic area.

Jim, can you handle that?? the staff person on the other end of the radio inquired.


The 200-loop on Tuesday  (2-15-11)

Jim talked with the offending parties, who were reluctant to leave. The young man was angry at the RVer who wanted the site, and he wasn't happy with Jim, either. He and his companion finally did leave.

Talking about it later, neither Jim nor I understood their ignorance. Maybe it was just arrogance. This was a busy holiday weekend, the campground was nearly full, and these jerks didn't "get" why they couldn't use the picnic table at a campsite for the rest of the evening . . . at no cost . . . when a paid customer with an RV was ready to pull into the site!

Note that there are prominent signs indicating the campgrounds are not for day use, only overnight guests. Day users can choose from three large, attractive picnic areas around the lakes.

While Jim was dealing with the illicit picnickers the justifiably-frustrated RVer found a nearby vacant campsite and settled into it, further complicating things. Jim radioed HQ, explained the problem(s), and completed the 6 PM round by himself without any other complications.

Jim brought his campground report to HQ about 7 PM, as I was getting done with my training there. I got to hear the whole story on the way back to our campsite.


Two alligators sun themselves on a spit of land in Creekfield Lake; see close-up below.  (2-19-11)

We had time for a supper break, then left together about 8:30 PM for a more complete round that included the two RV loops, overflow camping area, screened shelter loop, dining hall, primitive tent camping area, group youth camping areas, and picnic areas at Hale Lake, Elm Lake, and 40-Acre Lake.

During the weekend we took turns driving. That was the easier job. The passenger was responsible for marking the sheets, walking through the primitive tent area (because we couldn't see each site from the road), and at night, shining the search light out the truck window periodically.

We had a lot of fun after dark on our last round on Friday and Saturday nights.

The camping areas were quiet by then, hardly anyone was in the picnic areas, and the animals were out feeding. We saw loads of deer and wild pigs, some armadillos, and assorted eyeballs peering out at us as we drove by with the searchlight scanning the trailheads, road, and woods.

The very best part were the dozens of 'gator eyeballs in Elm Lake when we drove through that picnic area. The first night we got out to walk closer to the shore so we could see them better. Very cool!

A BUSY SATURDAY

Saturday was more hectic. The park was packed with campers and day users. People were coming and going from the campgrounds all day. We did campground and shelter patrol runs at 9 AM, noon, 2 PM, 6 PM, and 8:30 PM. We had to check people in and out of the enclosed shelter and dining hall both days.

And park staff unexpectedly asked us to drive out to the remote equestrian campground to find out what was going on there. Rats.

EQ, as the equestrian campground is known, is a tedious 10-mile drive from park headquarters and even farther from our campsite. About half the drive is on a dirt road. I swear it would be faster to drive out there on park trails on an ATV or ride my bike!

The problem with EQ both days was campers who picked different sites to pitch their tents after they got out there than the ones to which they were assigned. Most phones don't work well from that location, so folks often weren't able to notify headquarters which site they took. Then others would arrive and want the site staff assigned them to. There has to be a better way . . .


Equestrian campground

Sunday morning was less hectic, although Jim had to drive out to EQ again. There was a problem with rowdy campers there overnight and staff wanted to be sure everything was OK in the morning. We did our rounds at 9, noon, and 2, then washed and gassed up the truck before delivering it to the couple who'd be doing the next weekday patrol.

LEARNING CURVE

Several things surprised us this weekend. One was all the movement into and out of the RV sites each day. We figured most folks would come in on Friday and leave on Monday, but many were there for only one day.

There weren't may Scouting groups this weekend; it was more family groups. That wasn't a surprise, but the amount of trash was. Scouts are less likely to leave crap behind. That fact, combined with the high turnover, means more litter control today and tomorrow to pick up after the people who are inconsiderate slobs. You'd be amazed how many folks just don't give a hoot about keeping such a beautiful place beautiful.


Creekfield Lake again . . . because I like this picture!

Weekend patrol can be stressful in some regards -- the potential confrontations and snafus, being on-call from 8 AM to 10 PM for occasional unexpected requests by the staff, and some conflicting explanations of our duties versus staff expectations (different host couples do things differently, and different office staff want things done their particular way).

Sometimes it felt like we had too many "bosses!"

Despite the things I've complained about, however, Jim and I pretty much enjoyed the weekend patrol duties and look forward to doing them again in March.

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY? NOT!

This week we put in at least 38 official work hours, mostly because we didn't realize how time-consuming weekend patrol can be. Next time we are assigned to that job we'll put in fewer hours earlier in the week. We also plan to take off the next two or three days to relax and enjoy ourselves. We've had very little time to ourselves since Friday.

The five campground host couples who are here now, and the ones we knew last year, are all different when it comes to the amount of time they volunteer. Some work many more hours than we just did and enjoy it. Some of them do it quietly, but some like to brag about it to the staff and other volunteers.


Combining work with a workout:  campground hosting on my bike.

Leo and Rilla, the hosts next door, and Jim and I joke that we "have a life;" we try to stick closer to the 25 (total per couple) "advertised" hours but it's hard. Besides the peer pressure, the park staff will give us and/or expect us to do more, if we let them take advantage of our work ethic and good-heartedness.

We want to do a good enough job to be welcomed the next time we want to come back for a couple of months . . . but not have it seem too much like work! Retirement should be fun.

Next entry:  Week 3 at Brazos Bend

Happy trails,

Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, and Cody the Ultra Lab

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© 2011 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil

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