Winter Excursion 10, Day 151

The weather has cooled off a bit. It was in the 40s last night, so we had great sleeping weather. It is forecast to heat up over the next few days. Just in time for us to go back to work again!

The truck has been acting up again. It tends to misfire after it has sat for a few days. I made an appointment to take it in to get fixed. The last thing we need is a misfiring truck while we are towing!

We drove into Wally World in the afternoon to pick up a few things. The birds are starving so we also stopped at TSC for some bird seed.

We had hamburgers on the flattop and some French fries. Nothing like a good ole' American meal! 

After dinner we sat by the fire until dark. It was another nice day off!

Winter Excursion 10, Day 150

Our first day off and we slept in until 0930! The past four days on had some busy times.

We made some flapjacks on the flattop for breakfast. After breakfast we did a little camp maintenance.

In the afternoon we did some grocery shopping and then just hung out at camp. After four days "ON" it's nice to pretend we are campers again.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 149

Today was the exact opposite of yesterday. It was a very easy day!

We only had a few campers leaving or arriving. I spent most of the day assisting maintenance with a few chores.

The weather cooled off again and temps stayed in the high 60s today and are forecast to stay that way at least for a few days.

The geese family from last year is back.

They are mad because Site #3 is open this year for camping. Last year they had it all to themselbves.

The find of the day was this wine cork.

They should have left me the bottle (full) and not just the cork!
 

Winter Excursion 10, Day 148

It was quite a day Hosting!

We had 16 campers leaving and 16 arriving. Cleaning sites took most of the morning, but of course four of those leaving didn't get off their site until 10 minutes before checkout time!

We had a mess at the dump station as someone dumped their black tank all over the station. I'm sure it was just a mistake, but they didn't even bother to report it. The maintenance guy and I cleaned it all up. YUK!

The other Host blew a tire on their cart. We ended up changing a tire.

First thing this morning maintenance and I decorated the Kiosk for the USA 250 anniversary. We think it turned out nice.

The find of the day was this priceless pearl necklace.

I gave it to one of the Kiosk Gals to have it appraised.

It was a very long Hosting Day! 

Oh. Forgot to mention I did a water leak repair on a camper for one of our guests. They had a river from their site and into the road.

Did I mention it was a long day!

 

Winter Excursion 10, Day 147

It was another nice, normal hosting day. We cleaned a few sites and did the bathhouses.

Late afternoon we had the other "Brinkley" couple stop by. We all had a good time swapping stories and lies.

The find of the day was USB charging cable.

I'm sure there is a camper somewhere with a dead cell phone. Hope they had an extra!

Winter Excursion 10, Day 146

Our first day back "ON" and it was an easy one. Had a few campers arrive and a few leave. One of the arrivals was another Brinkley. We talked to them for almost 30 minutes swapping Brinkley stories. 

The find of the day was another tent stake.

I'll add it to our collection, but soon I'll need a bigger box!

Winter Excursion 10, Day 145

I took Cath to her hair appointment this morning at 0830. After that she met up with her friend and they had a lunch date and a shopping day. She picked up some nice new jeans which she really needed. They look great! She didn't get back to camp until almost 1700! I was worried they were lost!

I spent the day in camp hanging out with one of the maintenance guys. We drove into town with the maintenance truck and picked up one of the lawnmowers they had repaired.

I did make a quick trip to an Ace hardware store for a few things I needed. There just happened to be a Burger King right next door. I could not pass up the chance to get a Whopper!

We will be back to work tomorrow.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 144

We had another nice lazy morning. We did some pancakes and sausage on the flattop.

We did go into town and did some grocery shopping in preparation for our four days "ON". It was actually a day early, but Cath is having a spa day on our last day "OFF" (hair dresser & shopping with one of the Kiosk Gals).

Once again it has been a nice few days off and we again spent the late afternoon outside watching the sunset.

All is well in the Boss Camp.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 143

The weather continues to be nice. Light wind, high in the low 80s.

Once again we spent the entire day in camp doing some small maintenance projects we had put off due to storms or cold temps.

We played some cribbage outside for a change. Cath cheated and won! 

We are enjoying our days off being as we are able to be outside. The pollen was not too bad today and we hope it stays that way. The pine trees pods don't look to "full". We think it got knocked off in the storms. Time will tell.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 142

Our first of four days off and we hung at camp most of the day. We got the site all cleaned up from the recent storms, rinsed off the camper (pollen), cleaned off the awnings (pollen), rinsed off the truck (pollen), and washed the our Host Cart (pollen). Can you tell we just love pine pollen!

We did run into Gray to the Tractor Supply for propane, bird seed, and new work gloves.

We sat outside in the afternoon and worked on our tans. It was in the 80s today!

Take out pizza for dinner and we got to enjoy a nice sunset. 

It was a nice day off.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 141

Our last day "ON" and it was an easy one compared to yesterday. A few campers out and a few in. The Airstream folks are doing fine and like the campground.

The weather has been perfect and we are keeping our fingers crossed that the storms, heavy rains, and high winds have kept the pine pollen down this year. Time will tell.

The find of the day was this gold ring.

I think it's from the Viking Era. You can tell by the runes. It's probably worth at least a half million!
  

Winter Excursion 10, Day 140

The Airstream caravan arrived today. I spent the morning cleaning and raking all 19 sites they are going to occupy. They started arriving around 1100 and by 1400 they were all here. Almost every site in the campground has an Airstream on it! They will be all leaving Tuesday.

The find of the day was this catfish.

The little guy caught it at one of the pavilions on the point. It was dan near as big as him!

Winter Excursion 10, Day 139

Another easy day, so I took the time to blow off debris from the boat ramp parking lot and roads with the backpack blower.

Spring has sprung here and the campground is starting to turn green, but the pine pollen is still bad and getting worse.

The find of the day was bike helmet light.

It still works, but the strap is missing. I'll figure a way to attach it to our host cart.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 138

For our first day "ON" we woke up to freezing temps! I took this pic at 0830, but it was 28 when we got up at 0700!

Duties today were easy, only had 3 campers leaving and 1 arriving. I spent the afternoon blowing debris off the campground roads from the last storm.

Duties will pick up on Friday, the Airstreamers are coming again. We will have at least 19 of them arriving Friday! They were here last year and are a great group of campers.

The find of the day was this candle.

It would have been nice if they had left one that wasn't burnt out!

Winter Excursion 10, Day 137

We woke up to the NOAA Weather Radio going off again this morning at 0500. A line of thunderstorms rolled through around 0600 and again at 0800. It was a rainy morning. We got 3/4 inch of rain. We had a tornado watch most of the morning, but they never materialized. In the afternoon the wind kicked up with gust up to 20 mph and temps plummeted into the high 30s. We are forecasted for freezing temps tonight.

We did a quick shopping in the afternoon. We are "ON" for the next four days.

I helped the new Co-host drip all the faucets. We thought we were done with that. 

The good news is we were approved today for hosting here in 2028! We really like this campground and the duties are easy as it is small.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 136

We were going to sleep in a little this morning, but the phone rang just before 0800. It was our Co-Host with news that my Cat Wrangling days were over. I caught the last of the two cats this morning.

So we packed up the cat, still in the trap (I'm taking no chances) and took her to High Falls where our past Co-Host is hosting. He was happy to get the cat back and I was happy to quit Cat Wrangling!

Back at camp we had a late breakfast and then took a drive to see the Georgia Sasquatch. 

This giant (chain sawed) Sasquatch was created by Abby Peterson and Chap Nelson for Georgia's annual Chaptacular woodcarving festival. It was only 25 miles from our campground.

We put all our outside stuff away (again!) due to the forecast of severe thunderstorms and possible tornados early tomorrow morning. Time will tell!

Winter Excursion 10, Day 135

I made some "Poor Man's Burnt Ends" today.

Normally it would be made with brisket meat, but I used a Chuck Roast. I smoked the roast until it was 165 degrees with apple wood. Then I cut it into chucks, put it in a foil pan, and added a little beer, some hot honey, a few tabs of butter, and some BBQ sauce.  I covered/sealed it with tin foil and put it back in the smoker until it reached 205 degrees. We decided it was really good. We even gave a few pieces to some of the staff and our Co-Hosts.

Cath did some laundry today and once again we just hung out at camp and enjoyed the weather, but not the pollen.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 134

First Day Off!

We stayed in camp all day and did some camp maintenance. 

I took everything out of the overhead cabinets in the living room. Inventoried the stuff, put in all back in numbered bins, and made a list of everything. I did this before we left home, but with all the re-arranging and getting use to a new camper we lost track of what was where.

We are still cat wrangling and the one we are trying to catch now is very illusive. We only see her maybe once a day. Sometimes not for days.

We went into town to pick up a few things for the weekend and picked up some KFC for dinner. We only eat this maybe once every couple of months. This is the first time for this trip!

Pollen season is in full bloom. I'll post some pics when it gets really bad.

  

Winter Excursion 10, Day 133

We made up for the past two easy days today!

Our day started at 0430 with the weather radio going off. At first is was only for severe thunderstorms, but at 0545 we received a tornado warning. We got in the Host Cart and notified all the campers to head for the bathhouses. Of course we got soaked. Thank goodness the tornado never happened, but north of us some damage did occur.

The rain let up around 0830 and then a normal day started. The campground is filling up for the weekend so all the sites needed to be checked and cleaned.

As things were winding down around 1700 a new arrival contacted us with an electrical problem. It turned out to be their camper and not our pedestal. I was able to lend them my battery charger as their converter was shot! That will get them through the weekend, otherwise they were going to leave.

At about 1830 I finally was able to take my boots off! We are "OFF" for the next four days.

The find of the day was this bow tie.

I think it may have belonged to Pee-Wee Herman! It could be priceless!
 

Winter Excursion 10, Day 132

Host duties were very light again.

Ed arrived with the trap for the cat. He had transported the one we caught yesterday in the trap. I'll wait till tomorrow to set and bait the trap again. The weather tonight and tomorrow morning is calling for severe thunderstorms. Last thing I need is a drenched cat in a trap!

The girls in the Kiosk found a very small turtle in their parking lot. 

This little guy is about the side of a quarter. He is a baby Yellow Neck Slider. We took him to the lake and released him into the water. He was very happy and swam away immediately.

The find of the day was this packet of fishing jigs.

It now lives in my tackle box.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 131

Host duties were light, but we had three campers that left their sites late. That always messes with our schedule.

The best news today was we got one of the cats! Tilly finally set of the trap. We called Ed and he drove over to get her. 

So we have one more cat to go, Tipper will be hard to catch as we hardly ever see her.

When I was doing first rounds this morning we had a late arrival on Site #19. They arrived last night. They have a very interesting camper. The guy and his dog sleep in it!

 With the temps getting warmer the find of the day was these turtles.

They are Yellow Neck Sliders. We also have two types of snappers, but I haven't seen them yet.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 130

Our first day back on duty was an easy day.

The cat wrangling is still not producing any results, but I will keep trying.

I finally got around to washing the truck. While I was getting ready I noticed a small bird hanging around the truck. It was particularly interested in the mirrors and windows. I could not get him to go away. I even tried spraying him with the hose. After I finished washing and drying the truck he was still hanging around and proceeded to poop all over the hood and mirrors! I think he was just lonely and thought the other bird he was seeing in the mirrors and windows was a friend. 

The find of the day was this little guy. 

I found him at the boat ramp parking lot while I was cleaning it. He must have fell off a boat! He now lives on my host cart dashboard.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 129

It did rain a little last night, but it was not as bad as forecast.

We left camp late morning to do a little shopping as we are "ON" for the next four days.

We stopped at Old Clinton Barbecue House in Gray.

It is advertised as the "best BBQ in Georgia". If that is in fact the case we will not be eating any BBQ in Georgia!

Back at camp it seemed like the day flew by. It must have been the time change.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 128

Something new in Cat Wrangling did not work. I hooked up some fishing line to the trap and sat out there all day waiting for the cat to arrive. It finally did in the late afternoon, but would not go into the trap like yesterday. She smelled around the trap and took a bit of tuna that was just outside the trap door. Took one look at me 15 feet away and walked off! Damn Cat! Here's a pic of the two of them on the neighbor's picnic table. I took this pic 100 ft away from them.

I took two steps toward them and they fled.

It is supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow. I hope they both get soaked!

Winter Excursion 10, Day 127

The smoke came to the campground! I woke up around midnight and could really smell pine burning. I looked outside and the smoke was so thick I could not see 10 ft away from the camper. When the employees arrived in the morning the smoke was still bad, but not like last night. Both of them said the smoke was so bad they were doing less than 20 mph and just following the yellow lines on the road! We all think this "controlled burn" got out of control!

We spent the day in camp as our Co-host has a doctor appointment this afternoon so we covered for them.

Cat wrangling is still evading me. We were sitting outside in the late afternoon when the cat showed up. It went into the trap, ate some of the food (bait), but didn't spring the door shut! This is one smart cat. I was sitting almost next to the trap, but every time I moved the cat scampered away. I will try something new tomorrow.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 126

It was nice to have the day off and we plan on enjoying three more of them.

We did a little shopping, but for the most part we just hungout and relaxed. 

On the way home from shopping we noticed a control burn. It was one of the biggest we've seen. We are just hoping the smoke does not come to the campground!

Winter Excursion 10, Day 125

Cat Wrangling is still not working. We have a "have-a-heart" trap and somehow this cat has figured a way to eat the bait without tripping the trap! She's done it twice now! The saga continues!

We had a few campers leave today and none arriving! That is  "first".

Laundry Day again, but Cath handled most of it.

The find of the day was this tire side wall tread.

I hope that the camper who owns this rig has a spare. They are going to need it.

We are "OFF" for the next four days!

Winter Excursion 10, Day 124

My new Host job continues to evade me. Cat Wrangling is not my forte! Maybe with a little more practice I'll get the hang of it!

We had one of the best finds of the day ever.

It's a five dollar bill. That brings my total cash finds to $5.09!

Host duties today were again very light. Only had a few arriving and a few leaving.

We had a visitor today. One of our Co-hosts from George L Smith is camping at Indian Springs and drove over to spend the afternoon with us. Funny story is when she called yesterday she mentioned she had a new camper. I answered we also have a new camper and asked her what they bought. Her answer was a BRINKLEY!

Winter Excursion 10, Day 123

Cat trapping is not going well. We see one of the cats a lot, but have not been able to wrangle it. The cat sniffs at the tuna in the trap but will not go into it.
Host duties today were very easy, so most of the day we just relaxed and enjoyed the warm weather.

The find of the day was this glove.

I was worried that there might be a hand in it.

We did have a super nice sunset today.

Winter Excursion 10, Day 122

The host duties today made up for the easy day yesterday. We had 22 campers leaving and 15 arriving. Looks like camping season is in full swing in Georgia! Almost all of the 22 leaving had campfires, some were still burning. I think I made 10 trips to the ash pile to empty my buckets. This was all made fun as many of the campers didn't leave until noon and many of the new ones were arriving at 1300. I but some serious miles on my host cart.

Then it was time to clean the bathhouses. By the time we finished that chore we were beat. It felt good to sit down at the camper and relax. I think we both got a little snooze in our camp chairs.

The find of the day was this nylon key chain.

Problem is the key is missing. I think it went to a treasure chest that I haven't found yet!

Winter Excursion 10, Day 121

Ed left this morning, but not without problems. One of his rear jacks on the Class A would not retract. One of the maintenance guys, Ed, and I worked on it all morning. We were able to get it up a few inches, but not the whole way. While we were working on it both of his cats managed to escape from the camper. The new host were arriving around 1100, so Ed had to clear the site. He ended up leaving without the cats! I will be trying to trap them until we catch them. I never thought one of my host duties was "cat trapping"! Ed went to his new hosting job about 25 miles away. If I catch a cat I'll take it over to him.

Today was Saturday so hosting duties were light, although the park is 100% full.

The find of the day was this gem stone.

I'm sure it is priceless!

Winter Excursion 10, Day 120

Last day off for awhile so we did some shopping, gassed up the truck, and got propane.

Our Co-host leaves tomorrow so we had him over for a steak dinner this evening. We will miss Ed, but we hear the new Co-hosts are really nice. We are working for Ed tomorrow as it was his day to work, so we are "ON" for the next five days. Yuk!