Sunday, May 15, 2011

Starting the summer season

We dug out our “uniforms” from campground storage unit, grabbed the trash bags, pinchers and gloves and off we went to start our clean-up of the composting toilet rest stop.

Jim had to go down to the composter vaults/vats to change the screen in the filters….nasty, nasty job. Jim said “that’s all people need to know about it”.

Meantime, I cleaned back behind the rest stop. Oh, UGH!!!  With the rest stop locked up for the winter, folks used the back of the restroom instead.  You get the picture, right?  Besides the streams of toilet paper and “stuff” there was empty tuna cans, scattered pages of Sudoku, Styrofoam plates, chip bags, KFC containers, beer cans, and assorted pop bottles filled with *&#@%^!…..yea, that stuff. I walked along the highway in front of the rest stop and continued to pick up the winter’s trash.

We swept out the restrooms and cleaned away the cobwebs in the corners, disinfected the pit toilet and cleaned the floors.  It took us about an hour to finish up.  Have another rest stop to do today.

Our camphosts arrived from Texas today, so Jim and I want to clean the winter debris from their campsite so they arrive to a neat and orderly site to call home for the summer.

We have a hard time getting camphosts in our area as we are in a rural and remote area. You have to like to boondock/dry camping. None of our seven campgrounds have electricity, so camphosts need a generator.  Although most of the campgrounds have wells with hand pumps, there isn’t water available at their campsite. There’s a nearby area we  go to get water in “jerry” cans we provide or folks have their own water bladders. Most have sewer vaults at their campsite, but two of the seven don’t. 

So why do folks want to camphost here?  The beauty of the area for one. Being at 8,300 feet and above, it’s cool all summer with temps in the 70s, nights in the 40-50s for great sleeping. And the humidity is very, very low.  It’s a great place to spend the summer.  Each of our campgrounds are in gorgeous areas of southern Colorado! Most are on or by reservoirs or creeks in a national forest.  You get paid for every hour you work and of course, your campsite is free. Plus Jim and I are great to work with Smile.  We have weekly potlucks where Jim usually barbeques for our part, after Fourth of July we have a big steak dinner for our camphosts and at the end of the season Jim makes a big prime rib to share.

Am I interesting anyone out there????  I still have two campgrounds that need camphosts!!!

Here’s further enticement…

CrossCreekArea (1)
View from Cross Creek CG
TuckerPonds(10)
View from Tucker Ponds CG
ParkCreek 2010 (3)
Park Creek CG
Hwy Spgs 2010 (16)
Highway Springs CG
LowerBeaverHost
Lower Beaver host site
UpperBeave4
Upper Beaver CG

We have this week to get all the campgrounds cleaned from downed trees, rake the pine cones from the site pads, and disinfect the pit toilets. We open all the campgrounds next Friday, May -20th!  If you are traveling through south-central Colorado, stop on by South Fork and stay with us!!!

Anyone want to come and camphost with us? Cross Creek and Tucker Ponds are available.

Remember, you are loved.

3 comments:

  1. Sorry, Bobbie. We've already got our summer jobs. ;-) Glad things are getting started for you though. I start working today even though the campground doesn't open until the 26th. Looking forward to it though! Have a great summer!!

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  2. It sounds like you are really enjoying your camphost job this summer. Well...except for the cleaning the pit toilets.

    We are workamping at Cripple Creek KOA (elevations 9800 feet). It is spectacular here too.

    We'd love to stop by and visit with you on our day off. Enjoy your summer!

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  3. John and Carol: Pit toilets aren't that bad to clean. Most are fiberglass and pretty nice. If you clean everyday there's no odor at all. If there is we put urinal cakes in the window sill and the incoming breeze makes for a pleasant scent. Sometimes we use a few moth balls in a square of netting for the same purpose. Jim prides himself on the compliments he gets on having the cleanest pit toilets people have ever used.

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