Before anyone arrived yesterday there was a serious soaker of a downpour, flooded a bunch of campsites again. Everything back to normal now, fishing, swimming, and canoing happening. It's a quality clientele.
It seems some campers were scared off by the weather forecast. I just jaunted over to the post office and the highway (60) is quiet, and the outfitter has not rented all of their canoes. There's a core group here humming along, seems everyone is having fun. One cabin yet to arrive, and a few campers joining groups that are already here.
Before anyone arrived yesterday there was a serious soaker of a downpour, flooded a bunch of campsites again. Everything back to normal now, fishing, swimming, and canoing happening. It's a quality clientele.
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Here comes the last holiday weekend of the summer. Looks like it is going to be fab, weather wise. Camping reservations are piling up but there is still room. Anyone for a last hurrah?
There are a couple of identified culprits, that is trees that are in shed mode. So stunned by the big cherry tree across from Joe's site, but indeed, it had no cherries this season. All of the other cherries bloomed and bore large, also the chokecherries, too bad I am not set up to make wine because it is one of the best fruits next to grape for wine, and the pickings are easy this year.
Yellows are falling, the willow, poplar, and cherry. So far the birch are still behaving. Really, it's not. It is raining all around here, as the thunder and lightning in the distance are proof of storm activity, but it is not raining here.
Really. There have been more babies here in the last 2 summers than my previous summers here altogether. Not so many children, but lots of babies to toddlers.
It's great to see that people are not afraid to take their young children out into nature. This is a pretty safe environment for tinies with attentive parents. Waiting until this time of year is also a good thought, because the bug level is lower. It's obvious that the leaves are starting to change. It's not that they are turned, but I have been able to see the underlying orange of the maples for most of 2 weeks already.
I don't recall seeing leaf change this way in previous years. As usual, there are some early, stressed changers. There is a flash of red and orange here and there, some yellows with downed leaves (poplar, willow). This part is typical for mid August. What I find unusual is being able to see the underlying colour while the trees are still green. Maybe it's just me? Anyone thinking of colours jaunts to the countryside this autumn should consider booking now. The bookings for September and October are way up from last year. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/21/canada-plans-to-use-hexacopter-drones-in-war-against-geese/
This probably trumps my brooms. Maybe orange brooms would be better... So much talk about summer being over. Well, it's not. Seems like it is just getting going here. Last week was fine, campers were happy. This week is great though. Nothing better than being by the water on these steamy days.
Who knew? A broom tops it. When the geese hit the beach, I walk up to them with the broom in the air and fling it. They have become used to the firecrackers, and my car. Actually, they have become increasing bold, there was even a dog on site and they landed. I'll bet multi-broom works even better!
I keep forgetting to mention, the berry thing is huge right now. The size of the blueberries improved after the rain last Thursday. Blackberries are extremely plentiful as have been the blueberries and Sugar Plum/June Plum/Saskatoon. Raspberries are understated. Strawberries are over. Pin cherry and choke cherry are abundant. Any wine makers out there? Chokecherry makes a fabulous dry wine.
Speaking of TripAdvisor, I keep seeing sidebar ads that show my place as having a rate of $82 and up. I am not sure where they got that number, BUT it does relate to the nightly cost if you buy a week in cabin 1, 2, or 3. My weekly rates are 30% lower than the per night rate summed.
I hope everyone who wants a discount remembers that. It's my answer, and I am sticking to it. There already are discounts built in to my pricing. One night is not a discountable stay, for many reasons. I just received my first negative review on TripAdvisor. Someone who ran out on their bill decided to blab on the internet. Check it out, the TripAdvisor link is on my contact page.
People... Another Someone arrived yesterday, having read the 2 reviews posted on Google. The first review said bad things, the second reviewer came to my rescue, pointed out to the first person that he had a bad filter running. This new Someone thinks the review system is just bullying in disguise. I agree. Much as I have opinions, like everyone else, having had much experience as a bullied throughout my life, I do not like social media for this exact reason. Bullies are cowards. Social media allows sneak attacks. Fortunately, the counterbalance is someone else sticking up for the bullied, just like it was in the schoolyard. Overheard at a campfire. 8 year old, commenting on hotdogs overcooked on the fire, while vacationing with his friend and his friend's parents. Said it tasted just like his Mom's cooking; supermarkets should just sell it as Burnt in a Box.
Don't cha love kids? Yup, that's right. In one family. From 3 years old to 80, one family filled baskets with mushrooms, a direct result of the heavy rain last Thursday.
A great feast was had by all, shortly thereafter. I managed to pick some too, before they arrived. Chanterelles to Redhead to King, all were represented in the basket. It's that time of year again. The best meteor shower of the bunch is coming to a peak in the next couple of nights. With up to 100 meteors an hour, the Perseids, originating from the Swift-Tuttle comet, will be at their peak in the predawn hours of Monday August 12 and Tuesday August 13. Even though the constellation Perseus is in the northeast, the display is a full sky kind of thing. Lie down on a picnic table at your favourite dark resort, along with a blankie, and look up at the dome of the sky. Oohs and aahs allowed.
It's one of those things I keep hearing about this place, that the bathrooms are so clean. When I look at them, I see that the renovations can't come soon enough, the floor needs new something, and there is trim missing from past plumbing repairs, the showers are going to move into a shower shed...so I don't see them the same way a client does.
It's great to hear that though. It's also a credit to my clients, because they help keep it that way. Another August long weekend has come to a close. The place is pretty much cleaned up, and there are only a few stragglers left in the woods. What a great crew! Everyone played nicely together. There was a birthday party, a 29 year old made it to see today. The Stick People returned to uproarious laughter. Much sliding happened at the waterfalls.
Beautiful starry night skies... All in all, another great success. That's all I'm going to say about it. If you want to see what happens here on a long weekend that is so special, you are just going to have to show up for one. Reservations strongly suggested. It seems the economy is really good in Alberta. How do I know? I get lots of phone calls and emails from Alberta, people who expound over how great my prices are! Unfortunately for me, and for them, this is not a match. They don't read far enough to see that the premises is in Ontario. In their fantasies, this great looking affordable place is somewhere near Red Deer, Alberta. In my fantasy, business is booming, instead of just chugging along. There have been some great conversations as a consequence.
There are 3 places in Ontario called Red Deer Lodge. Even thought mine was the only one that included "and Campground" I changed the name to Red Deer Log Cabins, to avoid confusion. One is in Nestors Falls, near Lake of the Woods, and is a fly-in fishing camp and lodge. One is in the Haliburtons, and is a leadership (boys and girls) camp. This is the only one with a resident Red Dear, AFAIK. It's a first! I just had people book a campsite for the rest of the day, because they cannot find a fish at Rock Lake, or Lake of Two Rivers, etc.
I've been sending people to Algonquin Park for years, for all kinds of things that are not provided here, like interpreted hiking trails, restaurant, art museum, TED talks, book signings. It's the first time I have had something that Algonquin Park does not have. Fish! There are fish here. Oh, except in the old days, when Algonquin had very few sites with electricity; I used to get lots of RVs, Europeans on tour. Now that the Park's organized campgrounds have been contracted out to a private interest, they have more than enough sites with electricity and water. I can take down the sign that says "Algonquin Park Overflow". Ok, so I already knew that. Kewl though that someone, who is camped in Algonquin, spotted habitat here for fish, and is fishing right now, as the weather change rolls in. Hope he gets a big pike! As refers to FAQs here...
The water coming from all of the taps is drinking quality water, from a drilled well. It is tested regularly in accordance with drinking water standards that have been legislated in Ontario following the Walkerton disaster. Before paying for private water tests as per regulation, and since, I have tested my water through the public health system, as a resident. The water in my house has the same origin as the water in the campground. FYI, the bottled water industry is not regulated. Also, consider this. The bottles you bring the water in go to landfill, unless you take them back to your tax base. Our tax base is not large enough to support a recycling program, as well as keep roads in shape for use. Why is the amount of garbage/camper steadily increasing here, instead of decreasing? There are educational programs galore. So...before you buy more bottled water, consider refilling the receptacles you already have. |
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February 2018
AuthorSince 1989, I have been known to many as The Red Dear. Most of the rest of humankind calls me Sandra. Categories
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