Saturday, July 31, 2010

Eldon's

Yesterday we went with my folks to Sioux City for a little shopping. Our first stop was lunch. Mom wanted to stop at a new restaurant called Eldon's.  What a great choice! The inside reminded me of PF Chang's in Omaha. A very warm feeling, with alot of Walnut wood. Vel wanted to try an interesting appetizer called Green Bean Tempura. It has a balsamic sauce and wasabi mayonnaise with it. Very Good!!! Our lunch meals were good, also.  We definitely will be back. http://www.eldonsrestaurant.com/    
My folk's flag pole in their front yard, bit the dust on a very windy day. So, we went to Lowe's and I'm going to try to come up with a fix, with PVC pipe.  So, we'll see how that turns out.
Other than that, the campground has started to slow down.  I think parents are taking their kids school shopping instead of camping.  But coming next week, we will have quite a few motorcyclist coming through on their way to the big Sturgis Rally, so things will pick up again.

Toby smiling!
I'm throwing in a picture of Toby smiling, we just got done playing Frisbee, so he was a happy camper!!-M

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Vintage campers at RAGBRAI

Just a quick post, I saw these two small Vintage trailers at RAGBRAI last weekend. Aren't they cute! The 2nd one is called a "Canned Ham" in vintage lingo.  I would of loved to see the inside-Later-M

Monday, July 26, 2010

Volunteering at RAGBRAI

We  worked the 4pm-8pm shift last Saturday, at the Main Campground. We had to park about 8 blocks away and then catch the RAGBRAI bus to the info desk at the campground.  Good thing we got there early, the traffic was terrible. It took us about 30 min. for those 8 blocks!   We checked in at the information desk, to see what our duties were. We were told to head to the Pavilion on the other side of the bridge. So, we grabbed a stack of maps and off we went. Our first question was, where is the Expo? Well, I knew that one. Next question, where is the closest porta potty? Well, we just passed some on the other side of the bridge, but we haven't gotten too far on the other side.  So, we had a list of phone numbers to call, so that's what I did.  As the evening went on, we found out that there wasn't enough porta potties spread throughout the campground. That was one big complaint! I can't blame them!  We had a variety of questions, and if we didn't know them, we were able to call and get an answer. (Thank goodness)

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Quick post

We were exhausted by the time we got home last night after our RAGBRAI Volunteer stint. We really enjoyed walking around and helping bikers out with there questions.  I've posted before and during pictures of the "Tire dip" spot. Bikers Dip their back tires in the Missouri River and then when they get to the other side of Iowa, they dip their front tire in the Mississippi River.   The Riverfront area was a sea of tents!  So, more to come on RAGBRAI.......
Today is my Mother's and brother's Birthday--Happy Birthday, Mom and Jim!
Later-M

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Lost dog and RAGBRAI training

Last weekend we had a lost dog, this Boston Terrier, at the campground. His name is now Dabbner.  I'll let Tucker tell the story on his blog. (and yes I will keep reminding him that he is way overdue on blogging!)
Last evening, Vel and I went for our RAGBRAI training in Sioux City.  First we stopped and had supper at Mac Behrs, in the historic 4th street district. It's on the 2nd floor of this building and it was $2-half pound hamburger night. We split a hamburger and also got an order of hot wings. Both were Delicious!  Monday nights they have 1/2 price hot wings and mini tacos, we'll have to check it out sometime. I love finding new places to eat!
After we left there, we drove down 4th street toward the Longlines Rec. Center, where our training was.  I would guess that there was about a hundred people there.  We got about an hour and a half orientation on what to do and expect. There will be 10,000 bike riders camping and housing in town. So, they estimate there will be at least 20,000 visitors all together. Because of all the activities, concerts, ect.  The Historic 4th street area will be blocked off, for the bands and beer gardens.  We are going to be stationed at the campground on the riverfront.  Our hours are later on Saturday, not what we wanted, but all the other's were filled up.  We received our bright orange t-shirts that say "ASK ME" on the front of them.  I think we will stand out in the crowd!!  So, if you are looking for some fun this next weekend and want to be around alot of people, come to Sioux City!!

As far as the campground, we are still getting alot of vacationers coming through. Our electric spots are almost full every night.  We've had a few Thunderstorms roll through, this last week, but nothing serious. I love the cloud formations!     Well, until next time-Later-M

Friday, July 16, 2010

Woodworking friend


Our friend, Joni, has been on a woodworking rampage this year. She has made a cool table to sit by her Dutch Oven table, while she is cooking.  A couple of beautiful garden hose hangers and a rolling holder for her air compressor! Such a crafty women she is! What will she come up with next?
Vel survived the heat and humidity, Wednesday, mowing and trimming the campground. I'm not sure how many gallons of water she went through!   Yesterday, after work, my folks and I went to Fremont for a little "drive through the car lot'' and shopping spree.  Mom has a "bug" for a new car, it's always fun to look, too!
On the way back we had to stop by the Fruit stand, north of Fremont.  I picked up some peaches and  cherry cider. ( The peaches are wonderful!) 
About 15 minutes after I got home, we had a knock on the door. The people in one of the cabins wanted to know if they could get some firewood.  That was a first, we haven't ever had a camper at our door.  The office was closed, so I told them if they had the exact change, I would get them some. And so they did.
Another Happy Camper!-M

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Where does the time go?

Last weekend we brought the "Teakup" teardrop trailer back to Lincoln and had a little campout with our friends Joni and Michelle.  They have a Senior Black Lab "Jackson" that loves to be around people and other dogs, but doesn't like to travel so well.  So, we decided to just camp in Jackson's yard.  The weather was great and we did a little Dutch oven cooking! It was a very enjoyable campout!
The dogs seemed to love it, too!
Then it was time to put the "Teakup" back into storage. (so sad) and we headed back to Iowa.  Nothing too exciting happening at the campground. There are alot of vacationers traveling through, tents, pop-up campers, travel trailers, fifth-wheels, small motor homes to large motor homes, all kinds!  It's always interesting to see if it's1 person staying or if it's 8 people coming out of that rv.  Sometimes you wonder were they all sit and how they get along!  That's life at a campground!
Vel and I have signed up to volunteer at RAGBRAI (bike ride across Iowa).  It starts in Sioux City this year and we heard that they needed volunteers, for the pre ride activities, so we though we'd give it a shot. So, more to come on that, when we know more! 
It's very hot and humid today, I'm defiantly glad I got the office job!  Poor Vel is out mowing the campground now-I gave her the lecture about taking breaks and drinking plenty of water today (even though I know she knows it) -Oh well-Later-M

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

lost and found

This last weekend we had a few items lost at the campground.  Someone lost a black pocket knife, someone else a pendant with a Palm tree and diamonds. Then yesterday I had a gal call the office, because she had lost her diamond engagement ring. She thought she might of lost it in the bathroom.  I told her no one had turned a ring in, but I would look in the corners of the bathroom to see if I could find it.  I found nothing.  But, in the mean time, someone had e-mailed the campground, saying that they had found a diamond ring below the bench by the playground.  Needless to say the gal who lost is was ecstatic, and described the ring to a T.  She would be driving a couple hours to the person's home who found her ring, soon!  At least we had one happy ending!
Other than that things have been pretty quiet at the campground-M

Monday, July 5, 2010

Fairly calm 4th


With the way the 4th weekend started with the boat ramp mishap, I was a little concerned as how the rest of the weekend was going to go.  Well, things were pretty calm.  The campground had some kid games on Saturday.  Vel and I help with those.  We had an egg toss, water balloon toss, gunny sack race, carry the egg on a spoon relay,  musical lawn chairs, and fill the bucket with a wet sponge game. We had about 34 kids participate.  Toddlers to teenagers, they all seemed to enjoy it.  They all received a prize at the end!


Here is a before and during picture of part of the campground. Full house!
On Sunday the 4th we had a little parade in the campground and then a watermelon feed after that.  They even had a dog that was patriotic!  The swimming pool was full all weekend!  The weather turned out to be warm and humid, most of the weekend, except for a little rain Sunday morning.  So all in all it was a very nice weekend!

Vel and I did our walk through the campground at about 9:30 in the evening, to make sure the campground rules were being followed.  In Iowa the only consumer fireworks allowed are sparklers, but at the campground the rule is NO fireworks allowed. (That's a big change for us) So, we had one campsite that had a few sparklers, we had to remind them of the campground rule. Rules are rules, even if we don't agree with them.  At 10pm the towns firework display, put on by the Volunteer Fire Department. started on the north side of the lake.  They had a very nice display for about a half hour. And thus, the end, to the Holiday weekend!-M

Sunday, July 4, 2010

July 4th


                           HAPPY   INDEPENDENCE  DAY!!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Start of the 4th

We have a boat ramp at the campground, which is obviously not usable for boats. It has large ruts in it and there is a big drop off at the end where the cement has broke loose.  We tell people to use the nice ramps across the lake at the State Park, to put their boat in.  Well, as we were walking the dogs yesterday morning, there was a terrible noise coming from the boat ramp as we were walking by.  Lo and Behold there was someone TRYING to put their boat in.  And he was stuck!  The boat trailer wheel had dropped off the side of the cement ramp and the axle was laying on the ramp.  Oops!  So, off I went to find a jack and something to prop the tire on.  After about 30 minutes of jacking up the trailer and shoving a board supported by chunks of cement blocks and wood chunks, he slowly inched forward and was able to pull it off the ramp. (one 4th happening, how many more to go?)   Well, in the evening the same guy comes to the office,(quite sunburned) and asked if we had anything to fish some car keys out of the lake. They had somehow fallen into the lake, as they were heading to shore to pull the boat out. I hope the rest of the weekend gets better for him!
We had some tent campers come in,  that had reserved a certain site, but were given a different site.  They were very unhappy at first, but as it turned out, the site that they had wanted was open, so they ended up Happy.  Not sure what happened there, must be the gremlins in the campground computer!
So, day one is down, onto the next!  Later-M
P.S. -Happy Birthday to my Great niece Keyanna!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Happenings.

Well last week the campground inspectors were here for a couple of days.  All went well with them, so I think we will get a good rating.             Then this last Monday morning, we discovered that one of the hot water heaters almost burnt the main building down, but thankfully put itself out.  The front of the heater was black from the flames shooting out from the controls, down at the bottom.  It was replaced the same day! 
We had a family moving cross country in their Suburban, pulling a U-haul.  They had matteress' on top of the U-haul and the car.  What a load!  Plus the wife was 9 months and 2 weeks pregnant!  I hope they will make it to their destination, before she has the baby! 

We had a couple of gentlemen come in this week headed to Alaska and the Artic Circle.  One of them seemed a little hesitant that they may not make it.  I'm not sure why, but it is a long trek!                       Wednesday evening we had an older Class C camper come in. They parked in front of the office, came in and check in.  But then, when he went to go to his spot, the camper would not start.  He had just driven across South Dakota!  We tried to jump his battery, but that did not work.  So, we pulled the camper to his spot, with a tow rope and the campgrounds Pick-up.  I saw the RV repair truck the next morning heading to his site. Later on the camper was gone, so I guess they were fixed! 
Yesterday afternoon while I was working in the office, a guy comes in that I recognized.  He owned the place that I bought both of my boats from!  Small world. He recognized me as "the nurse from the hospital" (close enough).  He and his wife are retired and just travel around, when they not home.      I threw in a picture of Luxi, laying on the freshly laundered clothes.  For some reason, she likes to lay on clean clothes when I dump them on the bed to be folded!  She is such a funny dog, spoiled rotten!  Later-M





Thursday, July 1, 2010

A week already!

I can't believe a week has gone by already since my last post!  We went to Lincoln last weekend to get my "Teakup" Teardrop trailer, to bring up to display for the 4th of July at the campground. I constructed it from scratch in 2005, and it has spent most of the time covered up in storage, so sad!  I've thought about selling it, but I just can't bring myself to do it.
The only time I really camped in it was at the Semi-annual National Teardrop Festival in 2006 at Minden, NE.  There were about 30 other teardrops there, from around the country.  It was alot of fun seeing all the different styles that people have.  Last year I think we had 2 come into the campground at different times. 
Also, I finished up my step project at the campground. We have 2 small cabins that needed a step to the front porch. So, yesterday, I got that taken care of.  They are pretty solid, so hopefully they hold up!
      We are going to have a FULL campground this weekend for the 4th of July.  So, we have been getting ready for that.
Yesterday, my niece Ashley had her 15th Birthday and this Saturday my Great-niece Keyanna will be celebrating her 10th birthday!  I can't believe how old they are getting!
Well, that's all for now!-M