Time marches on at Sandy Shores Campground, even if most of our work doesn't. The seasonal residents were allowed to return on Friday, May 15, and the first ones were in the gate before 8 A.M. It was great to see that part of the campground start to come to life. Several new RV's and park models have arrived to take the place of older units. The bath house, laundry and pool are still closed. More seasonals arrived for the holiday weekend. Many of them are enjoying the campground's private beach across the road on Silver Lake. Normally this would be the first sold-out weekend for the summer, but not this year.
Michigan's private campgrounds are still ordered to remained closed for recreational use, so we wait for each new deadline to arrive, and then the governor issues an even later date for openings. Her latest notice mentions June 12 for private campgrounds and June 22 for overnight stays in state campgrounds, but we're hoping that will come sooner. Our campsites are ready. However, state facilities are open for day use, including the state park dunes near us. Vehicular traffic has increased dramatically in our area over the last 10 days, and many of the food vendors and store owners iat Silver Lake have opened for business. It appears none of the close-by campgrounds have opened for regular business, however, even though we were told that some had done so.
There has been some paid retraining ofice sessions for me, along with paid training for the 3 new office workampers, and Hank has a few hours of campground maintenance under his belt, but we're both ready for a full schedule of duties. Office work is done with facial masks in place, and plexiglass partitions between work stations, with disinfectant cleaning after each use. No one is allowed inside the office withour a mask or other facial covering. Hank's work is outside, so he can get by without a mask while social distancing. We keep our distance as we meet and greet others on our daily walks, but many of them don't seem to have our concern. It's definitely a strange new world. We're still doing grocery pickups at the curb and disfecting what we bring inside the RV.
We did not keep our annual medical checkup appointments during our Raleigh stay due to the virus concerns. Last week, Hank needed prescription refills and was told the doctor would have to see him to issue new ones. While we like the medical personnel in the Raleigh location, they are not able to do virtual exams, email check-ins, and are not willing to receive fax orders from our drug plan. So Hank now has a new doctor who also happens be in Raleigh, and he's had his virtual exam, with new prescriptions on the way.
The highlight of the past few weeks was a Zoom gathering with our 5 children and some of their families. It was amazing that all of them could participate given their different work and family schedules, and we were so happy to see their smiling faces as we talked. The annual Alabama Memorial Day weekend family gathering was not held this year due to health concerns.
Spring has finally sprung here in western Michigan, with highs often in the 70's, many sunny days, birds nesting, and trees and flowers blooming. Many of you have asked us about the massive flooding and evacuations in Michigan over the last week. The breached dams are in eastern Michigan and we're in western Michigan, so although we've had some heavy rains, there are no flooding problems in our area.
Life goes on!
Our life on the highways and byways of America.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Thursday, May 7, 2020
APRIL 24 - MAY 7: Settling in at Sandy Shores
On the afteroon of Friday, April 24, we arrived at the Sandy Shores Campground, in the Silver Lake section of western Michigan. Our campsite, next to the pool and bathhouse, was ready for us and we definitely felt like we had come home. After working here last summer and getting to know the family owners, it felt great to be here again. There were no hugs or handshakes when we were warmly greeted by the owner and two sons, due to virus protocol and staying away from each other, but there were smiles all around. We were ready to start our 2-week self quarantine as mandated by the Michigan governor, since we had traveled from out of state.
The campground is still in winter mode, with most trees still without leaves, and the transient section empty of RVs and tents. The seasonal leasees are not allowed to stay overnight yet, and must walk in from the front parking lot (this is a gated property) to start site cleanup and check on their units. We were here for a few nights by ourselves, although one son lives at the campground entrance, and the family continues doing their many pre-opening tasks during the day. Now there are 3 other workampers here getting their quarantines out of the way in time to start working in the next week or so. The weather seems cold to us with nights in the 30's and 40's, and daytime highs between 45 and 60, but many days are sunny so that helps. There is the "S" word in the forecast for this weekend, but only as a small chance combined with rain showers. However, temperatures will dip even lower for a few days. I'm glad we always have our winter clothes with us!
We've ventured away from the campground 3 times so far to go to the Ludington, Walmart (30 miles) to pick up grocery orders outside. The first attempt was not successful as the process allowed someone else to go home with our order. We were asked to return the next day and were given many apologies and a $20 Walmart gift card. Our second order pickup yesterday was perfect and we were in and out in short order. We have no personal masks so Hank folds a large napkin and ties it on to satisfy regulations while he helps with the loading. He wipes everything down with disinfectant before we bring the groceries inside the RV.
Yesterday, the governor amended her orders to allow the seasonal owners to move into the campground in the next few days, with a long list of regulations and restrictions for workers and residents. The pool, playground, and bathhouse will not open yet. Several of the neighboring campgrounds have opened for everyone without her permission, and I expect Sandy Shores may do the same soon. However, the Silver Lake State Park Campground next door is not due to open until June 22. The 600 acres of the State Park dunes will open for daytime use on June 3. That should bring the area back to life in a big way. Meanwhile, the Sandy Shores owner has plenty of masks, gloves, and disinfectant to help us stay safe. There is a now a plexiglass sneeze guard at the check-in counter, and office access will probably be limited for awhile.
Chirstmas came early this year with the delivery of an online order delivery of toilet paper. All previous attempts were unsuccessful both from grocery orders and online, bur we're stocked up now. The owner's son had given us a couple of bathhouse rolls to use just in case.
Life has been relatively calm for us the last two weeks, with both of us doing computer chores, and taking daily walks in the campground. I'm doing a lot of reading as well. However, we're ready for new challenges and adventures that will certainly come as campers start arriving
The campground is still in winter mode, with most trees still without leaves, and the transient section empty of RVs and tents. The seasonal leasees are not allowed to stay overnight yet, and must walk in from the front parking lot (this is a gated property) to start site cleanup and check on their units. We were here for a few nights by ourselves, although one son lives at the campground entrance, and the family continues doing their many pre-opening tasks during the day. Now there are 3 other workampers here getting their quarantines out of the way in time to start working in the next week or so. The weather seems cold to us with nights in the 30's and 40's, and daytime highs between 45 and 60, but many days are sunny so that helps. There is the "S" word in the forecast for this weekend, but only as a small chance combined with rain showers. However, temperatures will dip even lower for a few days. I'm glad we always have our winter clothes with us!
We've ventured away from the campground 3 times so far to go to the Ludington, Walmart (30 miles) to pick up grocery orders outside. The first attempt was not successful as the process allowed someone else to go home with our order. We were asked to return the next day and were given many apologies and a $20 Walmart gift card. Our second order pickup yesterday was perfect and we were in and out in short order. We have no personal masks so Hank folds a large napkin and ties it on to satisfy regulations while he helps with the loading. He wipes everything down with disinfectant before we bring the groceries inside the RV.
Yesterday, the governor amended her orders to allow the seasonal owners to move into the campground in the next few days, with a long list of regulations and restrictions for workers and residents. The pool, playground, and bathhouse will not open yet. Several of the neighboring campgrounds have opened for everyone without her permission, and I expect Sandy Shores may do the same soon. However, the Silver Lake State Park Campground next door is not due to open until June 22. The 600 acres of the State Park dunes will open for daytime use on June 3. That should bring the area back to life in a big way. Meanwhile, the Sandy Shores owner has plenty of masks, gloves, and disinfectant to help us stay safe. There is a now a plexiglass sneeze guard at the check-in counter, and office access will probably be limited for awhile.
Chirstmas came early this year with the delivery of an online order delivery of toilet paper. All previous attempts were unsuccessful both from grocery orders and online, bur we're stocked up now. The owner's son had given us a couple of bathhouse rolls to use just in case.
Life has been relatively calm for us the last two weeks, with both of us doing computer chores, and taking daily walks in the campground. I'm doing a lot of reading as well. However, we're ready for new challenges and adventures that will certainly come as campers start arriving
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