10/21/13 Georgetown, Tx

The parks opened back up for business Thursday.  We just completed our first week (4 days a week) as gate attendants with the corps of engineers here on lake Georgetown.  So far we are really liking it here.  This is a primative tent only campground and is not used much during the winter.  There is a day use swim beach but with the low water level it's up useable.  The boat ramp is used regularly.  Our only problem may be boredom.  We have our TV set up in the gate house along with computers and all comforts of home.  It's about a block away from our camp site, a nice walk.  

Our job duties are selling day use permits, annual entrance passes, camping permits, group rental areas and checking reservations in and out on the computer system.  At the end of our work week there are financial reports to prepare and turn in to headquarters.  The cash sales we take to the bank and get a cashiers check made out to the corps.  We also are required to make "rounds" through the park to check on things.  Our days off are Mon-Wed.  In the winter the gate house is closed those days yet the park remains open.  There is a volunteer that lives in the park that keeps an eye on things on our days off.  Oh and we are required to unlock the main entrance gate at 6:00a.m. And lock it at 10:00 p.m.  There is a 2nd volunteer that also lives in the park that does this on our days off.  That's the only thing we don't really like about this job, getting up at 6:00 to unlock the gate.  At least the gate is not far, within walking distance, we can see it from our site.  

There is a smaller campground about 7 miles from us.  Tejas campground is also primitive with only 12 sites.  No gate house but there is a volunteer that lives over there and keeps an eye on things.  We are responsible for that campground also but don't have to go over there.  We check reservations in and out on the computer (we just assume they show up and assume they leave).  They have to call the reservation line to reserve and pay for sites.  Otherwise they need to come over here to purchase a camping permit.  Volunteers can't accept money, you have to be a bonded contractor.  

The game warden has already been out here twice this week.  The Department of wildlife and game also made an appearance.  They launched their boat and took a cruise around the lake.  

 

The grand kids were out of school last Monday and spent the day with us here exploring the park.  What a fun time we had with those two.  

10/11/13 Georgetown, TX

Day 11 of the Government shutdown.  The President and Republicans are talking again.  Hopefully they will come to an agreement soon.  For us it means we have the whole park to ourselves.  Getting to paid to do … not much.  We are to keep an eye on the park, security, make sure no one camps on the property.  We get a lot of people that park just outside the gate and walk in.  That’s okay.  When we leave the park we get out to unlock the gate, drive thru, then get out to lock the gate behind us. 

We've been rearranging the gate house to suit us.  We’re as ready as we’re gonna get once the park opens back up.  Once open we will be working in the gate house from 10:00-7:00.  Selling day use passes, camping, and group picnic passes.  One of us will make a patrol of the park 3 times a day to check on things.  Got to unlock the entrance gate at 6:00 each morning and lock it at 10:00 each night.  There are two volunteer couples in the park.  One of them will unlock and lock the gate on our days off which are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  The gate house will be closed with a sign letting people know to pay during working hours.  This is their winter plan since there is not much traffic in this park during winter.  In the summer they have two gate attendant couples that work 4 days on, 4 days off.  That's the way the two other parks on Lake Georgetown operate year round.  They are much bigger than this park.  We have about 30 tent camping sites here, some with screened shelters.  No RV camping, no hookups.  We found out that we are the only new gate attendants here this season.  Looks like the same people keep coming back.  There was a couple that was to come back here to Russell Park this winter but could not make it due to a family member’s illness.  We feel lucky that we got this job.  Got our foot in the door.  When we bid on the job it was for two consecutive winters, 2013 and 2014.  Nice to know we have this to come back to next winter. 

 Seems strange to be back in Georgetown.  Seems like we never left.  Norm went to play guitars with his friend in Austin, Richard.  Plans to get together with him once a week for that, just like he used to when we lived here.  I have plans for a shopping day and lunch with my friend Linda next week. Will be nice to have some girl time. 

Nasty critters in Texas

Our site is to the left by that white mail box.

Nice site tucked back in the trees.

PICS

Our winter site at Russell Park, Lake Georgetown, TX

The pics below taken in Colorado.

See the bunny hiding in the fireplace?

This guy came by to see us.

 An Alpine lake we found on our jeeping trip.

Our summer campsite at Ridgway State Park, Colorado.

10/3/13 Georgetown, TX

We had bid on several gate attendant jobs at a few lakes near our kids and gkids for the winter.  Applying with the Corps of Engineers is no easy task.  They called on Sept.20th to tell us we got the bid at Russell Park on Lake Georgetown.  Yeah!  We had to leave Ridgway State Park in Colorado last Monday, Sept. 23^rd in order to report to our jobs and training on Oct. 1^st. 

It’s just a bit over 1,000 miles to Gtown.  First night we dry camped at Russell Lakes State Wildlife area.  Nice place for an overnight stop, no hook ups, no charge.  Second night we made it to Dumas, TX where they have a FREE overnight city park with electric, water spicket available and dump station.  Nice.  Our last night on the road we camped at Sweetwater Lake campground, only $10 with water & electric.  Now if we could just find free or cheap diesel we would be okay.

We are all set up in our winter spot for the 6 months we’ve contracted with the Corps.  Work 4 days, off 3.  I’ll write more about our duties in a later post.  Attended the training/meeting on Tuesday and met some wonderful staff and volunteers.  We seem to be the only NEW gate attendants this winter.  I’m so glad we got our foot in the door!

Because of the government shut down, the corps parks are closed.  Today is suppose to be our first day on the job, but because the entrance gate is locked we’ll mainly be patrolling the park a few times a day just to check on ……. Nothing.  Easy peasy.  All campers were told to evacuate the park by 8:00pm on Tuesday.  They told us we will still get paid because the contracts have all been funded.  But not so for the employees at headquarters.  They locked their doors yesterday.  The campground ranger/manager is still working, somewhat, apparently the computers have been taken down and there’s not a whole lot you can do without that.  Hopefully this mess will be settled soon before it wrecks too much havoc.

Will post pics of our new digs once I find my camera.