Cheryl and I have created a rhythm on the days we work for the camp. Wake up with the sun between 6:30 and 7:00 (today it was close to 7:00 as it was 42 degrees this morning. After relieving our bladders (another reason we get up), Rich makes a fire and Cheryl fixes breakfast. So far, we have cooked all our meals outside.
Mostly we live like we
live when camping. The trailer is a closet with water and a refuge
when - like tonight - it is raining. We can fire up the generator and
heat the trailer either with our gas heater or the little portable
heater. But I digress.... So after we eat breakfast, we often sit and
play with the fire until it uses up most of the wood. (We build small
fires.) Around 9 we start cleaning the latrines. It is pretty easy as
we replace toilet paper, sweep and clean if needed.
We have a day use center
that Rich calls the Day Care Center. The day use center draws a lot
of people, and it is about a ½ mile away from our camp. Rich rides
there in the morning, and Cheryl starts cleaning latrines that are
closer. There are 9 in all. The whole process takes about an hour.
After that, we will check
out empty campsites and make sure they are clean. For the first 3
weeks we have been catching up on general maintenance as there was no
camp host here last year. We have now raked all 17 sites, and it is
now easier to to keep them ready. Some of the sites are quite
popular, and so we will catch them when we can.
Around 11:00 to 12:00 we
are done for the day and fix lunch. Afternoons are time to deal with
our own camp site - chop wood, carry water, read, sleep, move the
chair to shade or to sun depending on the temperature. We often take
a walk. Once a week or so, we drive up to Union Creek 1.5 miles and
get some water from a well in an old Forest Service Camp. It is right
next to Becky's restaurant where we can get a slice of pie or go to
the ice cream store. (Rough life, huh?)
Around 5:00 we start
dinner, eat and read or do crosswords & sodukus until around 7 pm
when we do the rounds. We make the rounds sometimes on our bikes,
sometimes walking. Its our job to check that people have paid, record
information and meet and greet people. Have struck up some highly
interesting conversations. Yesterday we met some folks that live not
far from us in Portland. Told us of a housing development going in
below the Market of Choice. Thought it funny to connect here in this
place with them. We have met a man who lives on the same street with
Rich's brother, people who knows friends of Rich etc. Always a fun
walk and adventure. It is about ¾ of a mile walk.
When we get back Rich
usually builds a fire and we read until it gets too dark. Then we sit
by the fire, play with our fire sticks and let it burn out around
10:00. Then we get ready for bed. Usually in bed by 10:30, often drop
off to sleep quite quickly.
There are variations on
the theme, bathing, getting water etc. But the pace is not rushed,
and we have ample time for rest. So far we have not “had the time”
to devote to some of the entertainments we brought, like games and
projects and videos to watch on our laptops. We have not read a paper
in three weeks. I would say the rhythm and spaciousness and the
gorgeous place is suiting us quite well.
Rich
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