The Last four months

The blog has not been updated for the last four months because we have been in Ventura. We decided to try camp hosting at Emma Wood State park. Camp hosting is giving a certain amount of hours of your time in exchange for a free camp site. 

We were to give 20 hours between Patty and I in exchange for a full  hookup site at the Emma Wood Group Camp area. Our host coordinator was on "vacation" for the first month of our early arrival. After about 3 weeks we were informed that she had decided to retire.

It was NOT a smooth transition. It felt like the rangers wanted to change everything the coordinator had setup and the hosts were the casualties of it. We were not appreciated as volunteers. More then once the contracted duties were attempted to be changed including doubling the expected hours worked. Of course I quickly nixed that idea.

We also had a very hostile host that moved in next to us. For some reason she was being accommodated to the expense of all other hosts. The rest of us were having to put in extra hours and do extra duties because of her, yet they would not "fire" her.

Finally after about 2 1/2 months of a not so good situation we decided we needed to move on. We decided we did everything we could to work within the situation but for our sanity it would be better go to a private RV Park. 

The next day I mentioned our concerns to our good friend Bill Gehr (RV Bill) who was getting ready to leave his maintenance hosting position at the San Buenaventura State Beach.  He mentioned that maintenance supervisor Mel was looking for someone to be a caretaker at McGrath State Beach. McGrath has been closed for months because of flooding.

McGrath Campground

The problem is that without much rain the rough ocean creates a berm across the Santa Clara River which does not allow water to escape into the ocean. 

Sand Berm

The water backups into McGrath campground. 

Because it has been closed for months, people were sneaking in at night and stealing copper piping from the restrooms. They find if there is a presence in the park this does not happen. We were asked if we would be that presence.

Within two days we had moved over to McGrath. At the far end of the park the sites are higher and no water intrudes into it.

Here is our site #58 at McGrath.

Site #58

This was an awesome situation! We had a whole state park to ourselves! Full hookups and the maintenance crew was wonderful! God answers prayer!

We had a couple barbecues. Here is everyone at the campfire cooking smores.

Love the Family!

Even our grandbaby Gracie got into the action!

Yum!!

We were scheduled to leave on April 1st, but Patty had to take care of a small medical thing. So we didn't have to drive back from Palm Springs to Ventura, Mel's manager Brent allowed us to stay as guests an extra week in the park. Because McGrath is getting ready to open 40 sites to the public on April 11th, another park host was scheduled to come in on the 1st when we were leaving so we had to move to another site.

Site 115

We really appreciate Mel and Brent accommodating us like they did. We don't think we would come back as campground hosts but we would love to come back as maintenance hosts for Mel!

On April 8th we left Ventura for our next adventure. We arrived in Palm Springs for 5 days.

Palm Springs site #5

We will miss everyone very much but are looking forward to what is next!

We love you all very much!!

Love,

Brian and Patty