Stone Mountain State Park April 17-24, 2018

Campground view

Day 17 Thursday April 12, 2018 Finally a nice day with sunshine. Lena was not feeling well today so I did all the work in the campground that was required. I worked in the Contact Station selling wood and ice and also checking  in campers off and on until about 7PM because there was no one scheduled to work in the Contact Station today. I also repaired a water hydrant that was not working properly. This relieved the Rangers do attend to other responsibilities.

Day 18 Friday April 13, 2018 We had another beautiful sunshine day. Lena is still sick with a bad sinus head cold but did go out with me to put out the 60 reservation signs for campers that are coming in today. After breakfast I cleaned a few sites that needed it before today's campers came in, then I releaved Jackie at the Contact Station while she took her lunch break. It was nice to set outside and relax and read in the sunshine today in between performing our duties. Out of 88 sites we have only 10 not occuied or reserved tonight.

Day 19 Saturday April 14, 2018 We only have 16 reservations today so I put them out and checked the campground for any issues before breakfast. There were lots of campers outside this morning cooking breakfast so I got to smell bacon, etc. cooking while out doing my duties, so I was ready for breakfast when I got back to the motorhome.

Later in the afternoon Lena was feeling a little better so she went out with me to check the campground so she could get some fresh air. Rain is predicted for tomorrow so we put out the reservation sign for Sunday. We only have 9 for Sunday.

Dau 20 Sunday April 15, 2018 We had a good breakfast of Lena's blueberry pancakes then started working in the campground getting the sites cleaned as the campers leave. We try to get the sites cleaned before the next campers come in if we can. Sunday is busy with most of the weekend campers leaving and new campers coming in.

The rain started about 2PM, with heavy rain and winds, with a tornado warning so we brought our awnings in and lowered the canopy over the picnic table. Sure am glad all the tent campers have packed up and gone home because it would be rather uncomfortable in a tent in this weather. The rain continued on until around midnight.

Day 21 Monday April 16, 2018 We got about 4” of rain yesterday so the Big Sandy Creek running through the campground had plenty of water in it today. Temps in the low 40's this morning and windy. I went out to check the campground for any problems after the storm yesterday and checked in a couple of campers that arrived before the Contact Station opened. We only have three reservations today plus any “walk-ins” that may show up so it is a quite day. We worked hard yesterday morning so we are taking advantage of the slow day today. The temps never got above 43 degrees today and windy. We got a little bit of snow starting about 7PM.

Day 22 Tuesday April 17, 2018 It was our first of two days off so we went to Terry's Cafe in State Road for breakfast and then to McDonalds's to use their WiFi and get a Latte before driving out to Hamptonville to the Amish store for some groceries. The dogwoods and azaleas have bloomed since last week when we were out this way and the leaves on the trees have popped out, more so that at the campground which is a little higher elevation. On the way back to the campground we also stopped at Walmart to get a few grocery items.
The weather was warmer today but windy so we were able to enjoy setting outside in the sun and read before supper.

Day 23 Wednesday April 18, 2018 Finally we have a warm day with sunshine and it is our day off so we were outside most of the day enjoying a relaxing warm day. We hiked up to the top of Stone Mountain Falls and then came back and I cooked my “almost world famous” baby back ribs in my Dutch Oven. They sure were good and tender. Then I built a campfire with some Bio-Wood that Ranger Kassie wanted me to test out. Bio-Wood is a block of compressed sawdust. The company had sent the park a box of it for us to test in the hopes the park would purchase it for resale to campers. She also had one of the campers do a test of it and we both had about the same thoughts about the product. Not something we would recommend or use.

Top of Stone Mountain Falls

Big Sandy Creek feeding the falls

One of the old chimneys from one of the cabins of the homesteaders that liven on this land

Day 24 Thursday April 19, 2018 We did our normal morning campground duties had breakfast and relaxed for awhile. There was noone scheduled to work in the Contact Station today so I had to run back and forth from our site to the contact station when campers came in to check them in. Finally I just stayed at the contact station and didn't get to close up until 8:15PM when all the reservations but one had come in.

Day 25 Friday April 20, 2018 We had 62 reservations signs to put out this morning which is typical for a Friday. Then I opened the Contact Station at 11AM and began checking in campers while Lena did the laundry. I was relieved about 3:30PM by a park employee. We did a final campground check about 7PM and called it a day. The weather had been nice today without the heavy winds and cold air that we had Thursday.

This church group filled this site up with tents

Day 26 Saturday April 21, 2018 We have 25 reservations for today. Some of yesterday's reservations has not come in yet. All 88 sites are reserved for tonight eventhough some will probably not show up and not cancel their reservations to free up the site. After the sun warmed the air it was a nice pleasant day. I had to work at the Contact Station for an hour during the lunch hour.

We saw a first this afternoon. Three horses and riders came walking down the road through the campground. And of course one of them left a “present” right in the middle of the road in front of a campsite for me to clean up.

Day 27 Sunday April 22, 2018 We only have 8 reservations today but most everyone here is leaving today as is usual on Sunday. I call Sunday “shift change day”. We raked and cleaned several sites before we relieved Shannon at the contact station during the lunch period. After we had lunch we cleaned several more sites before quitting for the day. Lots of rain is exxpected tomorrow so we tried to get as much done today as possible.

Day 28 Monday April 23, 2018 We only had 8 reservations signs for today so we got them out early before the predicted rain started. The rain began about 10AM and it continued all day and night. I opened the Contact Station and checked in one camper, then ate lunch and went back to the station for a couple of hours but no one else came in so I quit and went back to the motorhome.

Day 29 Tuesday April 24, 2018 This is our day off so we headed to the Circle L Cafe in Sparta for breakfast, but we rode through the campground and put out the 4 reservation signs that are due in today. Later we rode through some of the backroads enjoying the beautiful views eventhough it was drizzling rain. We returned to Sparta for lunch at a Mexican restaurant for lunch, then did some more back roads before returning to the campground.

Bridge with no railings that flooded last night

Stone Mountain State Park April 10 - 16, 2018

Day 15 Tuesday April 10, 2018 This was our day off so we drove to Wilksboro for breakfast and access to WiFi to catch up on some internet stuff. Later we cruised North on the Blue Ridge Parkway for several miles along a very pretty section that we have ridden several times.

We got off the parkway and drove through some very pretty country with losts of rolling green pastures with lots of cattle and nice farm houses before returning to the campground. Our friends invited us over to their camper for pie and coffee by their campfire. The campers across the street came over and we all talked until about 9PM before calling it a night.

Day 16 Wednesday April 11, 2018 Our second day off, so we did some exploring of backroads, had lunch at Terry's Cafe in State Road (yes that is the name of the area), restocked some groceries and returned to the campground to enjoy the rest of our day off. Lena did some laundry and we did some reading.

Nice farm house and barn

Day 17 Thursday April 12, 2018 Finally a nice day with sunshine. Lena was not feeling well today so I did all the work in the campground that was required. I worked in the Contact Station selling wood and ice and also checking  in campers off and on until about 7PM because there was noone scheduled to work in the Contact Station today. I also repaired a water hydrant that was not working propertly. This releived the Rangers do attend to other responsibilities.

Day 18 Friday April 13, 2018 We had another beautiful sunshine day. Lena is still sick with a bad sinus head cold but did go out with me to put out the 60 reservation signs for campers that are coming in today. After breakfast I cleaned a few sites that needed it before today's campers came in, then I releaved Jackie at the Contact Station while she took her lunch break. It was nice to set outside and relax and read in the sunshine today in between performing our duties. Out of 88 sites we have only 10 not occuied or reserved tonight.

Day 19 Saturday April 14, 2018 We only have 16 reservations today so I put them out and checked the campground for any issues before breakfast. There were lots of campers outside this morning cooking breakfast so I got to smell bacon, etc. cooking while out doing my duties, so I was ready for breakfast when I got back to the motorhome.

Later in the afternoon Lena was feeling a little better so she went out with me to check the campground so she could get some fresh air. Rain is predicted for tomorrow so we put out the reservation sign for Sunday. We only have 9 for Sunday.

Dau 20 Sunday April 15, 2018 We had a good breakfast of Lena's blueberry pancakes then started working in the campground getting the sites cleaned as the campers leave. We try to get the sites cleaned before the next campers come in if we can. Sunday is busy with most of the weekend campers leaving and new campers coming in.

The rain started about 2PM, with heavy rain and winds, with a tornado warning so we brought our awnings in and lowered the canopy over the picnic table. Sure am glad all the tent campers have packed up and gone home because it would be rather uncomfortable in a tent in this weather. The rain continued on until around midnight.

Day 21 Monday April 16, 2018 We got about 4” of rain yesterday so the Big Sandy Creek running through the campground had plenty of water in it today. Temps in the low 40's this morning and windy. I went out to check the campground for any problems after the storm yesterday and checked in a couple of campers that arrived before the Contact Station opened. We only have three reservations today plus any “walk-ins” that may show up so it is a quite day. We worked hard yesterday morning so we are taking advantage of the slow day today. The temps never got above 43 degrees today and windy. We got a little bit of snow starting about 7PM.

Stone Mountain State Park March 27-April 9, 2018

Home to Stone Mountain State Park NC

Day 1 Tuesday March 27, 2018 We departed home at 7:30AM, stopped for breakfast at Bojangles near Wallace, then we headed for Stone Mountain State Park to begin 5 weeks of working as Volunteer Campground Host. This will be our 4th year working as Campground Host at this park. We normally do 4 weeks but the March Host had to leave a week early so Ranger Hicks asked us to come a week early. We arrrived about 1PM. Ranger Hicks came by as we were setting up and welcomed us and gave us our keys and some instructions on a few minor changes from last year.

Day 2 Wednesday March 28, 2018 We were not required to work today, because the Hosts gets Tuesday and Wednesday off so we drove to Elkin to try a new coffee shop that has recenty opened in the old historic part of town named Dirty Joe's. It was good and we used their WiFi to catch up on our Internet stuff. Afterwards we drove on past Jonesville to an Amish commnity to get some Amish products at the Shiloh General Store, a local dairy and a Hydrophonic tomato farm.

Interesting Mirror over sink in Men's Restroom

On the way back to the park we took some backroads to enjoy the local scenery. This is a really pretty area with lots of rolling green pastures with lots of cows, farm houses, etc. After we got back and had lunch we got our equipment ready on the provided golf cart and did a few things in the campground and sold some firewood and checked a few campers in eventhough it was our day off. The park is shorthanded right now and we don't mind doing a little extra to help out.

Day 3 Thursday March 29, 2018 Today was our first official day of work. We put out 41 reserved signs, reported a couple of non-functioning water hydrants to the maintenance department,  checked the bathouses for paper products, picked up some trash and raked a couple of sites and then had breakfast. Later we made a couple of trips through the campground to check for any problems and relieved Jackie at the Contact Station at 2:30PM so she could have a lunch break. While there we checked in several campers with reservations.  The weather was really nice today eventhough it was a little windy.

Day 4 Friday March 30, 2018 We did our duties in the campground then had breakfast before relieving Jackie at the Contact Station from 11:30AM to 5PM. The park is shorthanded again today so we agreed to operate the Contact Station while Jackie works at the Visitor's Center. We sold firewood, ice and items out of the little store in the Contact Station and checked in campers as they arrived. The campground is full for the night.

Day 5 Saturday March 31, 2018 We got a frost last night so it was cold this morning but the sun came out and warmed things up. We had breakfast while it warmed up a bit before doing our work in the campground. We relieved Shannon at the Contact Station from 11:30AM until 1:30PM. Eventhough to sun was shinning it remained rather cool all day due to the wind. I made a final pass through the campground about 6PM and called it a day. All sites are reseerved tonight, but a few are vacant because to people didn't come and didn't cancel their reservations, therefore the site sits empty even if someone comes up and needs a site for the night.

Day 6 Sunday April 1, 2018 Today is Easter and also April Fool Day. We got out about 8AM and put all the reservation signs out before we returned to the motor home for breakfast. Later we relived Shannon at the Contact Station so she could go to the Visitor's Center to relieve the staff person there for lunch. Later after we were relieved we had lunch and then cleaned several sites as the camper vacated the sites.

Day 7 Monday April 2, 2018 We did our normal duties as in other days. The weather was nice today so we worked out in the campground a little more to enjoy the warmer weather.
This is our 4th year volunteering here and we get to see all kinds and types of Rvs and tents. There is a large tent two sites from us that has a smoke stack coming through the roof. It is shaped like an old style military tent with a new twist and is the first we have seen with a smoke stack and it is puffing smoke every morning, we assume they are heating the tent with it.

Day 8 Tuesday April 3, 2018 Today was our first of two days off so we went to Elkin to try the other location of Dirty Joe's Coffee shop before driving out to the Amish community again to get some more tomatoes, milk, fresh homemade bread, etc. On the way back we drove some of the back roads on the way back to Elkin. Later we did a walk around loop A and B in the campground.

Day 9 Wednesday April 4, 2018 Lots of heavy rain for a short while early this morning. We started camping about 49 years ago in a tent. Every thime we are here and it rains we are glad we don't have to camp in a tent now.

We drove to a little country cafe near Sparta for breakfast. We discovered it last year. I like their pancakes. They will make them anysize you want. Last year I didn't know that and just ordered two and when the order came to the table the pancakes overlapped the edge of the plate and the local old timers setting near us laughed at my expression. Lena ordered a country ham and egg biscuit and said it was the best one she had ever had. After eating we drove on into Sparta and when we got out of the car Lena realized she had left her purse at the cafe, so we turned around and went back. When we drove up the waitress caming running out with her purse. We went back to Sparta and when we went into the coffee shop to get Lattes and use their WiFi I found a folded up $20 bill on the floor at the ordering counter. I gave it to the clerk and she thought for a moment about who had just ordered and turned around and the lady was still there so the lady checked her purse and she was missing a $20 so she was happy to get it back. I thought those two events back to back were interesting.

We returned to the campground to relax and read on our day off and to get some laundry done. I decided to put out tomorrow's reservation sign late today rather than doing it in the morninng when it was predicted to be 32 degrees at 8AM.

Day 10 Thursday April 5, 2018 As predicted it was cold this morning so it was about 9:30AM before we went out into the campground. Lena's was having some trouble with her back so she lay on a heating pad while I did the rounds in the campground. Then I relieved Jackie in the Contact Station so she could have a long lunch with her mother and sister. The office manager has okayed Jackie to train me on the computer so I can use it when I relieve her to checkin campers, etc.

Day 11 Friday April 6, 2018 Another typical day for us, doing our work in the campground and working in the contact station while Jackie has lunch. Another unusual RV came in today. It was a short school bus that was converted to a camper. I talked to the owner breifly and he said he was disabled and was planning to travel the country with the RV.

Tomorrow's weather looks like lots of rain so we put out the reservation signs this evening for Saturday.

Day 12 Saturday April 7, 2018 The rain started about 8PM lastnight and continued for most of the night. Not much fun for those in tents. We got out about 8:30AM and cleaned several sites and fire pits before breakfast, then did a few more before noon. The rain came in again mid afternoon and the temperature dropped to the low 40's from the low 50's this morning. We stayed in the remainder  of the day and relaxed and did some reading. We only had 5 reservations for today and I think most of them canceled due to the weather and some that was already here left early.

Day 13 Sunday April 8, 2018 We got up at 7:30AM to 30 degrees and a good dusting of snow on the ground. We only have 8 reservations coming in today. We put out the reservation signs and cleaned a few sites before breakfast. Some friends from Greensboro came in before noon with their 5th wheel camper so we cleaned a few more sites and then visited with them for awhile after they got setup.

We normally have a lot more campers in the campground on a Sunday but the weather has probably discouraged some from coming.

Day 14 Monday April 9, 2018 Raining again this morning when we got up. We only have 5 reservations today so I put them out and checked the campground while Lena prepared for breakfast. Our friends from Greensboro are joining us for breakfast this morning.

We had a good visit with our friends then after lunch I did a campground check and cleaned a few sites.