As predicted by the owners of this KOA, the July 4th holiday weekend would be the busiest of the season. Friday night we were hopping! I think ever cabin, tent and RV site was filled by 10 pm! We did not have to put anyone in the overflow sections like they have in the past, but with the national average gas prices at $4.11, it is understandable that fewer people are traveling. But as I've mentioned before, we have met some interesting people since working at the KOA Store and Check-in desk and this weekend is no different.
We had a group of 4 RVs come in Friday night, which is not unusual except that each was pulling a toy hauler with no less than 2 4-wheelers each! Two of the 5th wheels were HUGE! They were a great group of campers. All the children ranging from toddler to teenagers were very well mannered. I wish all our campers were as nice as these families.Not long after they arrived another gentleman came in with a huge motor home towing a trailer with at least 4 brand new 4-wheelers on it and all types of expensive gear to go with it. Two questions entered my mind as we kept looking out the huge front window of the store at the back of their RV. Not only do I want to know where these people are going to ride the 4 wheelers, but where do these people work so that they can afford them??? LOL
We also had a group of kids from a Christian school with only 2 adults (bless them :>) that were heading to a leadership band camp. This group was alot of fun. We expected them to be on the rowdy side when they first arrived, but they weren't at all. However within 20 minutes of their arrival they chased or scared away an older couple who was parked next to them. The older couple probably jumped to the same conclusion I did when the group first pulled in because 3 of the teenage girls rode on top of the pop-up camper chanting cheers from our office to their site.
Saturday started with a bang! When I arrive Glenn tells me about a couple in the back near the tent sites who have been screaming at each other since early this morning. In fact Suzie, The lady who worked before him, said she had called the owner about it because a couple of complaints had come in and she could hear them from our laundry room which is quite a distance from their trailer. The owner had told her he would handle it. After she left for the day, Glenn said several more calls came in and one guy who rides his bike up to the store each afternoon to buy a pint of Umpqua Ice Cream had come in to say he was 4 doors down and it sounded like they were standing in his living room arguing! So Glenn called the owners to see what to do about it. At first they told him to call 911, then said to hold off they would handle it. I guess this was a 2:30 or so.
I arrived at 3. The owner’s wife came in not long after me concerned her husband had gotten into something he shouldn't have. He obviously does not hold his temper well. Oh and just a side note, the guy arguing with his girlfriend is at least 6'3" but so is the owner of the park. But to be honest, what the owner carries in fat, the younger guy carries in muscle if you know what I mean. On her way to the office the owner’s wife said she could see them talking outside and both were still standing and appeared to be talking rationally. A few minutes later the owner comes in to the office, says it is handled, and they both leave. Okay, whatever you say!
Later that afternoon, an oriental man and his father came to check in. Very nice gentlemen. We reiterated, as we always do that their reservation was for 1 night for 2 adults and 1 child. They both agreed, signed the slip and pulled into their site right across from our front window of our office. Next thing we know, we are watching a circus act. You know the one where the clowns keep streaming out of the little VW Beetle! We counted at least 14 head of people! Well, since we charge per person and they obviously knew this and lied we had to question it. Glenn, not intimidated by anyone, watches them from the window for a few minutes as the adults follow the kids to the playground. Once the other 2 men have RV leveled and plugged in, they spot him watching. So after a few checks on the computer to be sure some of these people aren't from another site coming to welcome the newcomers since some groups arrive at different times and can not be put side by side in the park. This was not the case so Glenn goes out to talk to them. Even though they were still in the wrong, I honestly think that they thought that we do not charge for senior citizens or children. Even so they still had 6 or more people ages 18-65 that they had not mentioned! Some people!
Later a large gold SUV pulls up past our STOP sign at the office sign but never come in. After about 20 minutes Glenn goes out to see what they need. The driver follows him in and asks questions about the park claiming the park they are in now is supposed to have Wi-fi but they can not get on it, so are looking to move somewhere where they can get it. Of course Glenn goes into the selling points and asks the guy when he wants to move to our park. The man pussy-footed his way around that one and made a hasty exit. Meanwhile his wife, Glenn said was in the car on the computer the entire time! The guy stepped back in to ask if they could look around the park and Glenn said they could "drive through", stressing the "through" part and they drove through then out of the park. We never heard from them again so they just wanted free Wi-fi access for a while! The rest area 10 miles up I-5 has free Wi-fi! People are crazy!
I went out to check the restrooms, which I do a couple of times a night and then I usually walk around our building picking up any trash or lost items as I go. Saturday night, I noticed a group of kids (not sure if they were teens or college students) in one of the tent sites because I heard a violin playing. They had all types of orchestra type instruments. I think they were just tuning up at that time. But later when Glenn & I were out back getting ice from the machine to bring back into the store, they were jamming. From what I could see they had a cello, violins, and an acoustic guitar. They were not overly loud and it was very pleasant sounding. They must have only played for a short while because by 8:30pm the instruments were gone and they were eating dinner.
Sunday began without any fireworks or issues. We were really slow with maybe one or two reservations coming in every 30-45 minutes. About 5 pm, a very strange little 50 or so year old lady came into the office. She was about 5'5" reddish brown hair under a bedazzled aqua colored painter's hat worn to the side. She had her jeans rolled up to look like Capri's, hiking books with heavy brown socks scrunched down like we all wore them in the 80's. She claimed to live in Grants Pass just up the road and had come in for a KOA book, which we gave her.
The book lists all the KOAs in the US & Canada, complete with a state or providence road map, phone number, directions, and brief description of the park. She asked about a site in Seattle where she will be going next month so I helped her look it up on the Washington map. She rambles on about her son coming to visit and he may want to stay at our campground when he does so I showed her that in the book as well so he could get the number.
She meandered around the store for a few minutes, buying a soda. Then out of the blue she starts telling us about the marvelous cleaning product she found at the store up the road, ends with you just have to try it and scoots out. Glenn and I just looked at each other a bit befuddled at the whole exchange!
She sat at the picnic table in the shade out by the pool chatting on the phone for a few minutes, drinking her soda and leafing through the book. We noticed her car when a huge motor home tried to come in and had to swing way to the left to avoid hitting it because she had parked nose into the building. At a campground usually the front office is a pull through and not a place to park with RVs coming both in and out at all hours. After we checked the RV in, Glenn had to go out to ask her to move her car.
But the best anecdote of the weekend was this one Glenn told me about when he came home on Sunday night. One lady came into the office to ask for a bag. Glenn asked, "Will a KOA bag do?" She replied, "Yeah. I was taking my dog for a walk and he pottied on the ground, so I want to get it up." Glenn complimented her for obeying the "pick up after you pet" rule when she added, "But my 3 year old thought it looked so great he pottied in the yard too, so I needed a bigger bag!" LOL Kids will be kids.
The end!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment