More Settling In - (Hillman, MI)

I made plans to play golf around 10:00 with c0-workampers Tom & Ted.  But first, I went to the driving range to try to work some things out.

Though not completely successful, I walked to the first tee in a little better frame of mind.  But that didn't last long.  :)

The first hole has a pond on the left of the fairway in my landing zone.  It will be a nemesis all summer.

You can't see the pond from the tee, but anything I hit slightly left on that hole is going in it.  Like today.  Once you're in the pond, the drop choices aren't good and there is another pond in front of the green.  That's second pond is what makes it hard to lay up off the tee.

I tried to play conservatively by dropping and chipping out, but then I flew the green on the next shot - into the trees.  So I started with a quadruple bogie.  Sheesh.

Now, it did get better.  I still had some wayward swings that cost me strokes, but I also made several pars along the way.  At least I only lost a couple of balls and found more than I lost.  :)

I turned in an official 94 to start establishing a handicap.  Not happy with that, but it is a lot better than the last two days when I stopped keeping score after a few holes.

In fact, in previous rounds, I didn't even take a scorecard.  Today I discovered that the scorecards have little tips on how to play each hole.  That would have been helpful.  :)

So, with my swing starting to come back and the fact that I'm starting to understand how to manage the course, I should be back in the 80s fairly quickly.  Hopefully, it won't be too long before I make it to the mid 80s then the low 80s which is about right for me if I'm playing a lot.  But, on this course, 90s and 100s can creep in easily on a bad swing day.  I probably have a few more of those in my future.  :)

Anyway, it was an absolutely gorgeous day with no wind, blue skies, and temps in the upper 60s.  If we could bottle up today and make it last all summer, we would be very, very happy.  :)

While I was on the course, Linda got out all of her bird feeders and her bird bath.  She said she got male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds within a half hour.

And Chipping Sparrows were on the thistle feeder shortly thereafter.

When us guys returned from golf, we joined Linda and our neighbor, Wanda (Tom's wife) out in the sun.  Ted's wife Jan walked over with him.  So the six of us talked a little while.

Tom & Wanda have a Heartland Big Country fifth wheel.  They just started full-timing in October from here in Michigan.  But they have done quite a bit of workamping previously.

Ted & Jan have a Glendale Titanium fifth wheel.  They have a house in eastern Tennessee, but travel extensively and also have been workampers for some time.

Two other couples came in today, but we haven't introduced ourselves yet - we decided to let them get settled.  One is in a NuWa Hitchhiker fifth wheel (they were here last year) and the other is in a Keystone Montana fifth wheel.

There is one other couple arriving the first of June and another in July.  But Jack would like to have two more couples.  So, if anyone is interested, there are still openings.  :)

Here are some views of the RV parking.

It's basically two rows of pull-through sites - the other row has 11 sites and our row has 12 sites.  We're right in the middle of our row.

Full hook-ups with 50 amps, Wi-fi (not the greatest, but works), cable (don't know much about that), satellite isn't an issue, and we have really good Verizon service.  There are trash cans and cans for all recycling in the center of the park.

In the row in the first photo, there is a slight danger from wayward golf shots from the par 3 next to the RV park - but it would have to be a really, really bad hook or pull.  Fortunately, it's a short par 3 and most people don't hit it that bad on the short holes.  :)

With all of the couples expected to arrive this month now here, we are having a meeting tomorrow afternoon to get to know all the workampers and the staff and to figure out who is going to do what.

We all had to submit our top five choices of duties from a list Jack provided.  Fortunately, we didn't all have the same five in the same order.  :)

After we all agreed on the meeting time, I got busy doing some chores.  I got out the grill and emptied the Jeep so we could use the back seat if necessary.

Then I put a new cap on our gray tank vent on the roof - we've had two of those blow off while driving, but I think this one will stay put.  While I was up there, I washed our solar panels - we won't be needing them here, but they definitely needed cleaning.

Then we washed windows.  I did the outside and Linda did the inside.  They are nice and sparkly ... at least until the next rain.  :)

So, more feeders went up.  We have three feeders suction-cupped to the windows and three more feeders in our "yard" plus a birdbath.  That should keep us entertained.  :)

Once the chores were done, we started dinner.  I called my parents on Skype and talked to them while they watched me do the grilling on the webcam.  :)

After our dinner of grilled chicken with melted provolone cheese topped with sauteed mushrooms and onions with a baked potato and grilled asparagus which Linda had marinated, we were in for the night watching the Suvivor finale.

Well, that about wraps it up.  I reckon we have to get to work tomorrow.  But, if we have lots of days like today, it'll be a really good summer.  :)

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Comments

[Sherry Boyd]

Hey Howard,
This sounds like just the place for you. What fun you are going to have.

We saw the Kirtland's on a trip through the UP and around the Great Lakes several years ago. So glad there are programs and people that care about species other than just ourselves.

Speaking of which, how about a picture of this outdoor bird feeding paradise with SIX feeders. I want to see how Linda has it set up. I may want to clone it bird lover that I am. :-)

Reading both today and 2007 posts,
Sherry

[Dee Walter]

I've never missed a Survivor show. It was a great ending this time. She deserved it. This park will be great for you guys, have fun.

[klueck]

Glad to see the Chipping Sparrows are with you guys. You can feed them this summer. The little buggers about ate us out of house and home last winter. We went through 50 pound bags of white millet every week or two!

It looks like a beautiful park and I envy you that cool weather. Temperatures are approaching 90 here and VERY muggy!

[Sherry B]

Hmm...I see I'm repeating myself since I've been reading daily since the rally and now am nearly caught up with reading from the beginning. Guess I'd better cut that out.