It is finished. After getting the car from the airport, I went back to the hotel, spent the night, got up - earlyish - and then headed out. A normally around $500 trip turned into around $1,400 with 3 vehicles of driving and a lot of hourly breakdown pay. I'm sure I'll have to fight and claw for all of that pay, it's a huge mix of different vehicles and times listed for breakdown pay plus normal pay; Tho, on the last breakdown trip, my manager did his due diligence and I received all of it without any problems.
I did drive by the property in the hopes of possibly seeing a brand new telephone pole installed - but not yet. Monday I will be calling several places about an update on getting bids or doing work.
Oh, and I checked the truck that they were allegedly going to have detailed - not done. They have a lady that comes to the yard and does it, with accolades and high praise for her work. I won't drive that truck without it getting cleaned out first. If they demand I do, it will be with the caveat that I am not sleeping in it and short trips. I'm back now, my truck will likely sit up in Tulsa for at least a week if not longer. That's just the way it works.
Now, with leaving early the other day. Remember the dispatcher called me and had me racing out of here to try and get to the plant on time for the earlier load time? Yup, I forgot to both make my bed and put objects on it to keep the dogs from getting on it. So, my bedding was disgustingly filthy. Already in the washing machine, thanks.
So,; I assume (possibly wrongfully so, I'll find out soon enough) I have tomorrow off. I'd really like to get out there and start marking trees I don't want taken down in any land clearing endeavor. I'm hoping land clearing is coming soon, within the next few weeks anyway, but the price has to be right. Ididn't originally earmark a lot of money for land clearing, but as with most other things about this proposition, my thinking has evolved. I would like this operation up and running for the Spring season. That means we gotta get busy and get those contractors installing everything.
Which also got me to thinking about the bath house. As the old saying goes, One Chance To Make A First Impression. People want that thing and they want it from the get go. Excuses don't wash. And the consequences could very well be negative reviews all over the internet - no bathhouse, 2 star property, blah blah blah. You know, those reviews never go away unless the author retracts them - which I doubt hardly ever happens.
So, if my business got negative reviews for that from the start, they are going to stay there and even if I have a big banner saying "BATHHOUSE IS NOW HERE!!" .....it's not going to change those reviews and probably the first thing a lot of full time RV'ers look at and get no further. So, I really have to make it happen, the bathhouse that is. A swimming pool can wait, it's not a necessity such as a bath house. A pond? Not really, it's part of the appeal. The walking trails? No, not that either. Muist be completely. And a doggy park.
So, I have new resolve to figure out how to make these things happen on limited funding and get it done before any grand opening occurs. I figure 10 grand minimum probably more like 15 to 20 for a decent bath house. Yup, I changed my mind again but with a good reason to do so. I will find the financing, some how, some way. If it's a loan, so beit. To that end I'm going to start contacting construction companies on giving me a price for one.
Well actually, I need to find some plans for one if they're on the net somewhere and see what designs are already drawn up that can be purchased. I need to get some idea of how much it will cost. I will wait until the land is cleared and the utilities installed before I make any decisions on what to build and where to build it. Somewhere along the row where the pull throughs will be.
I'm truly not trying to come off wishy washy changing my mind about things - several things so far - but I am learning as I go and I would rather eat the humble pie now. Yes that was a bad idea, but no harm done for nothing has been done yet type of thing.
I'd actually like to go to the property today and take the dogs for a nice walk. Absolutely gorgeous day out there, but I think I will hang out with people and maybe go over tomorrow with doggies. And maybe try to decide where to put the doggy park. I'm thinking bath house on one side of the main drive way and doggy park on the other.
A lot of this stuff will be easier to envision, tho, when the land is cleared and I can walk along and get a better picture in my mind how it should all go. And deciding where a swimming pool will eventually go. There is no point in putting in lots where you intend on building in the future. But, the first 7 lots on each side will have no bearing on that so not a huge concern right off the bat. Yup, the next obstacle right now is just getting the land cleared.
Well, it's not really an obstacle, more like the next step. Just its in the way of my making several other decisions and I'd like to get it done.....
Well, it's Saturday afternoon and I'm just going to relax - besides doing some laundry lol.
G'day.