Why can't I just rent a small trackhoe from the local place and dig out my own pond?  Right on the stream near the bridge in the rear.  This wouldn't cost much money and add lots of appeal to the walking people. In fact, the first people that came into the park said they started to walk back the trail last night, but stopped before they got too far.  It was getting dark and they didn't want to get caught back in there. They didn't know how far it goes. 

Well, at a brisk pace you can probably walk all of the circle in 15 minutes.  If you want to explore all the trails, you will be back there 30 minutes. If you want the exercise, you can just go around in big circles for as long as you want.  But it was nice someone else went back there and enjoyed the views.  

Anyway, I could dig out a couple thousand gallon, small pond's worth and maybe add some sort of fish that can deal with that kind of living atmosphere.  Not really for fishing, just for appearance. Goldfish actually look OK and can live in just about anything. It's just there's times of the year when there isn't much water flowing through there and sometimes nothing is moving, tho that doesn't happen often and doesn't last very long.  I mean, I really could see a pond that the bridge crosses.  

Wait, I really wouldn't even need to dig out that much. Really just need to build a dam!  Why haven't I thought of this before?  I have no clue how to build a dam, but I would be willing to be $100 there's a youtube video for it!  Probably lots of them!  

I'll be looking into that - just research for now. I have too much to do with the park itself to be diverting my attention to the woods area again. And, when I do get my attention back there again, I want tent camping sites. Money takes precedence and there are opportunities I am losing out on right now for tent camping for a few reasons.

First and foremost, the access. That driveway near the rear is dirt and it turns into mud when it rains. It's raining heavily right now and I can guarantee you, if I were to drive over there, I would likely get close to getting stuck if I drove back in there. The RV park is well before that area, thankfully.  We're talking around 4 grand worth of gravel to do the entire driveway.  Just not in the cards right now.  I suppose I could advertise tent camping to 4 wheel drive customers only.  Restrictive but it's really the only way I could be rest assured that if it starts pouring rain and they want out of there? They can actually get out.  

If I did that, then the rest of it isn't that bad.  The first camping spot is to the right and in the woods near the gas platform.  It's a nice area and I am sure people would like it. It would be a good place to start with just one sight.  I actually think I will add that tent site to the website.  Might as well try!  Now that we're past the ridiculous 8 degree and 20 degree weather, perhaps it could generate some interest.  It's not a huge money make in terms of rates, but every penny counts and I want the entire property to eventually be generating revenues in one way or another.  

If you can't tell I'm getting rather excited, it's just that I didn't expect these 2 short stays at all and the long term is coming sometime this week.  We can pay some bills with that money. It's not profit but it's a start!

Enough for tonight.  

 Taking no chances with an almost 20k septic system, I contacted the contractor before turning it on.  Is there anything special I need to do before turning it on? No, just make sure the breakers are all on.  He got back to me quickly and I haven't talked to him in well over a month. That was nice.  I was thinking it might take - quite a while - for him to reply.  But looking at the switch to turn it on, it has a mute and a run setting. No idea what the mute is for, I put it on run and then asked him?

Mute keeps the alarm and the red flashing light off if something goes wrong with it.  I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to know if the thing is having problems....I have a 2 year warranty on it, if something goes wrong it is covered and I owe them nothing, the entire work they have done is all paid for.  Even if it weren't under warranty, I would definitely want to know if the thing has stopped working.  Last thing you need is a bunch of poop backing up in the lines to the inlets, gag and gross.  

Well, anyway, I don't know how much waste is in there but there's only been 1 rig using it, the one that came in? After I left, they put out their slides, hooked up their 50 amp line, turned on their AC units and left.  It's neither hot nor cold, it's the time of year those ac units should be cycling on an off, off more than on.  So once it initially cools the thing down it shouldn't really be running the compressors that much.  

I'm concerned about costs, obviously and electricity in the summer time with one of those things with 2 large ac units can eat up some power.  But for right now, I don't need to worry about it.   I guess if there is any advantage to being open during winter? No or low AC use - it is in the 70's 'here today tho - and heating is usually primarily supplied by a propane run heating system.  At least in the systems I am familiar with. I don't know if they've started installing AC units with heat option?  

I am probably going to put meters on for long term guests and charge less per month but they pay electricity. I"d like to get that done by summer - say late May early June at the latest.  That way people are less inclined to gobble up "free electricity".  I've had that concern with long term since the beginning, it's nothing you worry about with short term, they are paying more and covering the cost of electric.  My cut throat rates won't help with electric either, but it's getting some people in there so I'm actually happy.  For now.  

I'm at 3 customers now and not a single one of them has used the online payment/reservation system, lmao.  Ok, I only spent $200 on it and I'm hopeful people might start using it to book spring/summer/fall stays. These people showed up today, handed me the money and that was that, they didn't want to chit chat and that's fine with me.  I'm getting people who are disgruntled with the other options in town. They aren't concerned about the rates - they are willing to pay more - they are concerned about the lots not handling the size of their units.

One thing I learned today? I definitely need to rent the roller and get it over there and compact the gravel.  That heavy thing sunk several inches.  I have no worries about it getting stuck, but what I thought might need to get done turns out to be a no brainer. It's like $200 per day to rent the thing, I'm doing that soon.  Let me set this straight tho, there is about 12 inches deep of gravel and it's the best gravel you can get - it compacts nicely, that thing won't be getting stuck.  He had pulled up and back and up and back several times after I left, I could see the tracks.  They didn't level it, which seemed odd but I do know that that pad is level going east and west, but I do believe it has a slight grade on the north side.  

Sign place closed before I could place the order. I'll just go over there in the morning and get what I need. There is room for a 4 foot wide sign next to the other signs, perfect size for big lettering, few words but enough to get the message across: Yup, there is an RV park with my park's name on it a mile down the road with an arrow pointing in that direction.  

_____________

I was looking at a pic of the one that just came in and saw the name of the manufacturer - I recognized it because I used to pass by it on the way to Brownsville every trip.  A 2014 model listed at $349,000.  I don't know what year that thing is, but it's a custom built coach. But what I was really looking for is the weight of this beast. Because it left some pretty deep groves and tho I expect everything to get compacted in due time, this was a bit more than I anticipated.

With full water tank and loaded with the personal belongings, that thing weighs out at almost 50,000 pounds.  Astounding.  I had no idea. I questioned my contractor about this 45k weight statement he made quite some time ago,  but this confirmed that these giant motor coaches on luxury tour bus frames are very heavy.  I'm not going to stop them from coming in, but I may inform them that the gravel is still being compacted and it may go into it a bit, but no worries, you won't get stuck.  Basically, my contractor was making the case for much deeper layer of gravel and now I know why. If I want the luxury stuff to come in there as well as anything else (as long as it is maintained and looks decent, I don't really care how old it is), I am going to need a deep, thick layer of gravel.  

This is the type of clientele I am trying to reach. People with money and really no cares in the world. They just travel around from place to place and enjoy life, mostly retired folks that spent their lives working and now spending their time seeing America.  But, I had to get them in there somehow and the low prices are the lure.  Actually, I think my website says big rig friendly, or all of the places I have listed it have that on there.  It legitimately is big rig friendly. These people are usually the types that aren't going to be making a lot of noise all night long and are respectful of their neighbors. Some are social oriented, some want to keep to themselves - to each their own.

These people weren't in the mood for chatting, but I think that was only because they wanted to get over to wherever their family is.  It doesn't matter to me - if they want to be chatty I will entertain them, if they don't, it means I can get busy doing whatever else. 

 Monday, January 2023

I have no idea what those people are doing.  I have been sleeping in trying to get over this sickness.  Like, 10:30 am type of sleeping in.  Pretty soon, I'm going to start forcing myself to get up at 7:00 am regardless of what I feel like or how much or little sleep I had the night before.  

Anyway, I figure they have the tire fixed by now - even if everywhere was closed yesterday, they would have it done this morning - and then it's up in the air whether they are going to meet up with their friends in Weslaco - which is near my old haunting grounds of Brownsville, TX or if they are going to try to take the truck into a shop here and see about getting the codes interpreted and whether anything needs to be done.  

Personally, I would take the vehicle into a shop considering they're hauling a giant trailer and that isn't going to be a pleasant thing to deal with on the side of the highway if the truck decides to take a dump and quit on them.  But, I gave them suggestions for local repair shops beyond the local dealer - who may or may not be able to look at the vehicle.  It's not under warranty and I gave  him the best shop in town that only locals that have been here for decades really know about - or - people like me that have talked with locals and know of it's existence.  

The owner of that shop is a walking encyclopedia of all things cars, pickups and even semi-trucks.  There is very little a dealer can do that he can't.  

I will be heading over there soon to see if they are still there or if they decided to pack their bags and leave.  It will be nice to get video surveillance over there - but that requires wifi and I"m not doing wifi until I see some reservations popping up in the system.  So far, not a single reservation.  I don't think I got much out of that Facebook ad, either, tho I think there is one day left of it.  

I will have to try Google ads, which are much more expensive but probably get better results. They show up everywhere, you know how they work. You say something out of your mouth and the next thing you know, there are ads for it popping up everywhere?  But I'm going to finish the doggy park and the fire pit first.  The cheapest Google ad is $9 per day and I think there's a 30 day commitment. Yeah, that's why I haven't done it yet, it's rather expensive.  Yet, the new RV park 20 miles away has it listed and it's showing up at the top of my page - because I do searches daily of rv parks local to see where my ranking is. 

I just laugh at their prices, if they think they are going to be competitive with local rv parks, they have another thing coming.  They have nothing more than I have save a laundry facility.  I just need to finish up and do some heavy advertising, apparently. 

But, it's January and my "excuses" for not going back to work are quickly fading.  I could probably ride out another month or even two with no more income than what I have going now.  Then we get down to my threshold - a minimum amount I want in the bank that forces me to say ok, enough, time to find a new job!  After that, you start to get into semi-dangerous territory, tho in reality, it's enough to last probably 3 more months.  Meanwhile, however, I am going to switch the note payment over to the business account. The payment for the land, and the electric and the water bills will also be switched over.  

I need to do that this week, in fact.  

Good thing I remembered that, I see no reason to continue draining my personal account when the business account has money in it and about to add another $475.  

+++++++++++++++++

Add to that another $30  and supposedly another big rig coming in in a little while. Another couple called, they are coming to town to help their family move, they specifically asked about big rigs because they probably know that most of these places around here cannot deal with them. They are too tall - concerns about running into limbs from trees or they are too long and concerns about having a spot long enough for them.  Actually, they have a 45 foot long motorhome pulling a car.  All of my pull throughs can handle that thing some of my back ins might as well. Some people actually prefer back in sites, even pulling cars and trailers. If they plan on staying a while, they would be unhooking their car anyway.  

The $30 is the people already there. They got their new tire fixed - he said they had had them installed only 2 weeks earlier. It was a faulty valve stem.  They said the engine light isn't coming back on but they don't want to leave today because of the weather that's moved into this entire region. They would be driving right down into it if they left today.  So, another night stay for them and then these other people, I have no idea how long they are staying, but I'll offer them the weekly rate if they are staying that long.  

Anyway, as I figured, I'm going to have to replace the highway sign. The little yard style sign was good for starters but it's not that visible. It's small and there are 2 other signs on either side of it that dwarf it.  They said they saw the sign when they drove their pickup back in today, but the sign was being pushed over by the wind and it's very small.  So, it's priority.  My sign guy will make an aluminum sign that will last for years.  It will cost around $100 but I see no other way around it.  I just need to go out and measure the width I can put in there and then call in the order.

However.  It just started pouring rain and there is a tornado watch, hail watch and severe storm warning in effect.  I'm not really all that keen about going out and dealing with this big rig, but it's money and I am going to do whatever I can to get the finances rolling in. If that  means being out in inclement weather? So beit.  

I'm only doing this "meet up at the entrance" stuff for so long.  Going back to work, people are going to have to be able to find their own way.  The sign will have the park name, an arrow and "1 mile" under the arrow. Simple, large lettering, self-explanatory.  

__________

Well that was easy.  Probably $200k rig with a 75k pickup being pulled behind it lol. They pulled in, paid and that was that.  Have a nice day! Lmao.  They were concerned about getting stuck.  It does give that appearance because the gravel on some of the lots is not compacted.  Well, that will be taken care of with these units pulling in there. That right is 20,000 pounds easily, probably much heavier.  It's one of those tour bus frames made into a custom motorcoach.  I was told by the contractor that some of those rigs weigh upwards as much as 45,000 pounds.  With the grooves it left in the gravel, I can believe that one is pretty darn heavy.  

Darn. I forgot to turn the septic system on.  Welp, guess I'll be making another trip over there today.  I don't want the system to start getting backed up with poop and grey water.  Yes, I think I'll turn around and head back over there right now, in fact.  

 Well I don't know what those people are going to do. They had a flat tire they needed fixed - but today is Sunday so I doubt that was going to happen and he said that after he went to O'Reilly's and they cleared the codes, the engine light hasn't come back on again.  I suggested he drive the thing a bit to ensure that it's ok. Not because I want them to stay, tho I surely would love that, I just think it's a big gamble to be getting back out on the highway with that giant, 3 axle trailer and then have a problem on the side of the road.  

I don't know, but I did visit with them for quite a while today before leaving, going home and spending the holiday at home the rest of the day.  Tomorrow, working or not working is up in the air.  Predicted rain most of the day, but who knows what will actually happen?  Several things on the need-to-do list and get done.  The doggy park is at the top and then a bit more cleanup and then work on that fire pit.  

No more renting magic today, yesterday it was 2 people, today it's nothing. No reservations, no emails and no calls.  I'm neither expecting nor not expecting people, I'm just hoping.  That couple considered my park 100 times better than that run down place, that was a compliment I needed to hear.  My real hope is that they leave a review.  If they don't, I'll send them an invitation to review the park.  The invitation can be intercepted. This from the web designer, if it's not good, you don't have to post it lol.  

But I would think that they would be happy to give throw me a bone after what I did for them yesterday, they were still commenting about the help today.  I think if they were able to get that tire fixed - there is a place that does tires on Sundays but I was questioning whether they'd be open for the New Year - they are probably going to leave in the morning.  It is what it is.  I got some pictures of their rig but I do need to ask their permission to post them online.  They will give some context as to how well a giant 5th wheel fits on the pad with a large, 1 ton pickup that is disconnected from it but sitting in front of it.  I don't have their license numbers on the pics nor do I have them in the pics.  

Anyway, the holiday is over as far as I'm concerned, we're in the New Year, time to get busy, get the stuff done with and start looking for a new job.  I loathe going back to work as a truck driver but I really don't have any choice. The few dollars I've received for the lot rents are just going back into the business account and there will have to be taxes taken out of it and the rest goes to paying monthly debt.  I don't actually know how often I am required to send money to the state - I guess it goes to the state to go to the feds.  No clue.  I need to find that out soon, but I'm not looking tonight.  

There must be info on it somewhere on the web, presumably the state's website or if nothing else, I'll send email to the state comptroller and ask them.  I don't really feel like paying for that information.....

The man paid me this morning for 2 nights stay and gave me the rate that the other place was charging. I objected, I love the extra money but I have it advertised as $25 per night.  He said no way, that was the least he could do to help me out.