Potlatch State Park

Happy July, maybe? At least for us it is because we have a camp host job at Potlatch State Park for the month. We hosted here last September (2019) and remember it being very rainy and cold. At least so far the weather hasn't been too bad. We have had quite a few clear days with mild temperatures.

When we arrived, we were met by our park assistant, Christie and fill in ranger, Sandra. She is filling in on Ranger Steve's days off. We already knew what site we were going into so after checking in we proceeded to our site. It looked pretty wide and level, but that was just a facade. It took several times to get us to where we were as close to being level as possible and our living room slider made it out all the way with about 3 inches to spare before hitting a tree. We got leveled and set up and then we could relax a little as we would start our duties tomorrow. Christie was glad to have us back. So right now Dave and I are in charge of emptying the fire pits in the campsites when people have left, pick up garbage in the day use area as well as the whole park. We also sell firewood.

We were up at 7:30am and Dave was already out helping Christie put up reserve signs at the camp sites. It was a very busy day as the tide is at a minus low for about 3 days so people are coming in to park to get oysters and clams. The Day Use Area fills up first and the little parking lot at the State Park is small so someone has to be there to collect $10 for day parking if they don't have a Discovery Pass hanging from their rear view mirror or on their dash. There are two entrances to the State Park. One has a gate and the other one doesn't. So those of us who were here to work, were assigned spots to direct traffic and collect the fee if necessary. I was directing at the opening of the State park that had no gate. So as each person came in I asked if they had a discover pass and if not, I told them it was ten dollars to park for the day and gave them an envelope to fill out and put the money in. Then I told them to return the envelope with the money to me and put the loose top part on their dash for all to see. I collected a lot of money that day. Once the parking lot was full I had to turn people away until a spot opened up. I tried to just wave them on before they turned into the parking lot, but there was another entrance north of where I was that cars could come in so I was running all over the place. It was fun and I definitely got more than 10,000 steps in. I finally got help in blocking off that north entrance so things settled down a bunch. The sad thing is that if both the day use parking and us are full there isn't anywhere else to park. No parking on the street or you would get a ticket and no place near enough to park and walk to the beach. I felt bad for them but most people were pretty good about it. Some were very frustrated but took it in stride. For the most part it was fun to interact with different people. Most of the people that came in to get shellfish were Oriental. Some spoke very good English, others I had a hard time understanding but we made out alright. By the time 3:00pm came around I was done, both mentally and physically. My back was hurting pretty good but it was a fun day. More fun to come again tomorrow. Both of us need to work 26 hours a week so we have to keep tabs on our hours. Most of the time, even if the sign says Camp Host Off Duty, people still come over for campfire wood and ask questions. We are usually outside sitting enjoying nature. Usually at 5:00pm is when I put us off duty.

It took a little longer for people to start lining up to get into the Day Use Area and then come over to the park, but once it started they were flocking in. I did more directing of traffic and the ranger allowed people to park on the grass to help. So I stuffed them in as safely as I could. As people came by asking to park, and there wasn't any, I mentioned that people would be coming back from the beach soon so just keep coming back. It worked out great. Boy were Dave and I tired puppies come quitting time. That was the only time I wanted people to heed the off duty sign and leave us alone. But no—they needed firewood. We were getting really low in firewood and the ranger had ordered more but it hadn't come in yet. Once we ran out and there wasn't firewood even at the store in Hoodsport, they started (only a couple people) cutting up the wood in the park. A big no no!! Tomorrow is the 4^th so we will see how that goes. There are no fireworks allowed in the park at all. People were really good about keeping to that.

On the 4^th, the park was full of campers and the tides were still low but later in the morning, so we didn't have to get right on being traffic police. None-the-less it was busy. When I was relieved of parking, I walked to the Day Use Area and picked up trash. People were having picnics and there was music and a lot of people on the beach enjoying and getting oysters and clams. It was a festive occasion. Most everyone wore masked. My back was really pinching me now but I had a job to do so I finished it and then called it quits for the day. There were a lot of fireworks going off all around the outside of the park but no one in the park lit off any. Most campers walked to the Day Use Area and watched the fireworks that were happening across the Hood Canal. I was too tired so I didn't go. Dave only went down a little ways to see what he could see and came back and told me. I went to bed after that.

Much better today for the parking situation. The tide is not as low now, so we don't have people flocking to get to the beach. I spent the morning picking up trash and was so frustrated at the lightweight plastic bag they give you to put the trash in. It was windy and no matter which direction I turned to get the wind to open my bag just a little, it would close. So I was constantly opening the bag and even had to pick up by hand some items as the bag wouldn't co-operate. I wore gloves. Dave had the same problem. He was picking up trash from the empty campsites. We are given pinchers to pick up the trash which is easier on the back. I was glad to come back to camp and call it quits. I was really hurting.

We have Wednesday and Thursdays off. Wednesday seems to be laundry mat and grocery shopping day. Thursday is more relaxing. I try to make a coffee cake for everyone on Thursday, that way Friday when everyone is on duty they get a treat. I made a mistake though with the first one because I put nuts in the cake. I use pecans, but Christie, the Park assistant is allergic to walnuts so she didn't eat any at first until she found out they were pecans. Unfortunately the other worker guy was allergic to all nuts so my bad. I have never run into this situation before but I will always, from now on check to see if anyone has allergies to certain things.

Dave and I had one day of cleaning 53 camp site fire pits. Whew!! That was a busy day and we had 2 people off duty. Dave would scoop up the fire pit and I would pick up the garbage. Some times I scooped just to give him a break. There are 68 camp sites so that tells you what a day we had. The upper camp sights are for hiker/bikers, tenters and those who don't mind camping without hookups for their trailers. The Day Use area braziers also need to be cleaned and it takes me about 2 hours to walk the whole park picking up trash. I hate picking up cigarette butts!!! That is one of my pet peeve!! People throw them in the fire pits and wherever they are standing. Parking lot, grass area, etc.. But that is part of my job and it needs to be done. I can't understand why people don't pick up after themselves but I guess they feel it is someones job to do that. Oh well.

Christie, the Park Assistant cleans the bathrooms and she made a comment about being the bathroom queen. So when we went shopping, I got a toilet brush and some ribbons and a bow and dressed up the brush. When she stopped at the bathroom just across from our camp site, I presented her with her magic bathroom want. She was officially Queen of the bathrooms now. She loved it.

The next day she came to our camp site and gave me my own garbage collector bucket that said “Don't Be Trashy” on the outside. So now I can carry that bucket for all to see and maybe they will get the message. Ha! Ha!

The weather is getting nice now. It was 80 for a couple days and it was glorious. We are heavily shaded which is nice when it is hot.

We have had a lull lately in people coming in to camp, but it is starting to pick up again. This coming weekend, the 17-19 are low tides again so we are back on traffic duty. Friday the 17^th will start at 9:00am and then each day be a little later. We have 2 more weeks left to host and it has been fun but a lot of work. I am glad we are given 2 days off because you really need them.

Did laundry and shopping yesterday and while at the laundry mat I heard one of the workers there say that 3 cases of Covid-19 were checked in next door at the clinic. The virus is picking up again as people are going to restaurants and shopping and gathering. It is a scary time. Dave and I always wear our masks and it is mandatory no matter where you go. They will turn people away if they aren't covered. Good!!!

We have been working a lot especially on the weekends. Friday we get a lot of campers coming in that have reserved sites and others that are looking for sites. The tides are still minus so we are getting a lot of the oriental population camping and also picnicking at the Day Use park to take advantage of the clams and oysters. Friday and Saturday is a busy day and then on Sunday we get a little break. But Monday is the big clean up for the Day Use park to the camp sites. At the end of the day Dave and I are pooped. We are looking forward to going to a smaller State Park in August. Not so many camp sites. It will be interesting to see what they will have us do.

On our day off Thursday, we went up to Lake Cushman and Lake Kokanee. We have friends that are selling their piece of property near Lake Kokanee and wanted to know if we were interested. We said we would take a look and see. Well we did. It has 2 small cabins, a shed, an outhouse and an shower house. The lot is small. A lot of the trees are in question as they are spindly and need to be taken down plus there is a car on the lot that has been sitting there for years. We decided the lot wasn't big enough to build on and what is there needs lots of work. So not interested. We drove around and stopped at the Lake Cushman dam and drove around that area.

I had never been there before so it was nice. We came back to camp and I sent our friends an email saying that the property is not what we are looking for but it was nice they thought of us.

Our time here at Potlatch State Park is almost over. We have worked hard but enjoyed the people we work for and the campers (most of them) and we signed up to work next year in July here again.

Since Covid-19 has happened, health appointments are few and far between. I did get a telephone conference with my dermatologist on the 28^th. I sent pictures of my face since the treatment and also a picture of my right ear as it is sore from time to time and has white spots on it. She said it was hard to tell by the pictures so she is having me come in for a face to face visit in August. At least I get that done before going back to Mexico.

The weather here has been beautiful and warm. Only a couple days of 90 and the rest in the 80's. Loving it. I wish the Northwest was like this year round. We would come back here to live. But I need the sunshine and the warmth. We sure do enjoy our time here in the summer.

One more day here and then we move on to Illahee. I'm excited about that. We have enjoyed our stay here and looking forward to next year.

We went into Hoodsport to go through the shops today our last day off here in Potlatch. Dave and I stopped at the Distillery shop and sampled some liquor. We bought a couple bottles of our favorites. Then we bought some good cigars as the last ones were dry and not very good. We will have one tonight while sitting at the campfire.

When we came back to camp I made a blueberry loaf bread for the staff tomorrow morning. I got a chance to read and work on the afghan I am finishing up for Brody. The fill in ranger, Sandra, bought one of my mobiles today. Yay!! I have 3 left. The regular Ranger, Steve, wants to buy one too before we leave. That is so awesome!

Tomorrow we will do our regular jobs and then in the afternoon we will be packing things up to leave on Saturday morning for Illahee State Park.

Christie, the park assistant made a rhubarb apple pie for our going away this afternoon. The park aids were there as well. Brandon and Ben. Ranger Steve had a lot of work he had to do but we will see him later. He gave us our evaluation sheet and we filled out a questionnaire. Then we had to record our hours for duties accomplished. We give all that to Ranger Steve tonight. We did have fun and this bunch of people were fun to work with. Looking forward to next year.