Hiya folks and welcome back to another installment of what we learned as campground hosts in California. When Liz and I arent cleaning up after the guests, we perform greeter and check-in duties at the front gate. This task can require alot of patience when its hot and you have a line of cars eager for their family to check in and check out. Additionally, you come across many folks who are totally out of their element in the woods. This is not to say they shouldnt be here since nature is for everyone. Instead, clueless customers should educate on proper mechanics of camping and what that may entail. The office use to provide a card to each guest stating the rules of the campground but due to the ink-jet inflation of printables, money is saved by not distubiting this list; instead the big four are stated to each guest.
1. FIRES: It wouldn't be much of a camping trip if you couldnt decimate a fallen log into splinters and burn its remains to a chared ash. Not many Fresnoids have campfires at home so the ability to light up is a huge enticement.
》》 As California continues another season of devastating drought, wildfires have taken thousands of acres of the Big Sur area which is a few hours north of us. Smaller fires rage in Los Padres where we camped earlier in our trip (see Ojai adventures) and even closer on the outskirts of Prather which is the town just down the hill from us. With fast firefighter response, the crew of 70+ engines, a dozen or more dozers and helicopter hydro dumps, stopped the hills from burning and spreading up the road to us. Banners throughout the region tell passer-bys of the SEVERE DROUGHT and that water conservation and fire safety are of extreme importance. Normally, a free fire permit must be issued by the ranger station in order to cook on gas stoves. The use of firepits or rings in the wild is strictly forbidden and punishable by a hefty fine. The smallest of sparks can start a wildfire. Where's Smokey the Bear advertisements when you need em. 《《
Anywho, as an improved campground with designated fire rings, we are aloud to have guests burn within reason. Firewood collection is aloud from the grounds since nearly 500 trees were felled earlier in the season due to bark beetle devastation (drought related). We ask each guest upon check in to PLEASE have responsible campfires. This includes no branches protruding from the top or sides of the pit and no giant tree rounds burning atop the cooking grate. This is for safety sake and also the reduction of ember travel from the fire rings. We also ask that ample water (a gallon or two) is used to douse fires out COLD before leaving site/going to bed/check-out. A hot log from the night before can still remain active hours into the next day if not properly handled. Water is provided at each bathroom so there really should be no excuse as to why fires are left hot. And yet, each day we have fire pits filled with hot logs and guests are continually asked to make their wood more manageable to not stick out the top. The issue lies in the fact that an axe/saw might be last thing a city dweller will tote to the woods. Thus they can collect wood but cant cut it to size. A basic axe costs about 10$ and the ticket for improper burning from the forest service is about $350. You choose. [And yes, forest service does do patrols in the campground on a nearly daily basis. They are more than willing to issue tickets]
2. Check In (Noon 12)/Check Out (2pm) times are stated clearly on the reservations form online and your printout if you brought it. We are also apt to remind you of these times when you get to the kiosk window and additionally it is stamped on the rear of your parking pass so each time you drive, you are thusly reminded of the fact. And yet we have guests who show up to the window to check in at 9am. Its just like a hotel. If another guest has used your room (or campsite) the night before you, they have up till noon to vacate. Then, a cleanup team has to come in and make sure all trash has been removed and the fire pit is cold and not over flowing. With 122 sites and only two, and sometimes one, clean up team onsite, its a struggle to juggle the ins and outs properly so everyone gets a nice clean place to set up. Alternatively, we have many guests who are enjoying their stay so much that time is nonchalantly overlooked and the clock ticks closer to noon. If the site is not vacated by 1pm, the guest will be charged an additional nights stay (30$). So get it together folks. Pack up the tents and tables, the snacks and stuff and get em going before the clock strikes 12.
3. Keep a tidy site. We are in bear country up here albeit I have yet to see one. A large portion of our campers are afraid to get mauled by a hungry bear and yet leave their trash and food all on the table while asleep or in the creek. Luckily the bears tend to leave the campground alone since its fairly populated. What campers need to consider however is the murder of crows that caw in the tree tops. Their black bird figures will sit atop the pines eyeing sites for vacancy of humans. Once the opportunity arrises, the group will descend to the ground to tear up bags and paper products. It seems they are not specifically in search of food but just want to create a fowl mess of things. (Pun intended) Furthermore, the ground squirrels come in and will rip and tear at tablecloths and other fluffy things to make nesting materials.
In addition to these pest, we have quite a bit of bugga-boos, most of which come out at night. Giant beetles, grasshoppers and moths make the rounds in the evening; namely calling the bathroom home. They are harmless creatures and yet people find the need to assert their human dominance and squish them on the walls inside and out the facilities. The one bug to worry about is the meat bee which will viciously go after the carnivore camper to get some sweet meat tastes.
4. Quiet hours are from 10pm to 6am. This rule is debated by many campers, usually sites that have a big family and more than a few brews. At 10pm we drive the golf carts around to check for 'compliance' of the rules. Most generators go off by then but some RVs need reminder of the time. The issues lie with the campfire circles that emit canned music and a cackling crowd. We are not demanding that everyone go to bed at 10 but instead to keep their noise at a reasonable volume so that their nearby neighbors can enjoy some peace and quiet and get a few winks of sleep without the perturbance of shouts and heckling. With intoxication comes ignorance and can become an issue. On a normal weekend, numerous guests will complain about the noise of their neighbors while the noisy ones who were asked to quiet down will complain about how "they really werent that loud and that we are being racist or selective". Everyone gets fair treatment here so we just ask you abide so everyone can enjoy the great outdoors.
Some rules are abided by a bit more sternly than others and so it is a constant battle to watch for 'rule breakers' and kindly ask them to change their methods so that everyone can be safe and happy. Check out the rest of the rule list in the attached photo. Glad we dont have to spew all those out to new check-ins.
