A New Blogger!

Hi everybody, this is Rosie taking a stab at this blog writing thing.

After having been camp hosting here at Tollbridge County Park in Parkdale/ Hood River Oregon for over 2 months we will be leaving here Sunday morning.  When we started out we didn’t know what we would be getting into, or what to expect.  Jim and I never thought that this place would feel so much like home and that we would end up being sad for leaving here.  First of all, this whole area is just incredibly beautiful with wineries and apple, pear orchards as well as lavender fields.  It gives one the feeling of a calmer and simpler time and also feeling at peace with the world.

The Park has 100 acres with 87 sites.  There is something for everybody.  The front area has total hook-ups.  Tent areas are nice and secluded; and the group area sites are huge, usually occupied by many families, tents, children and dogs.  East loop and west loop have electric and water hook-ups and the sites there are more secluded and quiet.  There are some campsites along the Hood River, which are very popular and are usually fully booked in advance in the summer months.  Many of the people return every year ( some have been coming here for 30 years).

What makes it so interesting is the variety of people one gets to meet.  There are the families that come to show their children how to have some harmless fun and just be children and enjoy nature.  At night they sit around the campfire and relax with their neighbors , have a drink, talk or play.

One group that follows the Grateful Dead has been coming here for 30 years.  Their faces are lined and their hair has gotten gray.  They wear their tie dyed t-shirts and try to be the party animals they used to be, but  are happy just to be together and have a good time.

We started out having another couple for camp hosts here.  However they left just before Labor Day.  At first we were a little worried if Jim and I could manage this all by ourselves, but we just looked at each other and said “we can do it.”  We have always been good at being a team through our whole married life.  We were busy making everybody happy, cleaning campsites, delivering wood etc. etc.  We did it and if I might say so, we did a good job, and people  liked us and had good comments.

We got to meet people from Canada, Germany, Holland, Austria, Australia and England.  Everybody had a story to tell and somehow we got attached to some of them.  I enjoyed the young people that told me how much they enjoyed nature, going hiking and other outdoor activities.  It gave me hope for the future since I love nature and it’s animals so much.  I guess they are not all texting and watching TV all day!  While we were here we also had some visitors.  Jim’s brother and wife from South Dakota stayed here for a couple of days, so did our friends Spencer and Karen from Idaho Falls.  Our friends from Germany came by on their way to Canada and my sister Gigi came from LA to surprise me for my birthday.

Two and a half miles from here is the small town of Parkdale.  It looks like time has stood still.  There are 3 small restaurants, a gas station, a fire station, a small church, a post office and an incredible grocery store where you can find everything under the sun.  There is also a library where we were able to get some books while stayed here.

This place somehow has very good Karma, or whatever you want to call it.  It gives one just pure joy and contentment.  So we decided we will return next year.  We can hardly wait!

Thanks for stopping by.