Howard Paynes birthday bash

 
 
 
 
The campworkers got together for a great Italian theme meal at the campground pavilion. Howard turned 47 on 29 July. Naturally we asked Howard what he most desired for his birthday and this is what he received.

Elk Ridge GC, Atlanta, MI

 
 
 
 
Howard and I plus a couple of the local men's golfers decided to take in a another local golf course for the day. Elk Ridge was is owned by the founder of Honey Baked Hams. Beautiful course in really fine shape. The photo don't do justice to the tee, fairways and greens condition. Check out the pig shaped sand trap on hole #10 - my only birdie for the day. Other scores won't be discussed.

Michigan Birds

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Another Old Car

Not sure how I missed Mark's car when the old cars rolled through the park and so he came to our campground site as a favor so I could get a photo of his ride. He did all the work on this himself and it has earned some car show awards. This VW really flies and sounds like a Harley when he goes through the park.

Wanda at Work

Wanda is the camp worker in charge of mowing everything in the park that grows green. We caught her with the rear mower chute open and therefore blowing all the cuttings directly at her. Did that slow her down - absolutely not. We offered her a mosquito net to at least cover her face but she declined and so we modified the mower to at least throw the cuttings on in the direction of the camping rigs.

Still on the Hill

Residents and campworkers were treated to the sounds of Still on the Hill on Saturday nite. Donna and Kelly play a variety of handmade instruments and WOW - they sure can play them. Most of their songs were written by Donna and the stories that go with the folk type songs are just captivating. We bought two of their CD's. We'd go and hear them do the same show again ---- and again --and again. They call Arkansas home when they are not on the road.

Sunday Nite Campworkers gather

On Sunday evenings, the Thunder Bay Camp Workers gather - usually at the campground pavillion to turn in time cards to Jan and see if everyone survived the week. Tonight we decided to hold the meeting at the local ice cream ( Lickety Split ) parlor. Good idea as midway through the meeting, the skies opened up and it poured. The scoops of ice cream mellowed everone out and we might have to hit this place again. From L - R - Wanda, Jan, Roni, Howard, Tom, Linda, Rob, Barb and Butch.

Old Cars passing through the park

We were treated to a parade of old cars through the campground. Can't tell you how old any of these restored auto are but as you can see, they are in great condition. Enjoy.

Sprucing up the Barn

One never knows what you'll be doing as a campworker. While Howard and I took turns on the floor polisher, Jan went ahead of us putting a water mist on the water soluble glue that would seep up between the tiles in the barn on humid days.









Nobody was immune from being
pulled into a project. Here's Mike Schwitzer, the golf course superintendent being asked to hang the wires in the barn that would then be used to hang the newly made "baffle" curtains


The curtains were made - from bolts of cloth to finished curtains - by the ladies in the campworker crew - Rebecca, Jan, Linda, Wanda, Barb & Roni. Here you see Jan and Linda trying to decide the curtain spacing and Howard is in the background recording their deliberations.

Above is the finished project being admired by performers and guests alike. Nice job all!

Tawas Point Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located inside a Michigan state park as as non residents they wanted us to pay $8.00 just to go in an take a photo. We declined and there here's our only photo taken from the town across the water ( about 1/4 mile distant ) from Michigan Hwy 23 in Tawas. This light has been in operation since 1876 , stands 70 feet tall and has a frensnel lens that was built in Paris, France.

The Bug Man

One of Ted's camp jobs is driving the "fogger" through the resort once a week early in the AM or just before nightfall and spraying for mosquitoes and the deer flies. Out fitted with a respirator, eye protection and his FM radio headphones to muffle the sound of the vehicle and fogger, he is well suited to be passing gas.

Smiling Barn

Traveling East on M32 towards Thunder Bay Resort we keep passing this smiling barn and said it was worth stopping to photograph. As we're starting the month of July we're finding the farms in full production and everything appears to be really in a growing frame of mind.