Goodness me we are aching!!
As I was raking another million leaves that cover the entire campsite over the winter, obliterating the pitches, I had a muscle memory back to my raft racing days. From the age of 19 we used to compete in a charity event and paddled 100 miles down the river Wye from Hay on Wye to Chepstow over 3 days. Camping en route.
It was a test of physical and mental endurance with a party each night! The traumas our bodies went through were indescribable until now. I realised that raking leaves was a similar movement to paddling a raft. Maybe that’s why I can do it; head down don’t look up and view the job in its entirety otherwise it's soul destroying. Rafting was all about the mindset with a bit of fitness thrown in. So is raking the leaves.
Today I am going to finish the job!! I am just getting limbered up. Mind you rafting was a team effort. I am not sure about raking leaves as Andrew has a new shiny sit on mower and is tinkering with that.
So if you come from anywhere near the river Wye you will face the inevitable question, did you do the raft races? We have had a few people who rafted back in the day. We had a family come who lived in a prominent place near the river so I could chat for hours with them about the Wye. I think I scared them a bit.
It is a beautiful river but sadly now is very polluted.
I was pleased that the bulbs I had planted last year have arrived. I have this compulsion each year to plant bulbs for the spring. Mostly though its for my own benefit as most of the daffodils and crocuses will be gone by the time the campsite opens.
It cheers me up through the raking. I love planting things and seeing them grow. The ground at the campsite isn’t the best and I battle yearly with the little garden, weeding and trying to grow things. I have cleared the leaves and the rye grass and bought it back into a semblance of a garden. Even bamboo is difficult to grow here!!
After a bit of plumbing maintenance, we will be ready to switch the water back on, Then begins my next favourite job - pressure washing!! This is not an easy job and again comes with its own aches and pains. Andrew says I make more of a mess than I am trying to clear but the path round the building was full of moss and weeds so by the end of the day it will be cleared. We don’t use any chemicals here so getting rid of unwanted weeds is usually on all 4’s and again back-breaking.
I sound like a serial moaner, but the other day I was listening to the birds and not hearing anything else. The sun was on my back warming my bones. I compared my life to what it could have been and smiled. How fortunate am I. We must never forget that.
Of course, at the moment we can do other things too. I have been swimming on a Wednesday morning to the local pool. I am not quite ready to attempt the lake yet, but I know that our first customers will be swimming every morning!! We are also lucky to have a little cinema in Huelgoat and sometimes films are in their original language with French subtitles.
Last night we saw Wuthering Heights. Wow! Heathcliffe definitely smouldered and glowered. I am not convinced it was how Emily Bronte wrote it but it was a great film. I will keep the cinema programme in the office for campers. It’s a nice evening out. A Beer at The Brit Bar then the cinema. Take your own snacks as there are non-available there. I also feel the need to read the book again.
Next week the weather looks amazing, so we have some outside painting jobs to finish. There is never a dull moment.
In another couple of weeks we will be open and another season will begin. How it will unfold who knows with the present world situation. I am hoping people will come in search of peace and surrounded by nature and happy campers. That will make all of the hard work worthwhile. See you in paradise!
