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RE: Encore RV park Crystal River, Florida
We are at the Encore Crystal River park right now and they are having their issues.
Electric went out on Thanksgiving morning to almost the entire park. Quite a few folks who were lucky and had generators ran them all day and night. Sometime Friday quite a bit of the park got the electric service back. But there are still a few sections without power. We have heard that repairs begin Monday.
The tent that is in place has a few electric lights in it, a small fan or two, and two small oil-filled radiators that are powered by a large generator that is running 24/7 it seems. The sites that are near that area have to listen to that noise nonstop until the clubhouse is repaired. No one seems to have the same answer for when the clubhouse will be opened again. The lady who is in charge of the complimentary coffee morning socials said that one recent morning it was only 38 degrees in there and they were shivering!
Water service was lost to the park at least twice since we arrived last week. On both occasions it was restored within a reasonable time.
The park has been without a manager for awhile. A new manager is supposed to arrive December 1, I believe. Good luck to him!
The staff tried their best to keep their cool and make everybody happy during these past few trying days.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltimers, currently at Encore Crystal Isles in Crystal River, Florida
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Dennis Henderson
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11/30/08 02:09pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Cooking a roast in the CrockPot
Cook it longer.
I agree. I've noticed that I can't cook by time with the crock pot. Time is a general guide. But there are many times when I would expect it to be done and had to give it another hour or so to get it to perfect tenderness. Just allow for more cooking time, if necessary, when you plan your mealtime. If it is ready earlier, just turn the crock pot control to "keep warm."
Cindy
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Encore Crystal Isles in Crystal River, Florida
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Dennis Henderson
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11/27/08 05:52am |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: First workamping job - is this usual?
Only you can determine if an offer is fair to you. One major question to ask yourself when you are being asked to pay for the site either outright or in a "holdback" is "Would I choose to stay at this campground and pay that amount for the 3 months if I were just camping and not working there?" In many cases that answer is a resounding NO.
Personally, we believe that living on site with both of us working for the campground is valuable to the employer. For that reason we NEVER agree to a position that does not include a complimentary full hook up site in addition to a decent hourly rate of pay.
We have had great positions that meet these requirements over the last 8 1/2 years of fulltiming and working in campgrounds.
One tip: often the terms are negotiable. Don't assume that just because other workers have to pay for their site that you will, too. You may be able to make a case for your qualifications, abilities, etc. that allow you to be worth the complimentary site.
But, since you asked, getting a partial complimentary site, paying for electric, and only earning $6.50 an hour (which is basically the offer) wouldn't even get a second glance from us.
However, in the end, it is you who needs to decide if an offer meets your needs.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Curry Hammock State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/22/08 04:11pm |
Workamping Forum
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RE: Bahia Honda boat ramp
We were there just two weeks ago and saw that they had caution tape blocking off one of the two ramps. No work appeared to have been started at that time. Although one ramp was not blocked off, there was no boat activity at all during the time we were there.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Curry Hammock State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/21/08 07:26am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Bahia Honda Site Question
Dennis,
Thank-you for the photo and information. Do you recall the location of the power box and the water spigot on site #43? I'm trying to figure out if I need an extra section of water hose or a 30A extension cord.
You're welcome!
I think if you look through the left side of the screenhouse shown in the photo you will see the electric panel post and box at the fence. I believe the water faucet was either there or a little more toward the "front" of the site hidden by the front of the van but near the end/start of the fence. Most of the sites have the water hook up way at the front of the sites sometimes requiring a long length of hose to run the entire width of the site. It depends on how you intend to place your rig/camper/tent within the site as to how this will work for you.
Hope this helps!
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Curry Hammock State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/20/08 03:31pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Bahia Honda Site Question
Oh no! We are booked on site 45 in March. (only site that was available). I was thinking that 45 sat further away from the dumpster. My favorites sites are 34 and 48, but we couldn't get in there. Oh well, stinky or not, we'll be at my favorite campground and in the Keys!
Dennis & Cindy - Do you happen to have a picture of site 45? I'd like to see if it's the one I was thinking of.
Yes, here it is:
http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/cindy08360/DSC06625Large.jpg height=460 width=640
The shrubs to the left in this picture are between you and the dumpster. As we left that morning to go to the dump station which is also on the other side of those shrubs, the folks who were on that site were standing around talking to the folks who were waiting in line for their turn at the dump station. They didn't mention any problem or complain about being on that corner site. Of course, temperatures were cool when we were there, so we didn't notice any odors either from the dumpster or the dump station.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Curry Hammock State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/20/08 01:14pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Becareful where you chose to work
Of course, you can not post this to Workamper News, they only take happy ratings, no bad ratings allowed. Thank you for posting it here.
Actually, you certainly can post a review even if it is scathingly bad. There are two private forums that are only available to paying subscribers. The one called "Workamper Experiences" is the forum where one can detail his situation. There are both positive reports and negative.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Curry Hammock State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/20/08 06:53am |
Workamping Forum
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RE: Becareful where you chose to work
Do all the research possible on line and ask other work campers their opinion of the particular park your (sic) interested in. You might just save yourself some unexpected or unwanted heartship (sic). A good question to ask is "how many return work campers will be there". There was (sic) none at this RV resort.
Although we found our workamping jobs over the last 8 1/2 years on our own, this past January we decided to subscribe to Workamper News to see what information might be available there. In both their forum archives and the current forum, there are many posts detailing exactly what you state as the problems at those resorts.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Curry Hammock State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/20/08 06:47am |
Workamping Forum
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RE: Curry Hammock 4 Thanksgiving
We're on site 11 (great unobstructed view of the beach/water the entire length of the site) at Curry Hammock for a week starting today. Then it will be up to Crystal River for two weeks for Thanksgiving with a bunch of RVing friends from all over the country who all met over the past 8 winters at the Encore park.
Even the non-waterfront sites here at Curry Hammock are just fine! Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend!
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Curry Hammock State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/18/08 05:52pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Bahia Honda Site Question
We were there for a week two weeks ago. I walked around during the last few minutes and took pictures of each site. Unfortunately the one of site 43 came out terrible. But you can still see the site. I apologize for the bad picture.
That corner site is not very large. As you can see there was a van on it with a screen house. Depending on how you park, your view could be of sites across the street from you, either 25 and 26, or of the sites that are on the gulf, 24 and 23. You may be able to see the gulf unless the sites are completely blocked by rigs and vehicles.
Unfortunately, it can be noisy there as you are very close to the bridge/highway.
Hey, you just have to walk a little distance to get to one of the beautiful beaches there!
Here is site 43. In this picture the back of the van is facing sites 23 and 22 and the front of the van is facing toward site 26 and the road that leads to the cabins.
http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/cindy08360/DSC06623Large.jpg height=460 width=640
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Curry Hammock State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/18/08 03:31pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Buyers remorse?
Dennis and Cindy - how long ahead did you have to reserve this site. Maybe want to make plans for next November.
Thanks
Florida State Parks allow reservations 11 months in advance. As a matter of fact, we have the first two weeks of December (this year) reserved on this same spot and are going to have to cancel (have to go to work.)
Interested?
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Long Key State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/15/08 07:47pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Buyers remorse?
What we have really been disappointed with, is after moving over our things, we have found we have far less room.
We had the same situation when we switched from our 1999 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 35 foot single slide gasser to our 2003 Tiffin Phaeton 40 foot triple slide diesel pusher. It was shocking that when we transferred our "stuff" from the 35' one slide to the 40' triple slide we barely could fit it!
It's now been six years since we bought that new motorhome and we have adapted to the different storage. But there are still things about the storage in the first motorhome that we miss like the full underbed area that is no longer there.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Long Key State Park in the Florida Keys
On edit (since so many people PM'd to ask)--Here's a photo of the site we are on, number 56. 30 amp electric, water, and a view that doesn't end. We were even able to see the Space Shuttle launch last night from our site.
http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/cindy08360/DSC06677Large.jpg height=460 width=640
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Dennis Henderson
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11/14/08 09:01pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: My Cat Chester - Farewell
He went peacefully in his sleep and I found him curled up on the floor in a favorite spot. The young kitten was sitting beside him as if keeping a silent vigil until I came home.
We are so sorry for your loss. How fortunate, though, for both of you that it was so peaceful. You have a wonderful final memory that will be comforting.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Long Key State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/14/08 04:10am |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: What is going on with the exterior Filon?
These spots are called "osmotic blisters."
Go to www.alfablisters.com and click on "owner's blister photos" and you will see many similar examples.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Long Key State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/12/08 07:35pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Bahia Honda Walk Up Sites?
Read the whole RA site warning about BH...some of the sites are bayside and you go under a bridge with low clearance. Some folks arrive unaware and don't fit.
Oh, man! We were packing up today to leave site 25 at Bahia Honda State Park(to move up to Long Key State Park for a week.) Site 25 has a clear view of that road and that bridge. At around noon, a young couple with a small car and TWO BICYCLES ON THE ROOF must have forgotten their bikes were up there and smashed into the bridge. What a sound! I didn't see it happen but looked up as I heard it. The bikes were destroyed and the roof appeared to be damaged as well.
Not a good start to their vacation. :(
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Long Key State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/11/08 01:15pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Bahia Honda Walk Up Sites?
Just sent you a PM.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/10/08 03:52pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: BBQ Sauce Longevity
Most processed products have uncoded "use by" dates. Recently I noticed that our bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce did not have a date but rather a code. As I knew that bottle had been purchased fiarly recently, I did not bother to email the manufacturer to decode the numbers. But I have done that successfully in the past with other products. In fact, many of the processed food manufacturer websites will have a link to deciphering expiration codes. I am glad that so many are now not coded but spelled out in plain English.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Bahia Honda in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/08/08 04:02am |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: Where do you fill propane tank
We do not have any Flying J's in New Jersey.
Yes, you do. It is located near Carney's Point (I-295 Exit 2C) in south Jersey. We've stopped there a number of times.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys
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Dennis Henderson
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11/04/08 08:30pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Encore Crystal River
I was told there was recent major storm-related damage to the clubhouse building (including the showers/restrooms). The winter RVers are worried that they won't have a building in which to have their dances, bingo, etc. Management has assured them that a large tent (with A/C and heat) will be installed soon as a temporary solution until the building is repaired.
Just call the office at 352-795-3774 to find out the latest.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltimers, currently at Encore Lake Magic, Clermont, FL
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Dennis Henderson
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10/30/08 09:04pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Dryer - found problem and fixed it!
Well, good for you! I've been wondering how it turned out. Thanks for the update.
I'll be there are many more having the same poor drying results that will learn something from your post.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Crabtree Meadows at milepost 339 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina
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Dennis Henderson
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10/20/08 05:49pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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