At 2pm this afternoon, Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Woodridge, New York, was officially closed for the 2011 season. One Workamping couple was gone by 2pm, leaving two other couples and me. Ralph and Val, our housekeepers, will be leaving in their motorhome about the same time as me tomorrow. They hooked their car up tonight. Carol and Boyd, who celebrated his birthday today, will leave on Wednesday, so they can have a bit more quality time with Ron and Jean, who they often travel with in the Fall and Winter. We've all been here three years, but Carol and Boyd have decided to go to Wall Drug in South Dakota next year. They bought a new, 4-season Stone Ridge fifth wheel - all season - so it will handle the hot summer months easily.
Closing today was a bit bittersweet. James, our amazing cashier, who was here for his second summer, is returning to school next year. After weeks of cold and rain, the temperatures broke this weekend. Cold nights and warm days brought out the Fall colors. Just 4 days ago, on my last day off for the year, I drove up twisty windy Rt 97 past Hawk's Nest, hoping to see some color - only the merest titches of color were visible. Now the colors are bursting, and I'm hitting the road. Hopefully I'll capture some of the colors at rest areas on my way to Indiana.
Even James admitted that the sudden turn in the weather made today feel like we should still be open. The three-day weekend finale was a HUGE success, with many of our guests reserving their spots for the Columbus Day Weekend, 2012, including a large number of first-time visitors.
Owner, Michael Zalkin, was so pleased with the way our season ended that he came to dinner with all of us who are still here, bringing his charming wife, Martha. We all went to the Rock Hill Diner and thoroughly enjoyed our evening together. The Zalkins truly appreciate their Workampers, and our core group has been one of his favorites, as he admitted this evening. We already knew that in the way he stands behind us. We don't feel as much that we work FOR the Zalkin family, as that we work WITH them. It's a great feeling to be appreciated this way.
It's close to midnight and I want to be on the road at a decent time tomorrow. I have to be in Marcellus, Michigan by 5 pm on Wednesday to watch my 6-year-old grandson, Miles, play soccer. I've missed my children and grandchildren and am looking forward to spending 3 weeks with them before heading to Kentucky to work at Amazon for their online holiday sales. Another new adventure!
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