September 3, 2020

It’s been almost four weeks since Dave and I arrived in Virginia and began workamping at Sherando Lake Recreational Area, located in the George Washington National Forest. We JUST got internet yesterday, so now I can resume writing. I had to put my blogging on hold when I discovered that I wasn’t able to ‘save’ as I went along and experienced losing everything I’d written. That only had to happen once for me to learn that lesson.

Not being connected to the outside world was very frustrating to say the least, but after a couple of weeks I finally accepted the fact that we are in the middle of a forest and that’s just the way it was. Not having the ability to readily get online, make a phone, or watch TV was my motivation to get back into reading, and the Kindle my daughter and grandkids recently gave me for my birthday was my lifeline to sanity. Most of the books I read are murder mysteries, mostly involving one spouse doing away with the other, and Dave voiced his concern on more than one occasion. I don’t know why. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Here at Sherando Lake we are two of approximately a dozen volunteers who do most everything it takes to keep things running smoothly, from checking in campers, to maintaining the campsites and bathhouses, to picking up litter, to cutting grass and splitting firewood. Last night we had a potluck dinner and got to meet all the other volunteers and it’s a motley group of volunteers indeed: mostly couples, a few singles, experienced RVers, some newbies, all retired. We’re right where we belong.

Because of Covid-19, Sherando Lake is only partially open to the public and camping is allowed in just two of the four areas (which a lot of people are not happy about.) Our job is to support the camp hosts in Loops A and C by doing their job a couple of days a week so that they can have some time off. Specifically, we clean bathrooms and when a campsite is vacated, we get it ready for the next batch of campers by emptying the fire ring of ashes, picking up any litter, and raking smooth the gravel in a Zen-like manner, back and forth and back and forth over the whole site so that the rake-lines leave a very serene imprint. If I was a camper, I would be impressed. It definitely appeals to my OCD.

Initially, I wasn’t excited to learn that our job would be cleaning bathrooms, but I quickly found out that my negative attitude was unfounded. Having had a mother whose mantra was “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” I certainly didn’t think I was above cleaning, but I did pre-judge the job as “being disgusting.” In reality, it really isn’t. Because the bathrooms are thoroughly cleaned daily, they’re easy to maintain and it really helps that the campers themselves keep them that way for the most part.

What really helps keep us motivated is that the campers truly appreciate the work the volunteers do. We are graciously thanked often, as in every day, and that really goes a long way. One young mom even told us, somewhat embarrassingly, that her 8-year-old son— who normally resists having to use public restrooms—excitedly commented after using the one here, “Mama! The bathroom here is cleaner than the one at home!”

In exchange for volunteering 20 hours a week, we have a good-size campsite, complete with picnic table, fire ring, and all utilities (electric, water and sewer). While all the other volunteers’ campsites are either in the same area as the campers or in “Volunteer Village,’ our spot is relatively secluded, nestled in the group camping area, which isn’t open to the public. It couldn’t be more perfect: it’s quiet and peaceful, and we have more than enough room for our “stuff” (the grill, the smoker, lawn chairs, Dave’s scooter, my bicycle etc.) There’s even a parking area nearby for the car trailer. Another perk is that we are welcome to use the laundry facility for free, which includes a extra large-capacity washer, perfect for blankets, comforters, and throw rugs. I found that very exciting!

We have our mail sent to a post office about 12 miles away in care of ‘General Delivery’, which is how we got it when we lived on a boat more than 40 years ago. We were surprised and very relieved that the post office still offers this service, and that’s a good thing. Otherwise, I don’t know how Dave could continue supporting Amazon.

Weather-wise, it’s been delightful. Temperatures at night are generally in the low 60’s and daytime highs are in the high 70’s. Our hummingbird feeder is seeing a lot of activity, but I wonder when their migration south will begin, given that the leaves on the trees are already changing color. It rains more than we expected.

Our time here is going to fly by fast, as time always does, so we’re hoping to take in as much of the local area as possible before we leave November 1st. Shenandoah National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive are just minutes away, and we feel very blessed to be here, especially at this time of year. Several history-rich cities are within an hour’s drive—Lexington, Charlottesville, and Staunton—as well as several Civil War battlefields. There’s almost too much to see and do on our days off.

That’s about it for now. I’m sure there’ll be more adventures to write about in the weeks ahead, so I’ll be sure to keep you posted. Thanks for accompanying us vicariously on our journey…we love having you along! Be healthy, stay well, and remember to wash your hands. 😷

Love, Maria 😊