July 2020 - We're on our own, just in time for Independence Day!! Hunkered down as the Coronavirus worsens

July 2020

July 3rd, 2020

Well today we were asked if we could continue as the SOLE camphosts for the campground until we reopen.  We were a little surprised but not totally shocked.  Our new partners just didn't work out.  There were several complaints about them, mostly her, from campers and despite our efforts to guide them in the right direction, they didn't listen. 

I don't know for sure but I think the final nail in the coffin for them was an incident on the night of my birthday.  We had received a complaint from a camper and Bryan went to discuss it with her.  Unfortunately there wasn't much of a discussion, as she started shouting and screaming in his face. I mean, right up in his face. So much for six feet of social distancing in these Covid times!! I am extremely proud of him that he stood there and calmly told her husband that he'd better get his wife out of his face. 

I was still in the middle of eating my birthday dinner and oblivious to it all. However when he returned he told me what had happened and managed to stop me from going to confront her.  We discussed what we should do and realized that if we said anything we would possibly be left as sole camphosts, something we really didn't want.  Also, it would be his word against theirs.  We decided not to say anything at that time.  

What we didn't realize was that someone had witnessed the incident and was about to intervene as they could see and hear the whole thing. Fortunately the intervention wasn't needed. However, it was discussed and ultimately another camper told the powers to be yesterday.  The other camper told us what they had done after they did it, so it was out of our hands but we were thankful. Bryan was asked what happened and confirmed what the other camper had reported.

So, we don't know what they were told but they are no longer camphosts, although they are remaining in the park.  So, we will see how they handle the situation.

July 4th, 2020

Independence Day has a new ring to it, as we are truly independent.  It is a relief to not have to deal with her anymore and her lack of people skills.  However, we aren't really independent as we are now on call 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.  At least there are no new arrivals and the majority of people still here are a friendly bunch and behave!!!  

We joined a group of friends for a Thanksgiving meal. I made a trifle. 

Photo courtesy of Larissa

I went with Larissa & Bubby to watch fireworks.  We found a good vantage spot and saw the fireworks going off all along the bank on the opposite side of the river.

Sorry my camera doesn't take good firework pictures, ha!!ha!!

My bestest friends here

Me & Bubby, he's a sweetheart

July 5th - July 31st

The rest of the month we just did what we could around the campground.  The office still isn't open and so we just need to ensure the bathrooms and laundry room are being cleaned and the sites and campers that are still here are ok.  We are becoming quite a little family, all watching out for each other.  I'm sure some of us will be life long friends.

Speaking of lifelong friends, our buddies Manny, Larissa & Christian left us and moved to the Keys, we will miss them.

The ex camphost did "congratulate" us on getting what we wanted.  We both looked at her and for a moment were lost for words.   Bryan asked her "For what?"  She said for being sole camphosts, and I told her, "We didn't ask for this, anyone who wanted to be sole camphosts would have to be insane and we weren't the insane ones."  

It's getting hotter and hotter and really too hot to be outside for any length of time. Our walks have been cut down to just a walk around the campground.

We got our old Wii out and started doing some of the routines on it.  It had great pleasure in telling us that we hadn't been on it in 8 years!!!!  Nope because usually we are getting our exercise exploring new areas.  

This month we would have been travelling through Texas, Oklahoma & Arkansas.  Next month Tennessee and Kentucky, where we were going to stay at a campground near Mammoth Caves for a month before heading back south.

Instead we are grateful we are alive, in a relatively safe place and trying to avoid the virus!!

Strange sunset one night

The birds are still visiting

I finally got a picture of the Blue Angel displayed at the entrance to the base.  Sorry, it's not a good picture but I guess better than nothing!!!!

We survived the first month as sole camphosts.  It does feel a little like being trapped but really we are trapped by the virus.  We are both eating more comfort foods and my sugar levels are too high as I'm not getting as much exercise.  I need to do something about that but it's difficult with the heat and not doing our normal sightseeing trips.

Coronavirus Update

As at:         Cases USA      Cases Florida       Deaths USA       Deaths Florida                      

July 1st       2,684,416             158,997            128,044                   3,650

July 31st     4,542,620             470,386            152,940                   6,966           

On July 7th, the USA passed 3 million cases. 1 million new cases in just under 1 month!!!

The records for new cases were being broken nearly daily as the numbers rose.

On July 24th, the USA surpassed 4 million cases. Over 1 million cases in 17 days!!

On July 11th, Florida recorded the largest daily increase in cases in a single state so far.

On July 5th, Florida passed 200,000 cases, July 15th - 300,000 cases, July 24th - 400,000 cases. Approx 10,000 new cases a day.

On July 31st, we had 267 cases on base. Duval County (the county we are in) had 21,038 cases, 153 deaths and 632 hospitalizations. 😟

Things are not looking good for Florida and we are hunkering down.  Definitely no sign of the campground opening up yet.