Robin Single-Handedly Solves the Camper Overflow Problem at Ft. Supply Lake

Things are quieting down after an event-filled Sunday evening during Cousin Fred’s visit.  I was frankly happy to see him depart the compound yesterday morning on his way back to West Arkansas.  I’m happy to report that my fingers are healing nicely (hey, I’m typing yet another posting), so all in all I suppose it was a wash.

However…he was no further along his drive than Bouse Junction when my smartphone lit up with a call from him.  I considered not answering it.  I begged the wife to answer, reminding her that my fingers were injured.  She was having none of it.  And, although I was traumatized from the previous evening’s activities, he is family and blood trumps all, even if that familial fluid is pumping through the heart of a complete moron.

So, with a great deal of apprehension I answered the phone.  Cousin Fred was excited.  He said an idea came to him as was careening along on his way home. 

He brought up an article that he read while he was here (note to self, hide the newspapers next time) in the Sunday edition (page 3A) of Woodward News.  The article was a piece on the upcoming Memorial Day weekend and the anticipated crowds of people expected to take advantage of the facilities at Ft. Supply Lake. 

According to officials quoted in the article, campsites at the lake are 100% booked for the holiday.  Park rangers expect visitation numbers between 25,000-35,000 over the three-day weekend.  Wow…at little Ft. Supply?  If that’s the case there, I’m certain Canton and well, every other lake in the freakin’ state will be very crowded.  Hopefully, they got the gator problem under control out there.  Hahaha – just kidding.

With all the rain we’ve had lately and more due in later this morning, the largish puddle next to the compound here has grown exponentially.  Oh sure, I know it won’t last forever, but we’ll take advantage of it while it’s here.

But, I digress…

Back to the reason for Cousin Fred’s call.  He’s proposing offering the largish puddle as overflow to campers who are turned away from Ft. Supply Lake this weekend.  I pointed out that we’re not really equipped to handle RV’s and such here at the compound. 

Cousin Fred is proposing to bring in solar-powered (here we go again) electrical hook-ups.  He said he will turn around as soon as he gets home and head back with a truckload of solar-powered electrical hook-up stations that are coin operated. 

Cousin Fred suggests a separate charge for the campsite, plus whatever we get from the coin operated electrical stations is gravy.  He said that he will get his roommate, Mr. Kim, to bring his deluxe RV.  Cousin Fred proposes setting up the RV at the edge of the campground to serve as a bar for thirsty boaters when they come off the largish puddle, which we’re now calling Lake Mountebank.  Mr. Kim will sell shots of that Korean plum hooch for which he is so famous.

I pointed out that I don’t have sanitation facilities for a lot of people.  There’s no way the wife will allow a steady stream of drunken campers inside the compound to use our restrooms.  Cousin Fred has that solved.  He pointed out that my friend, Lamont, also in Western Arkansas, owns a portable facilities business.  He’ll get Lamont to bring a truckload of his equipment here from Arkansas.

Cousin Fred wanted to have Lamont bring his portable facilities with the coin boxes attached, but I said no.  The last thing I need is a bunch of drunks in the middle of the night cursing and banging on a portable toilet because they used their last quarters for solar-power electricity to watch TV in their RV. 

He did suggest offering entertainment at least one night.  So I’ll try to get Wiley Piemore and His Prairie Dawgs to perform Saturday.  For Sunday night, Cousin Fred suggested either an open mike night or let Mr. Kim run a karaoke contest. 

I hate to say it, but Cousin Fred may be onto something here.  It would be a great dress rehearsal for the Thrash Metal Jam Festival I’m planning for August.  The 50-foot speaker towers are in place and I can spend the weekend fully testing them by making meaningless announcements, “Attention, campers, attention!”

I have not yet addressed food or fresh water, but we’ll get there.  I’ve already called the brother in law and he’s bringing his front-end loader over to help me build proper boat ramps.  Figure I’ll charge a separate fee to launch a boat. 

So, if you’ve been turned away from Ft. Supply and need a place to park the RV other than the parking lot of Wal-Mart (which may have consequences of its own this year), come on out to Lake Mountebank for a Memorable Memorial Day weekend!  There is no stinking law on our lake.  And it takes Woodward County Sheriff’s deputies days to find this place.  What can go wrong?

Note to self:  Inform the wife.