Orientation is over, I guess… it official, I’m the Camp Host for the Oceanside RV Park for the summer. Its no longer just clean the shower and bathroom, floors, etc, altho its still part of my job. I am parking people – didn’t realize this could be complicated on getting folks to react appropriately to one’s hand signals. A few hilarious moments so far.  I’m taking reservations, figuring out the different size rigs to be parked where – now that is a learning curve. And as of tonight, I’m taking money, learning how to do the credit card machine as well as the register.  There will be more aspects as I get comfortable with all this, but tonight I was left alone as my bosses went to a meeting in town and I gained my own set of keys.  Gee, I’m official!

A few days ago… as I went to open the shades to let the morning sun pour in, I just about freaked out as a huge cruise ship was directly in front of me, so close to the harbor and at low tide no less. It was panic at first, as I thought the ship was in trouble, but I did not realize Haines was one of the deep water ports until that moment, or that it was that deep so close to shore. Wow!  And this ship has never been in the port at Haines and this ship was totally unexpected in Haines that day. It took them nearly an hour to move into the port with the winds we had that day, but they did it without a tug. Haines gets one cruise ship a week and their first one comes in next Wednesday. So why was this ship in?  They couldn’t get into dock in Skagway due to the head winds in the canal. So they came to Haines instead.

Statendam Cruise ship

The people poured off that ship like ants marching to war. Laughing here. Good grief it was fascinating to watch. All ages, all nationalities and all bundled in winter boots, parkas, fur hats – gads, you would think it was winter or something. If I had had time that day to sit on a park bench near the wharf, I would have sat there and watched. Alas, I’m a working stiff these days.  But I got to meet several people from the ship and it was a delight to chat with  these folks.  I met two Canadian couples – one from Edmonton and the other from Vancouver.  Another  couple from New Orleans, a lost fella from Montana, a lost gal from St. Louis and one couple from Japan who were delighted that I stopped and talked with them.  I would have loved to have met more of them, but there will be other ships coming in over the summer.

One negative when a cruise ship is in port – no internet, no wi-fi is available in town. Had to wait until they rounded the corner down the canal to regain a connection.

See my loom under the suitcases!!!