This was our third summer as hosts at the Williams Lake Stampede Campground. Our attitude towards it has become that it presents us with a series of adventures that help us stay active, learn new things and meet great people.
The first is just getting from Cochrane to Williams Lake. It a 12 hour drive through the mountains generally early in BC spring, Alberta late winter.
The trip involves black ice, snow, rain, rock slides, long distance driving, floods and lots of transport trucks going far faster through mountains than what us flat landers are used to.
When we arrive our first task is opening the gates and getting our RV setup. Most years its too cold to turn on the water so we find other accommodation for a week or so.
Still we normally have campers from the first day we arrive.
Around the time we get site water. power and sewer going, we’re working on getting the Wash house up.
As long as night time temperature is above 4 degrees C. we can get outside water working.
The wash-house takes a good scrub, painting and assembly of timers for showers, etc. Once the heat is turned up and the hot water heater working we open the campsite on a limited operation. Our goal is always to officially open with full services April 15th.
Our focus then shifts to landscaping which is getting irrigation going, cleaning up winter debris, weeding, seeding grass, trimming trees, repairing, placing painting tables and smoothing our sites.
This year we had the help of Deanne and Gord for spring cleanup and during the Stampede. We met them a couple of years ago when they stayed at the campground while looking for a home. They’ve become good friends and volunteer at the campground and Stampede.
Della’s sister Tana, also helps out during Stampede. As a local, her knowledge of the area and people is extremely helpful.
We build 6 new tables each year and paint repair the remainder of over 70.
We’re finding that metal frames with wooden seats and tops are more durable and lighter. Moving heavy wooden tables twice a week to mow is quite a chore.
Della spends part of her day in the office greeting campers, handling phone call inquiries and taking online registrations. Plus she helps out with outside chores.
Our day starts at 8 AM and can go past midnight during the high season. We are at the campground from early April to mid October.
