Rough Beginnings

The first two weeks back in the US have been a bit on the rough side.  This time was set aside for getting the house up and running for the first renters on 18-April.  The spring opening of the rental season is always a lot of work, but this year the effort was complicated by the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Sandy last fall.  Luckily, we had a lot of help from the Mike Rinker and his two nephews to get the trails open on time.

Rough spot on the trail to High Bluff

We've also decided to get the garden in shape this year so that it's not such an eye-sore for our guests and could maybe even be considered a feature.   This little patch of ground hasn't been worked in over 9 years, so we thought that we'd start with a controlled burn to get started...emphasis on "controlled".

Burning the brush without hurting the apple trees

Then there was the cleaning and window washing and flower planting and grill area setup and on and on and on.   I did have some time to begin thinking about the business and began with the permitting process.  What a nightmare!  I quickly learned the meaning of the word bureaucracy.   The first obstacle is the entrance permit.  There is an existing road, gate, and drainage culvert at the entrance point to the business site, so I thought it would be a simple process of "check the box".

But no, no, no.  The county roads department will not issue the permit unless I move the entrance 30 feet further down the road.

Cha-ching!  Add $2500 to the business plan, investment column.  Potential additional return? $0.

I've also run into some trouble with the EPA because of a puddle (yes, puddle) next to the existing road.  I do have wetlands nearby, but have no intention of disturbing them and will even use them as a feature for the campers.  But this little puddle?!?!?  Are you kidding me??  I'm meeting with an engineer tomorrow to discuss options.

There is also one crappy little shed at the glamping site that I needed to get cleaned out in order to store some equipment in for the construction.   I needed to do this quickly because it was a rat, snake, wasp, and questionable toxic material infested shack which I needed to deal with prior to these little critters got too active (except the toxic material...no avoiding that).

Everything clean...except my lungs.

Finally, I also dropped the tractor over at the shop for a much needed tune-up.  She's going to get a serious workout this summer!

Joy riding on Herrington Manor Road