Sunday, May 30, 2010

What's planned this summer you ask.....well read on

First let me say that yesterday was a totally awesome day.........lots of campers, two paintball groups, lots of mountain bikers, large numbers of people enjoying the river in canoes, kayaks and tubes.......and lots of sunshine..........WOW..........and today looks to be sweet as well........

Then I want to quickly address the plans for this summer at Seven Oaks.......

  • We are going to add more canoes and kayaks to the fleet........and yes 40 more river tubes..
  • We plan to build a showerhouse up top to be used by our campers and those engaged in a fast action game of paintball.....
  • We plan to open the area on the west side of the bottom of Abby's Alley for a little side trip thru the woods for the skiers and riders........it will be called Carter's Crossing.....
  • We are going to install another rope tow in the beginner area so those learning can get more trips in per hour.........that tow is going to be called Bella Bunny........
  • We have already ordered more childrens ski and boot inventory in rental.......and more snowboards........and we will have some helmets for rent this winter as well.....
  • We are looking at a new layout of the rental department.........
  • We are adding another groomer to the fleet so we can groom the trails even more........we want them to be pristine........everyday........
  • All that and more as we take care of all our summer guests........gonna be a busy one........

As always, remember the GOAL........Get Outdoors And Live !

.........but be smart and safe...........

Monday, May 24, 2010

Monday and it's HOT.....

.....of course not as hot as it's going to be but we seem to go from one extreme to the other. Had some more canoes and kayaks on the river today......they got some sun........the water is more than likely warming quite a bit on days like this. Wouldn't be surprised to see river tubes on the water this weekend......Memorial Day Holiday.....with the temps being in the 80's all week......phone and email reservations been busy today......probably will be each day leading up to Saturday......

Had a big ole tree die this past year up in the campground so we cut it down and chopped it up for firewood.......the heat and physical labor 'bout killed this old man..........got to get used to the warmer days and the physical labor too....

This past weekend had lots of paintball players on Saturday........three groups.......and several on the water.......canoe and kayak........and the two high school graduation receptions in the lodge brought a lot of people to the lodge as well.

Working on plans for a new shower house up by the campgrounds..........another meeting at 7:30 tomorrow morning on details of the building........if we can get that built it will not only be handy for the tent campers this summer but for the paintball players as well. Also want to get the swingset erected up there this early summer.

I gotta tell you it is great being here this much.......for the first time in my life!!! Can't wait for tomorrow.......

Friday, May 21, 2010

Look at that forecast!

This morning started off a little foggy but is starting to clear off now.......and this weekend looks to be great. Even the next week looks great.......temps in the eighties and even close to ninety.....great temps for canoe and kayak floats.......and it won't take long before the river tubes will be rockin hot and heavy too........love summer......

Have a high school graduation party here tonight and again Sunday............canoes and kayaks on the water this weekend........three paintball groups Saturday.......and the phone has been a little nuts this morning.........love summer.....

After a week of not going to my "normal and regular" job.......it feels great. I have had NO problem staying busy at Seven Oaks...........what a new dimension!

love summer.......

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Day One is Done

Whew......my first day in the office at Seven Oaks was yesterday......and it was a full day......but it felt good......

Spent my last day at the office in Oskaloosa Friday morning.......had a company send off which was great......then played in the Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Golf tournament starting at noon......with my two sons and son in law......we scored okay for a foursome that played about six times total in the last four years........hey......we came in at even par.......

Yesterday morning we got the truck unloaded.....then started the task of refiling all the paperwork.......but got that about 90% done before I called it a day......

Met with the electrical power company regarding service for the new camp host that will be on site this summer.......

Made a list of things to do.......no ...... it was two lists..........make that three lists........shouldn't run out of anything to do for quite some time!

Have a couple graduation receptions in the lodge this weekend.......and a paintball group or two.....

I would expect the phone to be pretty busy starting today based on the time of year and the forecast for the next week........beautiful blue skies and temps ranging from mid seventies to mid eighties.......summer might actually be here......

Get your full service river float reservations made soon.......canoe - kayak - river tube.......

see you soon

Thursday, May 13, 2010

the sun will come out tomorrow....

......because tomorrow is my final day of employment at my job in Oskaloosa. I have been at the same place for 41 years and it is now time to move on. I am very proud of the accomplishments during those years.........great advances in technology, in square footage under roof (400,000 sq ft compared to about 150,000 ft when I started), the volume of production and the change in the work environment and culture. It's been a ride........

.....but it's time for more of my time to be devoted to the continued growth of Seven Oaks. It's time for me to impart more of what I have learned on the managment group at Seven Oaks......as it is them that will be our future. It's time for more travelling. It's time for more family time........hey I do have seven wonderful grandkids that need more spoiling before they are grown!

......it has been pretty busy at Seven Oaks since I last wrote.........and I do plan on making more entries to the blog during the summer.......the lodge has had good activity with weddings and receptions........the FAF last friday night was GREAT.......paintball has been rockin.........the mountain bike/hiking trails have been quite busy.........several tent campers.........and now we are starting in full swing with canoe and kayak river floats.........a little tooooo cool for river tubes yet.

.......one of the first things on the agenda next week is to sort thru all the possible growth opportunities with the staff and develop a game plan for implementation. That process and those decisions will be good writing material in the blog for some time.....

.......so check back........I'll be contributing again soon.........

this weekend looks great........