WorkCamping - Ashton Idaho - April to August 2019

We began our first work camping job at Yellowstone Golf and RV Resort.  Tom mowed and watered the greens while I worked in the pro shop and camper registration.

The golf course is located outside the town of Ashton  The course and campground are located in the midst of farmland in an Aspen Grove.    Interesting fact about aspens...aspens grow in a stand, the root system is all interconnected.  Think of AVATAR - the mother tree.  In event of fire, the root system remains intact and doesn't die and new trees will sprout.

Ashton (population 1300) is a small farming community...flat land, mostly dry crop farming...alfalfa, barley and seed potatoes.    The weather was very interesting during our stay.  April 29 started with snow, then wind and cold for 3 weeks. Weather then became a little warmer and more typical for end of May/early June.  But then on June 8th - we had 3 hail storms followed by 1 1/2 inches of snow.  This is Idaho for you - wait 15 minutes and the weather will change.
                   
For being a small town, it is a very active local community.  Just a few fun events we attended:
  • A local circus came to town.    Complete with Big Top, lions, horses, trapeze acts and clown.  It was very reminiscent of the 1930's.  I kept looking for Glen Ford or Jimmy Stewart to come out as the ring master.  All the local community turns out.  
  • The Fourth of July parade is hometown patriotism and Americana at it's best.  An estimated 3000-5000 attended from surrounding towns. Local businesses decorate cars and floats.   Candy is thrown to kids along the parade route - also local chocolate milk passed out through the crowds.   Ashton's main street is only 6-7 blocks long.  The parade starts at one end of town - turns around and comes back again.  At end of day there is a free fireworks show at the local high school.

 WORK CAMPING - work is work so not much you can say.  We were supposed to have another couple help with the golf course, but unfortunately they failed to show.  All in all we trudged long and felt a great sense of pride in how well the course looked when we left.  But in reality work camping isn't really about the work, it's about the adventures and people you meet.

There is a Dr. Seuss Book, Oh, the Places You'll Go.   There also needs to be an edition - Oh, the People You'll Meet.  
    As Dr. Seuss Wrote:
    You're off to Great Places!
    Today is Your Day!
    Your Mountain is Waiting,
    So...Get on your way

    and my edition:
    You'll meet many people,
    So be ready to subscribe
    As friends are a prequel,
    To growing your tribe!
We met people from all walks of life.  People we would never have met without work camping:       
    • Mayor of Ashton - Teddy Stonks.  Ashton's  Mayor for 18 years and a wonderful person.   His son Billy is 1 of the 3 owners of the golf course.  Every Tuesday is a scramble and we were able to play golf several times with Teddy.  Bit of history, Teddy actually roofed the barn here in his early 20's.   Teddy gave us a coin of the city as a remembrance.   Such a thoughtful gift...it fits on Tom's belt buckle.  We will always think of Teddy and Ashton when its worn.
    • A Clown - Skeeter came to town to promote the circus.  She has been a clown for over 20 years.  She makes better balloon animals than me - go figure.
    • An Singer/Songwriter - Amber Bradberry.  We met Amber while helping park her trailer.  By day, She is an insurance claims supervisor.   But by night (lol) she is an accomplished singer and songwriter.  Thank you Amber for giving us a copy of your CD.   We wish you the best in your singing career.
    • An Author - Carla Jamele.  Carla was one of the work camp hosts.  But more than that she has written a book (for sale on Amazon)  Highway to Heaven,  Handbook to Hell.   Yes , Carla, God is so awesome!
OUR NEW TRIBE - the best part of making friends is when those few special people who we call friends become your family.   Our tribe now includes - the Ales Family (Tim, Mel, Jackson, Havyn), the King family (Zach, Shailah, Caison), the Bradleys (Roxy & Terry) and Carla Jamele.    We celebrated Father's Day, Tom's birthday, Tim and Mels wedding, golf outings, dutch oven deserts, happy hours and of course our "going away" dinner with these special people.   We are going to miss you and expect you to come visit us.  








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