During one of our early visits to Sandpiper's Resort we had a small incident involving an early departure, an impetuous moment and a geyser.
It was early, early, early. Crack o' dawn early. It is a 12 hour drive with an RV to get back to our (then) New Orleans home, and we wanted to get going as early as possible but we had even beaten the birds. While I walked the dog Jim did all the little last minute chores, like unhooking the water hose, disengaging the sewer hook-up...that kind of thing.
He was to WAIT til I returned with the dog before hooking up the car...WAIT!
Did he wait? Of course not.
Nickie was taking her own sweet time. I was in the far corner of the property. In fact I was probably standing in what is now our lot, but back then (only 6 years ago) it was a caliche road with only a few houses on it. While I was standing there gazing across the big empty field, trying to give my dog privacy (I am sensitive that way) my eye rested on movement at the far end of the 500 row, just about where Jim is supposed to be WAITING.
He is in the RV, and BACKING UP WITHOUT ME TO GUIDE HIM! IS HE NUTS?
Next thing I see is a geyser; 40 feet of gushing water shooting straight up. It actually looked pretty cool, but the first thought thru my head was, "Can I just keep walking the dog and not go back there?"
Jim had backed up over the water pipe that served our spot, severing it and knocking out water for the whole park. Next he jumps into the car and races frantically to find Manager Dick, who isn't at home and isn't cleaning the pool. So Jim roars round and round the park at top speed searching.
Well that 'top speed' got Dick's attention. He flagged Jim down and said, in Dick's charming way, "Sir, can I help you? You seem disturbed." Or something to that effect. You all know Dick.
All Jim had to do was turn, and point to 'Old Faithful'. Well, they finally found the water turn-off valve for the park and got the flooding under control. About that time people began emerging from their tin cocoons questioning why there was no water for their morning coffee or showers or shaving. All fingers pointed our way.
Jim is really very handy when it comes to plumbing, so he tried to help the small crew that formed to fix the problem. He advised them that they should probably wait a bit before turning the water back on to give the goop holding the pipes together time to set up. They really didn't appreciate his advise however, and the pipe blew again.
About this time Dick advised that it was probably time we left. He never said anything about "never darken my door". He may have thought it, but he never said it...so we came back. Again and again, and finally we live here full time.
Beautiful park, but I really think the field needs a cool water feature, like a giant geyser/fountain.
1 comment:
We remember well the "geyser" - we were your next-door neighbours at the time!! Sandpipers hasn't had the much fun since!!!
Alan & Stevie
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