Revitalization of the Coosawattee Campgrounds

Nothing can start a fiery discussion among neighbors quicker than discussing the Campgrounds in Coosawattee River Resort.  I am certainly not here to start a fiery discussion, but to make some general observations that continue to encourage me to think that CRR is making headway at revitalizing this wonderful community resource.

First, I would like to say that I think CRR has done a great job at marketing not only the Campground properties, but also the residential properties within our community.  The sales figures released in the monthly newsletters show that we are moving property quickly and it is primarily in the Campground area.  I firmly believe as the economy continues to slowly improve we will see more development in the Campground.

Why, you ask?  Well, it is simply economics.  It’s fair to say that people are certainly doing better than they were four years ago.  It’s also fair to say that most people are not riding the high tide of the falsely elevated stock markets and bloated housing industry.  That leaves us somewhere in the middle.  I would say that most people looking to invest in CRR and seeking a weekend getaway or vacation spot are doing ‘okay’ but not getting rich.  I don’t know if you have taken a look at the local real estate listings lately, but there isn’t much in our neck of woods below $100K anymore.  It was only a handful of years ago when prime real estate in CRR could be purchased between $40K and $100K, and this bought you a fairly nice home.  The market is changing and the sun has set on those days.

So, where would a retiree or young family be able to secure a piece of mountain paradise at a reasonable price?  Now, you’re starting to see my point….

A lot of families and retirees still can’t afford to delve into a $100K mortgage for a weekend getaway.  And, I personally don’t believe they should.  It was this uninformed spending that landed us in a bit of a pickle before.  But, there is great value in setting up camp in the Campgrounds without emptying the bank account.  I have also noticed a lot of quality development in the campgrounds.  Not only are more roof-overs being constructed, but also roof over and screen room combos/enclosures.  I have to say, these look great and give such a polished, clean appearance to the area.  These roof-overs and enclosures not only provide attractive aesthetics, but also protect the RV’s and keeps them cleaner and in better overall condition.  The Campgrounds are (hold your breath!) beginning to look like a high end RV Community!  The key to full revitalization is to continue investing in the Campgrounds and keep pushing the property values north.  It’s my opinion that young professional families seeking an affordable weekend ‘cottage’ or retirees looking to live the RV lifestyle will be the demographics that rebuild this once beautiful and bustling area of CRR.  We will all do better once we achieve a level of quality that makes the Campground property sought after.  Just the notion that people are investing a great deal of money into these high-end campground properties should provoke all CRR residents to think what they can do to continue this trend.  I would also think that as these developments continue to rise that the residents and owners of the campground properties will gain a new sense of pride in ownership.

We are on a path to positive change.  I hope that the CRR Board and General Manager continue to put a concerted effort into the continued growth and development within the Campgrounds.   I’m thinking it’s going to be a great summer along the Coosawattee River.

Till next time,

Chris

Oh, BEE-have!

Welcome to bee season folks!  Yes, it comes every year and no, there isn’t a cure!

Feel better?  Probably not, but while there isn’t a cure for carpenter bees there are a few things you can do to prevent damage and ward off future infestations.

First, let me start by saying that these little devils will only be around for a few more weeks.  Their lifespan is fairly short and while you may think they are being destructive, they simply think they are being good parents.  The urge of parenthood is strong with these little guys – thus….the birds and the bees.  Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

Carpenter bees bore holes in wood to create tunnels in which they lay their larvae.  They will be doing this until sometime around July when they die.  The larvae will gestate in these tunnels until next fall where they will begin to develop and ultimately find their way out of the tunnel and into the sunlight only to start the process over again.  You probably didn’t think that your eaves would ever be considered a womb did you???

So, the matter at hand isn’t what a great parent these critters may be, but how do I stop them from boring holes everywhere?  Carpenter bees can be a serious issue if their tunneling begins to compromise a structure.  You should make every attempt to plug a bee’s hole when you find one.  Moreover, it’s just as important to seek and destroy any larvae that may be in the tunnel prior to your reclamation of the kingdom!  This can be done in multiple ways, most commonly with insect spray or bee butter.  The use of insect spray is fairly straight forward – insert straw and spray.  The use of bee butter is not.  Bee butter is not a deterrent, but will kill the bees once they get it on them.  A small dab of bee butter in the hole will surely spread to the bee and larvae in an active tunnel.  Bee butter may also be a better choice since the bee will spread the butter throughout all of the tunnels.  There may be more tunnels than you think and spray may only get to some of the lair.  No matter which way you choose, you should always plug the hole.  A vacant hole is another bee’s opportunity to move in.  This can be done with a quality caulk or you can drill the existing hole out slightly to fit a piece of wooden dowel rod that can be glued into place.  The use of dowel rod will give a more uniform fix depending on where the damage is and how important appearance is.

The other option (and highly recommended) is to put Carpenter Bee traps around your home where you see Carpenter Bee activity.  The premise of bee traps is simple.  As I said before, Carpenter Bees will be more than happy to take up residence in an existing tunnel.  This saves them a lot of energy!  Bee traps are designed to provide an easy entry into a wood structure that isn’t so easy to get out of. 

If you are handy, you can make your own traps reasonably cheap.  The internet is loaded with design options and instructions on how to build them.  The other option is to purchase them.  The General Store at Coosawattee has traps that are built locally.  I opted to purchase the traps as it saved me time and helped support our local economy and our neighbors.  Truthfully, I'm not sure I could build them for what I bought them for.

It’s also important to know where to put the traps and to inspect for damage.  Keep in mind that Carpenter Bees are attracted to bare, non-painted wood.  If your house is painted wood and you have seen carpenter bees buzzing around you may want to inspect around deck railings or under decks where the wood may be unfinished or only stained.  These are also VERY important areas to keep structurally sound.  Painted surfaces deter these little guys, but this is not a guarantee that you won’t have problems.  Painted wood siding is still susceptible if you have worn, thin, flaking paint or areas where the siding has been compromised by water, sun, etc.. 

Another tactic you can try is the old ‘bait and switch’.  You may try baiting the bees away from your home by strategically placing pieces of untreated wood around your property to provide quiet tunneling zones for the bees.  Simply purchase (most of us have a stock laying around from projects) some clean untreated wood.  This could be pieces of 2X4's, 2X6's, etc.  Next, drill some holes into the wood at various angles.  Bees never bore straight into the wood, but typically at an upward or sideways angle to the grain of the wood.  This angle boring protects the tunnel from rain.  You have just created a convenient home for any discriminating bee to take up residence!

You may attach these chunks of wood to trunks of trees around your home with bungee cords or ratchet straps.  Just be careful when hanging them that you have the angle of the holes in the right position.  Bees will not occupy a tunnel that fills with water.  Once bee season is done, remove them and enjoy a campfire!  Just make sure you put these convenient bee condos in areas around your home that show bee activity.  HOPEFULLY they'll choose your peace offering over your deck stringers!

So, take a deep breath and a good look around your home.  Take care of those tunnels now and get them sealed up before they give birth to the next generation.  You can take some relief in knowing that we will only be dealing with these little guys for a few more weeks along the Coosawattee River.

Till next time,

Chris

Spring Has Sprung Along the Coosawattee - And Summer Will be Coming!

Well, I know it's been some time since I've posted.  Spring's coming has led me outdoors (more often) and to a myriad of usual springtime chores.  There just hasn't been much reason for me to be inside on the computer!  The weather's change toward spring has me outside every minute I can be with my mind wandering to the activities of the coming summer......

 

I find that the cool, refreshing spring air is a motivator for me to get outside and get the projects done before the balmy summer days move in.  Heck, I don't want to be working in the summer, anyway.  There are simply too many things to do in North Georgia during the summer months.

 

One of my favorite activities is tubing down the Coosawattee River.  Nothing beats jumping into the sometimes startling cold water of the river and embarking on a couple hour journey down the rapids on a 90 degree summer afternoon.  I have to be honest, I am always a bit disappointed as we round the final bend in the river to see the take-out point approaching.  We have so much fun navigating the rapids and boulders and occasionally sabotaging each other into water-born traps that the end of the trip kind of feels like taking the tree down after Christmas!  Nonetheless, we can always board our tubes and set sail another day.

 

I'm also looking forward to getting down to Foxhound Pool this summer.  Sadly enough, I never had the opportunity last summer and it's practically in my backyard!  As I've mentioned before, I purchased a foreclosure that needed some work to get it back to par, therefore my weekends were spent on one project after another (see my archived posts).  However, I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and am looking forward to doing a little relaxing this summer and enjoying all the activities that CRR and the surrounding areas have to offer.  Aside from river tubing and enjoying a little pool time I hope to get the ATV's over to Blairsville and blow off some steam at Beasley Knob.  I hear there are some double diamond trails that should test the equipment - and my back!  My other goal (one of these days) is to get the motorcycle up to North Carolina and try my hand at the Dragon's Tail.  I've heard plenty of wild stories, but have yet to experience it myself.  So much to do, and so little time do it all in.

 

I plan on putting up more posts in the near future.  A few projects I intend to start are installing 'blow foam' insulation in the basement and wiring in a ventilation system to draw fresh air through the basement.  I'll make sure to share the details of all the projects so check back periodically!

 

 

 

Till next time,

 

Chris