Well we successfully left Charlestown Breechway and made it Horseneck
Beach campground to start our adventure as host campers. We have stayed Horseneck Beach several times
so the layout is familiar to us. For
those unfamiliar with host camping, you get a free site in exchange for some
amount of labor – or community service if it is a state or federal facility. Here at Horseneck the prime mission is restroom
cleanliness with general maintenance secondary.
Once at Horseneck we were greeted by Pete, the park
manager. The state property consists of
both the campground and a large state run beach. Pete gave us our vehicle pass and a copy of
the rules and told us Andrew, the campground manager would be out after we
setup to show us ‘the lay of the land’. There
are three sites reserved for campground host at Horseneck. There are currently
two other hosts here, Ralph and Melinda – each in one of the other host sites. They have been busy since there is no one to
clean when they are not here. Ralph has
been handling the mens side with Melinda handling the chores on the other
side. Ralph was happy to see us arrive
since it would allow him to have a ‘day off’.
I was completely setup when Andrew came by the site –
immediately noting that some of the wood I had brought in was not local – whole
logs are always a dead giveaway. Andrew gave the tour of the facility pointing
out things to look for and we setup with Ralph to go through the mechanics of
getting things done. I was shown where
the ‘tools of the trade’ are stored and Ralph went over the routine with me.
Now that we got through the initial ‘indoctrination‘ it was
time to get a few chores done. When
leaving Charlestown I noticed my propane regulator showing the on-service tank
was empty. So it was off to Westport
Ace Hardware for a 30 pound propane refill. Every time we get to Horseneck we have to
stop at Oriental Pearl so I can
get my fix of Fall River style chow mein.
This is what most of the country calls chop suey but it is served over a
thin, short egg noodle that is deep fried.
A quick stop for gas and it was back to the campground.
Some not so subtle differences between Charlestown and
Horseneck are that you are more spaced out at Horseneck. Charlestown is literal a parking lot and you
are stacked slideout-to-awning!
Charlestown has no utilities, not even a water spigot so once your fresh
water tank is dry you have to have Jerry cans or jugs to tide you over. To dump tanks at Charlestown you have to go
about 12 miles to Burlingame State park, so even totes are not a solution. Horseneck has water stations throughout the
park and a dump station.
Well Ralph just dropped off the keys and let us now he is
taking tomorrow and Tuesday off so it looks like I’m back to work!!!
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