Crazy sh*t campground employees do (part 1)
The days when we traveled with three terriers. RIP Boris, my perfect boy.
North Sandusky Campground
Sesser, Illinois
First, let me say that nearly every campground we’ve been to has the best employees. Friendly and helpful, and I’m grateful for all they do.
Every now and then, however, you come across the other kind of campground staff. The ones who seem to relish the authority their job gives them.
This blog series is for them, and this is the first one.
Topping the list of crazy sh*t that campground employees do: The woman who chased us down on a pink Vespa to give us a stern scolding.
Here’s how it went down.
We spent a weekend at North Sandusky Campground in Sesser, Illinois, to paddle board at Rend Lake.
It’s a gorgeous campground run by the Army Corps of Engineers. The spots are huge. You’re well away from the campground’s interior road and your neighbors. Nice.
We liked it so much that I had a plan for when we left. We’d drive through some of the other loops, decide which was our favorite and book there next time.
First up, the group campsite loop. We turned in.
We were driving slowly, looking around, chatting. It was a lovely sunny morning, when we thought we heard some shouting. But, no one was around. We hadn’t even gotten close to the campsites yet.
Then, J-Wo saw her. In his side mirror, he spotted a woman riding her Vespa right next to our camper van, waving one of her arms and yelling. WTF?
We pull over, thinking we must have an open door. Maybe we’re dragging something behind us.
Why else would someone risk driving that closely to a vehicle weighing more than 9,000 pounds? A vehicle that could crush you if the driver didn’t know you were there and perhaps swerved slightly when a squirrel darted into the road.
It must be serious.
But, no.
She asks if we have a reservation in that loop for the night. We did not. We explained we wanted to see more of the campground to help plan our next visit.
That’s when she told us we needed to leave — immediately.
Now, I don’t know if some weird cult was staying in the group campsites or what. But, this woman seemed ready to do anything to keep us out of that loop.
So, we left, and we haven’t been back. We hear South Sandusky Campground is better anyway.
Plus, the water at Rend Lake was a little brown, and we saw a snake as soon as we walked down to the shore. (I know snakes are in the water. I just don’t care to see them when I’m about to hop in myself.)
So, this first blog in the Crazy sh*t campground employees do series is for you, pink Vespa lady.
Look, I know you have a job to do. I just want you to do it carefully and respectfully. I’m pretty sure getting crushed by a 9,000+ pound camper van would be a whole lot worse than someone taking a slow drive through the group campsite loop.
Because camper van vs. Vespa? Not a good matchup.
North Sandusky Campground ratings
Rend Lake
Sesser, Illinois
Loop: Maple
Site: 079
Overall rating ★★★☆☆
3.33 of 5 stars
Campsites ★★★★★
5 of 5 stars
Large sites, both in terms of depth and width. Beautiful trees. Great firepits.
Recreation ★★★☆☆
3 of 5 stars
There are some nice walking paths, but the lake is the main attraction here. Not a great paddle boarding lake, due to the color of the water and the wind.
Staff ★☆☆☆☆
1 of 5 stars
Pink Vespa lady, please be more careful and respectful when zooming around the campground.
Bathhouse ★★☆☆☆
2 of 5 stars
I hope you like bugs.
Noise ★★★★☆
4 of 5 stars
We were a little worried we’d have some rowdy neighbors. The kind who drink on their boat all day and party all night at their campsite. But, everyone was pretty chill as it got later. We did have some road noise though.
Grounds upkeep ★★★★★
5 of 5 stars
The Army Corps of Engineers does not mess around when it comes to maintaining the grounds of this campsite.
Boris (2009 - 2022) paddle boarding at Rend Lake in Illinois.
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