This will now be our fifth season at Fallbarrow Park. The first two seasons we started off in a caravan, and the last three started in the lodge. For the first time in these five seasons, we did not spend the first weekend the site was open in our caravan or lodge. All we did was go up for the day on the first Saturday and open up the lodge and connect the water and gas. We went up last weekend and stayed for two nights but have not bothered this weekend.
It just seems to me that the excitement of the new season has gone, possibly for ever. I know that all the "unpleasantness" we endured last season have have taken some of shine off owning a place in the Lakes. But to be honest, I guess it is more than that. Our self imposed exile from Fallbarrow over the extended season made us question as to why we don't want the site open over the Winter. It basically comes down to the fact that the kind of things we like doing at our lodge are not possible over the winter. We like to have outdoor bbq's with friends, go out in the boat we have on Windermere and even just sit and relax outside. None of these activities are really practicable in the Winter. Now I know that many people will be quite happy having their place open in the Winter and make full use of it, but not us. So now having accepted why we like going up to the Lakes, it makes the start and end of the season less appealing so my guess is that we will make less use at these times. I guess I just get bored sitting in my lodge watching the wind and rain, I can do that at home.
This kind of leads onto what I want from the site. Given the choice between lower fees or having a club on site, lower fees please. At the moment, SLP are replacing rental caravans with owner lodges. This will further reduce the demand for the club, making it even less viable.
The same goes for the shop, again lower fees please. I went to the shop last weekend for some cooking oil. Of course they do not stock this, but it was only an extra five minutes to walk up to Tesco and back.
Now I would like to see more investment in the boat moorings to make them safe, but the fees need to be lower. I have my boat dry stored indoors at Windermere Aquatics all year round and they launch and retrieve on demand. This costs less than the wet mooring at Fallbarrow.
All the above of course is just my humble opinion, and I am sure many will disagree. But it is my blog after all, and you can of course post your own opinion as well here or of course on the forum:
http://southlakelandowners.freeforums.org/index.php
Kevin