I just got back from spending the weekend at Ludington State Park, and the park itself was great. Tons of deer to watch, beautiful snow filled cedar and pine trees, and mostly empty trails to wander around on. The campground had about ten sites plowed open, and the electricity was on. Everything else was boarded up. The first night after I arrived, some brave souls attempted to camp nearby in tents... they only lasted one night. It was 15F when I arrived, and dropped to around 9F in the wee hours.
I arrived early on Saturday, and left early on Monday. To my knowledge, no rangers were on site, just volunteers, and a State carpenter (at least, he drove a government truck) repairing the mini-cabin.
// On to the rant... //
Self registration was at the main gate, and still relied mostly on a pre-printed form and an iron ranger, but with a few changes from Mr. Snyder.
Firstly, he installed a direct-dial telephone at the main gate, through which you are obligated to report your arrival for self registration or future reservations. The telephone is installed about 3 ft from the ground, and the handset is connected via a piece of steel cable about 10 inches long. It would be perfect if I were 4 ft tall, or sitting in a wheel chair or on a bench. However, at 6 and a half feet tall, it was most difficult to use. So here I was standing at the main gate, bent over ninety degrees talking to a call center. Luckily, it was somewhere where English was the primary language, however, it was not in Michigan (way to keep it local Rick.)
The main gate was very busy, there were lots of cars and loud diesels motoring by, and I was repeating myself frequently to the young lady on the other end. We went around and around a few times on what site number I wanted, as I repeatedly informed the operator the site numbers were buried under several inches of snow, I finally just asked for a list and repeated the second number available. This park does not use site number posts, instead relying on painted roadway markings. Do any state parks use posts? None that I've been to.
Finally we get to the brass tacks of the situation, the fee, a good ten minutes into the call. My back is rather angry at this time and I'm getting impatient. The fee the operator reads me is ten dollars higher than what's posted on the fee schedule, located next to the telephone. I ask why is it higher, and I'm told it includes a reservation fee. I say I don't need a reservation, I need a registration (which I indicated when I started the call.) So I get a please hold, and the line switches to running advertisements about other great services Snyder's operation has to offer.
I tried to wait on hold, but I didn't last long. So I hung up. I made out my check to the State of Michigan in the amount indicated on the fee schedule. I sealed it in its little envelope, and put it in the iron ranger.
I was expecting a visit from Snyder (or one of his representatives) the next morning, asking why I didn't follow-through with his system, but no such visit came. The carpenter showed up about 9 am (on a Sunday), I waved as he drove by in one of Rick's trucks.
Monday morning arrived, and so did the carpenter at about 8:30, but he was driving his own personal vehicle this day. I didn't get to wave as I was inside my trailer eating a bagel.
I imagine Rick will sort the bugs out on his new system, or maybe he'll decide to keep the iron ranger around longer. It does a fine job, and I don't see how a telephone and an operator make the process any better or save any of my tax dollars.
If you made it all the way down here, thanks for reading my rant.
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