Halloween Prize Winners 2024

Hi campers

The winners of this year’s Halloween Festivities

For best decorated golf cart:

First place yellow 67

Second place Red 16

Third place Brown 24

For best decorated campsite:

First place Yellow 67

Second place Blue 1

Third place Yellow 41 

The winners should stop by the office and collect their prize

I want thank all of you for participating and wish all of you a good Winter and a safe return next Spring 

Thanks for camping with us,

John and Carrie

BLCA Fall Message

To all campers of BlCA  Fall is around the corner and I think Fall offers the best time of year to be in the woods around the campfire.  We have plenty of firewood available at reasonable prices if you need it.

This past Labor Day weekend’s entertainment appeared to be huge success and I have heard  lots of positive feedback from many of you.  What we may need to consider in the future is whether not to allow golf carts at the events, with so many people including children walking and running around  For now I will allow the carts but would ask many of you to consider walking into the rec area and use chairs.

This Fall we are planning several events for Halloween including a site decorating contest, a golf cart parade and contest for best decorated cart and a costume party on Saturday night at the beach rec hall for the kids. Please plan on attending and do your part to give the camp kids a good time. First place prize will be five hundred  three hundred second place and one hundred third place There will be food and refreshments served at the party as well as prizes for great costumes In the past this was always a good time so make the effort to participate please 

The camp this Fall will officially close on October 15th However you will have till October 31 to be completely packed up. I do not mind if you stay overnight after the fifteenth but you must be actively packing up. Keep in mind that there will be very limited services and I will frown upon any request for extension of time. 

I recently met with Glocesters Tax collector who told me that the State has dissolved the Tangible Tax on trailers. This is great news for all of you who store over the Winter “No more camper Taxes”.  Going forward many of you may consider hopefully upgrading your camper. See me if you have any questions. Unfortunately in the future to make up for the loss of revenue the Town will undoubtedly raise the camps assessment. I must inform you that Winter storage fees must be raised to four hundred dollars and the late fee to one hundred and fifty dollars. Please pay your fees on time.

Have a great time and see you around camp!

John and Carrie

Dumping Station Status

Campers Hi

I have had to close the red green and blue dumping stations until further notice. The systems were designed in the early seventies and were not designed for theSaturday or Sunday morning surge.

I may consider allowing their use during the week but for now they are closed so please do not use them. Always use the dumping station at the tennis court. That station was designed to later regulations and can handle the weekend surge

Thanks for your understanding

John

Spring 2024 Camping

Hello everyone and welcome!

The season is upon us, and we look forward to you and GOOD WEATHER, which is the key to happy camping. While we did not have a cold Winter, we did have many severe rain and windstorms We have cleaned much of the damage but there are a couple of areas that still need attention, so please be patient with us.

There is a large water main break in the vicinity of blue 60. Although there is no anticipated disruption in service, due to the flooding rains this break will take some time to repair. Please try to avoid this area.

Utilities

All of the utilities except cable are on. If you should have problems, please let me know. I assume everything is functioning unless you report otherwise.

As far as cable goes, I have delayed this message for I had believed I could report news that we had reached agreement with Cox about cable service.

Unfortunately, Cox is no longer interested in offering bulk TV service to the campground.

They prefer to offer you individual service to your site and that will require you to set up an account and pay their fees. They are a monopoly. I complained to the RIDPUC administrator Tom Kogurt, but to no avail. I will keep trying but as I stated Cox has the upper hand.

Electric Rates

I also have to report to you that due to escalating energy costs and the scandal involving utility company insuring their systems leading to an 18% increase in their service rates I have no choice but to pass those increases on to you and rates will have to increase by 2 cents per kilowatt hour.

Safety

We also must have a major understanding about Safety at the campground. While we have not had a lot incidents at the campground, there have been incidents that have affected the Industry in general. All of you must become conscious of safety. This year I am insisting that all rear facing seats on golf carts MUST have seat belts and they MUST be used. I will be actively watching out for this.

You will also notice that we have purchased additional speed bumps. We intend to get serious about speeding.

Also, all bicycle riders MUST wear a helmet and no bicycle can be ridden after dark, no exceptions.

Beach Safety

As far as the beach is concerned, we cannot find a lifeguard for the season. Therefore, all swimming is at your own risk. Children under eighteen years of age MUST be supervised at the beach by their parents at all times while swimming. Insurance rates have gone up dramatically and everyone must do their part to prevent further increases by becoming more safety conscious.

Campsites Rules

I have had some issues with some of you about campsites and the rules.

If you make an improvement to the site such as crushed stone it becomes part of the site.

I am not going to tolerate people thinking they can hopelessly try to remove the stone leaving the site a complete mess. DON”T purchase stone or any other landscape feature unless you intend to leave it after you are gone or switch sites.

By rule you are supposed to leave the site clean as you found it, not a mess for the camp or others to clean up.

The proper thing to do is to ask permission to make changes to your site so you have a clear understanding of what the rules are.

So come HAPPY and enjoy SUMMER

JOHN

Cable Service Issues

What follows is a copy of our attempt to get relief from the DPUC on the issue of the Cox cable service which has been irregular and unsatisfactory.

Please contact the DPUC and make them aware of your own frustrations with the cable service we have been getting.  (Poor signal, lack of channels, changing list of channels, etc.)


———- Forwarded message ———
From: john tillinghast <blcajtillinghast@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Sep 21, 2023 at 5:47 PM
Subject: Re: Cox Issue as EC-2023-82
To: Kogut, Thomas (DPUC) <Thomas.Kogut@dpuc.ri.gov>



Mr Kogut

Hi and thanks for getting back to me

There are TWO issues that we have with Cox cable service.

First is the quality of service

Analog regen which we understand is no longer allowed by Fcc Regulations, at least they can not sell it as video service. Cox installed the system in 2010 and we signed a seven year contract for 100 channels of video service in 2011 Everything ran O K and there were few complaints from the customers.

In 2015 the Fcc banned by Regulation Analog Signal and  everyone had to ethier buy a new tv or a digital antenna. In 2018 the contract expired and Cox gave us notice that due to the FCC Regulations they could no longer sell direct video analog service but was willing to continue analog service provided there was no contract. We continued paying However due to the lack of a contract Cox began playing games short changing us on the # of channels and the signal was lousy and the customers began to complain and loudly but Cox refused to listen.

The second complaint is the lack of contract

which should include the electric service we have provided to operate their system without reimbursement  This power supply and node is about a mile from RIE supply so this will not be a simple fix  We have researched cable companies and their offerings in other states and bulk HD service is available the question is why not from Cox The customers know the difference and want HD signal and I am just trying to keep my customers happy at reasonable cost.
Let me know if you need more info. Also you asked for account info. when the contract expired the account expired as well.  Our phone # was our account # .

I have been told many tales by Cox’s people over the years They want to keep the analog getting around the FCC  by selling me the video and not directly to my customers. As I said my customers know the difference and want HD

Let me Know and Thanks JT

 

On Thu, Sep 21, 2023 at 9:26 AM Kogut, Thomas (DPUC) <Thomas.Kogut@dpuc.ri.gov> wrote:

Good morning Mr. Tillinghast,

 

Please see attached.

 

Thomas F. Kogut

Associate Administrator RIDPUC

(401) 255-9600

Bowdish Lake Camping Area

2023 FALL ACTIVITIES MESSAGE

2023 Fall Activities at Bowdish LakeTo all Bowdish Lake Campers 2023 Fall Activities

Thanks for coming this Summer! It is still hot and will probably
stay that way till the end.


The camp will officially close for the winter on September 30

but you will be allowed til the fourteenth of October to winterize and close up


Please try to schedule final pump out early

We cannot handle more than twenty five per day and someone has to be first

2023 Fall Activities.

We will have a Halloween trunk or treat and golf cart parade on September 30 starting at 6 pm

2023 Fall Activities Golf Cart Parade


Prizes for best decorated cart

  • First Place Cart Prize is $500
  • Second Place Cart Prize is $300
  • Third Place Cart Prize is $100

2023 Fall Activities Site Decoration Prizes

Prizes for best decorated site

  • First Place Site Prize is $500
  • Second Place Site Prize is $300
  • Third Place Site Prize is $100

So get into the spirit and win a prize!

2023 Fall Activities – Refreshments will be served at the Safari field

Have a great time and Thanks for Coming

JOHN
Connect with your Campground Neighbors on the Bowdish Lake Camping Area
Facebook Page!

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Camp News Archive

Winterizing your RV camper

is essential to protect it from the harsh winter conditions. Here are the steps to ensure your RV is ready for the cold:

  1. Drain Water Systems: Empty all tanks, including fresh, grey, and black water tanks. Open low point drains and use compressed air to blow out any remaining water1.
  2. Bypass Water Heater: Install a water heater bypass kit if your RV doesn’t have one. This prevents antifreeze from filling the heater tank, saving you gallons of antifreeze1.
  3. Add Antifreeze: Use non-toxic RV antifreeze to fill the plumbing system. Pump it through all faucets, shower heads, and toilets until you see the antifreeze coming out1.
  4. Seal Openings: Check for any openings where pests could enter and seal them. Use silicone or expanding foam for larger gaps1.
  5. Protect Against Humidity: Place desiccant containers or humidity absorbers inside the RV to prevent mold and mildew growth1.
  6. Remove Batteries: Disconnect and store batteries in a cool, dry place to prevent freezing and extend their life1.
  7. Cover Vents: Install covers over vents to keep out insects and small animals1.
  8. RV Covers: Use a breathable RV cover to protect the exterior from snow, ice, and debris1.
  9. Tire Care: Inflate tires to the recommended pressure and cover them to protect from UV damage1.
  10. Lubricate Joints: Apply lubricant to hinges and locks to prevent them from seizing up in the cold1.

By following these steps, you can rest assured that your RV camper will be safeguarded against the winter elements and ready for your next adventure1.

Spring Opening 2023 – Message

Spring Opening 2023

Hi everyone,

The 2023 season is upon us!

 I hope you are all well and excited to get back to being outdoors and at the campground.

This year marks the 50th year of Bowdish Lake and we appreciate your enthusiasm and continued support. We are planning a celebration party and other events to mark this historic achievement.

The Park will officially open this weekend, Mother’s Day weekend.

Please report any utility issues you may have to the office.  Cable TV requests shall be on a first come first served basis. Also please understand that security gates are activated and any outstanding balances must be made current or you will not be allowed to camp.
I have rearranged the new dock at Beach One to accommodate more boats.  Unfortunately all of the slips are rented so keep that in mind when planning a boat purchase. I will work on developing more dock space in the future.

I cannot control the escalating cost of energy, especially electricity

There is no choice but to raise by 2.3 cents per kwh (that’s 2.3 not 23 cents, by the way). Also, the minimum monthly charge shall have to increase to $45.00 per month and going forward electricity deposit shall have to increase to $450.00.

I strongly urge all of you to consider running as much of your trailer as possible on propane. You would be shocked how much cheaper it is as an energy source than electricity Its price has come down whereas electricity just keeps going up. Please help us out and consider it.

We are currently dealing with phone issues for the office.

Without notice the office phone was shut off due to the service being 3G. They gave us no warning, just shut it off. We hope to get this resolved as soon as possible. In the meantime, please use the website, Facebook or email if you need to communicate with us.

We will continue the seasonal-only format for this year and probably for the foreseeable future.

It seems to make life easier and make the park more enjoyable for all of us.

We appreciate your business a hope you have a great Summer.

JOHN

ACTIVITIES
CAMP NEWS
SPECIAL EVENTS
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Halloween Prize Winners 2022

HALLOWEEN AWARD WINNERS

Halloween Prize Winners 2022 all were spectacular!

 

Halloween Prize Winners 2022

Hi everyone!

I wanted to announce the winners of last nights festivities and thank all of you for participating even if it was a bit chilly.

HALLOWEEN PRIZE WINNERS 2022

For best Golf Cart

  • 1st place green 48
  • 2nd red 16
  • 3rd brown 24

For best site

  • 1st blue 2
  • 2nd blue 1
  • 3rd yellow 67

Please stop by office to arrange for your prize credit or payment .

Halloween Prize Winners

Again thanks for coming, stay safe this Winter and we will see you

next Spring

John
witch on broomstick hitting tree

When planning your campground Halloween decorations, consider a few factors. Campgrounds host guests of all ages, and little kids might get scared. If your decorations look too haunting or frightening, consider opting for a more family-friendly route instead. Follow these tips to have fun and decorate your site responsibly:

  • Make sure you clean up: Clean up any trash or residue around your campsite. Make sure you don’t leave any googly eyes, streamers, fake spider webs, pumpkins, bats or other decorations behind.
  • Use eco-friendly materials: Consider using sustainable items or what you already have turned into upcycled crafts if possible. Opt for reusable party supplies instead of disposable plastic to reduce waste.
  • Respect the campground rules: Follow camp guidelines to ensure a safe and comfortable stay. Respecting the rules throughout the festivities protects campers and nature.

BOWDISH LAKE CAMPING AREA

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Halloween 2022 Activities

Halloween 2022 Activities

Hello everyone!

I wish to announce the prize list for this Saturday’s Halloween festivities.

Halloween 2022 activities decorated golf cartsFor best decorated golf cart

  • 1st prize $500
  • second place $300
  • third place $100

Halloween 2022 activities displayFor best decorated site

  • 1st prize $500
  • second prize $300
  • third place $100

So get into the activities and win a prize!
Dress warmly for we are in a prolonged cold spell but at least it is not expected to rain.

When planning your campground Halloween decorations, consider a few factors. Campgrounds host guests of all ages, and little kids might get scared. If your decorations look too haunting or frightening, consider opting for a more family-friendly route instead. Follow these tips to have fun and decorate your site responsibly:

  • Make sure you clean up: Clean up any trash or residue around your campsite. Make sure you don’t leave any googly eyes, streamers, fake spider webs, pumpkins, bats or other decorations behind.
  • Use eco-friendly materials: Consider using sustainable items or what you already have turned into upcycled crafts if possible. Opt for reusable party supplies instead of disposable plastic to reduce waste.
  • Respect the campground rules: Follow camp guidelines to ensure a safe and comfortable stay. Respecting the rules throughout the festivities protects campers and nature.

Halloween 2022 activities purple flowerAs of this coming Monday the gates will be locked at 5pm and will only be opened during the day between 9-5 pm.  After the fifteenth you will need to get permission to get in so please use your time wisely and get your site squared away.


Stay healthy have a good Winter and we will see you in the Spring

John

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Fall 2022 Message from John Tillinghast

FALL 2022 MESSAGE

It is time to get your camper and campsites ready for the winter.  Be sure to check the schedule so you have time to get everything done before the gates close.

Hello Campers

Unfortunately it has come to that time of year when Fall has arrived and we must think about closing up. I think everyone can agree that despite all the turmoil in the world, we had a pretty good season here at Bowdish Lake and I hope all of you look forward to coming back next season.

The park will officially close on September 30th and after that date you will have two weeks to close up your campers and secure all your belongings.

I ask that you use this time wisely and do not put off closing up ’til the last minute and expect  an extension for you will be frowned upon.

Keep in mind that the pump-out driver can only realistically do twenty pump-outs per day and with over two hundred expected, you must realize that someone has to go first. So sign up early Please!


Halloween

Even though you may close up now I hope you will return in October for Trunk or Treat on the 8th of October.

Prizes will awarded and Amanda Guilbeault has offered to supply refreshments.

Please take the opportunity to thank her for that.

This is a good time and a great way to finish off the season. Hope you all will make an effort to attend.


As far as next year is concerned, Bowdish Lake will be fifty and I would ask for your input as to what we should do to commemorate the moment.  I would love to hear what you think, so please send the suggestions along.

Thanks for your patronage,

Have a great Winter and see you in the Spring

John

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