Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Lake Ray Roberts….is it possible to suck worse?
When your 1st and only experience is a bad one…..why return?
This past weekend, Sam and I were looking for a place to explore being the wind was too high and thus fishing was a little slow.
We ended up at Ray Roberts State Park on, of course, Lake Ray Roberts.
The park itself was very nice and clean. Upon arriving down at the fish cleaning station, I noticed a man cleaning several undersized crappie! The largest was about 8’’ long!
I asked the man where he caught the fish and he informed me he had caught them in the cove nearest a boat dock. He also noted that another man was “fishing” with a “cast net” and catching several crappie! Very illegal!
I immediately drove back to the main office in order to inform a ranger of these violations. Being in a hurry (not knowing how long the man would be cleaning his catch), I drove through the drive through in order to tell the staff.
I was asked by a member of the office staff what I needed and I told her I urgently needed to speak with a ranger. She told me to “hold on”. THEN, another staff member came to the window and told me I would have to pull around the front, and come in to talk to a ranger! I, again, said it was urgent. I was still told to park and come in.
Well, I did so. When I walked into the office, there was NO ONE AT THE FRONT DESK!!! There were no customers waiting……..NO ONE, PERIOD!!
I could hear the rangers telling stories in the next room. They were just lounging around! The office staff was playing “grab butt” by the drive through window! Thank God no one was dying and that nothing was on fire!
Finally, the second lady I had spoken with came around and said “no one has seen you yet?” I replied, “No.”
Well, about 5 minutes later, a ranger came out and I told him what had happened. BUT, it was too late. While I was waiting on them to get their stuff straight….the offender drove out the front gate.
I was asked if I got his license plate number (the offender's).
I should have responded with, “Why, so you could enjoy another cup of coffee before performing your semi-annual patrol of the park?”
The ranger apologized to me and said they would “work on their office”. Well, too little too late, this experience left a bad taste in my mouth and I’m done with the whole thing!
I drove around the front again (through the drive through) and handed the park map I had received to the lady at the window. When I stated “You can have this, I have no need for it, I" am never coming back.” She just rolled her eyes and said in a sarcastic voice, “Well, I’m sorry”.
As I drove off my reply was, “Whatever, no you’re not!”
This was the first and ONLY time I will ever visit Lake Ray Roberts!
The next time I’m questioned by Texas Parks and Wildlife as to why I’m against the raising of our license fees…..I’ll direct them to this article!
I’m tired of paying for laziness!
Ray Roberts State Park, I award you the “Idiots in Service” award for the month of April! Congratulations!
This past weekend, Sam and I were looking for a place to explore being the wind was too high and thus fishing was a little slow.
We ended up at Ray Roberts State Park on, of course, Lake Ray Roberts.
The park itself was very nice and clean. Upon arriving down at the fish cleaning station, I noticed a man cleaning several undersized crappie! The largest was about 8’’ long!
I asked the man where he caught the fish and he informed me he had caught them in the cove nearest a boat dock. He also noted that another man was “fishing” with a “cast net” and catching several crappie! Very illegal!
I immediately drove back to the main office in order to inform a ranger of these violations. Being in a hurry (not knowing how long the man would be cleaning his catch), I drove through the drive through in order to tell the staff.
I was asked by a member of the office staff what I needed and I told her I urgently needed to speak with a ranger. She told me to “hold on”. THEN, another staff member came to the window and told me I would have to pull around the front, and come in to talk to a ranger! I, again, said it was urgent. I was still told to park and come in.
Well, I did so. When I walked into the office, there was NO ONE AT THE FRONT DESK!!! There were no customers waiting……..NO ONE, PERIOD!!
I could hear the rangers telling stories in the next room. They were just lounging around! The office staff was playing “grab butt” by the drive through window! Thank God no one was dying and that nothing was on fire!
Finally, the second lady I had spoken with came around and said “no one has seen you yet?” I replied, “No.”
Well, about 5 minutes later, a ranger came out and I told him what had happened. BUT, it was too late. While I was waiting on them to get their stuff straight….the offender drove out the front gate.
I was asked if I got his license plate number (the offender's).
I should have responded with, “Why, so you could enjoy another cup of coffee before performing your semi-annual patrol of the park?”
The ranger apologized to me and said they would “work on their office”. Well, too little too late, this experience left a bad taste in my mouth and I’m done with the whole thing!
I drove around the front again (through the drive through) and handed the park map I had received to the lady at the window. When I stated “You can have this, I have no need for it, I" am never coming back.” She just rolled her eyes and said in a sarcastic voice, “Well, I’m sorry”.
As I drove off my reply was, “Whatever, no you’re not!”
This was the first and ONLY time I will ever visit Lake Ray Roberts!
The next time I’m questioned by Texas Parks and Wildlife as to why I’m against the raising of our license fees…..I’ll direct them to this article!
I’m tired of paying for laziness!
Ray Roberts State Park, I award you the “Idiots in Service” award for the month of April! Congratulations!
