Intro
This is the 24th story in the New World Series. The cargo ship accident and recovery delay in Sugar & Spice story 23 caused even more river boatmen to miss being with their families at Christmas. Other boatmen worked extra hours to replace the recovery team on their regular routes. They and many other river boatmen had not seen their families in a very long time due to the shortage of boatmen. Long distances to travel and long absences were the main reasons for the shortages of boatmen, so hiring more boatmen was not the solution to the problem.
Those in charge of Riverboat Depot had a plan. Word was sent out by boatmen that the Depot was looking for a group of Hobbits to establish a settlement that would serve as a meeting place for boatmen and their families year-round, nothing says hospitality better than Hobbits. A centrally located valley had already been chosen for the settlement, just east of the main river, halfway between the Depot and Newburg. The boat builders in Newburg and Fish & Ships would construct special paddle boats to pick up the families and return them home after their visits. Those who were discouraged by their families and hesitated to become boatmen may reconsider.
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Map seed #220451503 Valley, Small, cold mountain, Disasters Off, Easy 8 (no seeds, no animals)
Mods activated for this map and load order:
Map Changing and Starting Mods: Banished UI Maps, Banished UI Town Names, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, CC Light Rain, Climate Cold Mountain, Lush & Green, Settlers Deco, A8Japanese Trees, Central Park (updated with more foresters), Jinxie Natural Decorations, Kid Deco Tree Fall, Kid Tree Replacer X-light, New Flora Edit, New Trees, Family Starts.
Tweak Mods: Fishing Dock +25%, Hunting, Hunting Season, Increased CC, 1:1 Alternative (Voeille), override Rural Clothes, Rock Respawn, Tiny Smoke, Woodcutter +3.
Major or Must Have Mods: An Empty Square, Nomads (Kid), override Uneducated, Storage Crates, Kid Workshop, Jinxie Bitty Chicken Coop, Jinxie Bitty Rabbit Hutch, Jinxie Bitty Village Set, Jinxie Festival Park, Kid Abandoned Places SE, Kid Colonial City Center, Kid Fairy Garden, Kid Hobbits, Kid Tiny, Kid Downtown, Kid Workplace Village.
Supporting Mods: Beach (Kid), Beach Party (RK), Christmas Mod (Kid), Colorful Little Houses (RK). Deco Sunflowers, EB Ice Cream, EB Village Resort Deco, Kid Deco Farm Animals, Kid Deco Magic Mushrooms, Kid Deco People, Kid Farmyard, Kid Festival Grounds, Kid Frozen Ponds, Kid Hedgerow, Kid Homegrown, Kid Houseboat, Kid Market Food, Kid Patchwork, Kid Some Boats, Kid Stagecoach, Kid Maypole, White Picket Fence (TS).
Welcome to Boatman's Rest, eager explorer. I hope you will have a Happy New Year here with us. My name is Genia and my husband is Garvine. We were among the first group to arrive here in this valley. Come sit by the fire and I'll tell you all about Boatman's Rest.
Chapter 1
There were 28 of us Hobbits, 16 adults with 12 children, who gathered at Riverboat Depot. We had just started loading the iron tools, hide coats, and potatoes into the 3 supply carts we were given when one of the cargo ships arrived. We were given a choice, wait for the rest of the Hobbits to arrive and some livestock to be allocated to us before traveling to the valley on foot, or have the cargo ship take us and the supply carts to the valley immediately. The cargo ship could unload some of the building materials there instead of at the Depot. The rest of the Hobbits would follow us with the livestock when they arrived and the weather improved.
It was early spring and cold and snowing. Traveling overland with the supply carts would not be easy no matter what the weather. Having a supply of logs, stone, iron, and firewood would give us a head start on building homes and getting settled. We all agreed getting a lift from the cargo ship was the best choice.
We quickly finished loading the supply carts with the tools, coats, and potatoes we were given. Some seeds and seedling joined our personal items on the carts before the boatmen took the carts to the ship. It did not take long to get to the valley. We were left onshore by the lake in the center of the valley with the 3 carts and a good supply of logs, stone, iron, and firewood. The boatmen did not have time to rest; they headed back to the Depot. We had no time to rest either; we had work to do.
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Chapter 2
We had a bit of an idea of what our valley was like; we got an overview from the top of the small hill near our landing site.
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To the east and northeast there were hills and a nice-sized valley. We could see a downed tree that could be used for fishing, a large herd of deer, and a hedgerow with a lot of mushrooms, wild oats, and asparagus that was just starting to come up. The weather warmed a bit, and the sun came out, its warm sunrays caused mist to rise from the cold river, and a beautiful rainbow appeared. It made us think of spring.
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To the southeast by the lake there were fewer trees and more sun. There was a small stream and a small pond and a larger one closer to the lake. We thought of summer in the sun. Across from that valley, on this side of the river, to the southwest was a small valley that was heavily wooded.
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To the west of our landing site, across another small stream were 2 small valleys. The one directly west seemed to be only rocks and trees, but the one to the northwest had a small pond, a smaller one with ducks, and a large herd of deer. The area looked like it would be good for fall hunting.
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To the north was another small pond and a much larger one that was still frozen even when the temperature warmed a bit more and more leaves began to open on the trees. That frozen pond made us think of winter.
The small valleys, the directions, and the seasons were giving us ideas of how we wanted to develop our settlement, but first we had to get ourselves settled.
Chapter 3
The first hobbit house for a family of 5 was built north of the stockpile near the small pond. There was a hedgerow with an apple and a walnut tree growing there, and there was room to plant a patch of cabbages. The brief warm spell was short lived, and it snowed again.
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Two more houses were built southwest of that one for 2 brothers and their families. One couple had 3 children, and the other couple just had their 1st child. Two patches were prepared for planting oats, and a root cellar was built nearby.
A 4th hobbit house for another family of 5 was built into the side of the small hill we got our overview from. There was a fishing tree down in the river there and a lot of mushrooms on the shore. A small mushroom collecting hut was built where the mushrooms grew the thickest and a root cellar was built next to that.
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Half our families had homes and had begun food production when the weather warmed and there were signs that winter might finally be coming to an end.
Chapter 4
It was still cold, and our coat supply was running low. A hobbit tailor was built next to the small barn that was built on the right side of the stockpile. A hobbit blacksmith was built across from that barn, but no blacksmith was assigned to it yet; our supply of tools was still good.
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On the other side of the stockpile, a woodcutter was built, and next to that was a small hobbit house for the adult daughter of one of the families who also had twin boys who turned one-year-old just after the family moved into their house. It was built behind the oat farm not far from the daughter.
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Another small hobbit house was built across from the daughter's house; the couple had 1 child and would take over the woodcutting. Another large hobbit house was built east of the cabbage farm for a couple with a 3-year-old daughter, and lastly a lighthouse was built by the river for Gavine and I and our son Arvis who had his first birthday just before we moved in.
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A bridge was being built across the river; there was another fishing tree and a large herd of deer right on the other shore. From the upper level of our lighthouse, we had a beautiful view of the rainbow, and we could clearly see the area across the river and far up the river as well. Much to our surprise, we were the first to see the cargo ship returning in late summer.
Chapter 5
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We did not expect the cargo ship to return but it was making a special delivery for us, a stagecoach and 2 horses. The ship brought along our livestock including several cows, sheep, and chickens. The group of stragglers who were to bring the livestock overland with them were also on the ship. It was a good thing they got a lift from the cargo ship, or they would have had to wait until spring to make the trip here; it was already autumn, and snow could be expected at any time.
There were 16 hobbits, 11 adults with 5 children. They brought along more seeds and seedling and news. The first paddlewheel boat had been completed, and we could probably expect the first visitors for Christmas. It was a good thing we had more workers and builders; there was a lot to do.
The animals came first. The family across from us took the sheep. They planted a farmyard with oats to feed them, potatoes, and carrots; they would make some wool coats. We took the chickens and build a big henhouse hoping the baby chicks would survive the winter in it. It snowed almost as soon as the chicken coop was completed.
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The cows went to the family of the single adult daughter. They fenced in an area, added a covering, and planted corn; if the corn did not do well here in the cold climate they could feed them oats from the neighbor's oat patches. That neighbor and his brother built a mill to grind some of the oats into flour. There was room for more oat patches if needed.
Chapter 6
A stable for the 2 horses was built not far to the east of the oat farm. It was still snowing at the time, so a covering was built over the hay and water trough. The stagecoach was parked in front of the attached stable house where the couple who would take care of the horses and the coach lived.
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The snow had melted long before the stage office, post office, and rooming houses were built next to the stable. Families arriving to visit with their boatmen could check in at the stage office, leave a message at the post office, and take the stagecoach to their lodgings. If their visit was to be a short one, they could stay right at the stagecoach inn. The boatmen could stay there as well.
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A bakery was built by the main storage barn to make bread from the newly milled flour. It was snowing however by the time the spice house was completed next to it. Herbs for herb bread or spices could be harvested from the spice house. For the time being, plain bread was being baked; spices may be needed for Christmas if our first guests would arrive by then.
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We were concerned there may not be enough room at the stagecoach inn, so we built a Holiday Inn up to the north of town. We built a general store, a bake shop, and a firewood store. A tiny gatherer and a house were built a short distance away. A cozy colorful little house was built next to the firewood store so a worker could live nearby; a 2nd story was later built on the house. A small park where the children could play was set up across from the inn, and a large tree was trimmed for Christmas. Next to the inn was Santa's mail where the children could write to Santa; they would be concerned that Santa would not find them.
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Chapter 7
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Down the road to the east, near the frozen pond, was another colorful little house, a hot chocolate stand, a roasted nuts stand, and a stand to get a pair of skates. The blacksmith and tailor made an assortment of sizes. A greenhouse next to the spice house was growing cocoa beans for the hot chocolate, and in town a stew pot was set up near the stagecoach inn. Town's people and guest could enjoy a hot and hardy potato, carrot, and mushroom stew even on the coldest days. It began to snow a few days later.
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Our first guests arrived just after Christmas; they were delayed by a snowstorm. Garvine and I saw the large houseboat coming down the river. It anchored near the stagecoach office, and a small jetty was quickly built so the passengers could get off the boat with their baggage. There were 9 adults with 2 children all eager to reunite with their boatman.
The houseboat was quickly on its way. The boatman could not say exactly when he would be back with more visitors; it would take time for word to spread about Boatmen's Rest. Another houseboat was almost completed. He would be back in a week or two, depending on the weather, to pick up these guests to take them home. The stagecoach was at the dock promptly to picked up some of the guests and their luggage and headed north to the Holiday Inn; one family stayed at the stagecoach inn. Two river boatmen arrived just as the stagecoach left; they ran to catch up with it but one of them returned to the stagecoach inn and his family. There were 2 happy reunions.
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Chapter 8
It wasn't long before the visiting families and ours were enjoying the skating pond and nearby snacks. Another stew pot was built, this one there by the snack stands. A hedgerow, with berries, branches, and rabbits, was discovered behind the Holiday Inn so the new pot contained rabbit stew.
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Three single family homes were built behind the hedgerow, one of those homes was a 2nd story house. Next to that a Christmas Spirits tavern was built. A grape house was built across from the spice house, so there would soon be mulled wine brewing at that tavern.
In town near the woodcutter a Green Dragon Tavern was built, and a wheat patch was planted in front of it. The tavern would brew and serve a hardy hobbit ale made from the wheat.
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It was soon time for the 2 boatmen to return to their riverboat routes. One family would wait for the houseboat to return to take them home, but the young wife with the 2 children and her boatman husband decided she would stay here permanently so he could see her and the children more often. We were happy to have her to stay with us and gladly added another worker to our workforce.
Chapter 9
The houseboat returned to pick up the remaining family and a short time later the 2nd houseboat arrived with a few more guest, the river boatmen soon followed. The visitors were taken north by stagecoach, and the boatman stayed at the stagecoach inn until it was time to take them home. A new pier was built for the visiting river boatmen, and another pier was built for the 2nd houseboat even though we doubted both would be here at the same time. We were told that a 3rd houseboat was being built, and that it was an exceptionally cold and snowy winter farther north, we shouldn't expect many visitors until spring.
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We decided we would develop a new area for the spring visitors; there would not be much to do in the winter area; although the big pond stayed frozen year-round, the ice was not thick enough to skate on in the warmer months, snowball fights and snowman building would come to an end too. The Christmas decorations could remain where they were until winter came again. The snack stands and stew pot would shut down in spring, but the food store and wood store would remain open for the few permanent residents that would remain in the area. You'll be quite comfortable at the Holiday Inn for the short time you're here eager explorer, unless you'd prefer to stay at the Stagecoach Inn here in town. There are a few visitors staying in both inns at the present time.
Back then, we realized that the area across the river to the east was very pretty in spring; there were more spring green birch trees plus pink, purple, and white flowering lilac bushes, and there would be more to do. We began several building projects before the winter snow finally came to an end.
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