Sculpture in Heming Park, downtown Jacksonville We had decided to take some time to sightsee, which meant we were on a schedule to leave Faith UMC at the end of February. That put a focus on all of our efforts, trying to bring the projects we were involved in to a close. The list, which Dave updated each day, only seemed to get a little shorter. And it didn’t include the things we needed to do to finally get underway again after planting roots here for so long. No matter what was on the list, our departure date was fixed, so we had to find a way to move on.
Lazarus shortly after arrival Lazarus
Although we continued to work on numerous electrical projects in support of Ron, who is a skilled electrician, and Darwin plugged away at fixing and maintaining the myriad small machines at the church, it seemed that there were a few projects that seemed to loom larger than others. Dave kept activating new routers to extend the wifi throughout the campus – to Wesley Hall and the sanctuary and creating documentation of what was there. However, one of the bigger projects was Lazarus.
Lazarus didn’t start with that name. The golf cart was towed into the church’s parking lot looking pretty forlorn. No seats. No batteries. No brakes. Wiring from the dark ages. That didn’t deter Pastor Barry from asking us to get it running again. At that point, parallels with the biblical Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, seemed all too appropriate. Loren drew the short straw to assess its condition. He did yeoman’s duty on Lazarus: sorting through the wires and electrical systems to understand them and to try to repair what he could. Fred was assigned the task of getting Lazarus some power. There was another golf cart that had a broken frame that had several batteries which were long overdue for a charge. Over several days, they were slowly resurrected (pun intended).
Although we continued to work on numerous electrical projects in support of Ron, who is a skilled electrician, and Darwin plugged away at fixing and maintaining the myriad small machines at the church, it seemed that there were a few projects that seemed to loom larger than others. Dave kept activating new routers to extend the wifi throughout the campus – to Wesley Hall and the sanctuary and creating documentation of what was there. However, one of the bigger projects was Lazarus.
Lazarus didn’t start with that name. The golf cart was towed into the church’s parking lot looking pretty forlorn. No seats. No batteries. No brakes. Wiring from the dark ages. That didn’t deter Pastor Barry from asking us to get it running again. At that point, parallels with the biblical Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, seemed all too appropriate. Loren drew the short straw to assess its condition. He did yeoman’s duty on Lazarus: sorting through the wires and electrical systems to understand them and to try to repair what he could. Fred was assigned the task of getting Lazarus some power. There was another golf cart that had a broken frame that had several batteries which were long overdue for a charge. Over several days, they were slowly resurrected (pun intended).
Donna, Bonnie and Loren putting on a coat of paint So, each day, to everyone’s surprise, Lazarus slowly came back. First a wheel started spinning. Then the lights came on. Maybe more out of hope than pragmatism, it was decided to paint it – a bright yellow. With Bonnie’s and Donna’s assistance treating the rust, priming and painting, Lazarus started looking spiffy. The batteries got installed. The seats were put back in place. The systems were tested and reconnected. Finally, it was time to take it for a test drive. After several trips around the parking lot, it was confirmed. Lazarus was back.
There was just one small problem. What about those brakes? When Loren expressed concern about them to Barry, he was told not to worry about it. Maybe Barry had a solution somewhere? Fred discovered what the solution was when Barry turned to him and asked him to see what he could do about brakes. Visits to golf cart stores brought him nothing more than amused looks. He resorted to crawling under a similar cart operated by a city worker downtown. Still nothing. So, as our time to depart arrived, we had to leave Lazarus where he sat. Just one part away from being whole. Still a pretty amazing return from the dead.
Barry takes it for a spin
Crepe “Murder”
Seventeen. That’s how many crepe myrtle trees there were on campus that needed pruning. (Well, there was an 18th one, but Cathy drew a line on pruning that one. It was way too big.) With 4 days left before our departure, surely Pat and Cathy could cut them back, a job that was long overdue. Unfortunately, the temperatures started soaring, and it seemed that all of the trees were in full sun. And then there was the question of how much to take off. Wrestling with the various opinions found on the internet, we opted for what is so kindly called crepe “murder”.
Seventeen. That’s how many crepe myrtle trees there were on campus that needed pruning. (Well, there was an 18th one, but Cathy drew a line on pruning that one. It was way too big.) With 4 days left before our departure, surely Pat and Cathy could cut them back, a job that was long overdue. Unfortunately, the temperatures started soaring, and it seemed that all of the trees were in full sun. And then there was the question of how much to take off. Wrestling with the various opinions found on the internet, we opted for what is so kindly called crepe “murder”.
So, we tried to pace ourselves. Four trees the first day. Eight trees the next. We came to the conclusion we didn’t have the tools to prune the four massive trees between the sanctuary and the education building. However, David said he could find a power saw to take those branches down. Really? Pat and Cathy were already dragging. Now we had small trees to haul away. And the only tool Dave could find was his battery-operated reciprocating saw. The good news was that the battery died periodically, giving the clean-up crew some rest. By the end of the third day, Fred had joined the crew, despite his conviction that we had all lost our grip.
On the 4th day, we finished up by removing the 2 remaining branches, one of which required a rope to ensure it didn’t fall on the roof. But, in the end, we did all 17.
Number 18 will have to wait for someone else.
On the 4th day, we finished up by removing the 2 remaining branches, one of which required a rope to ensure it didn’t fall on the roof. But, in the end, we did all 17.
Number 18 will have to wait for someone else.
Orion Jr under wraps Storing Jr
Cathy had to finish the boat cover before we could leave Orion Jr behind. We had purchased an RV cover in December, but realized it wouldn’t be deployed for almost a year. It was also approximately the right length and height to cover Jr. So with Pat’s help, Cathy modified the cover to serve as a boat cover. We took advantage of the existing vents, straps, zipper panels, and chafe protection. Before fitting it for the first time, we used measurements from the boat to establish a ridgeline in the cover, removing most of its existing roof fabric.
Cathy had to finish the boat cover before we could leave Orion Jr behind. We had purchased an RV cover in December, but realized it wouldn’t be deployed for almost a year. It was also approximately the right length and height to cover Jr. So with Pat’s help, Cathy modified the cover to serve as a boat cover. We took advantage of the existing vents, straps, zipper panels, and chafe protection. Before fitting it for the first time, we used measurements from the boat to establish a ridgeline in the cover, removing most of its existing roof fabric.
On deck inside the boat cover At its first fitting, it went on amazingly well. Maybe it always wanted to be a boat cover. We put in a couple of large darts near the bow. We had to modify the rear to accommodate the exit of the mast light and antenna and to lay smoothly along the stern rail. With these modifications made, the 2nd fitting was starting to look pretty good. We decided to put in a couple of vents at the bow, and to fashion a cover for the mastlight. Dave asked for a flap to hang down and cover the dinghy.
Flap covering the dinghy and rudder With these changes, the final fitting went very well. The only problems were the attachment points for a couple of straps. Cathy made the changes and had the cover folded and ready to go. We just needed to put the boat into storage. At the last minute, we were given a different alternative for storing the boat at Faith. We took them up on their offer and slid the boat in beside our trailer on Thursday before our Saturday departure. The cover went on pretty smoothly.
To minimize the sun damage to the straps, we covered the portion still exposed to the sun ensuring all were in good shape. Although the flap on the cover did a good job protecting the dinghy, the rudder was more exposed to the afternoon sun, so Dave moved that to sit behind the dinghy. With these changes, we felt pretty good that Orion Jr would do well sitting for several months. Although we know she misses being on the water.
To minimize the sun damage to the straps, we covered the portion still exposed to the sun ensuring all were in good shape. Although the flap on the cover did a good job protecting the dinghy, the rudder was more exposed to the afternoon sun, so Dave moved that to sit behind the dinghy. With these changes, we felt pretty good that Orion Jr would do well sitting for several months. Although we know she misses being on the water.
Tire Pressure sensor The Pressure
With the boat taken care of, we had a few things to do on the truck and trailer before moving. Between the 2 vehicles we now had 8 tires that could have a problem, 4 of which we wouldn’t be able to see or hear if something went wrong while underway. To remedy this, we installed a tire pressure monitor. Sensors installed on each tire’s valve stem send a signal to a display in the truck, programmed with the optimal pressure of each tire If the pressure falls outside of a tolerance, an alarm sounds.
With the boat taken care of, we had a few things to do on the truck and trailer before moving. Between the 2 vehicles we now had 8 tires that could have a problem, 4 of which we wouldn’t be able to see or hear if something went wrong while underway. To remedy this, we installed a tire pressure monitor. Sensors installed on each tire’s valve stem send a signal to a display in the truck, programmed with the optimal pressure of each tire If the pressure falls outside of a tolerance, an alarm sounds.
Dave and Bonnie talk with Bill Tarbell about leadership training Hellos and Goodbyes
On the 3rd Friday of the month, we headed west to Fruitland Park and the UM Life Enrichment Center that was hosting a Nomads get-together. We made a day of it, joining Barry, Pat and Fred and Bonnie and Darwin for trip west across the state to a lovely camp setting. Dave and Cathy spent some time in the afternoon attending leadership training for possible future Nomads projects, while the rest of the crew took in the sights – a couple of local thrift stores.
On the 3rd Friday of the month, we headed west to Fruitland Park and the UM Life Enrichment Center that was hosting a Nomads get-together. We made a day of it, joining Barry, Pat and Fred and Bonnie and Darwin for trip west across the state to a lovely camp setting. Dave and Cathy spent some time in the afternoon attending leadership training for possible future Nomads projects, while the rest of the crew took in the sights – a couple of local thrift stores.
The last week of February, wWe said goodbye to Pat and Ron, who headed out shortly before we did. They had accomplished an amazing amount of projects and had been great company for the time we shared together. Then on Friday before we left, who should stop by but George and Gail, on their way to Orlando. We showed them around campus and had them join us for a farewell supper that the youth had made for us. This coincided with Darwin’s birthday, which we gladly celebrated.
The next morning we finally hooked up and headed out after spending 3 ½ months here at Faith. We gave hugs goodbye, but promised to return. At any rate, we had to. If for no other reason, Orion Jr is there.
Traveling West
With Pat and Fred, we made our way due west across Florida. We were headed to Fort Pickens, a campground in the Gulf Isles National Seashore that was almost as far west on the Florida panhandle as you could go. To our surprise, we even changed time zones. After a stop at a Wal-mart south of Tallahassee on Saturday, we arrived at the campground Sunday afternoon. We backed into our site pretty easily and then went to unhook. That’s when it stopped being easy.
Although the hitch handle popped out, the trailer pin wouldn’t release. We tried several heights of the trailer, tried moving the truck slightly, but nothing was working. We were in a dilemma, because we couldn’t get the hitch to lock back on the pin and we couldn’t get it to release.
We had some assistance from a fellow fifth-wheel owner, but we were not coming up with anything. At his suggestion, we finally decided to release the hitch from the truck. Once we did that, the pressure released and the pin came out. This was the 2nd time we had struggled to release from the truck, although it was far worse. Something had to change.
We had about 5 days to figure out what that something was.
With Pat and Fred, we made our way due west across Florida. We were headed to Fort Pickens, a campground in the Gulf Isles National Seashore that was almost as far west on the Florida panhandle as you could go. To our surprise, we even changed time zones. After a stop at a Wal-mart south of Tallahassee on Saturday, we arrived at the campground Sunday afternoon. We backed into our site pretty easily and then went to unhook. That’s when it stopped being easy.
Although the hitch handle popped out, the trailer pin wouldn’t release. We tried several heights of the trailer, tried moving the truck slightly, but nothing was working. We were in a dilemma, because we couldn’t get the hitch to lock back on the pin and we couldn’t get it to release.
We had some assistance from a fellow fifth-wheel owner, but we were not coming up with anything. At his suggestion, we finally decided to release the hitch from the truck. Once we did that, the pressure released and the pin came out. This was the 2nd time we had struggled to release from the truck, although it was far worse. Something had to change.
We had about 5 days to figure out what that something was.
