Sunrise over Walmart parking lot We extended our stay at Pocahontas into November for a little over a week. But when the forecast predicted a hard frost in a couple of days, we knew it was time to head south. We pulled into Faith UMC in Jacksonville on a Friday afternoon, and soon found ourselves immersed in this community as if we never left.
Warm fire greets guests at the Volunteer Appreciation party Finishing Up
Pocahontas State Park’s annual Volunteer Appreciation party was planned for the first weekend in November, so it only made sense to stay long enough to attend. The Sunday afternoon was chilly, so Dave and Droz lost little time building a fire in the shelter’s fireplace. It was the hit of the afternoon, and thanks to Droz’s attentiveness, burned bright for hours. We enjoyed spending time with other volunteers we had met throughout the summer and getting a glimpse of the many ways volunteers help make the park work.
Pocahontas State Park’s annual Volunteer Appreciation party was planned for the first weekend in November, so it only made sense to stay long enough to attend. The Sunday afternoon was chilly, so Dave and Droz lost little time building a fire in the shelter’s fireplace. It was the hit of the afternoon, and thanks to Droz’s attentiveness, burned bright for hours. We enjoyed spending time with other volunteers we had met throughout the summer and getting a glimpse of the many ways volunteers help make the park work.
Dave throwing a spear with the atlatl One of the cool activities at the party was the chance to try our hand at spear-throwing using an atlatl, an ancient hunting technique. Some of us were better than others, but luckily no one was injured as a result of our learning curve.
Andi and Kevin present us the Camp Host of the Year award In addition to the food, fellowship and games, the afternoon was also one for recognizing outstanding volunteer efforts, including 3 volunteers who had accumulated over 3000 hours of service to the park. However, imagine our surprise when our names were called for recognition as Camp Host of the Year. The award was an unexpected but gratifying acknowledgement of our efforts over the summer and fall. Wow!
Dave power-washing the bathhouse in preparation for painting As we made preparations to leave for Florida, we continued to complete some small projects around the park – power-washing, disassembling picnic tables, training the new park hosts. However, the one thing we wanted to do was help kick off the planning for a new event tentatively planned for the fall of 2018. With the structure of the Nomads projects as a guide, Dave had helped plant the seed for organizing a group project to attract RV snowbirds who might take a detour to stay at the park and work together to complete a bigger project. Meeting with Kevin and Andi, we talked through the ideas about everything from timing to marketing to funding the endeavor. It’s exciting to see it start to come together.
Having finished our projects for this year, it was time to head out, but we are already signed up for several months in 2018. So, for sure we’ll be back.
Having finished our projects for this year, it was time to head out, but we are already signed up for several months in 2018. So, for sure we’ll be back.
Dave and Barry reviewing the project list Starting Up
It didn’t take us long after our return to explore the grounds to see what had changed and what hadn’t in the several months since we left Faith. The gardens that were just being dug were now lush with vegetables. And the crushed roof on the Peeler building was startling to see in person. The densely packed rooms were empty, and a huge effort had re-established them in several former classrooms. However, we hadn’t even finished our circuit of the campus when our services were being sought. “Can you drive a van tomorrow?” Kim’s Open Door was beginning a tutoring program for refugee children and was having difficulty getting someone to drive the van to pick them up. So, guess what Dave was doing the next morning? And the first request from Barry? “Could you make some croutons?” Sure thing.
It didn’t take us long after our return to explore the grounds to see what had changed and what hadn’t in the several months since we left Faith. The gardens that were just being dug were now lush with vegetables. And the crushed roof on the Peeler building was startling to see in person. The densely packed rooms were empty, and a huge effort had re-established them in several former classrooms. However, we hadn’t even finished our circuit of the campus when our services were being sought. “Can you drive a van tomorrow?” Kim’s Open Door was beginning a tutoring program for refugee children and was having difficulty getting someone to drive the van to pick them up. So, guess what Dave was doing the next morning? And the first request from Barry? “Could you make some croutons?” Sure thing.
Barb, Mike and Bobbi try to bring order to the stuff evacuated from Peeler's storage rooms We were not the first Nomads to arrive at Faith – Don and Bobbi had returned and we were introduced to Mike and Barb who are new to Nomads this year. By week’s end, Fred had returned and another new Nomad, Mark had arrived. As drop-ins, we were already busy with projects, and Dave had prepared a multi-page list of tasks as he took input from Pastor Barry and the church council, among others. There is never a problem finding things to do here. We still have several days before the official project begins to get organized, which is a good thing, since we have a large group of Nomads joining us after Thanksgiving.
New Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Brake Controller RV Stuff
Our trip south gave us the chance to try out a new brake controller. Dave had purchased and installed a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Brake Controller at the recommendation of the Reese representative at the Hershey RV Show. The controller it replaced made it difficult to stop smoothly, since every time the truck braked, the same amount of force applied is the same – whether slowing quickly or gradually. This was even worse on the rare occasions we towed the empty boat trailer. No adjustment of the controller would allow it to keep the trailer wheels from locking up. This would not do if we had to travel any distance with an empty trailer.
The new Tekonsha uses proportional braking, applying pressure at the same ratio as the tow vehicle. It can also be programmed for different trailer profiles – from RV to towed sailboat to empty boat trailer. The display on the controller shows which profile is being used and gives feedback on the voltage being sent to the brakes. The end result is much smoother braking and a much happier crew.
Our trip south gave us the chance to try out a new brake controller. Dave had purchased and installed a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Brake Controller at the recommendation of the Reese representative at the Hershey RV Show. The controller it replaced made it difficult to stop smoothly, since every time the truck braked, the same amount of force applied is the same – whether slowing quickly or gradually. This was even worse on the rare occasions we towed the empty boat trailer. No adjustment of the controller would allow it to keep the trailer wheels from locking up. This would not do if we had to travel any distance with an empty trailer.
The new Tekonsha uses proportional braking, applying pressure at the same ratio as the tow vehicle. It can also be programmed for different trailer profiles – from RV to towed sailboat to empty boat trailer. The display on the controller shows which profile is being used and gives feedback on the voltage being sent to the brakes. The end result is much smoother braking and a much happier crew.
Checking for leaks While at Pocahontas, we were concerned that the freshwater pump was cycling when there was no demand on the water system. This might mean a leak. So, shortly after arriving in Jacksonville, we had an appointment at Camping World to check it out. When we arrived at the service department, Dave’s discussion with the service technician made him think that maybe there was no leak. We returned with the RV to Faith and began a methodical check of the water system. First we turned the pump on and left it running – something we had been reluctant to do up till now. Although the pump cycled frequently at first, after a few minutes the intervals were several minutes long. Checking underneath the RV through a small opening in the underbelly, all we could see and feel looked dry.
The next test was to connect to city water and check again for leaks. After several hours, the underbelly was still dry. And the same was true after several days. All is good for now.
The next test was to connect to city water and check again for leaks. After several hours, the underbelly was still dry. And the same was true after several days. All is good for now.
Adam and Droz with the boundary marking crew. Brrrrr! Parting shots
We stayed in Virginia long enough to celebrate our grandson’s birthday, which included a bike ride around the park in a cold drizzle. Guess you had to be there. And we had one more visit with our daughter’s family. More rain, but we managed to have a campfire breakfast and some rousing games of Old Maid and Left-Right-Center before saying goodbye.
And just to reinforce the wisdom of our timing for the trip south, Adam sent us a picture of him and Droz getting trained at Pocahontas to do boundary marking. As you can see from their clothing, it was a bit chilly.
We stayed in Virginia long enough to celebrate our grandson’s birthday, which included a bike ride around the park in a cold drizzle. Guess you had to be there. And we had one more visit with our daughter’s family. More rain, but we managed to have a campfire breakfast and some rousing games of Old Maid and Left-Right-Center before saying goodbye.
And just to reinforce the wisdom of our timing for the trip south, Adam sent us a picture of him and Droz getting trained at Pocahontas to do boundary marking. As you can see from their clothing, it was a bit chilly.
