Finishing UpWe only had a few days to bring the tasks we were involved in at Faith to a close. Dave published the church’s website and turned over the daily maintenance to the church members. With Rigo’s help we re-positioned the serving equipment and tables into the school’s cafe, clearing the way for them to serve hot lunches. After a particularly rainy couple of days, it became apparent that the house rented by World Relief needed some attention to its roof. Ken and Dave spent an afternoon getting covered in muck cleaning it off. All in a day’s work.
Although the work on Peeler progressed slowly this season, by early April the contractor had finally replaced the roof, having constructed soffits on the side where the addition was removed. Although the contractor still had more to do, the new soffits were all bare wood that needed to be painted. So with Sandy and Ken’s help we primed and caulked all the bare wood. That was the best we could do in the time we had left.

Finally, there was one more task to do. On our last Saturday, Kim from Kim’s Open Door called asking if Dave could drive the bus to the tutoring program on Saturday. Sure thing. And with that done, we were done for the season. Sandy had left the Wednesday before. Ken and Karen headed out that same Saturday. And on Monday, it was our turn to say goodbye.   

Until November . . . well sort of.

Boat Stuff

The list of tasks needed to get Orion Jr back on the road and on the water was getting shorter. Dave checked the tires and topped off their air pressure. He also moved the tire pressure sensors from the RV and reprogrammed the Tire Pressure Monitor at the lower pressure required. After some debate, we decided to replace the batteries on the boat with 2 new Marine group 24 batteries. The load they could carry would be 25% less (150 amp-hours vs 200), but the advantage of having fresh batteries (and therefore a known entity) at a good price was worth the change.

Then, there were the leaks. The rain that exposed problems at the house next door, also reminded us of problems on the boat. The port side settee in the Main Saloon had a huge puddle of water. And the bilge pumped out a lot of water. We were able to eliminate several possible sources (portlights, hatch boards, shrouds), but narrowed in on a small crack in the port cockpit seat. We made a temporary repair and will look for the next rain to see if we are right.

As people asked how much longer we would be around, Cathy’s response was “if you see that mast still on the ground, you know we’re not going anywhere too soon.” Well that changed on the Thursday before we left. With Rigo and Ken’s help, we pretty easily hefted it on deck and secured it for travel. Orion Jr was ready to hit the road.

Visiting Harry and Friends

Cathy’s 60th birthday had a delayed reward. After the last of the Spring Break crowds had departed, we headed to Orlando to visit Universal Studios and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We tasted some butterbeer, shopped at Honeyduke’s in Hogsmeade, rode the Hogwarts Express, watched a wand choose its wizard at Olivanders in Diagon Alley, and even ventured into Knockturn Alley. We toured Hogwarts and took the Forbidden Journey ride into the chamber of secrets and rode with Harry and crew on their escape from Gringotts. There were lots of wand-waving wizards around, but we left the magic tricks to those who were willing to pay $50 for a wand. (I don’t think so.)

With four days to tour the two Universal parks, we had plenty of time to explore outside the Harry Potter land. We had a close encounter with a raptor dinosaur (click here to see a video),, rode the brand new (literally on its first day) Fast and Furious ride (pretty cool) and more than a dozen 3D/4D rides with Spiderman, Minions, The Simpsons, The Mummy, Transformers, and more trying to save us from the bad guys or take us to them. There were only 2  rides that had survived the 2 decades since our last visit, but one of them was Men In Black:Alien Attack, which was still a lot of fun. Luckily, it had some of the shortest lines, so we rode it repeatedly trying to improve our scores.   

We watched a few shows, but by far the most dramatic was Fear Factor. They convinced some volunteers to have scorpions crawl on them, drink disgusting stuff and dangle from perilous heights to win prizes. The show ended with a bang (literally) as one competitor dangled from a car hood several stories above the ground. Each day they were looking for volunteers to compete in the next show, but we were satisfied being just spectators.

Just outside the parks was Citywalk, Universal’s dining and shopping area. The one establishment that made an immediate impression was the Chocolate Emporium, conveniently located just outside the entrance to the Islands of Adventure Park. We had supper there one night, but by far the most memorable dishes were their desserts. We tried 2 or 3 of their sundaes over several days. And although we split each one, we were never able to finish one.   

 On a couple of occasions we left the park early. Once to visit with Dave’s sister Wendy and her husband Dave who drove up from Bradenton. And once to see the Blue Man Group show, which was funny and weird but still a good time. We had earned tickets to see it, so our admission was free. By Friday, we were ready to head back “home” to Jacksonville. It had been a good break and a great birthday gift.

The Road North
It took us 2 days to reach Poquoson towing Jr. The first of which was pretty uneventful. But the second day was a different story. Less than an hour out of Lumberton, where we had stopped for the night, a tire pressure alarm sounded. While we had seen a few false alarms over the years since installing them, this was certainly real. The front passenger tire on the trailer was leaking air through a sizable opening on the inside. Big enough that you could hear the air escaping despite the noise of traffic on I95. 

Luck and planning were with us however. Before heading north, Dave had changed our BoatUS insurance to include unlimited towing – which included both on water and trailer towing. Also, after contacting BoatUS, we discovered that we were parked on the side of the road directly in front of a truck service facility. Sure enough, the repair man came to us --- not up I95, but through the fence that separated the facility from us. By the time he arrived, Dave had fired up the generator to put air in the spare tire. It was pretty quick work to then replace the failing tire with the spare. The problem was not a puncture, but a belt failure in the tire. We also learned that we should be keeping our speeds down around 60mph.

Given that information, we pretty quickly turned off the interstate to take another route to Poquoson. We were well on our way to the Virginia Line when another alarm sounded. The same tire? No. This time it was the driver’s side rear tire. As Dave looked to pull over in the small town we were just entering, it looked like the business beside us was a garage. Really? Sure enough, after speaking to the receptionist, we were able to drive around to the service bay and almost immediately a mechanic was jacking up the trailer. This time it wasn’t a bad belt, but rather a bad valve stem. He just needed to deflate the tire, replace the stem and re-inflate it. In less than 30 minutes and for less than $10, we were good to go.

After a very long day, we pulled into Steve and Linda’s yard, very glad to be there. Let’s hope launching the boat will be a little less eventful.

Shortly after we greeted the Easter sunrise in the church courtyard, we found our numbers increased by one with the arrival of our grandson Droz who joined us for a week.  After his departure, Cathy joined her Mom and sisters for a few days to celebrate her mom’s 90th birthday.  In the meantime, we helped wind up projects, as we said goodbye to more of our friends.  The season is about to come to a close.

Yes, Chef

No ditch digging or electrical projects were on the agenda for Droz’ visit this year.  That doesn’t mean he wasn’t busy.  He had signed up to be head cook – i.e.,  chef – at the Wednesday dinner during his visit.  Since he was well into a culinary class at school, he rose to the challenge of planning and preparing a meal for 50 people.  

He had planned the menu before he arrived, so Easter Monday morning was spent preparing a shopping list.  There would be Caesar salad, bruschetta,ziti alfredo, and Black Forest Cake for dessert.  On Tuesday, we headed out to buy the ingredients to a Restaurant supply store and a few more grocery stores.  With the purchases made, Droz dove into preparation that afternoon and all of the next day, assisted by sous chefs Grandma and Grandpa.  

All was going according to plan until Droz detected a gas leak on one of the ovens around lunchtime on Wednesday.  The repairman was called, and Droz scrambled to get his baking done – 4 iterations of cake layers in the one working oven.  To his dismay, the repairmen arrived as the last cakes had just entered the oven.  To fix the problem, they would need to turn off the gas.  It was a race, but the cakes finished just as they had to turn off the gas.  That was close. 
 
The meal was a big hit.  And what leftovers there were managed to disappear over the next couple of days.  There were already discussions about maybe a repeat next year. . 

​When not working on the meal, we managed to break away for a few field trips.  On Friday, we headed to Clara’s for lunch, followed by a tour of Sweet Pete’s – one of Jacksonville’s home-grown candy makers – complete with a custom-made candy bar, taking the Skyway for an overview of the city and the river downtown.  Thursday took us to St. Augustine for the day, touring the fort and the old town on a beautiful, if somewhat blustery, day.

Happy 90th, Mom
 
The Sunday after Easter, we were surprised by a visit from Cathy’s Mom and 2 of her sisters, Carolyn and Chris, who joined us for Sunday service.  They had arrived in St. Simon’s Island GA the night before where the “girls” – Cathy’s mom and her sisters -- gathered later that day for a few days to celebrate Mom’s 90th birthday.  With our arrival, the weather turned blustery and gray, but we had a great time relaxing and reminiscing together while we celebrated Mom’s milestone.

​And Then There Were 5

While the project work continued, the pace started to slow as more of our members prepared to leave for points north.  More staining and painting was done, and at this point, there is almost no bare wood left on campus.  Bobbi and Sandy continued Karen’s work on the front pillars, powerwashing  them so  the rest looked as good as the first few she had done.  Don got the surface cleaner working again, requiring a series of new parts, repaired yet another bathroom fixture, a log splitter tire, deck boards etc.  And Fred repaired doors, the parsonage AC, and made seemingly endless repairs to the golf carts.  In the process, he worked with Jahaziel to help him learn how to keep the carts running and maintained while the Nomads aren’t around.  We’ll see how he does.
 
Dave worked with several members of the church to transition to a new website and calendaring system, and managed to help Pastor Rigo finalize his local pastor application.  It may not have required all the creative work of writing the many pages of papers, but his talents were essential in making sure they were submitted for review by the deadline.
 
Shortly after Droz returned home to go back to school, Fred, Don and Bobbi packed up and headed out.  It was still pretty cold up north, but you gotta do what you gotta do.  

Boat Stuff
 
With the eventual launch of Orion Jr getting closer, our attention is increasingly focused on getting her back in shape.  Cathy finished making all 5 windows for the enclosure (finally!), and then did some stitching on the bimini to reinforce the zippers.  With all the sewing work done, the canvas was stowed in preparation to return the mast to the deck.  

Dave took a drive down to Daytona to deliver our outboards and generator to Blake for servicing.  When we went to pick them up, we found out the generator and Nissan 9.8hp were in great shape.  However, sadly, our dinghy motor was toast.  It had served us well for 11 years, but it wasn’t salvageable.  For our trip in May, we figure the oars will get some use, instead.  The dinghy’s lights got some attention as well, since they wouldn’t turn on initially.  Although Dave managed to resuscitate the all-around light, he ordered replacements for all 3 to be sure we were covered. 
 
As the campground emptied out, we moved the boat to a spot out of the trees, powerwashed the foredeck and washed and waxed the hull.  In the process of moving the boat, we tested the trailer lights and brakes.  You guessed it. One of the sidelights didn’t work and the brake battery was questionable.  More replacements were ordered.  Opening up cockpit lockers to stow some new PFD’s, caused a chain reaction of activities which resulted in cleaning both lockers, changing the fuel filter (and ordering a replacement), and restoring the fuel tanks to their operating position. 
 
With still more to do to get the boat ready to go and RV ready to shut down, we decided it was time to go to Universal Studios and see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – a delayed birthday present for Cathy.  The boat stuff will still be there when we return.

Parting Shot 
​
​Hemingway couldn’t be left out when everyone gathered in the courtyard before sunrise on Easter Sunday.  She found a way to become the center of attention – as always.

As March came to a close, our normal activities at Faith expanded to include preparations for Lent observances and Easter Sunday celebrations.   There were more comings and goings among the Nomad volunteers and we found ourselves once again surrounded by some energetic youngsters helping out on their Spring Break.
​

Fixing Up
 
A few different projects that had been lingering for several weeks came to a conclusion over the past 2 weeks.  Cathy and Karen completed a review (with a little help from Jahaziel) of the irrigation zones and ensured all the heads were functioning and pointing in the right direction.  Dave and Ken managed to work out a solution to a persistent drain blockage in the new Pre-school room.  It was more involved than we had hoped for, since they had to cut a slice through the sidewalk only to find a 6” diameter root that ran straight down the channel they had just cut out.  Despite the setbacks, the drain was installed and this problem eliminated for now.    But the most exciting accomplishment was one we didn’t actually do.  Dave had worked to arrange the donation of a new vinyl floor for the school’s lunchroom.  With this change, they would be able to serve hot lunches.  When we got the call that the installer would arrive early on Easter Saturday morning, the room was quickly transformed.  Several of us had worked hard to remove the old carpet and it was a thrill to see the new floor go down and finish the job.

​Dave found himself exercising his computer skills more than usual as he was asked to assist the church with its website.  That led him to build a new one using Weebly and to train several church members to maintain different aspects of it.  He met with Jim, the current webmaster to understand the existing website and to help make the transition.  When not working on the website or doing another part buying search, he was spending time with Pastor Rigo to help him move forward his application for local pastor credentials.  

​Late in the week before Palm Sunday, we were visited for 2 consecutive days by some enthusiastic local volunteers on their Spring Break.  While planning for their activities, we included Pastor Rigo’s younger son, Jahaziel who was equally enthusiastic about planning and leading the group.  He hauled equipment to the house being rented by World Relief and made lists of tasks and supplies we needed.  It was a good thing too, since it took 3 or 4 of us to keep up with all they were doing.  Several truckloads of scrap metal were recycled, and we took several loads of trash to the dumpster.  A huge pile of logs were split and stacked, several heavy landscape timbers moved and a pretty flower bed was planted in front of the house.  The field next to the house was mowed a second time as well.   After they left, we found ourselves back at the house to make some more repairs – a door had delaminated and needed replacing, and the exterior sewer drain pipe broke and had to be replaced quickly.

​There was continuing work on painting, powerwashing and repairs.  Some of the more noticeable work was the powerwashing of the stone pillars that front the property.    The difference was pretty dramatic.  When not working outside, some of us found plenty to do in the kitchen.  During the spring break week, Kim’s Open Door program held an art camp, with 40 kids to be fed each day.  As a thank you, we were invited to their closing program on Saturday, which was full of energy and very uplifting.  (And there was food too.)  Kitchen duties continued the next Wednesday when we stepped in to pinch hit for the cook handling the Wednesday Seder meal.  This formal meal has a larger crowd of about 70 people, and when the cook called in sick, we chopped, diced, and cooked all day to get the meal on the table.  It went pretty smoothly considering the last minute change in chefs.
​

We had 2 Nomads leave us during the last 2 weeks as Cheryl and Karen headed for home.  Also, Don spent an unexpected few days in the hospital as he worked to clear an excess of fluid from his lungs.  We were all glad to see him return for Palm Sunday services, looking much like his old self.  And just before Easter, we had a surprise visit from Pat Manley who flew down for the weekend to escape the cold weather and enjoy time with Fred and the rest of us.  It was a joy to see her and spend time together.

Off Hours
 
Cathy used much of her time off to complete 3 more panels for the boat’s enclosure.  However, she did break away long enough to see a “Living Last Supper” presentation at Fort Caroline UMC that was excellent.  Dave joined the rest of the Nomads and some church members for a trip to the Florida UM Children’s Home in Enterprise FL.  This location hosts Nomads projects as well, so it gave him a chance to see the beautiful facility, learn about the programs they offer and see what the campground looks like for the Nomads.  (And there was food there of course too.)

We also joined the Spanish congregation one Saturday to celebrate a young man’s 10th birthday.  This was a significant celebration, since it was his first birthday party.  He had a wonderful time, as did the rest of us.

​With a bumper crop of Nomads still here at Faith this March, the list of completed tasks is growing longer each day.  Some days it’s hard to keep track of all that’s being accomplished.  Our numbers also swelled for a day with an energetic group of UT students on their Spring Break trip.  

Project Work
​
With a dozen volunteers staying here at Faith, we have our hands full keeping them organized onto tasks and supplied with needed materials.  There is a group of 3 or 4 whose primary focus has been powerwashing and painting / staining.  This group has transformed the courtyard deck and picnic tables, refreshed the peeling paint on the front of Asbury Hall and Peeler, and various smaller touchups around the campus.  

Another 2 or 3 focus on electrical tasks, which range from small tasks like replacing a GFI outlet to major ones like installing the new service for the planned storage areas in the Peeler building.  As the containers arrived that are to become Peeler’s new annex, Ron, Karen and Pat worked steadily for several days through the weekend to install lights and the main circuit panel before Ron and Pat had to leave for their home in Iowa.

The rest of the team moves around as needed, including both of us.  There is a lot of ground to cover – literally and figuratively.  Karen and Cathy have been working their way through the irrigation zones (there are 8), and replacing or adjusting the sprinkler heads so that they will water the grass, not the sidewalks or parking lots.  Three have been done so far.  Dave and Ken have spent several days attempting to clear a blockage that has developed in the drain for the new day care sinks.  So far with no good success, but certainly not for lack of trying.  We have sorted and organized tools, replaced glass in broken windows, installed shelves, replaced thermostats, and even assisted with the return of residents displaced by the fire last December back to their apartments, including washing a dozen loads of musty clothes and linens.  When one of the church members built a new 6ft cross to install on the church grounds, you can guess who was there to dig the hole to install it and to run the power for the lights.  That’s right.

While our list of finished tasks grows steadily despite the occasional aches and pains, it was still impressive to see what a dozen motivated college students could accomplish in just a morning.  Sponsored by World Relief, the group of University of Tennessee students on an Alternative Spring Break trip arrived on a cold (for Florida) rainy Monday and were undeterred by the inclement weather.  Divided into 4 teams, they attacked their respective tasks with enthusiasm and good humor.  We dismantled an old shed that used to cover the well, mowed the grass in the field next to the Burmese garden, picked up half a dozen large bags of trash ( including a Walmart cart from the creek behind the campground), and dug out the valve boxes for the irrigation system that had vanished in the year since they were installed.  It was hard to keep ahead of them.  And they were a wonderful group to work with.  

Boat Stuff:
 
We continue to squeeze in boat projects.  Cathy finished the new windshield for the boat and began working on a couple of side panels.  In the meantime, Dave inspected the navigation and anchor lights on the boat and cleaned connections as necessary to ensure they were working reliably.    
 

​I know.  Another cat picture. 
 
We received an unsettling reminder that these creatures we think are so loveable have a dark side.  When several birds flew into the windows and didn’t survive, the cats – even Hemingway – couldn’t resist “playing” with them.  

With the project completed, the work continued but with a slightly different crew.  Jim, Sandy, Fred, Cheryl, Ron, Pat, Don and Bobbi stayed on.  And Joanne and Karen re-joined us after their project at Crystal River completed.  That made 11 of us which was a larger drop-in complement than in past years.  

Project Work

One of the bigger projects over the last 2 weeks was one that caught us by surprise.  The school wanted to get a food serving area certified by the Health Department.  However, that required a floor that could be mopped.  So the carpet that had been glued down for decades had to go.  We had some fresh recruits for a few days when Sandy’s daughter, granddaughter and some friends arrived.  So, we asked them to start on this project.  They quickly became overwhelmed.  Mere brute strength was not going to remove this firmly seated covering.  Could we do it at all?  

After some consultation with some church members who were more knowledgeable, we began to get not only a path forward, but some great news.  The church had some power tools that would help remove the carpet and the underlying glue.  If we could get it up, a church member would provide a linoleum floor covering and the labor to install it for free.   
​

​With that motivation, we were determined to get the carpet up.  Karen, Cathy and Dave lugged the tools into the room and got to work.  It was pretty hard, like working a jackhammer, but the carpet was coming up.  However, the room was looming pretty large.  After taking a break to review some YouTube videos, we discovered we were working with a badly dulled blade.  When we changed to a new one, the difference was enough to renew our enthusiasm that we could do this.  By day’s end, half the carpet was gone, and we were grateful that we would have 3 days to rest.  On Monday, we returned with a couple of more helpers and managed to remove the rest of the carpet and much of the glue.  By end of day Tuesday, the room was ready for inspection.  And, it passed with flying colors.  

​So, around the rest of the campus other work continued.  Cheryl and Bobbi stained the courtyard deck and picnic tables, turning what had been an unappealing structure into an attractive centerpiece of the campus.  There is talk of cookouts and picnics to take advantage of the beautiful space.   At Peeler, Jim, Joanne, Karen and Ron turned a small side room into a new room to house tools in one place​

​There were also less glamorous behind the scenes repairs.  Don repaired a leaky toilet that required a repair to the cast iron flange in the floor.  Sandy’s crew dug out several square feet of vines that threatened to trip the small feet running around in the playground.    We helped moved the 3 residents who are immigrants from Burundi back into their apartments (finally) after the fire had displaced them in late December, including doing more than half a dozen loads of laundry.   It wasn’t all physical labor.  Dave spent several hours working with Pastor Rigo on his application to be a local pastor.  And there are several more sessions to go.  

​Even less glamorous were the persistent problems that required a lot of trial and error.   A drain that wouldn’t clear.  Air conditioners that wouldn’t start.  Well, maybe next week.

​Boat Stuff
 
With the boat’s mast lying on the ground next to the RV, it is easy to inspect it for problems and address them.  Sometime over the last 3 years, one of the spreader boots had vanished, so we installed new ones in one of the easiest “up the mast” tasks ever.  The problem life jackets (remember the ant infestation?) were tossed in favor of new ones.  And work continues on the forward windshield.  (Aren’t you done yet?)

Parting Shots
 
We are continuously given thanks and affection by the members of the church.  Carol wanted Dave to see that she had a surprise gift just for him – a chocolate pie.  And Cathy is greeted daily by Callie, whose wariness has finally been overcome as she comes up for her daily head scratch.

As Lent arrived early on Valentine’s Day, the project was winding down, ending the following day.  We accomplished all of the project's major objectives and completed a myriad of smaller tasks as well.  And we managed to enjoy some off-duty activities with the team as well.

Finishing Up

Despite projections of a quick finish, the group working on the parsonage managed to spend most of the 3 weeks repairing and painting it, applying the finishing touches only a day before the project ended.  The teams working back at the church managed to solve several roof leaks, powerwash most of the sidewalks, repair doors and siding, prune a large crepe myrtle and prepare Peeler Hall for the new storage rooms to be installed. 
 
Unfortunately, Dave was sidelined for several days with a cold that laid him low – a rare occurrence.  Since we share everything, it was no surprise that Cathy followed him to bed, but luckily with a less severe case.  We were missed, but the project work didn’t slow due to our absence.  

It was sad to once again say goodbye to the new friends we’d made as they headed off to their next project, and to Herb and Peggy, the project leaders who left Saturday to head home.  However, with eight of us staying on, the work will continue for a few more weeks.  We just switch to Nomads drop-in status.

Hearts and Music
 
As Valentine’s Day approached, we joined a festival dinner for that occasion, hosted by the Spanish congregation.  The Wesley Hall was transformed, and we were served a several course dinner that was amazingly good – salad, spaghetti with homemade sauce, stuffed chicken with Caribbean rice, and cake for dessert.  It was a beautiful evening.

​The next day, the United Brothers in Christ held a concert at Faith to honor the Nomads and Pastor Barry for all of their contributions to the churches in the area.  Presenting each of us with certificates of appreciation, the accompanying sentiments were moving.  As always, the music from the Brothers lifted us all.  At Ervin’s urging, a half-dozen Nomads which included Cathy did their best to offer some praises in song.  The group sang a couple of hymns, with the congregation joining us as we sang the familiar refrains, raising a joyful sound.  Dave then spoke about Barry’s efforts to bring the Nomads to Jacksonville and to facilitate their work at the churches in the area.  It was an uplifting service, and one we felt privileged to be a part of.  The offering raised over $350 in support of the Nomads as well.

 
Although Dave was sick for the big day, Cathy joined the party to watch the Super Bowl, trying to stay clear of a pretty intense rivalry between Philadephia Eagle fans Don and Bobbi and Patriots fan Fred.  Fred still doesn’t like to talk about it.  ​

Boat Stuff
 
Cathy upgraded the boat cover frame to incorporate some 1” diameter PVC into the ridge pole, replacing the ½” PVC that failed during the 2017 storms.  With the frame changes made, she removed the boat cover to make some repairs and prepare for the next canvas project.  She needs to make new enclosure windows to fit the new bimini.
 
With the cover and its frame removed, the next step was to remove the mast, which was laying over the deck where the windows need to be fitted.  Dave and Cathy positioned themselves on deck with several “volunteers” on the ground below to take it off the stern.  Surprisingly, the removal went smoothly, and it now sits next to the RV.  With the mast gone, we had access to a bag of life jackets that supports the spreaders on deck.  To our horror, the bag was filled with large red ants.  After cleaning them out of the bag and the life jackets, we haven’t seen any more infestations, but we are still keeping a watchful eye.

​Shortly after Cathy’s return to Jacksonville, we said goodbye to some of our long time drop-in’s and welcomed a host of new volunteers for a new Nomads project at Faith.  The number of projects underway spanned the campus and the parsonage, making it a challenge to keep up with everything that was going on.  And in the middle, we celebrated another birthday.

​ Dropping In
 
The week before the start of the formal project had us tidying up a number of projects that had begun in December.  The office addition construction was complete, but there was clean-up and some small fixes to take care of while Jim was away.  But now the closet is ready for use and, to the delight of the church secretaries, the cat litter box is ensconced the in the bathroom, now dubbed the “cathouse”.  

​With Sandy’s and Barb’s efforts to make it happen, the walkway between Asbury and the guesthouse finally received its last brush of stain, as did the steeple deck.  The color of the stain for the former was far more popular than that of the latter, so we made an effort to use the last of it on the least visible wood on the property – the rails on the bridge over the creek behind the campground.  Having used that up, going forward a more palatable color was chosen for the rest of the campus.  Also, in preparation for more staining going forward, all the remaining decks were bleached. 
 
There were a number of electrical projects underway with Ron here– including stabilizing the electrical tower on the top of Wesley and removing the rope installed as a temporary counterweight in December.  Herb continued his work powerwashing, moving from decks to sidewalks.  By week’s end, we were sad to say goodbye to Barb and Mike who had been such an integral part of the team for almost 3 months.  They were moving on to a project in Dundee, so we wished them well and looked to see them again somewhere down the road.

​Project Work
 
As the formal project started up, Cathy spent her time with 5 other team members at the parsonage.  Cutting back vegetation, repairing siding, powerwashing and cleaning the exterior, along with some other small repairs kept the team busy through the first project week.  And there was actually a fair amount of painting that got done as well.
 
Meanwhile, Dave was moving between teams at the church.  Helping the new Nomads understand the work to be done, researching and ordering parts, and making many supply runs.  This enabled the teams to repair several roof leaks that were continuing to elude previous repair attempts, to replace some deteriorated siding on the Asbury building, to continue solving electrical issues around campus and at the food bank, UCOM, and to diagnose a problem with one of the Air Conditioners on the top of the Wesley Hall.  By week’s end, the team was feeling pretty good about what they were able to achieve.

​Boat Stuff

Oh yes.  We do own a boat.  Since the hurricane had damaged some of the supports for the boat cover (but not the boat cover itself), we spent some time devising a new structure for the area aft of the mast.  Using a combination of the bimini bows and larger PVC, we thought we could make it strong enough to survive the next storm.

Also, as we look ahead to splashing the boat in the Spring, Dave knew our flares had expired.   Taking advantage of a good Black Friday sale, he took the plunge and bought a new SOS Distress signal light, which has USCG approval to replace flares.  With batteries installed, it will be a permanent replacement for the flares required for visual signals by the Coast Guard.
 
Finally, Cathy was initially puzzled to find the bag containing our Type 5 PFD’s had split open – until she looked a little closer.  The moisture in the boat had activated Dave’s automatic sensor and deployed his life jacket.  As a result, we needed to “re-arm” it with a new CO2 cartridge.  With the PFD re-armed and a spare in place, we are now in compliance again with our PFD’s.  

​Parting Shot
 
Cathy saw this sign on the way to the parsonage one morning.  The grammar police must not have noticed it.

​For the first time in a long time, we found ourselves in different states for a few weeks as Cathy remained behind in NC with family and Dave returned to Jacksonville to resume some volunteer work at Faith UMC.  But just after the snow fell all day in NC, Cathy decided it was time to head south again, arriving in Jacksonville early on a frosty, but snow-free Friday morning – just in time to go to Clara’s.

Family Time
 
Saying goodbye on the first of January, we parted not knowing exactly when we’d see each other again.  Cathy’s sister Chris needed hip replacement surgery, and we weren’t sure how her recovery would go, but Cathy wanted to stay long enough for her to feel comfortable she no longer needed the extra hands.   The week before the surgery was filled with a myriad of small tasks for Cathy’s mom and enjoying some extended time with her.   

​On Monday, Jan 8th, Cathy relocated to Greensboro in preparation for the surgery the next morning.  After a successful surgery and a brief hospital stay, Chris began her rehabilitation back in Winston-Salem at her mom’s house, working on her recovery with enthusiasm.  Despite a couple of setbacks, her progress was steady and by the following week, Cathy felt she could make a day trip to visit Bonnie’s family in Emporia and Grace’s family in Wake Forest. 

This January marked a milestone birthday for Bonnie, so we managed to orchestrate a mini surprise party for her with husband Troy and the kids helping to keep her in the dark.  Adam and Cathy made unexpected appearances and the surprise seemed to be a good one.  After enjoying pizza, presents and cake, Cathy headed back to Winston by way of her sister Grace’s house.  Both of her nieces and their three boys were on hand, so we had a delayed Christmas celebration with them before the marathon trip had Cathy on the road back to her bed to reflect on a memorable day.

Given the green light from Mom and Chris, Cathy began to plan for a return trip to Jacksonville.  Her first choice was Wednesday the 17th, but a brief review of the forecast made her hedge her bets and delay until Thursday.  The snow probably wouldn’t be anything, but you know how southern drivers are in bad weather.  

Well. . . the snow started overnight  and didn’t stop again until after sunset.  This was a lot for this region and everything shut down.  That is almost everything.   Mom was supposed to have an appointment that morning that she had waited over 6 months for.  When she called to see if the office was open, it was.  That meant we were going.  Imagine the looks we got when Mom arrived walking with a cane and on oxygen through the snow that had most of the doctors and patients staying home.  Needless to say, she got her appointment.    And with the amount of snow that had fallen, Cathy also got a reminder of what she had missed from spending so much time down south.  It took several hours with snow blower and shovel to clear the driveways and sidewalks of Mom and Carolyn’s house, helping out Clint.  Can’t say that it’s something she’s missed.

​By Thursday evening, the roads were mostly clear as we drove to High Point to catch the train.  It was cold, but the weather was clear and the trip uneventful.  The snow disappeared around the NC-SC line and the temperatures warmed a little, though not too much.  Disembarking the next morning in Jacksonville, the heavy coat still felt pretty good.   But thankfully, within a couple of days, it was warm enough to put it away for a while.  

How the Other Half Lives
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Arriving back in Jacksonville on New Year’s Day, it didn’t take long for Dave to be immersed in projects around the church.  There was a smaller group of drop-in Nomads for the first week of the year.  Supporting the work of this group’s work around the campus, he found himself beating a path between the church and various hardware stores or researching parts for purchase on the internet.  That doesn’t mean he wasn’t getting his hands dirty.  When a newly-installed water heater failed, he was under the cabinet installing the new one.  By the 2nd week, another project team had arrived and the campground was full again.  Dave was once again the focal point, coordinating campsites, giving tours of the campus, and coordinating activities between the drop-ins and the project team.
 
The cold weather in the rest of US didn’t spare Jacksonville.  The campground water lines that fed all the RV’s froze when the temperatures dropped into the 20’s.  On Sunday morning,  when the boiler woudn’t fire for services, Dave was tasked with figuring out why.  Pastor Barry said that one thing was certain.  It wasn’t out of fuel.  How do you know?  He could see the fuel.  Hmm . . .  After checking other possible problems, Dave cycled back around to diesel.  Are you sure there’s enough fuel?  Eventually, the problem was determined to be – you guessed it – not enough fuel.  The fuel pick-up sat too high for the fuel level in the tank.  Adding some more diesel solved the problem.  Or at least most of it.  Dave’s experience maintaining the diesel engine on Orion made him suspicious of the behavior of the fuel filter.  So he had Fred install a replacement and purchased a spare “just in case”.  In the interim, he checks the boiler on Sunday mornings and makes sure it stays on during services.
 
Given the cold weather in Jacksonville, it wasn’t too much of a surprise when we got an e-mail from our friend Sue’s mom, Sandy.  Spending the winter up in Rochester, she was wondering if we might be able to use some help here in Jacksonville.  It would certainly be warmer than upstate NY.   By mid-month, Dave had worked out a plan and she drove south to join the team already in place.   Arriving just before dinner time, she had barely finished parking before she was joining the group for a trip to Captain D’s for dinner.   And the next morning, Dave had her working with Barb to start staining the deck.  Surely she didn’t think this would be a vacation? 
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The first Sunday back, Dave went with a group of Nomads to Mt. Zion UMC, where we’ve visited in the past for the Brothers concert.  This is also our friend, Ervin’s church.

Despite the winter cold, the Spanish church hosted a planned festival for Three Kings Day.  Although the larger crowds didn’t appear, those that attended had a good time, and Dave was there to help out and enjoy the festivities.  

Boat Stuff
 
“The fortress anchor you sold us saved Melinda Kay”
 
That was the subject line of an e-mail that began to describe a harrowing experience by a couple of friends we had made in Marathon back in 2014.  Moored nearby, we spent time together, watched their boat when they took a trip by car, and yes, sold them Orion’s Fortress anchor for their boat.  As is the way of these things, we hadn’t seen them since.  They had moved further into the Carribbean and we had moved onto our RV.  But they didn’t forget us.  

​​And when the e-mail arrived, we both immediately remembered them.  They had found themselves in Puerto Rico, expecting it to be a safe location for the hurricane season.  Only to discover that 2017 was the worst year to find their boat anchored there as Maria bore down on the island.  They had to secure the boat as best they could and then leave it, hoping for the best.  Weathering the storm ashore, they then had to evacuate the island without knowing the fate of their home. 
 
It was with relief they finally got the word from friends on the island.  Of all the boats in the harbor, only 4 stayed secure and afloat.  Melinda Kay was one of them.  It was a thrilling story to hear, and one we were humbled to have a small role in.