What is that white stuff? With the end of the formal Cabin Work Week event, we started thinking about what we needed to do finish up before heading out for Jacksonville at month’s end. Since our days were not so strictly scheduled, we had a little more free time at our disposal. We continued to clean up loose ends at the group cabin site, attend to some personal projects and say our goodbyes. With freezing temperatures becoming more of the norm, we were becoming more motivated to move a little further south.
Finished nurse's cabin with new cedar roof Cabin Work – Finishing Up
Of the loose ends left at the end of this year’s Cabin Work Week project, the most anticipated was putting the final courses of cedar shakes on the Nurse’s Cabin. The shakes had run out too soon to finish, so once they arrived, Dave was joined by Christa from the park staff and Dan, a Cabin Work Week volunteer who had returned to serve as the new Park Host. Over three days, each row of shakes were cut to size and nailed in place, until the ridge was reached. The final step was to lay the ridge cap along the top. Once fitted, it was nailed in place and the crew stepped back to admire the job.
Of the loose ends left at the end of this year’s Cabin Work Week project, the most anticipated was putting the final courses of cedar shakes on the Nurse’s Cabin. The shakes had run out too soon to finish, so once they arrived, Dave was joined by Christa from the park staff and Dan, a Cabin Work Week volunteer who had returned to serve as the new Park Host. Over three days, each row of shakes were cut to size and nailed in place, until the ridge was reached. The final step was to lay the ridge cap along the top. Once fitted, it was nailed in place and the crew stepped back to admire the job.
Fitting the boards on the cabin deck Other than the roof, there were a myriad of smaller tasks – painting, shutter and screen repair, some siding replacement and storing supplies. One more significant task that hadn’t originally been “on the list” was to replace the porch deck on one of the cabins, where the wood was not in good enough condition to stain. Dave, Christa and Tom, a volunteer who had stayed on another week, installed the new deck in one day. Since Dan would be staying well into December, he was continuing to work his way around the cabins, with an eye to getting a start on the next cabin site after finishing up in Appamattuck.
On colder days, Dave welcomed the opportunity to finish up some reports on this year’s project and begin the application process for next year’s grants. The follow-up meeting with Park Management went well and provided ideas for next year.
On colder days, Dave welcomed the opportunity to finish up some reports on this year’s project and begin the application process for next year’s grants. The follow-up meeting with Park Management went well and provided ideas for next year.
Replacement screens for the yurts We managed to squeeze in a couple of projects outside of the group cabin work. Cathy began making replacement screens for the yurts. And Dave was up early on a cold Saturday morning helping an Eagle Scout remove and install a split rail fence near the park office.
Eagle Project newly installed fence
How Cold Is It?
Waking up on a frigid morning, we were unsettled to see the temperatures were sitting at 21 degrees. We had anticipated some cold temps, but not that cold. Dave had scrambled the evening before to place small heaters by the exposed holding tank drains. Cathy had wrapped the fresh water drain in rags to insulate it as well. So, despite the unexpected hard freeze, all was well. Or was it? Cathy opened the fridge to find it unusually warm. Reading up on this in Google, she confirmed that the cold had stopped the refrigerant from circulating, shutting down the refrigeration.
The good news was that, since it was so cold outside, it was pretty easy to keep the contents cold until we thawed things out. Cathy turned the fridge off, and then we opened up the outside compartment. exposing the coils to a small heater, which warmed them up, so that they could cool the fridge down. It does seem a little upside down. However, we needed a longer term solution. The heater was too big for the small compartment, as was any heater we could find. We finally opted for a single plug and a small 15W appliance bulb. That kept everything warm (outside) and cold (inside) for the rest of our stay.
Waking up on a frigid morning, we were unsettled to see the temperatures were sitting at 21 degrees. We had anticipated some cold temps, but not that cold. Dave had scrambled the evening before to place small heaters by the exposed holding tank drains. Cathy had wrapped the fresh water drain in rags to insulate it as well. So, despite the unexpected hard freeze, all was well. Or was it? Cathy opened the fridge to find it unusually warm. Reading up on this in Google, she confirmed that the cold had stopped the refrigerant from circulating, shutting down the refrigeration.
The good news was that, since it was so cold outside, it was pretty easy to keep the contents cold until we thawed things out. Cathy turned the fridge off, and then we opened up the outside compartment. exposing the coils to a small heater, which warmed them up, so that they could cool the fridge down. It does seem a little upside down. However, we needed a longer term solution. The heater was too big for the small compartment, as was any heater we could find. We finally opted for a single plug and a small 15W appliance bulb. That kept everything warm (outside) and cold (inside) for the rest of our stay.
But we needed to do more for the drain pipes as well. The space heaters were too small to focus on the large drains. We decided to make a “skirt” for the RV. Using a large, but inexpensive tarp, Cathy sewed it into one continuous 3 foot panel that would surround the lower part of the RV down to the ground. Sewing a bungee in a channel around the top, we managed to make it tight enough to stay up. Our blue “dust ruffle” stayed in place for next few weeks. As one more precaution, we poured antifreeze in the drains after each time that we dumped the tanks. The combined efforts worked and we managed to keep all drains running well.
Trailer connected on its original hitch pin Level Again
Since purchasing our new truck last fall, we knew we needed to make some adjustments to correct the way the RV rode on the hitch in the, now higher, truck bed. Also, we no longer needed the speicalized Sidewinder hitch pin that moved the RV’s pivot point back on our original short bed truck. The solution was to re-install the original hitch pin, which Dave had cleaned up and painted over the winter.
Since purchasing our new truck last fall, we knew we needed to make some adjustments to correct the way the RV rode on the hitch in the, now higher, truck bed. Also, we no longer needed the speicalized Sidewinder hitch pin that moved the RV’s pivot point back on our original short bed truck. The solution was to re-install the original hitch pin, which Dave had cleaned up and painted over the winter.
Original hitch pin About a week before leaving Pocahontas, we hooked up and took the trailer and the original hitch pin over to Southern RV. The hitch pins were quickly swapped out, and the RV rides much more level. While we were there, we also had the wheel bearings greased, since it had been 5000 miles since the last time that had been done.
With the original hitch pin back in place, hooking up was much less sensitive to how precisely straight the truck and trailer were. And the trailer seems to disconnect pretty easily. However, we had one more purchase to make. There is circular plate that sits between the hitch and the pin, called a lube plate, that makes the RV ride more smoothly and disconnect easily. As its name implies, it takes the place of grease on the hitch.
We also took the time to ensure the truck was ready for the trip, rotating the tires, changing the oil and fuel filters as well.
With the original hitch pin back in place, hooking up was much less sensitive to how precisely straight the truck and trailer were. And the trailer seems to disconnect pretty easily. However, we had one more purchase to make. There is circular plate that sits between the hitch and the pin, called a lube plate, that makes the RV ride more smoothly and disconnect easily. As its name implies, it takes the place of grease on the hitch.
We also took the time to ensure the truck was ready for the trip, rotating the tires, changing the oil and fuel filters as well.
Thankful Things
On Thanksgiving morning, we hooked up and headed out of Pocahontas for the final time this year. We would be spending the day with Bonnie and Troy at their Thanksgiving table. We had spent the last couple of weeks saying our goodbyes, enjoying farewell dinners, enjoying some Cinncinnati chili with Rich and Stasi, and wishing everyone well as we slowly exited the park. We had squeezed in doctor’s appointments and shots and had a great birthday dinner with our grandson and his girlfriend. Adam hiked into the park to meet us on a beautiful fall day. It was a wonderful end to our stay.
On Thanksgiving morning, we hooked up and headed out of Pocahontas for the final time this year. We would be spending the day with Bonnie and Troy at their Thanksgiving table. We had spent the last couple of weeks saying our goodbyes, enjoying farewell dinners, enjoying some Cinncinnati chili with Rich and Stasi, and wishing everyone well as we slowly exited the park. We had squeezed in doctor’s appointments and shots and had a great birthday dinner with our grandson and his girlfriend. Adam hiked into the park to meet us on a beautiful fall day. It was a wonderful end to our stay.
Having spent so many Thanksgivings traveling over the last 15 years, it was a rare treat to spend this one with family. Good food and good fellowship were treasures to add to our many reasons to give thanks.
Heading south on Black Friday, we weren’t sure a Wal-mart would be the best place to spend the night on the road. However, pulling into the one in Walterboro SC was pretty easy and not too crowded, although the story was a little different inside the store. By noon the next day, we had crossed into Florida, but were disappointed that there was no juice at the Welcome Center. Oh well. We were set up at Faith shortly after and greeted with hospitality as warm as the weather. Great to be back.
Heading south on Black Friday, we weren’t sure a Wal-mart would be the best place to spend the night on the road. However, pulling into the one in Walterboro SC was pretty easy and not too crowded, although the story was a little different inside the store. By noon the next day, we had crossed into Florida, but were disappointed that there was no juice at the Welcome Center. Oh well. We were set up at Faith shortly after and greeted with hospitality as warm as the weather. Great to be back.
