Almost overnight, we went from shorts and T-shirts to coats and sweatshirts as fall arrived early to Virginia. No complaints here. The cooler temperatures made the outdoor work more pleasant, although we did have to choose our power washing days more carefully.
Hands On RVA volunteer painting at Chickahominy Cabin Work
With the start of school, the number of volunteers working to prep the cabins dwindled quite a bit, but the work kept getting done. In Chickahominy, Park Host Joe finished the peaks on all of the cabins, while we focused on areas closer to the ground. When we did get a few volunteers to help, they finished painting the porch ceilings on all the cabins and the lodge. Working overhead like this is tough, so this was a great contribution. The work on each cabin was being divided into sections. The highest peaks or “A’s”, the shutters or middle, the lower siding, and the front porch. By month-end, we had all of the A’s and lower siding done on all cabins and one front porch in Chickahominy. Over in Weyanock, we managed to power wash the lodge and another cabin. Between rain showers, we managed to stain one more deck as well.
With the start of school, the number of volunteers working to prep the cabins dwindled quite a bit, but the work kept getting done. In Chickahominy, Park Host Joe finished the peaks on all of the cabins, while we focused on areas closer to the ground. When we did get a few volunteers to help, they finished painting the porch ceilings on all the cabins and the lodge. Working overhead like this is tough, so this was a great contribution. The work on each cabin was being divided into sections. The highest peaks or “A’s”, the shutters or middle, the lower siding, and the front porch. By month-end, we had all of the A’s and lower siding done on all cabins and one front porch in Chickahominy. Over in Weyanock, we managed to power wash the lodge and another cabin. Between rain showers, we managed to stain one more deck as well.
Cathy staining benches at Appamattuck Although the majority of our work was focused in the 2 cabin groups that will be this year’s Cabin Work Week focus, we had a couple of tasks left in and around Appamattuck, last year’s site. We would be using this lodge to serve lunches during the project. Since indoor dining wouldn’t be allowed, we stained the campfire benches now, so they could be used for outdoor dining later. The shower building, which had received so much work last year, had never been painted. We finished this off, and it makes last year’s efforts seem complete.
Shower building with its fresh coat of paint With the wood order placed, Dave spent time preparing the order for other supplies for the work and for lunches. Using sign-up genius for the first time, Cathy solicited volunteers to provide lunches and quickly had half the spots filled. With several weeks to go, the remaining slots are sure to be covered. But perhaps the most exciting development was the work by one of last year’s volunteers to raise funds. Within a couple of weeks of her efforts, she had raised almost as much as we were likely to lose with the end of the Garden Club grant this year. This is putting us in great shape, not just for this year, but also way ahead for next year.
Dave installing hinge on windshield Golf Cart Woes
Our current park transport is a gas-powered golf cart that is intended for use as a park shuttle during concerts. It is aging, and it was no surprise when the upper half of the windshield parted from its flexible gasket and fell off one day. When the temperatures dropped, the increasing wind chill from the missing upper panel was beginning to be a problem. As the park used our golf cart as a shuttle for its first concert in a year, the missing windshield made for some cold rides.
Dave went to work and found a piano hinge and some VHB tape as a likely solution. Careful to position the hinge just right so that it would fold up and down easily, we installed the hinge and we now have both halves in working order – in time for the cold winds to blow.
Our current park transport is a gas-powered golf cart that is intended for use as a park shuttle during concerts. It is aging, and it was no surprise when the upper half of the windshield parted from its flexible gasket and fell off one day. When the temperatures dropped, the increasing wind chill from the missing upper panel was beginning to be a problem. As the park used our golf cart as a shuttle for its first concert in a year, the missing windshield made for some cold rides.
Dave went to work and found a piano hinge and some VHB tape as a likely solution. Careful to position the hinge just right so that it would fold up and down easily, we installed the hinge and we now have both halves in working order – in time for the cold winds to blow.
Parting Shot
We enjoyed some visits from Bonnie and Troy and the kids, as well as Andi and Max on 2 different occasions. However, this guy was not quite so welcome a visitor.
We enjoyed some visits from Bonnie and Troy and the kids, as well as Andi and Max on 2 different occasions. However, this guy was not quite so welcome a visitor.
