Dave powerwashes the picnic table on a deck before making repairs Summer was reluctant to give up its hold on central Virginia as September was coming to a close. But after sweating through several 90 degree days mid-month, we had switched from AC to heat and were cozy inside as Ian’s remnants made their way through the park on the last day of the month. Despite Mother Nature’s tantrums, we continued to make progress on project preparations.
Dave and Kevin cut boards for a repair Project Work
While administrative work is pretty much a daily activity, once the larger wood and supply orders were placed for Cabin Work Week, we turned more of our attention to hands-on work. The boards that have been drying out over the past year are now ready to be primed and painted, preferably before the project starts. So, we started working our way through our large inventory.
In addition, there are 75 to 100 screens in each cabin site, and most need re-screening. Some need to be completely rebuilt. That means lots of frame wood and screen trim. While another volunteer had already ripped boards into hundreds of screen trim pieces. We took some scrap wood and ripped it to make wood for new screen frames. Then all of this wood needed to be primed and painted.
While administrative work is pretty much a daily activity, once the larger wood and supply orders were placed for Cabin Work Week, we turned more of our attention to hands-on work. The boards that have been drying out over the past year are now ready to be primed and painted, preferably before the project starts. So, we started working our way through our large inventory.
In addition, there are 75 to 100 screens in each cabin site, and most need re-screening. Some need to be completely rebuilt. That means lots of frame wood and screen trim. While another volunteer had already ripped boards into hundreds of screen trim pieces. We took some scrap wood and ripped it to make wood for new screen frames. Then all of this wood needed to be primed and painted.
We had help with the painting. On Public Lands Day, the last Saturday in September, we were joined by 7 volunteers who primed all of that screen trim and got the finish coat on much of the frame wood and some 100 pieces of screen trim. While all of this was going on, another couple of volunteers scraped and primed a nearby building used by the Virginia Master Naturalists, and yet another patched holes in siding in this year’s group cabin site.
Dave and Kevin fit new board on Hotel Pocahontas deck During the last week, we were joined by Kevin, who is a new Cabin Work Week volunteer. The park had asked for help repairing a deck behind a building they call Hotel Pocahontas, but it was originally the Algonquin Ecology Camp’s administrator residence. The deck and door threshold were rotting in part because there are no gutters on the building. In preparation for that work to be done, we powerwashed the deck, replaced rotted deck boards and re-built the back door threshold that was seriously compromised. Once the gutters are in place (likely in October), there is a reasonable chance the repairs will hold for quite a while.
Returning from a tour in the rain Guests
What a treat to get 2 visits within a couple of days from friends passing through the area. Susan and Frank Davis arrived on a Sunday afternoon as they made their way back to Jacksonville (and to prepare for Ian’s arrival). We took them on a tour of the group cabins that was cut short by the arrival of a downpour. Good sports, they weathered the rain in our long golf cart ride back to their car and had smiles despite the turn in the weather. Also, since Faith still had some devices that were not working due to the lightning strike back in July, Dave configured a new router that should replace one that failed and sent it on its way with Susan and Frank. One more small step forward.
What a treat to get 2 visits within a couple of days from friends passing through the area. Susan and Frank Davis arrived on a Sunday afternoon as they made their way back to Jacksonville (and to prepare for Ian’s arrival). We took them on a tour of the group cabins that was cut short by the arrival of a downpour. Good sports, they weathered the rain in our long golf cart ride back to their car and had smiles despite the turn in the weather. Also, since Faith still had some devices that were not working due to the lightning strike back in July, Dave configured a new router that should replace one that failed and sent it on its way with Susan and Frank. One more small step forward.
Fred and Pat at Pocahontas for the night A day later, Cathy awoke to a text from Pat that she and Fred might be stopping that day nearby on their way south to Charleston. Trying to get in to the their destination campground in NC before Ian’s arrival, they were just passing through. After working with them to try to secure a spot at a nearby Walmart (who said no), we lured them back to the park with us for the night, and had a good time catching up.
Parting Shot
We had a not so welcome passenger on the golf cart one day. He got off at the next stop. Or so we hope.
We had a not so welcome passenger on the golf cart one day. He got off at the next stop. Or so we hope.
