Fall foliage in the park In the final days leading up to our Cabin Work Week project, we broke away from preparations to visit with friends and family. We went sailing on the Chesapeake with Steve and Linda, had lunch with Droz, and exchanged visits with Bonnie’s family, all of which were a welcome break from the increasing list of project tasks. As the month was closing, our first volunteers were arriving to help us complete the final preparations.
Dave works the phones while Cathy works with a roller Project Prep
As the project’s start approached, we spent more of our time doing the administrative work and less hands-on activities. We had to make some supply runs, assign campsites and assemble camper packets, assign volunteers to work teams, plan and develop off-work activities, and coordinate lunches. This was made more intense by a last minute (2 weeks before the project) email to the Virginia State Park host distribution list, which yielded a dozen new volunteers and filled our campsites for the first time in 5 years. The late rush meant there were daily emails about paperwork, site assignments, background checks, and more.
As the project’s start approached, we spent more of our time doing the administrative work and less hands-on activities. We had to make some supply runs, assign campsites and assemble camper packets, assign volunteers to work teams, plan and develop off-work activities, and coordinate lunches. This was made more intense by a last minute (2 weeks before the project) email to the Virginia State Park host distribution list, which yielded a dozen new volunteers and filled our campsites for the first time in 5 years. The late rush meant there were daily emails about paperwork, site assignments, background checks, and more.
Shirley and Carolyn unloading supplies at 3rd Branch Our pre-week team arrived on Monday, October 24th, and we began setting up our primary work site, 3rd Branch Group Cabins, for the work to come. Lowe’s delivered supplies to the site, which were stowed inside cabins, and the inventory of lumber, tools, fasteners, paints, screen, etc. was moved to 3rd Branch and organized. With the tools and supplies in place, we began getting our skeleton team experienced with some of the work to be done. A small team began stripping and re-installing screens, making and mounting new screen frames. Another team went to work on the upper vents, installing hardware cloth and screen to keep the squirrels and insects out. Yet another team began building replacement shutters. And we had painters painting more of the lumber, and staining the picnic tables. A busy, but productive week. And all the work ensured we had a group of team leaders ready to hit the ground running when the full project began.
Getting Away
It had been a couple of years since we had visited with Steve and Linda in Hampton. After an earlier visit was postponed by Ian’s arrival, we finally were able to get together in late October. We enjoyed time catching up, spending time together and taking a trip on the bay in Bay Dreamer. It was a beautiful weekend, so the wait was worth it. We also took some time while there to clean out much of our boating supplies up in their attic, which was kind of liberating. Even with all of our downsizing, we have too much stuff.
It had been a couple of years since we had visited with Steve and Linda in Hampton. After an earlier visit was postponed by Ian’s arrival, we finally were able to get together in late October. We enjoyed time catching up, spending time together and taking a trip on the bay in Bay Dreamer. It was a beautiful weekend, so the wait was worth it. We also took some time while there to clean out much of our boating supplies up in their attic, which was kind of liberating. Even with all of our downsizing, we have too much stuff.
Troy sports his first attempt at writing with his router. We had a visit from Bonnie and the kids one weekend, where we tried out our new Hershey s’mores basket for the first time – gaining experience with it for the s’mores competition during Cabin Work Week. The next weekend, we visited with Bonnie, Troy and the kids at their place. Grandpa helped Troy assemble and use the router we had given him, so he was able to make his first sign. And Daddy Troy took each of us for a ride in his ATV. That was between volleyball games with Taylor. It was a fun day.
Night hike to the Gill-Dance cemetery with tea lights illuminating the graves. Parting Shot
For the first time in 3 years, we were asked by the park to drive the hay wagon on a hay ride. The new CCC Museum curator was planning a nighttime hay ride to the cemetery (there are many in the park) that has the graves from the Gill and Dance families. This was a little nerve-racking since we would have a narrow spot to turn the wagon around at the end of the ride and it would be very dark (no moon). We learned at the last minute that there was another spot to turn around that would be much easier. It was. So, we were able to turn the wagon around and then join the group at the cemetery for a magical experience and an interesting talk about the history of the area before it was a park.
For the first time in 3 years, we were asked by the park to drive the hay wagon on a hay ride. The new CCC Museum curator was planning a nighttime hay ride to the cemetery (there are many in the park) that has the graves from the Gill and Dance families. This was a little nerve-racking since we would have a narrow spot to turn the wagon around at the end of the ride and it would be very dark (no moon). We learned at the last minute that there was another spot to turn around that would be much easier. It was. So, we were able to turn the wagon around and then join the group at the cemetery for a magical experience and an interesting talk about the history of the area before it was a park.
