Dave checks on the pork for the Super Bowl get-together. We spent the first half of February with a great Nomads team here at Faith. Their project ended, and they pulled out, on Valentine’s Day. We enjoyed a Super Bowl together before they left and then we celebrated Valentine’s with a bike ride with Pat and Fred and some ice cream.
Neil pulls up concrete from the playground. Clearing Ground
The playground had been neglected for years, and it was time for it to come down. The Nomads began dismantling the wooden structures, removing the plastic features – roofs, slides, etc., and then what remained was the real work. There were many items that were made of heavy metal, embedded in concrete 3 feet deep and a couple of feet across. This was not going to be easy. With the help of sawz-alls, an acetylene torch a tractor and a lot of hard work, the swingsets and jungle jims were dismantled, the concrete dug out of the ground, and the ground smoothed out. After several trips to metal recycling, and a fully-loaded dumpster, the playground was transformed to a cleared field.
The playground had been neglected for years, and it was time for it to come down. The Nomads began dismantling the wooden structures, removing the plastic features – roofs, slides, etc., and then what remained was the real work. There were many items that were made of heavy metal, embedded in concrete 3 feet deep and a couple of feet across. This was not going to be easy. With the help of sawz-alls, an acetylene torch a tractor and a lot of hard work, the swingsets and jungle jims were dismantled, the concrete dug out of the ground, and the ground smoothed out. After several trips to metal recycling, and a fully-loaded dumpster, the playground was transformed to a cleared field.
DOT working across the creek from our site. Meanwhile back at our campsite, we were seeing some ground clearing on an even bigger scale. Right across the small creek at the back of our site, the FL DOT was deploying some heavy equipment to bury large pipes in preparation for a new retention pond adjacent to I95. At one point, the earth mover was so close, we could feel the RV shake as it dug and moved the earth very nearby.
Dave, Pat and Fred study a problem in their truck engine. A Little of This, A Little of That
When not clearing the playground, the Nomads made a difference all over campus -- pruning crepe myrtles (all 17 of them), blowing off the roofs (14 of them), repairing leaks, pressure-washing, and more. On their last night, we joined them and the church members that had fed them for 3 weeks to celebrate their accomplishments and thank them.
When not clearing the playground, the Nomads made a difference all over campus -- pruning crepe myrtles (all 17 of them), blowing off the roofs (14 of them), repairing leaks, pressure-washing, and more. On their last night, we joined them and the church members that had fed them for 3 weeks to celebrate their accomplishments and thank them.
 Bridge before work began |  Joe's new bridge deck looks mahvelous. |
Those of us volunteers not on the Nomads project were also doing a little bit of everything. Joe had spent several weeks replacing the boards on a bridge over the creek that separates the church from the soccer field. He finally finished the deck and the bridge is transformed. With the wood left over, he made a couple more picnic tables that could be deployed in the campground, including one that ended up at our site.
Fred (not pictured) supervises Dave and Pat as they test the propane dryer. Fred was pulled in several directions: work on golf carts, help with a couple of plumbing problems, continued work on fuel polishing for the boiler, and maybe most important, getting our propane dryer working – until it didn’t. The smell of propane gas coming from the area of the dryer was the clue that that something was wrong with the gas line into the dryer. It didn’t take long for Fred and Pat to find the leak near the junction of the flexible line into the dryer. After replacing it, the dryer was back in service for a few days.
And then it stopped heating. What’s wrong now?
And then it stopped heating. What’s wrong now?
It turned out the propane tank that fed the dryer was empty. But a lot had happened since it was last filled. The gym HVAC units that used to rely on it had been replaced last year, and refilling a large tank to support a single appliance no longer made sense.
So, the decision was made to switch to an electric dryer. That meant a new outlet and a new dryer. So, we had to wait a bit longer for the dryer to be back in service. Cathy and Pat went to purchase the dryer. And Fred and Dave, with some help from Pat, worked on the installation. Within a few more days, the dryer was finally working again. And all those of us (mostly ladies) who were doing laundry were very grateful.
So, the decision was made to switch to an electric dryer. That meant a new outlet and a new dryer. So, we had to wait a bit longer for the dryer to be back in service. Cathy and Pat went to purchase the dryer. And Fred and Dave, with some help from Pat, worked on the installation. Within a few more days, the dryer was finally working again. And all those of us (mostly ladies) who were doing laundry were very grateful.
Pat put her skills to work in different ways as well --from installing blinds at the parsonage to sewing some drapes and making accent pillows for the newly-decorated narthex – all to great effect.
And what about the two of us? Cathy replaced a couple of door knobs, worked with Dave to install new outside lights replacing some that were no longer working, dismantled 100 chairs with Pat that were to be scrapped, and worked with Dave to run new internet wires to the Trustees’ office. Some days you just don’t know what you’ll be doing.
And what about the two of us? Cathy replaced a couple of door knobs, worked with Dave to install new outside lights replacing some that were no longer working, dismantled 100 chairs with Pat that were to be scrapped, and worked with Dave to run new internet wires to the Trustees’ office. Some days you just don’t know what you’ll be doing.
RV Stuff
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Just after we replaced a non-working light in our living room, another one started to flicker. Maybe this was the start of trend. So, we decided to go big and order a set of 6 lights, ensuring we would be ready if any more failed. But after replacing the flickering one, it was obvious that the others were not as healthy as we thought. And since our access to a ladder is much easier here at Faith, we went ahead and replaced all of the ceiling lights. It is amazing how much brighter the room is now.
Cathy took advantage of access to a ladder to clean and UV protect our new slide toppers. And to clean the AC vents in the living room ceiling. And with the warmer weather, it was a good time to refresh our sign which was looking pretty ragged, but not any more.
Where did we go this time?
 |  At Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island |
Our bike riding was tempered a bit, as Pat’s battery needed to be replaced, so we wanted to pace ourselves. We chose a trail along Amelia Island north of Jacksonville, which was pretty, but not the best choice, since it had more hills than we expected. The view of the beach at our midway point was spectacular though.
On the Jacksonville - Baldwin Trail. Before our next bike ride, it was Cathy’s turn to have a bike issue. Her front tire had sprung a small leak that had flattened the tire. We replaced the tube in time to take it out for a much flatter trip on the Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail.
Parting Shot
There was a single small flower on the bush, but it was enough to draw this butterfly to spend a little time before moving on.
There was a single small flower on the bush, but it was enough to draw this butterfly to spend a little time before moving on.
