Group Cabins at 3rd Branch camp This was a whirlwind Cabin Work Week, with a smaller, more experienced team gathered in week 1 and many returning volunteers in week 2. We were unsure whether we could keep everyone busy as we moved people between sites and tasks throughout the 2 weeks, but we made it all work. After a final project dinner celebrating the 8 project years, we spent a few days tidying up the work sites before packing up to head south.
Kevin works inside to dodge the rain Rain, Rain, Go Away
When we saw the forecast for the first week of the project, all we could do was sigh. Rain was in the forecast 3 out of 5 days. This could be a problem. So, we held our breath and gathered on Monday to get to work. At least the 2nd week was going to be sunny and warm.
When we saw the forecast for the first week of the project, all we could do was sigh. Rain was in the forecast 3 out of 5 days. This could be a problem. So, we held our breath and gathered on Monday to get to work. At least the 2nd week was going to be sunny and warm.
The roofing team scrambles to cover the roof before the rain Luckily, Monday’s rain wouldn’t arrive until overnight. That gave the roofers all day to ensure the cabin receiving a new composite roof would be protected. With the help of the park staff, the roof was stripped quickly. Then by lunch, the roof deck had been covered with a layer of ice shield which ensured the cabin was sealed against the elements no matter when the rain came. While almost 2/3 of the composite shingles were on by day’s end, it would take another couple of days to get the rest in place as the team dodged raindrops.
By the end of the 2nd week, another composite roof was done, plus an asphalt roof on "Joe's shed" behind the office.
By the end of the 2nd week, another composite roof was done, plus an asphalt roof on "Joe's shed" behind the office.
Wait Sue. We're trying to cover UP the graffiti. The painters managed to get all of the remaining decks in 3rd Branch stained on the first Monday, which was a good thing, because the weather moved them inside for the rest of the week. Three of the 3rd Branch cabins would benefit from the rain, since their interiors were all painted over the 2 weeks of the project. And those decks in the final cabin site, 2nd Branch, were finally able to be done in the 2nd week when the rain went away.
Tom works on a screen repair The screening team lead had some prep work to do in week 1, marking screens to be repaired or replaced and painting over 100 pieces of screen trim that would be needed. When the rest of the team arrived in week 2, all was ready to go.
The screening team had fewer screens to tackle than in a typical year, but the team was smaller as well, so the work and the team size seemed to line up well.
The screening team had fewer screens to tackle than in a typical year, but the team was smaller as well, so the work and the team size seemed to line up well.
Rodney and Jim work on the bathhouse walls The special projects team would be improving the 2 bathhouses in 2nd and 3rd Branch. This was a complicated logistical project, since we were discovering new supplies that were needed on an almost daily basis.
The biggest hurdle came in 2nd Branch, where a leaking pipe had damaged walls and required a new hot water heater. By the end of the 2nd week, both bathhouses had walls repaired, new fixtures, plumbing that had been updated and, in 2nd Branch, a new hot water heater. The spiders and crickets were upset, because they no longer had a cozy home inside. But you can’t please everybody.
The biggest hurdle came in 2nd Branch, where a leaking pipe had damaged walls and required a new hot water heater. By the end of the 2nd week, both bathhouses had walls repaired, new fixtures, plumbing that had been updated and, in 2nd Branch, a new hot water heater. The spiders and crickets were upset, because they no longer had a cozy home inside. But you can’t please everybody.
Tom and Kevin installing new parking lot timbers The Carpentry team was doing work in every site. During the rainy first week, they completed many of the inside tasks, including some significant floor repairs that had been tripping up campers and volunteers for decades. When the 4 closets in the cabins had been removed in years past, the floors underneath had never been made flush. By the end of week 1, all 12 remaining floor patches had been repaired.
Bill, Tom and Sean finish up the floor repair in the Weyanock lodge. As the weather warmed and dried out for the 2nd project week, work intensified with the addition of more team members. The damage in the Weyanock Lodge consumed the efforts of several carpenters for much of the week, along with the efforts of a few painters. There were also repairs to parking lot timbers chewed up by carpenter bees, and many small repairs throughout the remaining cabins.
Kevin works with the Timbersmiths on shutter training. Our main goal for the project was to transition the cabin maintenance to a team of local volunteers, the Timbersmiths. So, during the 2nd week, members of this group joined us one afternoon for training sessions at the work site, that seemed to be well-received by the trainees as well as the instructors.
You can check out this year’s project video below.
You can check out this year’s project video below.
Kevin, Andi and Jamie relax at a campfire. Celebrating Time Together
The rain didn’t stop us from enjoying time off the clock. We had campfires, ranger talks, daily trivia, and, of course, archery. The Volunteer Appreciation event on the middle weekend had record attendance of all the park volunteers. Volunteers from all areas of the park were honored for exceptional service, from the trail “gnomes” to the gardeners to the concession workers and so much more. Among those honored were 2 of the Cabin Work Week team leads – Jim from Special Projects and Bill from the Roofing team.
The rain didn’t stop us from enjoying time off the clock. We had campfires, ranger talks, daily trivia, and, of course, archery. The Volunteer Appreciation event on the middle weekend had record attendance of all the park volunteers. Volunteers from all areas of the park were honored for exceptional service, from the trail “gnomes” to the gardeners to the concession workers and so much more. Among those honored were 2 of the Cabin Work Week team leads – Jim from Special Projects and Bill from the Roofing team.
Our beautiful plaque To our surprise, we were also honored at this event with a beautiful plaque crafted one of the skilled Timbersmith volunteers, presented by the Director of Virginia State Parks, Melissa Baker. It recognized our leadership in the 8 project years of Cabin Work Week.
We received this photo with words of thanks on the night of the project dinner.
Cathy cutting the cake at the project dinner And, on the Friday after the last day of the project, we celebrated with a project dinner that brought together the team members, park staff and some of those who had been there at the beginning to get the whole thing started 8 years ago. Cathy’s sisters all came as well. We enjoyed Don’s famous Brunswick stew and a video that reflected on not just this year’s project, but the 8 project years that led up to it.
What Temp is it Now?
When we smoke a pork butt or brisket that takes a dozen hours or more, we like to cook it overnight. This can create a problem in getting sleep. Dave gets up every few hours to check on it, but this didn’t work so well when we tried it last September. A problem with the smoker caused it to shut down. When Dave made his next check, the smoker was not warm enough, causing us to question whether the meat had been compromised. To our dismay, we had to throw it out.
Not wanting this to happen again, Dave purchased a high quality remote meat thermometer called the RFX Meat Gateway. The package he chose came with 2 probes. One would be inserted in the meat to monitor its temperature and the other would sit inside the smoker to monitor the cooking temperature. He could set an alarm that would alert if the temperatures dropped too low or rose too high.
So, when we smoked our next pork butt for a project lunch, he put the new probes to the test. And they did the job. The smoker had an issue that Dave was alerted to in time to correct it. He also lost a little less sleep, and the pulled pork was a big hit. We also tried a new recipe for smoked baked beans which was equally popular.
When we smoke a pork butt or brisket that takes a dozen hours or more, we like to cook it overnight. This can create a problem in getting sleep. Dave gets up every few hours to check on it, but this didn’t work so well when we tried it last September. A problem with the smoker caused it to shut down. When Dave made his next check, the smoker was not warm enough, causing us to question whether the meat had been compromised. To our dismay, we had to throw it out.
Not wanting this to happen again, Dave purchased a high quality remote meat thermometer called the RFX Meat Gateway. The package he chose came with 2 probes. One would be inserted in the meat to monitor its temperature and the other would sit inside the smoker to monitor the cooking temperature. He could set an alarm that would alert if the temperatures dropped too low or rose too high.
So, when we smoked our next pork butt for a project lunch, he put the new probes to the test. And they did the job. The smoker had an issue that Dave was alerted to in time to correct it. He also lost a little less sleep, and the pulled pork was a big hit. We also tried a new recipe for smoked baked beans which was equally popular.
South of the (NC) Border Traveling South
After a short (but very cold) post-week cleanup, we were packed up and ready to head south. Our first night was a quick stop at South of the Border. Then we drove another 150 miles south to spend the weekend at the Lake Jasper RV Village in Hardeeville SC near the Georgia border. With a Passport America discount, this was a great bargain. We had a convenient pull-through site in a lovely campground. But the big win was its proximity to the Sargent Jasper county park that had over 4 miles of wide, shaded trails that we enjoyed walking each day.
After a short (but very cold) post-week cleanup, we were packed up and ready to head south. Our first night was a quick stop at South of the Border. Then we drove another 150 miles south to spend the weekend at the Lake Jasper RV Village in Hardeeville SC near the Georgia border. With a Passport America discount, this was a great bargain. We had a convenient pull-through site in a lovely campground. But the big win was its proximity to the Sargent Jasper county park that had over 4 miles of wide, shaded trails that we enjoyed walking each day.
An alligator in Sargent Jasper Park While they also had a disc golf course, we chose not to try our luck, since many of the holes were right next to ponds where alligators live. With our limited skills, we would surely lose most of our disks. And it did warm up enough that we saw at least one big gator on the move. No thanks.
On Monday, we covered the remaining miles to Jacksonville. where the RV would sit for a while.
On Monday, we covered the remaining miles to Jacksonville. where the RV would sit for a while.
