WORK CAMPING 2019

Home Is Where We Park It:  Dade Battlefield Historical State Park

Date:  March 20, 2019

Chainsaw Massacre aka Chainsaw Safety Class

What’s the old saying Another day another dollar?  In our case it would be Another Day Another Work Day.  The whole schedule this week has been sort of crazy.  Seldom do we work so many consecutive days in a row.  I wonder who in the world put the work schedule together?  What’s really weird is that here the work week runs Friday to Friday.  That took some adjusting to when we first arrived here.  Oh well we’re on the schedule so off we go.

First thing we had to do was go around and pick up all the branches that had come down due to the wind yesterday.  We grabbed a golf cart and off we went.  The primary area that needed policing was around the front gate and the gate house.  We were finished about 45 minutes later and were then assigned to gather together all the recyclables and load them in the pickup truck so they could be properly disposed of.  Another 45 minutes and one more project finished.  What now?

That’s when the word came down: class at 10 am in the office for all volunteers.  Today’s class, chainsaw safety and how to properly cut down a tree.  Now doesn’t that sound like fun?  Our instructor for today would be our youngest Ranger, Jordan.  Let me just say, he may be fairly young but he knows his stuff.  He began by explaining the parts of the chainsaw, the proper and safe way to use it, and then how to properly fuel it.

The class then moved outside where Jordan demonstrated the right way to start the saw.

Next, our activities director Kristen volunteered to demonstrate the proper way to make a cut.

We all had a turn at doing the same.  Class over we were informed that we all have been certified to use a chainsaw in any Florida state park.  Tain’t that grand!

Work over it was back to Graybeard to change so that we could get to the chiropractor.  With just 11 days to go before we leave we both decided we wanted to leave with our backs in the best shape possible.  We’ll go once more this week, and then twice next week.  We call it our travel tune up.  In addition there will be no more heavy lifting for either of us from this point forward.  We need to do what we need to do to be ready for the rest of the year.

The day wasn’t quite finished.  All of us had been invited to Terry and Trudy’s rig for Apple Cobbler around 6 pm.  Terry is well-known for his great cobblers.  This one did not disappoint.  He hand makes each and bakes them over a bed of coals.  Absolutely delicious!   A perfect way to end another perfect day.

That was our day in The Road of Retirement.  It was another day filled with a little bit of this and little bit of that.  We’re not on the schedule tomorrow so you can bet we’re going to take our time getting up and going.  Not too long, though, since I in particular have a list a mile long of things to check and double-check before we leave.  Oh yea, the countdown to jacks up begins tomorrow!

Thanks again for coming along with us.  We always enjoy your company.  Hope your day was a good one, but if not and perhaps things are a bit rough in your life right now, here’s something to think on:

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

See you on down the road