Week 2 Complete at our Habitat Build

We finished up our second and final week of work at the Lynmore Estates in Macon as part of the Care-A-Vanner build with Habitat for Humanity.

We had to finish up some areas and put on exterior 'blueboard' in high places around the house.  Blueboard was already up around the house from the foundation to 8 feet up.  We had to finish under the gables and soffit.

 One of our goals for the week was to start siding all the way around the house so volunteers over the weekend and in coming weeks could continue it to completion.  First we had to get it over to the house from the warehouse where it was stored.

 Jerry had to angle it through the doorways of the warehouse on the forklift since it was about 8 inches wider than the door.  He took a couple of runs at it but managed easily.

The cement fiber board (also know as Hardy board) went up pretty easily after we got going.

 It really looks great after it is up and painted.

Bruce can do about anything and here he is on the chop saw.

You have to get the corner pieces on correctly and Gabe and Andy are taking care of that one.

As we rounded out our week, we said good bye to Gabe and Bruce.  They are from the Columbus GA area and we've had the pleasure of working with them here before.

 Colleen and Pam and I worked on the siding on the back of the house.

 At the end of the day and a busy two week, Jim (the Business Developer and Volunteer Coordinator) stopped by.  He's one of those one of a kind guys, great at what he does and one of the most personable people you'd ever want to know.

 We've been to Macon three times now and he keeps the ball rolling and always spearheading upgrades and improvements for the RVers and the facility we get to use.  He also was responsible for lining up some donors so we could enjoy a three meals with folks at the church and at two eating establishments.  Very nice of him to do that!

Our last night there, we went with Barbara and Ross (can't believe we didn't get a picture of them!! - ugh) and some other folks to Yoder's Mennonite Restaurant out in the country (Montezuma, GA).

 It was a great meal followed by a picture with Janet, Andy and Dot.  It was the end of another memorable couple of weeks in Macon.

Thanks for joining us on the Roadrunner Chronicles!

Care-A-Vanner Build in Macon - Feb 2016

We joined the Habitat for Humanity Care-A-Vanner group for a two week effort in Macon Georgia.  Other RVers from all over the country signed up online and we arrived this past weekend.

We had our first team meeting and Meet and Greet on Sunday afternoon in the very nice Macon Habitat facility.  On Monday, we met the Construction Manager (Jerry) who went through our Work Plan for the week and gave us a walk through tour of the woodshop and supply area.

The facility includes large warehouse, offices, a training room along with the Habitat Restore.  Very nice facility.

Our six RVs are lined up along one side of the parking lot.

They have water and electric hookups along with a dump station on the other side of the building.

Our work for the week is out in Lynmore Estates.

On Monday we worked on installing some inside insulation and installing two doors.  Dot and Gabe are showing how its done.

Larry and Colleen working on a different area with the insulation.

One thing that naturally happens at these events are the impromptu get-togethers.

We have folks here from South Dakota, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

Here is our first 'team photo'.

On Tuesday we split up into two groups and worked on decking at both houses.

Pam and Brian bring over another cut piece of decking.

This local affiliate enjoys a great relationship and support from the community.  Jim (on staff with Habitat) was able to get Texas Roadhouse to provide dinner for us on Tuesday evening.

We tried to get everyone together for a team photo with a couple of the managers at the restaurant.  It was a great meal and a great evening.  Texas Roadhouse employees also volunteer and have an event this week at the Restore in which they are participating.

We are off to a great start and looking forward to our time here in Macon.

Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner Chronicles.

Mary Was Determined to Be Here

We were part of a team of 10 people who showed up for the Care-A-Vanner Build in Macon.  It was a good group and everyone got along well.  All were retired like us, all had RVs and the photo below shows us all set up at the Habitat For Humanity facility at their RV sites specially made for Care-A-Vanners.

Mary's RV is parked 3rd from the left next to us.

Mary is a retired firefighter from the Tallahassee area eand quite adventurous.  She had been reading about Habitat for Humanity and the RVers who travel to different places in their RVs (otherwise known as Care-A-Vanners). The thought of participating in a build interested her so she signed up to join us.

She was not concerned about the fact that she had never volunteered before with Habitat.  And she shouldn't be.  The whole volunteer concept with Habitat is for people with all levels of experience and ability.  From my perspective the main criteria is being willing to learn and able to get along with others.  That was certainly not a problem for Mary.  She is one of the most affable, friendly and personable people we've met.  And a firefighter!

But there was a small issue -- she had no RV!

But she did have a trailer with a ramp and a truck.  And she had the desire and determination and ingenuity and courage and resourcefulness to find a way to get here.

She built her own RV.

At first glance, I thought it was one of those Land Rover jeep with a camper on top jobs, without the jeep part.  The shade of paint and the matching tarp fooled me a little.

Upon closer inspection, I realized she had built it on the trailer frame.  Very ingenious.  I believe she said she had the wood she needed so she just built it with that.

She even has a couple of locking tool/storage compartments she mounted on each side.  And the frame rail across the top around the sides is the perfect support for the main body of the living area.

Then to top-it-off so to speak, she bought a very nice breathable but weatherproof  canvas coverin with grommets around the edges.  Bungee cords hold it securely in place.

Fascinating!  Who builds their own RV.  Mary.  Why--she decided she wanted to be here and found a way to make it happen.  It took he three weeks and she finished the project within budget.  (I'm not sure what it cost her overall, but the most expensive piece that she had to purchase was the tarp ~$60.)

Most other people would go out and buy a small trailer on credit and pay it off over the next ten years.  I like Mary's way better.  Its unique, shows her resourcefulness determination in joining us.  She really wanted to be here! 

Now for a tour of the inside.  With her permission, I took a few pictures of that also.

With the front door open you can see the platform bed, recliner, sofa on the left side.  There is storage underneath the platform.  It is hinged about 1/3 of the way on the platform so it becomes a lounge/recliner to do some reading etc.

Inside, you can see some shelving and windows on each side.

The frame from the outside comes through at a handy place so she can attach a clip on light.

Looking out from the front of the RV, her rear door has a latch from the inside, more shelves and easy access for an electrical cord.

We arrived on Saturday and the weather was pretty nice.  The temperatures were in high 60's for a few days then dropped into the 50's.  The nights started out being in the 40's but by the end of the first week, the temperature dropped into the 30's.

Mary had an electric blanket and an air mattress and was mostly warm.  But then when it got real cold she made other arrangements.  She built this in three weeks.  I can't wait until next year's model to see what upgrades she comes up with.

Mary also brought the campfire and we had some around the campfire sessions with her Weber pot bellied grill that also served as our campfire.

The HFH facility in Macon is awesome with showers, washer/dryers, full kitchen and a dump station for our use.  Her RV is perfect for the warm fall and spring weather, but without insulation and good heat -- it can be a challenge.

We were so impressed with her that she conceived, designed and built this and made the trip there to join us.  

She is one of the nicest and friendliest people we've met.  And determined. 

I have often said, "There is more than one way to do this".   And Mary proved that again.  It was fun meeting her and working with her and see her RV.

Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner Chronicles!

2nd Week of our Habitat Build in Macon

We just have a couple more days before we wind up our Habitat For Humanity Care-A-Vanner build here in Macon GA.  It has been another good one.  We have gotten some work done, met some great people and thoroughly enjoyed it.

We have spent a couple of days at the yellow house and the one next to it but most of time has been in the brick house which was given to Habitat by the city of Macon.

It is in extensive need of some rehab before it is ready for the new home owner.

Each day we gather at the site for devotions and our "Habitat is Not a Hand-Out but a Help Up" circle.

Then we get a recap of where we are and what we need to do for the day along with our work assignments from Steve, our Construction Coordinator.

He's the best! and a great guy to work with.

We divided up and have done things in every room and outside the house as well. And under the house and in the attic.

Pam, Dot, Carol and Mary started in removing rotted flooring and drywall.  Demo is always fun.

We piled it in the driveway before the trash bin got delivered.  Dot, Robert, Andy and the whole team got debris loaded up and into the container.

And the team put in some new sheet rock

Gabe and Bruce tackled the inside of the garage conversion with the new sheet rock.

And Andy, Gabe, Mary and Dot did a lot of work painting bedrooms and doors

The garage conversion needed a facelift with some insulation and concrete siding for a new look.

Robert tackled that one with lots of help from Andy and Bruce.

We had more insulation and concrete siding on the back of the house to do. We found the support under the window was provided by half of the back door they secured into place and covered up.

That was insulated and will have more concrete siding put on to match the front.

There was an access door under the crawl space that needed to be built so Mike and Carol (our team leaders) took on that project.

Steve, Pam and I mostly worked in the kitchen.  We had to pull up the flooring and figure out what to do with termite and water damaged bands butting up against the floor joists.

This was a major effort to jack up the floor, removed the damaged wood and figure out to get the new 2 x 12s back in there.  It will be a couple more days before we finish up this guy and get the floor back down.

But it hasn't been all work work work

We have had our breaks and lunch times late afternoon hang out sessions

And we had dinners together

And went out to eat one night in downtown Macon at the Rookery

And some have gathered around the table to put together an intricate puzzle.

Its been a fun two weeks with a couple more days to go.

Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner Chronicles!