FDR State Park

We're now in Franklin D Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain, GA. That's near Callaway Gardens, if you know where that's at! We arrived and checked in and they were still working on a new site for our RV. It was in the Maintenance compound area, so they let us set up in the campground for a few days.

Here's Mo at the campsite

Mo made us the traditional New Years Day feast of Turnip Greens, Black Eyed Peas and Cornbread. It was DEEELICIOUS!

 We are doing a volunteer job in exchange for a free, full hook up spot. Originally we had signed up to be a park host but somehow the paper work got shuffled and we are working as 'maintenance hosts'. We were a bit leery at first but it turns out to be a much more suitable job for us. In exchange for our site, we work 24 hours per couple. That means just one of us has to work those 24 hours, not bad since originally we thought it was to be 32 hours per person! So I work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8-5 and Mo works with me. The park service then turns in her hours and an organization called 'Friends of the Park' receives $2.00 for each hour she works. And we get to spend the day together, or if she doesn't want to work that day she doesn't have to. Our original job duty was to replace the old wooden park signs with new metal signs. The new signs had to be built and then installed as we removed the old signs. We were told there were about 200 signs! We met with the supervisor and he showed us the stack of new metal signs, the stack of 16' 4x4's to make the posts from and where we could set up to build them. Then took us around and showed us the old signs and let us go.  We would need to put the  new signs in new holes so I got a lesson in driving the tractor and running the auger.

Here I am being shown the controls. This is where our site is, Mo is standing by the motorhome taking the picture. Also this building is where we build the signs and also where we have washers and dryers for our use.

I'm ready to go! In the background you can see the stack of 4x4 timbers for the posts. That is Warren giving the lesson, a good guy.

During the first installation/drilling lesson we hit a 3" water line! Fortunately, even though I hit the water line, I was told where to drill by a park employee. Well we got it fixed and that was about the end of the lessons, we were on our own from there on. We were moving along and had built the next batch of signs while it was raining and were ready to start installing them and were pulled off to help paint a cabin. Mo and I painted for three days and together painted more and better then the state employees all put together! That job finally got finished and we could get back to putting in our signs. But that's only 3 days of the week! we have 4 days off! We hike and visit the areas around the other days.

Here's Mo on one of our hikes.

One of my favorite pictures, This area is covered in these old, mossy rocks.

We have become familiar with Columbus, LaGrange, Warm Springs, Callaway Gardens and I have run lots of the trails in the park. There's about 45-50 miles of loops and spurs including the 23 mile Pine Mountain Trail. One Saturday we did trail work with the PMT Club repairing some of the trail that was damaged in last years tornado, that was fun work. We've been to Atlanta and visited Michael and Carin, did some hiking with Julia and Chris, Mo's sister, and have just had a really good time here.

Here is where we are parked now, basically a gravel parking lot but it's a-ok. We have lots of space, firewood and privacy. We are right on top of a high point with woods all around us. Sun rise is out our bedroom window and here we're waiting on another beautiful sunset.

 Here is Mo driving the dump truck we use, she doesn't like the trailer on the back so we drop it at the shop after spreading the signs out that we intend to install.

 Mo is raking back the leaves and measuring where to bore the post holes.

 Drilling the second hole

 Ready to set, level and plumb the sign and fill with dirt. After we pack the dirt down and respread the leaves you'd never know we were there!

So far I think we have finished about 35 signs or so and we only have about another 30 to go. The balance of the signs go in a group shelter area that was totally destroyed in a tornado last April. The destruction is unbelievable and the area will never be the same. We don't know what we will do next but they assure us we'll have plenty to keep us busy!

Mo had her big 50 birthday this year and she celebrated for about 2 weeks before!

Here is her crown, she didn't want this picture on here but I'm writing the blog sooo.....

That's about all that's going on here, the weather has been very wet but mild temps. I've gotten in some good runs on the trails, we read alot, enjoy the other workkamppers company around campfires and thank God everyday for all of our blessings.

Stay tuned for the next post........