2016 Off Road Adventure - Habitat for Humanities Build (Bayfield, Colorado)

40^th day (Tuesday, July 26^th) through 52^nd Day (Sunday, August 7^th)     My first day on the build. Overwhelmed with excitement I loaded up my bike with my carpenter tools, helmet and lunch and headed to the Habitat for Humanities build at the Fox farm project which was the same location I worked at last year.

It was rewarding to see the completed house I had participated in last year, it was even more rewarding to have the homeowner that we built the home for remembered me and again thanking me.  

"Completed 2015 Habitat for Humanities Build"

This years duplex was all framed so I was assigned to wrap the upper level of the duplex to make it moisture proof. Joe (friend from last year) and Bill (first time Care-A-Vanner) were assigned to assist me.  
            

At first glance the task appeared to be fairly simple, well it wasn’t.  Standing on scaffolding 15 feet up in the air, unrolling a 45 pound 16 foot wide roll of building wrap all while you are stapling the wrap to the building with the sun bearing down on you, proved to be extremely challenging.  Joe (70 +), Bill (80+) and I (65) took on the challenge with enthusiasm.  They called me the “young one” for obvious reasons. 

              "Joe Henrick "                                    "Bill Fleetwood"

 

"House wrap"

Next assignment for Joe and I was installing siding, wrapping windows and doors on the back wall.  We were both glad to have our feet solidly planted on the ground.

Being on the ground didn’t last long for me, my next assignment was working with Doug (Hammer Club Member) to install soffits on the front of the duplex.  I got a good work out that day, working above my head. Mission accomplished.

  

Friday of my last week, we were unable to work at the construction because of rain.  I ask a fellow Care-A-Vanners  (Jen) if she wanted to go to Durango to work at the ReStore location. We worked all day testing and cleaning various light fixture and multiple microwaves and stoves. Jen was a great asset; she researched the Web to find prices for the items we get ready for sale. Well worth the effort. 

Next on my task list was removing the front side scaffolding so the windows could be installed, which was my next assignment. Doug helped me tear apart all of the second level scaffolding. Eric (Hammer club member) Alan (Project manager) and we finished the windows on my last Saturday at work.

On July 21^st we were invited to the Durango Builders Annual social event.  This year they were sponsoring a Chilly Cook off.  They had approximately 15 different organizations that entered the cook-off.  All we had to do is taste the chilly, drink free beer and socialize, O yeh we had to vote for our favorite.

The association also introduced us Care-A-Vanners to the membership and public, and highlighted the fact that we were from all over the US driving around in our RV’s building houses for perfect strangers. Kind of gives you a warm fuzzy feeling.

Sunday July 31^st I decided to treat Paula and Joe to an Alaskan salmon dinner. 

On August 1^st, Joe and Paula invited me to join them for a train ride from Durango http://www.coloradoscenicrails.com/trains/durango/history.aspx To Silverton http://www.westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/silverton on an old 1881 coal driven engine.  Since I love to ride trains it was a no brainer.  The train follows the Animas River https://www.durangoutdoors.com/lakes-rivers/animas-river.htm as it winds up the mountain. When I was here last year they had a contaminated-mine-water spillage into the river. The upper area still shows signs of the spill. http://www.denverpost.com/2015/08/06/animas-river-fouled-by-1-million-gallons-of-contaminated-mine-water/

The trip up the mountain takes a little over 3 hours, we decided to take a bus back down the mountain which gave us a total different view. It was an amazing trip. I will let the pictures tell the story.

"We were in one of the Open cars" 

                                                                   "Silverton, Colorado"

On Friday August 5^th, the La Plata county Habitat for Humanities threw us an appreciation dinner at a local BBQ joint. It was great getting together in a social event, you can just imagine the teasing that took place, for some reason it was mostly directed at me.  Alan (Project Manager) and Eric (La Plata County Habitat for Humanities Board of Directors member) had saved it up.

                          " Alan"                                     "Eric"

                                                                "Rachel, Executive Director"

                                                                                 " Exchanging Facebook info"

"The Care-A Vanner Crew"

                              " Left to Right -(front row) Alan, Jackie, Jen  (back row) Me, Gae, Bill Fleetwood and Bill Bradley (Team leader)"


        " Paula and Joe"

Tomorrow, August 8^th, I depart for Marysvale, Utah to attend the Paiute Trail Jamboree off road event.