Greetings

Welcome to my little corner of the inter-webs! I just wanted to take this space to warn you that my posts will rarely be up to date. Due to the spontaneity of natural disasters and the unpredictability of when AmeriCorps' services will be requested I will be digitizing my journal entries whenever we return to St. Louis. Oh, and most of the pictures you see here were taken by myself. If ever I do use someone else's material I make a point to give them due credit though! That said, come, leave comments and be merry! I hope you enjoy your stay!

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Ava - 4/9

The Tower of Hercules is finished!  We modified our system so that Will and Fatima freed up the old boards, Justin cut new boards that matched the original dimensions, then Kelly and I would set and secure the new ones.  This method required us working on unsecured boards (bolted but without nuts), but the winds were much calmer than the other day where gusts peaked at 25 mph.  We made sure to take things slow and test wherever we placed any weight so never fear, we were playing it safe.  Job well done Team Gold!

After completing our project we went and fell Red Cedars in Sugar Tree as a reward.  I took down 3, the least of us sawing today, but it has been a couple of weeks and today is danger day so I took my time.  I can’t remember if I explained what danger day is or not, in the event that I haven’t it is the last day in service before a break.  People can get complacent or rush things and it can cause all sorts of havoc so we have to be vigilant.

So the Forest Service may be extending our stay to assist with a burn tomorrow.  As much as I enjoy fire I have yet to go on a 10 day that ends on the 10th day; what’s up with that!?  Either way I will be doing something fun tomorrow, I just hope that something is visiting my family in Michigan as I’ve spent more time with burns than I have them this year.

On a separate note, restaurants in the smaller towns of Missouri really cater to the people.  While I was serving in Cape Girardeau we frequented a place called Pie Safe.  The building used to be a bank in the 50’s or 60’s and has since been renovated into a bakery.  You can even go into the vault although the room isn’t even the size of a walk-in closet.  My how banks have changed.  Anyways, all of the delicacies sold there are ridiculously cheap and extremely good.  If you’re ever near Pocahontas, Missouri, I strongly urge you to visit!  If you’re near Ava there is Ava Drug that sells the 5 cent ice cream, which is a steal, or if you need something a little more hearty check out Hucklebuck.  It’s a BBQ joint with very affordable selections and the hosts have given us free food 2 nights in a row!  Last night Will and Justin got their meals free because they didn’t know it was cash only and today we got free sodas and 2 homemade blackberry cobblers!  Excellent customer service and great food—if I get another Ava assignment I’m definitely going back!


I got to stop talking about food before I confuse my stomach.  Bed time for now.  If you don’t hear from me tomorrow then here’s to my next adventure!  Talk to you all before you know it!


Picture taken by Kelly Kaufmann.

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