After a long winter, it’s great to see the landscape come alive
Which to choose?
Even before I earned my Private Pilot Certificate in 2013, the idea of building a kit plane had taken root. But even since thinking about this for some years, I am still undecided on which model to build. Though, this decision is not required for a year or two while I finish building the barn. In the interim, I continue to…
Team Rubicon 2015 Salute to Service Awards
Was honored to help volunteer at the TR National Fundraiser. We setup in the Federal Armory downtown NYC and staged a Command Center within so attendees could get a sense of what’s involved when deploying to a disaster. It was run by Headquarters staff supplemented with leaders and volunteers from Region II. All the pictures were taken by TR staff/leadership…
Region II Chainsaw Operator Training
Region II planned and hosted a Chainsaw Operator training in April that was just fantastic. Even though I’ve gotten chainsaw training from during my time in the Fire Service, those experiences were primarily focused on opening roofs for even operations. After Hurricane Sandy I got a lot of hands-on experience working through the many, many downed trees on our property…but without ‘real’ training. Youtube does have a great deal on the topic, but nothing like learning from experts in person.
Our instructors, Alan and John, came down from Region I and were top notch. Some of the best field training I’ve ever received. The group was attentive, safety focused, and fun to be around. Below are just some of the pictures that Region II posted. Again, these are not my photos and are part of this public album
Framing, Roof, and Siding – December 2014
My first Team Rubicon Service Project – 2015.12.06
I arrived early in Sea Bright on the 12th of December to participate in my first Team Rubicon service project. Didn’t really know what to expect. Found a bunch of folks hanging by their cars seemingly waiting for someone in charge to show-up. Quick introductions – everyone was friendly. We made our way to the main building and eventually everyone assembled and Todd introduced us to the local volunteers we were supporting.
I was immediately impressed with the caliber of folks in TR. No egos, ready to get down and dirty, and no show-offs. My type of folks. It started raining pretty early and continued throughout the day – coming down really hard at some point. It became obvious it was no simple project and we got the main platform done by days-end. Loved it. Wanted to do more.
TR Region 2 posted this summary on Facebook
Construction Begins – November 2014
Construction of the foundation completed in November. Before pouring the slab, I ran all the 5/8″ PEX lines that will be used to heat the first floor through hot water. Here you can see the manifold. It is pressurized so I can tell if any leaks occur during the pouring of the slab The slab required 20…
Excavation Begins – October 2014
After a summer of planning and working with the town on permits, excavation began in October. After clearing of a few trees, the footings were dug. I was pleased with how little disturbance was required. Here you can see a run of rebar – these are very long, 20+ feet. Instead of using ground rods, I went with…
Planning the Barn – Early 2014
For a long time I’ve thought of a place to quietly practice my craftsmanship and pass what knowledge I have to those with interest. And an area to build an airplane. In 2014, that idea became a reality with the construction of a new workshop, affectionately called “The Barn”. Here I’ll share progress and updates, always welcoming any good ideas.