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Monday, November 18, 2013

The Birds Are Happy

Another beautiful day at J. Strom Thurmond COE.  It’s funny, but we’re finding we look forward to working, and we’re not even getting paid for it.  Volunteering has its own rewards, like personal satisfaction for a job well done.  Plus, we made birds happy.

We got our pickup truck, supplies and headed out. 

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Yep, another day of sign washing and maintenance.  We like doing it, really.  We get out in the fresh air, see interesting sites, places and wildlife.  At the Thurmond Dam, we cleaned signs near one of the turbine rotors on display.  Water from the dam turns these rotors and generates clean, renewable electricity.

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Some signs need their mounting bolts tightened up.  Others need to have the shrubs and trees growing near them pruned back.  Doesn’t do any good to clean a sign and have it hidden by brush.

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Sadly, we found many signs that had been used as targets, this one only had one large hole in it, but a few were totally destroyed.  What causes people to vandalize things like this?

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After five hours of scrubbing, pruning and polishing, we estimate we’ve cleaned about one quarter of the signs around here.  Thurmond COE Recreation Area is huge!

Now the birds are happy with all the clean signs, after all they like using clean bathrooms just like people do.  ;c)

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Next job is back out in the woods, walking boundary lines and pin hunting.  Should be fun, we’re going out with Ranger Pepper, who is the best pin hunter here.  Hopefully, we’ll learn her secrets.

Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.

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15 comments:

  1. I must have missed a post...what is pin hunting? Love that last picture. Keep on scrubbing.

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  2. You two just keep making us proud:o)) I believe if you put Ranger Pepper and Marti together, those pins haven't got a chance!!!

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  3. You are right. Birds like clean bathrooms just like people do. However, there is a difference. There is a big difference but I'll leave that to you to come up with what that difference is..

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  4. I think I remember that turbine :-) Great job on the signs! Bullet holes..you can't fix stupid!

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  5. We also look forward to our work days! It was nice seeing you two this morning... even if it was for just a few minutes. It certainly was another beautiful day today too!

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  6. Hmm... Ranger Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band??? Better bring your instruments along. Maybe you can 'tune' up a few pins... ;)

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  7. That last picture is just fabulous. Now how did you talk that bird into posing for you atop his picture?? But what does it mean? No birds?? Birds keep out??

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  8. Love your attitude about working. I kind of miss it, but Vic not so much. The park sure looks inviting, especially with all your efforts in spiffing it up. Hope the pin hunting goes better than before!

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  9. It's a good think you weren't cleaning those signs when some dummy was deciding to take a few practice shots!!

    That is going to be one spiffy looking COE when you and Marti are finished cleaning it all up.

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  10. I don't understand why people feel the need to vandalize. There are some beautiful rock walls along the highways here that are full of graffiti.

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  11. That volunteer work is rewarding for sure. You have an enjoyable day, with fresh air, exercise a you sense of accomplishment.
    Sounds like you are enjoying your time there.

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  12. Looks like a good place to workamp. When we were there in April, we sure enjoyed our time. Would love to see those target shooters to get caught. That and graffitti -- no excuse for it.

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  13. Love, love, love the seagull on the sign. Priceless.

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  14. Looks like Marti got a promotion! :) Does she crack the whip when she's out there in that truck?
    I agree about the target shooters. You really can't fix stupid.

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  15. Looking good and feeling good about life is great!

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