Second week at Galveston

     I have now been a full-time RVer for six months.  

     Over the weekend I did some sightseeing in Galveston with other NOMADS.  We toured the Elissa, a tall sailing ship.  We also visited the Bishop's Palace, which is one of the original mansions in Galveston.   It had been built as the private home of one of the Graham family.  It withstood the hurricane of 1900 and Ike in 2008.  Beautiful.

     This week I was considered the 'expert' laminate floor layer and continued to do that all week.  It was slow going, but it came out nicely, even with me doing the sawing...vvvrrrrr.

     The NOMADS team increased to 21 people this week.  So we worked in 3 houses.  A team of Mennonites were also there working.  A lot of people and equipment to work around.  

     I was able to drive the Jambo out of the mud and head down the highway, leaving Galveston, driving through Baton Rouge, going to Moss Point, Mississippi.  There are several beautiful bridges along the way.  I will have some free time there before working on rebuilding homes damaged in Katrina.  (People are still not in their homes from that hurricane.)

     Oh... the last picture is of the mansion, not of the house in which I was working.  :)

     

     

Galveston, Texas

     The weather in Galveston this past week has been at a 20 year low.  Luckily, it will be back to normal in a couple of days.  We went as a team to a restaurant and kept our coats on to eat because they didn't have a furnace.  Don't need them here...doesn't get that cold!?! (not until I show up).

     The NOMADS and other volunteer groups are parked at a church that has put in at least 16 RV sites.  We are parked close together, but that helped cut the fierce winds we had the other night.  We are about 2 blocks from the Gulf.  Hopefully, with the better temperatures I can go walk along the water.    

     The fifteen-member team worked this past week in two homes damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008.  I caulked trim, mudded drywall, and helped lay laminate flooring.  The time here was summed up by the owner of one homes, when he came in and after looking around said,  "I thought it was impossible, but now I think it's possible."

Headed to Galveston

     The roads in Wichita Falls finally cleared.  It took several days.  Church was cancelled the Sunday after Christmas because there was still ice on roads and the church's parking lot was an icy mess.

     Four NOMADS managed to endure the adventures weather and accidents provided.  I shared the Jambo with one of the other NOMADS.  That in itself was an adventure.  We fed horses, put up some fencing,  and did general maintenance.  Thanks go to the Smith's for doing the bulk of work. 

     The owners of Whispers of Hope were gracious hosts and tried to accommodate us the best they could.  They opened their home to us and provided meals.

     Now I am going to Galveston for two weeks.  I will be involved in the efforts to rebuild homes damaged from Hurricane Ike.