Late arrival: Most of the donuts were gone.The tall weeds had already been trimmed.  I slinked onto the site, aware that I was late but I had a morning of patients.  I was not berated, but appreciated.

Bob Harbicht appeared to be wiring light fixtures on the steps. I did not know Bob knew how to do that. Jack Pan, our Boy Scouts representative looked ready for Search and Rescue and was leaning over from the second floor walkway wire brushing the wood half rounds.

Easy work: Frank Griffith gave me a paint scraper. “Scrape off the loose bark, and cobwebs” to prepare the half rounds for restaining. “Don’t cut the backing paper,” I was told and started on a back corner of the fort. I forgot how big the Fort was!

Progress was slow but the “work” could not have been easier. Gil Stromsoe had a wire brush and was up a ladder doing something similar nearby.  I borrowed his brush; he went and got another one. We worked together.

One Rotarian came along kicking the boards and screwed then on tight if they were loose.  He was from Monrovia Rotary -“I helped build this thing, almost every Saturday for six months”.

Fellowship: Gil and I chatted and time passed as we worked our way along the back side of the fort. We swapped stories about our kids, about our Rotary roles, about ways to improve the club. Time passed and each of the half rounds was prepped for staining almost without us knowing it.

A bear came into camp distracting us and kids visiting.

Lunch was called. Historically white bread and baloney had been an offering when the build was happening.  I don’t remember if it was really that bad, but it’s worth ribbing Bob Novell about it – he was President the main year of the build.  We had better offerings this time including Whole Wheat and San Franciscan Sourdough!

We made sandwiches sat in a circle of white plastic chairs, had a soda and some cookies.  That was the tradition when we built the Fort… and we all visited some more. Several members had to go but I stayed on not sure if I could do much in another hour or so.

Learning new skills: Jeff Swensson wanted more lights installed on the stairs.  He instructed me and went back to another power project.  I asked Jack Pan if he knew about installing lights. He said “zero” and made a circle with his fingers. I asked him to help learn with me.

And so, we installed new lights on the top of the stairs on both sides.  Lighting 101.  We were very proud of ourselves!

More work to be done: There is much more TLC needed at the Fort to get it ready for the heavy usage of the summer.  You don’t have to know anything! You don’t have to be there all day.

• Outside wood that needs the wire brush/scraper prep (a sprayer will be used)
• Hand prep and staining of the inside second floor rails (hand painting 101)
• connecting and hiding the 12 volt wiring
• and more…

Join us on the next work day and see why Arcadia Rotary is know for its “hands-on” projects and enjoy the fun of working together –  by Brad Miler