The Camp Gruber ORV park work day or weekend is over and a few of us are tired and sore.
On Saturday April 12th Justin and myself headed down to help install the new ADA
approved camp grills. When we arrived we were shocked to see Mike Ward, Chairman for the
Camp Gruber ORV Trust Authority, already there with a shovel in his hands. Dennis made
it a few minutes after us and was ready to work. I think he said something about missing
the exit and driving to Arkansas
before turning around. Kinda hard to remember though I was up at 4:30 am. Joe and Grant
from Get'n Bent Offroad also made it to help out and Steven made it after he was off work.
Mike's friend Todd make it with the mini trackhoe to make the work of digging in the rocks
a little easier. Did I write easier? He had all ten pad sites dug out in about 1 1/2 hours.
We then split up in groups and some built the 5x5 pad forms while others leveled the pad
sites, placed the
forms and back filled with dirt. A couple then would follow behind and drive in the stakes
to make sure the forms did not move. We took our time so that the non manual labor guys (me)
would not pass out. After the work was done for the day we messed around a bit and kick tires
before Justin and I headed home for the night. Dennis stayed through Monday (no shower at the camp).
On Monday Justin, Christine and myself headed back out to Camp Gruber to help pour the pads. When
we arrived we could tell that it had rained alot and Dennis stated that a river had ran
through the camping area that night. A couple of others that arrived Saturday evening
stayed all weekend as well to help with the concrete on Monday.
When the cement truck arrived it was time to go to work. Everyone pitched in and we were
done in what seemed to be no time. Can you believe that Justin trusted me to hold a water
hose while he washed his
hands? He learned. The hard
part now was waiting for the concrete to start setting up. Once the poles were all
level, the concrete finished and then firm enough to broom, it was time to eat. We
then headed to Fort Gibson ate then stopped by to say hey to Jimmy Martin and drop off
a couple of things that Ken Myers had made for him. Dennis said that they were crossmembers
for a dual transfercase set up in Toyotas. We then stopped by the hotel so that Christine
could make her reservations for the poker run/fun run weekend and then headed home. For
those that could not make it you missed out on the fun and the privilege of having that
"we did this feeling". Maybe more of us can make it next time.
Tony Scalf