We survived our 1st year at Sun n Fun! It was so much fun, that we are going back next year. There were fun times, and not so much fun times. We met mostly very nice welcoming seasoned volunteers. And a few Jerks, just like in any large organization.
We did everything from, Brian; going up in a man lift and pruning Palm trees with a chainsaw (128 total )Wow! To building cell phone charging stations, picnic tables, benches, decks and rails, building repair, running a backhoe for the electricians to pull power from the airport transformer to four new transformers installed on the campground side. Brian also worked in the machine shop and made parts, as well in the welding shop.
(Enough about Brian)
Ruth organized storage rooms, linen closets, worked in the volunteer lunch kitchen, and was an assistant to the Volunteer coordinator who managed the 2400 volunteers who show up to put on the 50th anniversary Air Show that is Sun n Fun.
Here are some photos
We are absolutely spoiled for viewing any other fireworks show for the rest of our lives.
Our brother Barry(who is a Life flight pilot out of Orlando) and his friends were attending the show, and got us tickets to view the night time air show in a Pilots suite, front row center. It blew us away, literally!
Fireworks! Hundreds of lighted drones making images in the sky. Planes flying thru the air with fireworks shooting off of them! Laser lights sending beams of light out into the sky! Pyrotechnic explosions! It was Jaw dropping!
During the 6 day Airshow, our job as a couple was mobile registration. You are on a live taxi way dodging moving aircraft. Hundreds of airplanes fly in to see the show. Those of you who are familiar with State Parks will understand. Some are Day use, some are Camping.
Brian drove us around in a van on the airside in the day use area, and the dry camping area. Greeting the pilots and asking if they were staying for the day or camping and staying longer. I, Ruth sat in the back seat with a lap desk with a laptop, credit card swiper, a receipt printer and a QR code scanner for those that bought their tickets online. I had a cash drawer and had to count my till before and after our shift. We sold tickets and directed the pilot and passsagers to the Pilot welcoming Center and where the Tram stop was.
It was mostly a lot of fun, everyone was happy. The last day my computer decided it didnt want to talk to the printer anymore and that kind of ended our shift.
Our Office
Ticket booth
Lady pilot camping
This is what the Volunteer coordinators office looks like when you have 2400 volunteers to track
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After the show is over on Sunday the staff hosts a dinner party called
"The Tail Dragger"
Being the Volunteer Coordinators assistant, Ruth, including Brian and some other volunteers helped set up the tables, and served the buffet (Fortunately we only had to serve 700 volunteers ). We did do some dancing and had a blast. The teenager kids in blue in the center of the dance floor are the RAF from England. Kind of like Civil Air Patrol. They come over for the show and volunteered. They were parking planes when Brian and I were out on the airside selling tickets. Their enthusiasm was contagious.
Special shout-out to Angela Mann, Volunteer Coordinator, and her husband Steve. This was her first year in this position and she was the main reason we came to Sun-N-Fun. She was super positive and so helpful. What a hard worker.
We are now 13 hour drive north of Sun n Fun, Lakeland Florida.
Creekwood Farm campground, Maggie Valley, NC
just west of Asheville. Our favorite camp spot right on Jonathan Creek. We will be arriving at Atlantic Oaks campground, on Cape Cod, this coming Saturday and start work on May 1st. We are looking forward to seeing our Atlantic Oaks friends.
Whoa!! You two busy bees are amazing! From a back-of-the-van office to pruning 128 trees and still time for tailgate parties....don't try to stop this duo! We love you! Can't wait for the next time we can get together!
# 23 Where did the summer go? It was just here, then poof, it was gone. We had a hot humid summer here on the Cape. Lots of bugs too. Mind you, not like Tennessee. We shared our late shift with Deb and Brian Castell who introduced us to our Atlantic Oaks family of workers. I don't know if I ever told you how we happened to find Atlanic Oaks Campground. We met Brian and Deb on a Mediterranean cruise about 15 years ago, and I kept up with Deb over the years on Facebook. They had worked at Atlantic Oaks during the summer occasionally, and two summers ago they wanted to tour Canada, so she asked us, "Do You want to apply for a work camping job at Atlantic Oaks"? And the rest is history. The summer season seemed to go smoother this year. Less hectic. Probably because we were more experianced and less stressed out about the learning curve of a new job. We found some new hikes, and explored some waterways with o...
ROAD TRIP! 1600 Miles in 30 days We had a rough start heading down to Lakeland, Florida. Between Brian's prostate issues, and Hurricane Milton, we had to be very flexible. Plans were changed numerous times. But we made it, stayed healthy and had a restful, fun time. Here's a photo travelog, of our journey south. First stop, boondocking at Mohegan Sun Casino Next stop, Country Acres campground, Lancaster county, Amish country, which was lovely, charming and quaint. Getting around Fantastic, Bird in Hand Farmers market! YUM! We met up with Sun n Fun friends, Barbara Ann, and Jeff, Emily, and Brian, for coffee in Intercourse, PA. They all live close to where we were staying. That weekend Emily and Brian McClure were having a Highland Games at their home and acreage and invited us to come stay with them and enjoy the fun and games. Lot's of men in Kilts doing macho things. ...
Whoa!! You two busy bees are amazing! From a back-of-the-van office to pruning 128 trees and still time for tailgate parties....don't try to stop this duo!
ReplyDeleteWe love you! Can't wait for the next time we can get together!