Raymond Davis and Jack Kennedy of the Trailmasters Four Wheel Drive Club had volunteered to construct the buildings.  Jack Kennedy and Kevin Askier are both general contractors, and they had other construction people in their group.  It was a matter of finding an opportunity to get all these busy people together.  That happened on the weekend of 1-2 February, 2003.

The Friday before, six motor coaches loaded with Trailmasters and pulling three trailers of tools and building supplies arrived at Goffs.  Under the direction of Jack Kennedy, with whom I had communicated regarding the configuration of the buildings, the Trailmasters had procured all the necessary materials for us.  They started to work immediately until gathering darkness forced them to start.

They were at it again early Saturday morning.  Saturday was more like an April day than early February, simply a beautiful day.  The Trailmasters, augmented by several of our people, were out there measuring, sawing, and hammering all day.  They took a brief break at lunch and then got right back to it.  They were driven by a desire to do the job right and to complete it by Sunday afternoon.  Again, they worked until gathering darkness forced them to stop.  The Trailmaster ladies had meanwhile prepared a wonderful steak dinner, which we all enjoyed at the Flywheel Dave.  (that's a statement of how nice the weather was)>

During the night, Saturday, the wind came up.  In fact, it blew a gale, and the temperature dropped considerably.  But, the Trailmasters and the FOMR helping them were up and at the job by 6:30 a.m.  Every one among us laid awake some portion of the night worrying about the buildings as they had been wrapped in tar paper and we all feared the heavy wind would destroy the wrapping.  But, daylight showed the efficiency of the crew that did the tarpapering - no damage at all!

To do the professional job the Trailmasters insisted upon it turned out to be a race against time to get the job dine in time for them to pack up and leave to get back "inside: so they could go to work the next morning.  The job was completed at 4:00pm, and the Trailmasters departed by 5pm.

They (and our people who helped them) have done a wonderful job.  The buildings will need internal wiring, drywalling, and internal and external painting.  We plan to start now and finish it up at the Encampment - including moving the map collection from the Schoolhouse to the new structures. 

What wonderful people these Trailmasters are.  I didn't know how to thank them enough on behalf of the MDHCA - in response they thanked us for permitting them to be a part of the movement headquartered here at Goff's of which we all have the honor to be a part.

And, remember, while this was going on, we were having an open house weekend - we had 96 visitors on the two days.  We must be doing something right, folks.

Trailmasters:  Judy and Raymond Davis, Charleen and Jack Kennedy, Alma Kennedy, Briana Casey, Kevin Askier, Brian Hibbard, Kay and Ken Foster, Gary McKibbon, and Jeff Osborn.

FOMRs: Dorothy and Bob Beal, Mary and Bruce Nicholson, Hugh Brown, Ed Ditmer, Ray Kath, Helen Baker.