Folks, The TCMA is hosting another work weekend at the Deep and Punkin Nature Preserve over the Labor Day Weekend (Friday, September 3 to Monday, September 5th). Since this is a three day weekend for most people, this will be a good opportunity for people who have a long drive to visit the property (This is a hint directed at the Dallas and Houston cavers). We have a number of nice projects that you can participate in or if your grotto would like to adopt a project, I have a number of activities that can be accomplished over the weekend (another hint at the Dallas and Houston grottos). There will also be an opportunity to visit Deep Cave as well as obtain trip leader training. However, the bats are back in Punkin Cave so there probably won't be a trip into Punkin until November - but you are welcome to watch the bat flight. We do have a limit on the number that can attend, so sign up early and often. Also, if you sign up but then can't make it, please let me know so I can give your slot to someone on the waiting list.
We will have our traditional work weekend dutch oven dessert contest on Sat. and Sunday night so bring your oven. We may also have a possible meal plan available for folks that register early. The weather in Edwards County has been pretty nice of late. The days are hot but the evenings cool down very nicely. We also have a full 400 gallon water tank so bring your solar showers. We have limited space in the cabin but plenty of camping space. Potential activities for the weekend. Improve our boundary fence markers Improve the road to the property Finish installing the water system (need some help from a jack leg plumber) Work on installing a roof over the back porch (check with Rune Barnett) Lots of electrical work Clear brush on the property Anchor front porch to bedrock Finish the east boundary trail (coordinated by crew 410) Trip leader training Replace switch in heating/air conditioning system Build campsites Make signs Remove trash from property Build kiosk Build steps to porch Paint Hammer stuff Obtain and install flooring build shelves Install floor trim Drink beer Eat swill Burn stuff (if weather permits - Wes, we may need a good pyrotechnician) Build olympic size swimming pool Build training tower Dig hole to china Build game watering systems (tin roofing and tub) Plant milkweed for Monarch Butterflies Remove all bear traps from property boundary Track down and capture animal that left large footprints on back porch Caver fellowship slide shows and caver programs Looking for donations - 1. A small electrical pump to pump water into a barrel to be placed on roof 2. Hot water heater to be placed in the attic 3. Another 400+ gallon water tank. 4. Bench seat from a pickup truck for the front porch (to give the cabin that West Virginia touch) 5. fire tower or training tower for vertical practice 6. water well 7. 40 foot sailboat (for property manager) 8. more land 9. large sums of cash, securities, or bearer bonds. 10. Art work Well behaved dogs and humans are welcome; however, no grumpy people. Hope you all can make it. Geary Schindel Property Manager 210-479-2151 PS. I have a spam blocker in place so if you respond to this message, make sure you put Deep and Punkin in the subject matter so it won't get deleted. If you write hi or hot chicks or get your meds here - I probably won't open it.
