December 20 , 2009
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Vol. 4 No. 6 |
Big Update
Great Accommodations = More Usage It is very satisfying to have private baths for all the cabins. With housekeepers, the rooms are always clean and comfortable. Because of this and the location of various rooms, individuals are returning and requesting their favorite rooms when making a reservation. The continued upgrading of the campus is bringing significant changes that make one’s stay at Albion even more enjoyable. During the past few months volunteers have made several improvements.
Laboratory We are in the finishing stage of the Laboratory Building. The floor is now installed and the wainscot and trim are about half completed. Bob and Virginia Coombs undertook the project of restoring all the marine displays that were hanging on the walls. These displays are now all clustered in the hallway.
Finished Cedar Exterior of Lab
Interior Flooring Being Installed
Completed Flooring
Finished Hallway
Refurbished Insect Display
Larry Provonsha Holding Waste Molding Wood
Old Boat Barn At long last the permit from the California Coastal Commission was issued during the August work bee. Finally, we were able to take down the old boat barn. We now have a 180 degree view up and down the river! Tractors graded the site as well as the entire area by the lab and the area across the creek where the new boat dock will go. We seeded this area and now it is all green with new grass.
Old Fallen-down Boat Barn
Foundation of Old Boat Barn After Removal
View of the Old Boat Barn Site from the River
Preservation of Cabin Exteriors Four individuals applied 46 gallons of preservative to the cedar siding of all the cabins and the lab. This preservative, probably the best on the market, keeps the cedar more natural in color and prevents mold and water from staining or discoloring the wood.
Spraying and Brushing the Preservative into the Wood
Macoma after Having the Preservative Applied
Brick Wall Behind the Dining Room The area behind the dining room has been problematic since the dining room was constructed. The bank continually seeps water from the above hillside and thus is a muddy-mucky mess year-round. Our volunteers tackled this project in August and transformed the area. It is now clean and dry. The seepage water is caught by a French drain and piped to a culvert that carries the water to the creek. After the muck was removed and the French drain was installed, a concrete walkway was poured and retaining wall bricks were stacked to prevent the bank from caving in. Now that the rains have come, this big project is working flawlessly. The volunteers worked a full week to complete it.
The Brick Retaining Wall on the East Side of the Dining Room
The Brick Wall on the Backside of the Dining Room looking East
Traffic Barriers Much-needed traffic barriers were erected, painted white, sheet metal caps installed on top of the posts to resist rotting and reflective tape was added. These provide increased safety to our narrow road, and most of our guests find peace of mind in knowing where the edge of the cliff begins.
New White Traffic Barrier at our Upper Gate
Future Improvements Finishing the Lab and installing a backup generator to power the entire camp are planned for the coming year. This requires an addition to an existing building to house the generator. We will also remodel the electric panel room and finish the exterior painting and staining. Volunteer labor will be used to complete these projects.
Pontoon Boat for River Trips A “new” boat was donated this summer, suited perfectly for taking people up the river. It is a 22 x 8 foot pontoon boat that will carry about 8-10 people. We have retired the old 16 foot Boston Whaler. After 33 years of use, the hull was in bad shape. However, the 85-horsepower engine on the Whaler is being transferred to the pontoon boat. We are calling it our “party boat” because it has nice seating and passengers can walk around on the boat easily.
Jim Grossman and Gibby Preparing to Transport Pontoon Boat to Albion
Pontoon Boat on Cruise Up the Albion River
Story of Albion DVD A new DVD, has been produced called the “Story of Albion.” This video traces the history of the Field Station with Harold Clark telling how he came to find the property and purchase it back in 1947. If you would like a copy send an email or letter to Gibby gilbertmuth@sbcglobal.net or Gilbert Muth, 305 Sky Oaks Drive, Angwin, CA 94508 with your request. Be sure to include your contact information.
Rooms at Albion The rooms at Albion are available for individual and family getaways as well as for groups. For the months of December and January, there is a 25% discount because it is our off-season. This a great place to spend some of the holidays; some of our best whale-watching has been done on New Year’s Day. Call Wil at 707-937-5440 and reserve a room now.
You Can Help You can help by reserving rooms at Albion, donating money to Albion and telling your friends about the opportunities at Albion. Don’t forget to include Albion in your year-end giving.
How to Give Make your donations payable to Pacific Union College and mark them Albion Project. Send them to the following address:
Wil Cook , 707-937-5440, albion@puc.edu Gibby Muth, 707-965-2607, gilbertmuth@sbcglobal.net Larry Provonsha, 916-638-0842, lprovonsha@aol.com
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Written
by Gilbert Muth, 305 Sky
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