Summer 2026 - May J. Strom Thurmond Lake.

We arrive in Georgia

We come across smoke from the wildfires

We get to the Volunteer Village.

And our site 

We face the Lake

Just down from our site.  The water level is down 7 feet.

A view of the Strom Thurmond Dam Visitors Center from the dam.

We go for a hike at West Dam

It has just opened after Helene

Lunch at The Mellow Mushroom in Evans the closest good sized town

A stray cat has been hanging around trying to make herself at home.  She's the talk of the Village.

We check out Lake Springs Day Use Area for a picnic lunch and bike ride.  It had a lot of damage from Helene, the Gatehouse is still closed.

 

The beaches must have 18" of sand so there are piles of sand everywhere.

The pole marks the water depth.  The lake is down over 7 feet.  Where the sand is used to be the swimming area.

We find a nice spot for lunch

We work 17 hrs a week each in exchange for our full hookup site.  One of our jobs is manning the Gatehouses for the day use areas.  Our first week was West Dam.  It has a Pavillion that can be rented and has 7 small beaches.

Another job is area checks.  We drive 200 miles around the Lake checking boat ramps. A couple campgrounds and day use areas.

Company Truck  

One stop is at Russell Dam

We get some pretty nice sunsets

The Volunters have their own clubhouse.

  Excercise equipment, Library and Jigsaw puzzles.

A TV sitting area, full kitchen with ice machine.  

A nice place to cook dinner when it's too hot to cook in the camper.

Laundry room and bathroom  with shower.

We had some good rain storms

Which brought the lake level up a bit.

April 27

May 29

Even finally got the Paddle Board out.  Think it was overinflated.  It was breezy and the water was choppy so wasn't able to stand up.  Next time!

Life is good!

 

Cocoa Fl. - 2nd week April

We begin the week with a Sunrise Easter Service on the Beach at 6:50.

 

Our Pastor Mark Reynolds

There were 4 Pastors from 4 churches in Cocoa Beach.

The rest of the month is spent getting ready to hit the road before May 1st.

My lifesaver cactus bloomed

We rescued a cat from the critters trap next door.  She made herself at home by the neighbors front step.  I'd have taken her in a heartbeat but Gary said no.

One last dinner out with our friends Pat and Steve to a Thai Restaurant.  I was thrilled!  They had Panang Curry!  I ordered with shrimp- it did not disappoint!