Task Wrap-Up

Because the bathroom construction was not ready for us to install bathroom fixtures, we did not get that done, nor did we get ramps built because the concrete laborers were still busy on the bathroom structures.

Existng dining room bathroom on right, new one under construction on left

Changing room, toilet room and shower room under construction

We had to break out concrete to put plumbing in

Concrete saw got a good workout

Bamboo cut on site to make stakes

Linda Riley and Gaynor Smith making stakes to mark the ramp

Trial & error developed a knack

Laborers applying stucco to outside of one of the new bathroom additions

Ramp behind middle bunkhouse leading up to the upper one

Two of the existing bathrooms stalls in the upper bunkhouse. Note the can beside the toilet for paper. Brazilians do not put paper in the toilets because their systems cannot handle it.

Existing sink, although hiding behind a door in the upper bunkhouse, will be accessible if the door swing is just reversed. Note the typical beautiful ceramic tile, marble counter and ornate faucet fixtures.

Upper bunkhouse needs to have a accessible way to get from the grass to the concrete pad and then a ramp up at the door - or the back door is almost flush.

The shower & sink in my bunkroom bathroom. Doorway to the shower is a bit narrow but the shower chair made it through, up & over the threshold. The sink bowl & faucet handle might be too high for someone in a wheelchair. Note the grillwork in the window, but there is no glass.  There is chicken wire on the outside to keep something out. I was told it was snakes - pretty big snakes I think. Each shower has it's own heater, either electric or gas. Electric ones are called widow makers, with good cause.

This was not very rustic camping. But the toilet is a bit low for a wheelchair user and grab bars would help.

Again, the bathroom addition on the middle bunkhouse. There is no glass in any of the windows, and no heaters inside, so nights when the temperature drops into the 30's and 40's in spring are pretty cool.

My main project was to mark out the path for a new gradual switchback ramp for people to get up/down the site.

Starting at the upper bunkhouse, this concrete needs to be smoothed and edge protection provided.

This back door into the upper bunkhouse only has a small step

The new bathroom next to the back door of the upper bunkhouse will be accessible, and the roof over the door will keep the rains out.

Looking down the hill from the same spot as the previous picture, the ramp starts getting really steep at the curve.  I suggest it start there to go across the grass to behind the storage building, next to the banana grove in the background.

This is standing in the curve in previous picture where the new ramp should head off between the stakes with yellow tape flags attachedabove the round well cover.

There should be a level 5' wide area every 30' or so for people to pass each other or rest. This run should go to just in front of the fire pit are in the background.

This level area in front of the fire pit would be a great place for a couple seats and maybe a picnic table.

Looking down the hill from in front of the fire pit, towards below the storage building, the stakes mark out the ramps path

Casa Rosa & the Lake are visible through the banana grove below the new ramp area

 

This would be another good fairly level area for a couple seats and maybe a table

Then the ramp would turn back through the level area between rows of banana groves towards the existing ramp behind the hedge row in the background, just below the middle bunkhouse.

Halfway across this level area the rope swing becomes visible right where the ramp/walkway would pass through

Coming out of that level area, the middle bunkhouse becomes visible beyond the existing ramp and hedgerow. The ramp would provide a choice of taking a slight uphill run towards the middle bunkhouse (to the left of the spigot)or turning right to continue down the hill. The level area just below and to the right of the concrete laborer walking up the bill, would make the best area for a couple seats and a picnic table for devotions or fellowshipping.

Turning just below the spigot reveals the level area for seating and the path the laborers have been taking to get down to Casa Rosa with wheelbarrows full of blocks and concrete.

The natural terrain of that above switchback is clear here, with the level seating area at the crown

Looking up from the same spot shows the storage building above the path area, the rope swing is hanging from the big branch in center background

The ramp from the previous landing area would come down from right to left just below the banana grove here over to just past the building with the water storage tank on top in the background. It would also provide a switchback that returns to just in front of where I'm standing when I took this picture.

This is standing nearer where that above switchback would happen, just beyond the small trees right of center

This is standing on the proposed ramp just below the last landing area looking back towards the middle bunkhouse, with the existing ramp beyond the hedgerow, so you can see how steep the existing ramp is.

Standing in the same spot, looking down towards the little building behind Casa Rosa.

The blue tank on the roof of the small building is a rain water collection tank. The concrete laborers are taking a midday rest after eating their lunch.

Standing just beyond the laborers in the above picture, looking toward the jungle. Another level seating area would be great in the sun just beyond the trees. The camp dog was also napping in the shade of these little trees.

This is standing at the bottom end of this long switchback, looking back towards the laborers sitting on the grass.

I'm still standing in the same spot, this shows where the new ramp would meet up with the bottom of the existing steeper ramp, cutting across the very end of this retaining wall and joining in at the curved area

This is standing in the landing area just beyond the laborers on their break, looking back over that last run of new ramp, but another leg could go off towards the toilet rooms in this building under the water tank.

Standing in about the same spot, looking more to the left up towards the section of ramp that goes past the rope swing on the far left.

The concrete in front of the toilet rooms should be widened to make wheelchair turning space. Just to the right of this building is another extremely steep ramp down to the dining room level. I recommend turning to the right, going between the bushes into the jungle as shown below:

This is standing in front of the toilet rooms above, looking into the jungle where there is a natural path

Walking along that natural path into the jungle

Continuing on towards the clearing in the sunlight

At the edge of that clearing is a level area where these stumps used to be seating area.

Termites have destroyed the stumps, so I recommend either concrete or plastic seating for here. The would be another turning point for the gradual path

Turning & looking back towards Casa Rosa dining room. The stump on the right with a flower growing out of the top also has a bird nest with 3 baby birds in it.

This is looking back towards the bird nest and stumps in the circle

Standing on the existing concrete path facing towards the same bird nest stump

That existing concrete path has a great area for a flower garden and picnic table and chairs just off the path

Standing in the same spot looking into the dining hall, kitchen to the right

Same spot, looking up the existing ramp towards the toilet rooms under the water collection tank.

At the corner of the kitchen, there is an existing ramp heading straight towards this old log picnic table & benches, where Pastor Marvin Fray & Rachel Blake are. They are lovely, but rotting and the ground is too rough for wheelchair access, so I recommend filling that in with concrete and possibly reluctantly replacing the table & benches