Bridge Building and Bonding

Our first three days in Cleveland were dominated by probably the most difficult project the team will face during the summer. Jim Karlovec, a Pi Kapp alum and the project manager of the first two Journey of Hopes arranged for us to build a bridge across a creek. The bridge was to be 54 feet across, 17 feet above the water and is held up with four 1200 pound trusses. I'm something of a Lego boss, so i figured you just put some decks across from one end of the embankment to the other, drill in some screws, throw on some glue and BOOM, bridge. Not quite. The team, along with the carpenters of Karlovec construction, built four trusses and carried each over to the creek, where a crane placed the four trusses in two already prepared cement abutments. After putting up scaffolding, we secured the trusses, built two ramps on each side of the bridge and completed the project by decking the entire structure.

For those of you reading this who could care less about the technical aspects of the construction (sorry gorgeous) you have to realize how awesome it is to be able to use the words truss, abutment and scaffolding in a logically consistent way. Once friendship visits start up, I promise less construction babble and more mentions of the real reason why I am here, but in the meanwhile deal with me while i embrace each opportunity I can to establish myself as a manly man.

The team has been bonding exceptionally, and we are well on our way to developing strong bonds that will last past Orlando. Some of us went to see Grown Ups after the completion of the bridge; while the movie was a complete disaster, making fun of it in the van brought us all even closer together. Somehow I ended up with the nickname Yan Meyer - I probably should not have let my love for Jason Mraz to be known among the team. One of the guys was lucky enough to get the nickname pledge - he brought his white diamond along and everything. This trip really has a way of transforming your mindset. Already I am looking at every task as a team challenge, and the image and success of the group is more important than any one guy. Nothing is more telling of this, then the more experienced guys on the trip taking time to show me the ropes. TJ Lewis from Virginia Tech helped make me handy with the Miter saw and even after I completely messed up the bolting mechanism at one end of the truss, Jake Morris from Missouri University of Science and Technology and Will Aja from ASU showed me where I made the boo boo and then helped me fix it albeit with some significant help. Although I am extremely sore and at this moment can barely move my legs, I can honestly say that the building we are doing so far is making me extremely proud and will only get better once the building is being done to help campers.

The Completed Bridge with a 4-wheeler and the entire Build America Team. I guess the bridge works...