We're setting up our new camp all this week at the Christian conference center on Mt. Palomar. We'll be there for at least until the end of December. It's a nice facility in the forest with huge incense cedars, big cone doug-firs, dogwood trees and lots of deer that come right into camp - reminiscent of the Wawona deer in Yosemite. It's super nice. We hope to get back into Cuyamaca in the new year but that depends on the state park folks. They have to cut down a lot of hazard trees and put out all the smoldering patches. I am so relieved to know I have a job - still. I hit a low last week when we really weren't sure what was happening with our camp. But our director, George and superintendent came through. We haven't lost a pay day throughout all of this - amazing.
Gail (the chicken lady) and Roger's house had a close call. They live in a very remote part of Descanso that fire fighters never got to. Fire burned all around the house but left an island of greenery around the house - I told Gail it's her good karma for taking care of all the animals - she takes in injured birds and other critters. It did burn within a foot of her barn but it was fine. Unfortunately, two houses away Cindy Gross, another co-worker, lost her house. She already has a fifth wheel on her property - I guess those insurance companies work pretty fast - that's great. And she's settling back on her property with her husband, son, and 4 labrador dogs. Jeanne and Mike lost their cabin (Jeanne is one of our instructors and Mike used to be one too) and Buzz, our maintenance guy, and Lung, his wife, who works in our kitchen also lost a home. I think they both had place in Harrison Park south of Lake Cuyamaca. Connie Jordan, another instructor, and her husband Ray lost their place in the community of Cuyamaca where the fire burned through so hot. They are in a trailer right now in Ocotillo Wells which some kind person let them use for free until they get settled. They have their three big dogs and 4 cats too. I just heard from CJ's mom that the insurance co. found them a rental house in Julian and they are going to fill it with rental furniture, etc... so she is doing much better.