Week 3 - Monkey Business
Sunday 10/23 -Saturday 10/29
After two packed weeks doing disaster relief work in Southwest Florida we pointed the bus north back towards Charleston where we had DMV related tasks waiting for us. Rather than rushing straight back in one long haul we split up the drive and soaked up more of what Florida had to offer.
On Sunday we got up early and drove to Tampa to visit our good friend Nick (affectionately known as Gibby to many) who recently started graduate school at USF. We visited his church and spontaneously drove to Winter Haven where the 2022 IWWF World Water Ski Show tournament was taking place (thanks for the recommendation Emily Brown). There we got to see the most talented show skiers in the world preform their most impressive tricks, but what was even better was the Wizard of Oz themed MC’s who entertained the audience in between ski acts while the water settled.
The Wizard of Oz theme continued on Monday when we found ourselves volunteering at a primate sanctuary that named different sections of the compound after locations from the Wizard of Oz such as The emerald City, The Land of Oz, and Kansas.
I think we found it!
The author and founder of this world is Kari who got her start in Monkey Business when an ex-boyfriend bought a Capuchin monkey named Samantha. As Kari puts it, “When he grew tired of Samantha and tried to sell her, I kept the Monkey and got rid of the boyfriend”. Ever since Kari has been advocating for monkeys who are in need of permanent sanctuary care such as lab monkeys and mistreated pets. To learn more about Kari and her non profit visit her website here.
Kari giving a tour of the compound
During our time volunteering at the primate sanctuary we worked to up-fit as many of the enclosures in “Kansas” as possible. Up-fitting enclosures involves weed eating, chainsawing, weeding, pressure washing, replanting, and adding monkey friendly features like running boards or rope ladders.
Welcome to the Jungle
Working with us was James and Micheal, two self proclaimed naturalists and science buffs in their respective fields with James being a big time reptile guy and Micheal being a huge plant guy (particulary Mycology, or the study of Mushrooms, so much so that he likes to sign his name Mycol). James was surprised that we had any transferable skills to aid in uplifting the enclosures. He was shocked we knew how to run a chainsaw or weed eater and Davis blew his mind by identifying a cast iron plant. Im not sure what this says about our first impressions when rolling up on a school bus, but I am glad that we are more helpful then we look. Mycol had lunch with us on the bus and we learned he was a commited homesteader living almost entirely off his land. He told us he often gets his protein from road kill and he composts his own waste in his garden. We have considered ourselves minimalists by living on this bus, but already we’re learning about the different reaches of lifestyles through serving with strangers. Having more perspectives is never a bad thing, right?
Mycol signing the ceiling
Monday night we linked up with Jacob, Wilson, and Thomas also known as “The Late Night Losers” aka the best band in Gainesville. The Losers were the best hosts filling our night with a tour of Gainesville (Josh was especially excited to see it included the Tim Tebows statue), busking outside university of Florida’s dinning hall with hopes of scoring a free meal (we were rewarded with very little food but gained many new friends), and a talented open mic night.
On Tuesday we stopped in Jacksonville to visit our good friend Julia who was actually the very first stranger that heard about our LOST bus plans when Davis and I were flying to Pennsylvania to buy the bus back in January. It was a sweet full circle moment and we loved getting to meet more of Julia’s family. One of Julia’s kids, Eleanor, needed a ride to soccer practice and we had the pleasure of chauffeuring her there on the bus. Eleanor loved every second of it and we are more excited than ever to be soccer dads one day.
On the way to soccer practice!
Wednesday we rolled back into Charleston for our monkey business at the DMV and had a few days to make repairs and tweaks to the bus. It was also a wonderful chance to see family and friends during our pitstop. I was reminded of all the love and support we have back home and as we said goodbye for the second time in three weeks it started to sink in how much I am going to miss the good folks back in Chuck town.
One last surf session plus breakfast on the beach!
This upcoming week we look forward to making stops in Charlotte, NC AND Greenville, SC to partner with groups dear to our hearts before taking off westward at the weeks end..