Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Dec 26 - 29

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Monday, December 26, 2016
Morning 65 Degrees, Wind SE at 4 to 6 Mph, Humidity 94%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 77 Degrees, Wind SSW at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 74%, Partly sunny (late).

Pipe delivery nine truck loads of casing pipe, going deeper on this well. Other deliveries after a quiet weekend made a busy morning. One of the trucks came in latter and he was unloaded and out rather quick.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Morning 68 Degrees, Wind WSW at 4 to 6 Mph, Humidity 93%, overcast.
Afternoon 81 Degrees, Wind S at 4 to 7 Mph, Humidity 66%, partly Cloudy.

A slow gate today after a busy morning yesterday. Since I changed the water pump last week I see a difference in water pressure, steady and the temperature does not change while showering. Live is better with good water pressure and constant water temperature.

New water pump on the trailer

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind SW at 3 to 7 Mph, Humidity 94%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 80 Degrees, Wind SSW at 3 to 8 Mph, Humidity 70%, partly sunny.

Except for Monday it been a holiday week, low traffic with nice weather.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Thursday, December 29, 2016
Morning 60 Degrees, Wind SSW at 4 to 7 Mph, Humidity 93%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 67 Degrees, Wind ENE at 12 to 36 Mph, Humidity 22%, partly sunny.

All that traffic I did not have the past two days showed today. The big item was cement trucks, nine, not the transit mix kind but the sand bulk haulers. Also a couple of special cement pumpers. And the vehicles coming in to check the completed wells, gaugers, meter readers pipeline companies, gas and oil. Then in the afternoon salesmen. Wait a minute I thought this was a holiday week, not today. Water, oil production there is water coming up with the oil and is separated at the well site and removed by truck as waste. Two trucks came in today, it has been almost a week since the last visit. The second truck was to a older well that does not produce much but one more time for the year.  

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Dec 21 - 25

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Morning 44 Degrees, Wind SE at 3 to 4 Mph, Humidity 60%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 73 degrees, Wind variable, calm to 4 Mph, Humidity 50%, mostly sunny.

These past two days and today have been busy during the day with vehicles in and out in almost steady stream. Today seemed the most as I did not try and get any computer time (interruption) at all today.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Thursday, December 22, 2016
Morning 53 Degrees, Wind S at 5 to 8 Mph, Humidity 93%, overcast.
Afternoon 66 Degrees, Wind NE at 4 to 7 Mph, Humidity 44%, overcast.

Oil and filter change for our generator today, it is running twenty-four hours, seven days-a-week. The oil change is done about three to four weeks. This trip they even changed a fuel filter and the eternal fuel pump between the fuel tank and the engine. They were here a couple of days ago and noticed the pump there was not working at all. Being the fuel was pump was not working they changed that also but, left the power off and the engine is working fine.  

Easier gate day, lower traffic winding down to a holiday weekend.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Friday, December 23, 2016
Morning 53 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 2 Mph, Humidity 93%, overcast mist.
Afternoon 67 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 2 Mph, Humidity 86%, mostly cloudy.

Water pump, we have been noticing the water pressure pulsing mostly when showering and the worst part of that is water temperature changing to cold and then to scalding hot. I had been thinking it was the low water level in the tank but I noticed the water level yesterday (not too low) and how the shower went last night.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Saturday, December 24, 2016
Morning 64 Degrees, Wind NNE at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 93%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 85 Degrees, Wind SE at 3 to 7 Mph, Humidity 36%, partly sunny.

So today I said to myself we have a spare water pump on the trailer why not change out the pump that is there with the spare one resting there in the box. So I made it happen and had a good shower with steady water temperature.

 Slow day few deliveries and gaugers.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Sunday, December 25, 2016
Morning 68 Degrees, Wind SSE at 6 to 8 Mph, Humidity 88%, overcast.
Afternoon 82 Degrees, Wind SSW at 10 to 25 Mph, Humidity 54%, sunny.

Well I was awake early, the sound of the generator pulsing or surging. I got up and went up front some time after four am. The surging started again as I was now dressed I went to the generator looking for leaks or something wrong, nothing was noticed out of order. I went back into Buster and it started again, this time I noticed our outside lights go off and remembered then turn on the external fuel pump, I did that and no more surging after that.

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone, hoping all had a nice CHRISTMAS day.

There were a few gaugers and one person shift change but no deliveries.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Dec 14 - 20

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Morning 52 Degrees, Wind NE at 1 to 6 Mph, Humidity 90%, overcast.
Afternoon 67 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 4 Mph, Humidity 67%, mostly cloudy.

An average day of in and out. Sanding and preparing the table surfaces for finish.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Thursday, December 15, 2016
Morning 56 Degrees, Wind ENE at 5 to 13 Mph, Humidity 86%, overcast.
Afternoon 59 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity %, overcast with some late afternoon sun breaking thru.

I stained the wood today as there was no misty wet morning. Later in the day the gate traffic picked up, no big new project just a higher volume of vehicles coming to and leaving the gate. I went to Carrizo Springs submitting prescriptions some new and some refills that were filled in Pleasanton last. Did not wait for them as it would have been an hour and a half wait. Did our other shopping at H E B also.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Friday, December 16, 2016
Morning 54 Degrees, Wind S at 4 to 6 Mph, Humidity 87%, overcast.
Afternoon 63 Degrees, Wind SW at 2 to 7 Mph, Humidity 81%, overcast.

Foiled again and a misty wet morning, we had made plans to go to Laredo again today to return some things we got last Saturday and get some other things. Latter in the morning the mist stopped but it is still overcast. Today there were trailers of casing (pipe) eight of them withe the last one out by eleven-thirty. They unload them with a forklift so it is done pretty fast. That will be going in the ground soon and be cemented in place.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Saturday, December 17, 2016
Morning 41egrees, Wind SE at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 96%, overcast, wet mist.
Afternoon 85 Degrees, Wind SSW at 3 to 11 Mph, Humidity 52%, mostly sunny.

Off to Laredo before eight o’clock we accomplished all we went for and lunch at Texas Roadhouse. We replaced our toaster with a toaster oven, now we learn all over how to toast bread but we also have the oven capability we did not have.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Sunday, December 18, 2016
Morning 37 Degrees, Wind N at 13 to 18 Mph, Humidity 61%, overcast.
Afternoon 48 Degrees, Wind NE at 9 to 16 Mph, Humidity 37%, sunny.

 A nice slow Sunday gate traffic wice, and football on television.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Monday, December 19, 2016
Morning 26 Degrees, Wind NNE at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 71%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 45 Degrees, Wind NW at 2 to 6 Mph, Humidity 30%, partly cloudy.

 Just a normal day then my wife was up early for me to drive into Carrizo Springs to get prescriptions I put in on Thursday. On the way home I stopped at McDonalds bringing home to Buster our dinner. After a while a tank truck came I thought to deliver diesel fuel to equipment at other sites after another short while a trailer tanker came I just thought fuel delivery to the drill rig. But the driver asked “did the wrecker come yet?”
After that, there was some excitement as three sheriff’s cars and an ambulance came rolling thru the gate. There was another tank trailer that came in earlier and he slid off the road leading to the drilling pad. The wrecker showed in another half hour. The sheriff’s and ambulance were our pretty quick as there were no injuries, just pride I guess.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Morning 44 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 52%, overcast.
Afternoon 56 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 4 Mph, Humidity 34%, partly sunny.

Well during the night another fuel tanker came and another wrecker and the tipped over tanker trailer truck came out this morning it had laid over on its right side. This happened on the roadway leading into the drill pad. I guess that ranch area is holding more rain water and not drying as fast as other areas.

Fuel delivered for our generator trailer.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Dec 10 - 13

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Saturday, December 10, 2016
Morning 43 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 4 Mph, Humidity 61%, overcast.
Afternoon 46 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 2 Mph, Humidity 82%, overcast & misty rain.

Laredo, we were on our way just after seven thirty, taking about an hour for the fifty six mile trip. First stop was Lowe’s as they had a Black & Decker saw and a Worx Pegasus work table both on sale. First cruse down the isles I found the Pegasus table but not the saw. I checked high and low then a clerk came by and helped me. No they do not have that sale item, not had that sale item in the store since last June, but they did have another item I might want. That forty dollars more but there was more in the package, because they did not have the one I asked for he offered me twenty dollars off the price ($109.00) out the door plus sales tax, now that was a better deal than I was looking for. I was wanting the circular saw to work these projects but the extras are a a plus.
Seams like we always end up stopping for groceries before coming home. But there was a lunch out first at Texas Roadhouse. 
Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Sunday, December 11, 2016
Morning 46 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 94%, overcast mist.
Afternoon 55 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 94%, overcast.

At least the mist stopped latter in the day but the overcast continues. I worked outside most of the day made another platform to use near the gate when are holding it open for outgoing vehicles. That area is sticky mud when wet the more mud we can keep off our shoes the better. I also worked on cutting to size the surface for the computer desk and I purchased another piece of wood for our hassock we use near the passenger chair as a side table.

The new computer table

Thought For The Day – You can tell a lot about a woman from her hands. For instance, if they are wrapped tightly around your throat, she’s probably upset about something.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Monday, December 12, 2016
Morning 50 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 95%, overcast.
Afternoon 58 Degrees, Wind WSW at 3 to 7 Mph, Humidity 90%, overcast.

Well into the afternoon before things dried out, misty overcast is continuing. But we are not freezing cold like a large portion of the country with snow falls six inches and above. Other than that there were the normal Monday gate visits with gaugers and pipeline companies in to check their equipment. One thing different is there are oil and natural gas pipelines removing the product. Other ranches the product Oil, was taken off site by truck mostly. One last spring they added a pipeline to another tank battery across the road from the ranch we were gate guarding.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Morning 56 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 95%, overcast.
Afternoon 61 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 91%, overcast.

In spite of the wet conditions got some work done outside. I cut and made edging for our hassock table top. Now sanding and finish to be done in better weather. I completed sizing and edging the computer table. This also needs sanding and finish.
Overcast continues, broke late in the afternoon with some sunshine in the western sky leading to a big full moon after sunset.

Hassock table top

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Dec 5 - 9

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Monday, December 5, 2016
Morning 49 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 2 Mph, Humidity 95%, misty rain.
Afternoon 62 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 3 Mph, Humidity 82%, mostly sunny.

We did not have any more rain after seven this morning there was more than enough for three days with streams coming down both sides of the road. The road it self stood the rain ok but the ground around Buster is gooey sticky on the shoes.

 Water picture

Busy today with vehicles showing up after the weekend and three days of rain. Preparing for changing natural gas compressors on the existing wells. There are eleven production oil wells currently on the ranch. Ten are owned by the company putting in the six new oil wells. This afternoon the crane to do the “lift” came in the gate and the crew stayed til dark setting up the equipment for tomorrow’s work.

This afternoon I got the call that our relief worker cannot take our gate tomorrow. Plans are pushed out until the worker is available, maybe Thursday or Friday.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Morning 49 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to  Mph, Humidity 93%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 75 Degrees, Wind NE at 3 to 10 Mph, Humidity 40%, mostly sunny.

We are continuing the drying out process after our three days of rain.
Busy again this morning with a natural gas compressor being brought in, crew and equipment. Drill crew change is happening today along with our regular daily visitors.
Other flatbed trucks came in to remove the old natural gas compressor so the morning was like a convoy with all the trucks and workers coming in about the same time. Late morning the old compressors were trucking out the gate. It slowed in the afternoon but a very busy day.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Morning 45 Degrees, Wind NE at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 92%, overcast.
Afternoon 58 Degrees, Wind variable at 1 to 4 Mph, Humidity 81%, overcast.

Workers coming in to complete connections for the natural gas compressor keep the vehicle number higher again today. There was only a sliver of bright sky later in the afternoon in the west, but it is not raining just the overcast.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Thursday, December 8, 2016
Morning 51 Degrees, Wind NE at 8 to 15 Mph, Humidity 82%, overcast.
Afternoon 54 Degrees, Wind NNE at 4 to 17 Mph, Humidity 61%, overcast.

Busy day with the drill rig getting six trucks of pipe delivered. Then the workers for the natural gas compressor connection and salesmen and woman supplies being delivered.
And the cranes (two) were taken apart and removed today, the cranes were used to assemble the drill rig last month, that is three trucks plus worker trucks. The second went out while my wife was on duty as I went to Carrizo Springs for our weekly shopping and drinking water. We were going all day from just after six this morning.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Friday, December 9, 2016
Morning 38 Degrees, Wind NE at 4 to 8 Mph, Humidity 61%, overcast.
Afternoon 50 Degrees, Wind ENE at 44 to 7 Mph, Humidity 50%, overcast.

Slower cold day, long pants for me, the first time at this gate. Working on a plan for tomorrow trip to Laredo for shopping and lunch. Getting supplies for inside and outside to make things easier. The trip is on for tomorrow.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Nov 30 - Dec 4

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Morning 50 Degrees, Wind NW at 6 to 10 Mph, Humidity 54%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 78 Degrees, Wind ENE at 4 to 6 Mph, Humidity 18%, sunny.

Run of the mill day just the normal daily ins and outs.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Thursday, December 1, 2016
Morning 46 Degrees, Wind ENE at 4 to 6 Mph, Humidity 54%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 78 Degrees, Wind ENE at 5 to 9 Mph, Humidity 32%, mostly sunny.

My wife was up early so I could make the run for groceries and drinking water. Its been nine days since we have been shopping and myself its been longer as my wife was the last one shopping before thanksgiving.

Runoff edge of road

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Friday, December 2, 2016
Morning 64 Degrees, Wind ese at 6 to 8 Mph, Humidity 73%, overcast.
Afternoon 68 Degrees, Wind E at 6 to 9 Mph, Humidity 90%, overcast.

More of the rain was light misty, rain heaver on my wife’s early morning than during the my day. I think because of the weather the vehicle traffic was less today although the regulars were in to check their equipment prior to the weekend. There are eleven wells on the ranch and the drill rig is adding six more. There were two water wells drilled also since we have been on this location.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Saturday, December 3, 2016
Morning 57 Degrees, Wind NNE at 4 to 12 Mph, Humidity %, misty rain.
Afternoon 63 Degrees, Wind E at 1 to 4 Mph, Humidity 93%, overcast rain. 0.15 rain

Gooey mud

My wife had more rain during her shift as there were rivets left in the edge of the road where the water stream ran past our walkway. We are making a plan to take Tuesday off an go into Laredo for the day. Sometime together and retail therapy. I have a table top I made for my computer and want to change that basically remake it. It is nothing special just one quarter inch plywood cut to fit over a sliding shelf.

The edge facing me I have added a square dowel rod to stiffen that end. The new one will be larger, have different cuts and I will add the square dowel to the inside edge to prevent the top from moving or sliding further out. I have grown tired of some of the extra moving but I need to make it so I can easily remove and store the computer on the shelf closed in the compartment when traveling.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Sunday, December 4, 2016
Morning 52 Degrees, Wind NNW variable, calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 94%, light rain.
Afternoon 56 Degrees, Wind NNW variable calm to 1 Mph, Humidity %, rain.

Slow all day and rainy. Some of the regulars came but otherwise a slow day. With the weather keeping gate traffic low I have been able to spend time at the computer planning. We are thinking of traveling east in the spring to see our North Carolina grandchildren and seeing the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC Finding RV Parks in the area at a reasonable price is taking time and not many to choose from. Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Morning 50 Degrees, Wind NW at 6 to 10 Mph, Humidity 54%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 78 Degrees, Wind ENE at 4 to 6 Mph, Humidity 18%, sunny.

Run of the mill day just the normal daily ins and outs.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Thursday, December 1, 2016
Morning 46 Degrees, Wind ENE at 4 to 6 Mph, Humidity 54%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 78 Degrees, Wind ENE at 5 to 9 Mph, Humidity 32%, mostly sunny.

My wife was up early so I could make the run for groceries and drinking water. Its been nine days since we have been shopping and myself its been longer as my wife was the last one shopping before thanksgiving.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Friday, December 2, 2016
Morning 64 Degrees, Wind ese at 6 to 8 Mph, Humidity 73%, overcast.
Afternoon 68 Degrees, Wind E at 6 to 9 Mph, Humidity 90%, overcast.

More of the rain was light misty, rain heaver on my wife’s early morning than during the my day. I think because of the weather the vehicle traffic was less today although the regulars were in to check their equipment prior to the weekend. There are eleven wells on the ranch and the drill rig is adding six more. There were two water wells drilled also since we have been on this location.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Saturday, December 3, 2016
Morning 57 Degrees, Wind NNE at 4 to 12 Mph, Humidity %, misty rain.
Afternoon 63 Degrees, Wind E at 1 to 4 Mph, Humidity 93%, overcast rain.
0.15 rain

My wife had more rain during her shift as there were rivets left in the edge of the road where the water stream ran past our walkway. We are making a plan to take Tuesday off an go into Laredo for the day. Sometime together and retail therapy. I have a table top I made for my computer and want to change that basically remake it. It is nothing special just one quarter inch plywood cut to fit over a sliding shelf.

The edge facing me I have added a square dowel rod to stiffen that end. The new one will be larger, have different cuts and I will add the square dowel to the inside edge to prevent the top from moving or sliding further out. I have grown tired of some of the extra moving but I need to make it so I can easily remove and store the computer on the shelf closed in the compartment when traveling.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Sunday, December 4, 2016
Morning 52 Degrees, Wind NNW variable, calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 94%, light rain.
Afternoon 56 Degrees, Wind NNW variable calm to 1 Mph, Humidity %, rain.

Slow all day and rainy. Some of the regulars came but otherwise a slow day. With the weather keeping gate traffic low I have been able to spend time at the computer planning. We are thinking of traveling east in the spring to see our North Carolina grandchildren and seeing the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC Finding RV Parks in the area at a reasonable price is taking time and not many to choose from.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Nov 21 - 29

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Monday, November 21, 2016
Morning 45 Degrees, Wind S at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 90%,partly sunny.
Afternoon 82 Degrees, Wind SE at 5 to 9 Mph, Humidity 35%,mostly sunny.
 
Busy Monday, short holiday week. Busy day today after a slow weekend, there were some different companies coming into cleanup projects that were here before we arrived at this gate.  There are other completed oil wells on this ranch and all the oil operations use this gate. This gate is like a back entrance to the ranch, the ranch is is part of a deer hunting operation.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind E at 5 to 7 Mph, Humidity 84%, overcast.
Afternoon 8 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity %, .

My wife stayed up to go shopping today for our Thanksgiving trimmings. We had part of a crew change day. Different companies change crew different days or weeks.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Morning 59 Degrees, Wind W at 7 to 6 Mph, Humidity 92%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 82 Degrees, Wind variable at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 33%, sunny.

Slower day before the holiday.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Thursday, November 24, 2016
Morning 59 Degrees, Wind E at 5 to 6 Mph, Humidity 62%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 78 Degrees, Wind ESE at 5 to 7 Mph, Humidity 50%, overcast.

Operations keep going every day for the drilling operations and there are daily visits for the producing wells and pipeline companies checking there are normal conditions continuing without problems.  Turkey breast for two and all the trimmings a pleasant Thanksgiving.  


November 25, 2016 thru November 27, 2016, weekend nothing really happened and we were there. Just the routine ins and outs of the continuing operations.



Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Monday, November 28, 2016
Morning 68 Degrees, Wind S at 4 to 6 Mph, Humidity 84%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 81 Degrees, Wind NNW at 5 to 9 Mph, Humidity 28%, mostly sunny.

New week after a long holiday weekend, busy with deliveries and sales people coming in trying for new business opportunities. The company man has not told us to stop any sale calls so that actually makes more work for us tracking the extra vehicles coming and going.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Morning 53 Degrees, Wind N calm to 2 Mph, Humidity 59%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 81 Degrees, Wind NE at 7 to 0 Mph, Humidity 23%, sunny.

The generator was shutdown for the monthly oil and filter change. We have not had water delivered for a while and it ran out this morning. We got a water delivery about noon and back on a two week schedule. The route delivery schedule got changed because of a problem at another gate and we were forgotten. I now will take a closer like ensuring we get delivered every two weeks.

Thought For The Day – I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds. People get out of the way much faster now.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Nov 15 - 20

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Morning 60 Degrees, Wind SW at 3 to 7 Mph, Humidity 90%, mist.
Afternoon 88 Degrees, Wind WSW at 3 to 9 Mph, Humidity 18%, sunny.

Traffic started increasing later in the day becoming busy mid day. No big projects just small operations. It is getting routine vehicles coming and going.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Morning 57 Degrees, Wind NNW at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 77%, sunny.
Afternoon 88 Degrees, Wind SSE at 8 to 12 Mph, Humidity 23%, .

A rental company was trying to deliver a track hoe but did not have the correct rig number, he was using another rig number. He was getting upset with me because I did not know where the rig he wanted was located. He wanted directions from me? So I signed him in and told him try and deliver it at the rig, he was back shortly no delivered. He did not take the time to talk to me.

I changed Buster’s water in filter cartridge today as it seems the water pressure is down. Next trip to town I need to purchase more cartridges as it is best to have spares on hand.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Thursday, November 17, 2016
Morning 59 Degrees, Wind N at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 90%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 89 Degrees, Wind S at 10 to 15 Mph, Humidity 48%, sunny.

Shopping day, my wife stayed up at the gate this morning and I went to town shopping. It took me two tries this week as when I was entering the hardware store I felt my pocket and the wallet was not there, no money can’t buy anything. Go back home, a wasted twenty miles and try again.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Friday, November 18, 2016
Morning 64 Degrees, Wind S at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 92%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind NNE at 11 to 19 Mph, Humidity 43%, mostly cloudy.

Unusually slow Friday, there is always the regular gaugers and daily vehicles but they were even slow to start coming in today.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Saturday, November 19, 2016
Morning 49 Degrees, Wind NNW at 5 to 8 Mph, Humidity 52%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 68 Degrees, Wind NE at 13 to 18 Mph, Humidity 21%, sunny.

A nice slow Saturday, mid day was a little busy and early evening otherwise only a few ins and outs for me. Overnights there are a few comers and goers.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Sunday, November 20, 2016
Morning 40 Degrees, Wind N at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 68%, sunny.
Afternoon 70 Degrees, Wind ESE at 5 to 9 Mph, Humidity 17%, sunny.

Slow Sunday, it does not really stop, as there are “live ins” on site and some are always going out for food, drinks and tobacco products.  Last NASCAR race for the year.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Nov 8 - 14

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Morning 62 Degrees, Wind N at 2 to 5 Mph, Humidity 89%, overcast.
Afternoon 78 Degrees, Wind N at 3 to 6 Mph, Humidity 87%, overcast.

Little dirt road river

Rig people change from crew to crew learning new face’s, different licence plates on different vehicles. These will be on site for two weeks for the drilling company. The rain has hampered our ability to do anything outside. The water has given me some trouble keeping the outside lights on as there is a ground fault receptacle keeps popping. We have a couple of cables ganged together and I think that was the problem area. After covering them with plastic bags it has been OK since. But just getting to the receptacle the mud on the shoes. Mud rain .65 inch what a day.

Little dirt road river

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Morning 64 Degrees, Wind NNW at 5 to 8 Mph, Humidity 90%, overcast .
Afternoon 68 Degrees, Wind NNE at 5 to 6 Mph, Humidity 75%, overcast.
.35 inch of rain. Morning misty rain  Afternoon steady rain. A crew for the water well came in today different than the digging crew.

Me with my Walmart Boots

Walmart boots, we finally remembered our “boots” (picture) these work well keeping our shoes from being full of the mud while walking around Buster or betting to the generator trailer.

Foot prints

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Thursday, November 10, 2016
Morning 64 Degrees, Wind NE at 5 to 7 Mph, Humidity 84%, overcast.
Afternoon 73 Degrees, Wind NE at 1 to 6 Mph, Humidity 51%, overcast.

It is still wet, no fun trying to get things in or out if Buster’s outside compartments walking around in the mud.  


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Friday, November 11, 2016
Morning 62 Degrees, Wind N at 4 to 5 Mph, Humidity 84%, overcast.
Afternoon 73 Degrees, Wind WNW at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 60%, mostly cloudy.

 At least it is not misty or rainy today, things may dry out today.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Saturday, November 12, 2016
Morning 63 Degrees, Wind NNW at 3 to 4 Mph, Humidity 90%, overcast.
Afternoon 80 Degrees, Wind ENE at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 56%, overcast.

 We had some partly sunny sky and no rain that is the good.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Sunday, November 13, 2016
Morning 62 Degrees, Wind ESE at 4 to 8 Mph, Humidity 89%, overcast.
Afternoon 75 Degrees, Wind SE at 3 to 4 Mph, Humidity 50%, partly sunny.

 Finally some sunshine, for a nice Sunday with slow vehicle traffic. Some people left for a week and some new arrivals again for a week. I have come to the realization the working together of employees from the “big names” in the oil industry. These people from the “big three” Haliburton, Baker Hughes and Schlumberger. This drilling company has people from all three here doing their specialized tasks.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Monday, November 14, 2016
Morning 56 Degrees, Wind variable at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 93%, overcast - fog.
Afternoon 80 Degrees, Wind SSW at 6 to 12 Mph, Humidity 53%, mostly sunny.

Vehicle traffic very busy today after a nice slow weekend all different companies coming in to check on their equipment and starting new jobs this week.

it has finally dried up enough to walk around outside Buster without mud sticking to my shoes. I have been feeling stranded not wanting to go around the sides of Buster without the “Walmart boots”, now I can. You do realize the “boots” are a limited supply, you have to purchase things to get the bags, ha ha.

Nov 11

Let's thank all our vets for their service

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Nov 3 - 6

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Thursday, November 3, 2016
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind E at 5 to 6 Mph, Humidity 85%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 91 Degrees, Wind ESE at 8 to 13 Mph, Humidity 50%, partly cloudy.

Another busy day of ins and outs nothing exciting just mundane pickup trucks and other parts being delivered.  

Lower left lock is removed

These are two big gates each about twenty feet that I only open one the right side coming in to the ranch road. The other I will open for five axle trailers, regular trailers if they can not make it they need to go back to truck driving schooll. It is all about setting your vehicle up for a turn or other driving maneuver. The gate is held closed with a “barrel lock”. This gate has a four lock barrel, four different companies have locks on the barrel. Removing any one of the four locks will allow the bolt to move out the hole where the lock was remove. While we are here one lock is always removed. The center bolt comes out of the other gate and another bolt comes out the hole where the lock was removed.  

The center bolt goes thru to the other gate
lower left additional rod comes out where the lock is removed

Center bolt thru to the other gate (T handle on the right)
at the bottom of the barrel a small rod sticking out where the lock would fill the hole
to prevent that rod from coming out thus locking the gate

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Friday, November 4, 2016
Morning 69 Degrees, Wind NE at 8 to 18 Mph, Humidity 89%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 79 Degrees, Wind NNE at 5 to 7 Mph, Humidity 64%, overcast.

Slow drizzle rain, tapering off in the afternoon but that has slowed some of the gate traffic. Making the frak pond has completed so those workers are no longer coming. The water well drill crew should finish Sunday. These is another crew running water lines from the pond to the well pad to have that ready for the frak crew when that starts.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Saturday, November 5, 2016
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind E at 7 to 9 Mph, Humidity 92%, overcast hazy.
Afternoon 82 Degrees, Wind ESE at 5 to 7 Mph, Humidity 47%, partly sunny.

Things have slowed some for the weekend but there is almost some vehicle needing to enter or leave the gate.  


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Sunday, November 6, 2016
Morning 67 Degrees, Wind E at 5 to 6 Mph, Humidity 89%, overcast.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind SE at 8 to 10 Mph, Humidity 47%, Scattered Clouds.
 
A slow Sunday just rig people out and in going to the convenience store at the truck stop. The oil well drill rig is a twenty-four-hour operation with two shifts. I can not tell who is who (day or night shift) as some come after shift and others come before shift. Some also continue on into Carrizo Springs for their fast food and shopping in H E B for groceries.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Monday, November 7, 2016
Morning 65 Degrees, Wind E at 7 to 10 Mph, Humidity 89%, overcast.
Afternoon 85 Degrees, Wind N at  to  Mph, Humidity 56%, Scattered Clouds.

  Rig broke, waiting on the “rig doctor” and the water well crew finished moving out today, so that is done. The drill rig crew is changing and a new crew will be arriving for a two-week tour here with the drill rig.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Oct 31 - Nov 2 vote

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Monday, October 31, 2016
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind E at 3 to 4 Mph, Humidity 90%, mostly cloudy fog.
Afternoon 89 Degrees, Wind SSE at 8 to 11 Mph, Humidity 31%, Scattered Clouds.
 Scattered Clouds are nice that means there is plenty of sun but clouds are providing places of shade, it nice when there is shade. It seams the rig parts are here we are still getting a lot of “visits” coming thru the gate to visit the well site. Drilling should start in a day or two. Correction, what I thought was drill pipe is actually casing, because we got ten loads of that today.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Morning 69 Degrees, Wind SSE at 4 to 8 Mph, Humidity 92%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 92 Degrees, Wind S at 8 to 18 Mph, Humidity 38%, Scattered Clouds.

It has slowed down some but we are still over fifty vehicles a day coming and going. Five more loads of drill pipe today along with two tank trailer more loads of “Mud”.    

Our absentee ballet has arrived in Cotulla went there and picked it up. We each filled out our ballet and put them in the return envelope. We get to s;eep on it and see if we change our minds.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Morning 75 degrees, Wind ESE at 5 to 8 Mph, Humidity 87%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 90 Degrees, Wind SE at 13 to 17 Mph, Humidity 48%, overcast.

Things are starting to slow down here at the gate today or tomorrow the drilling will start. We got two trailers of special drilling compound for high pressure. Now we should see fewer vehicles for a while. There are vehicles that go out for “food” a lunch group and an after work group. From the gate one point six miles there is a convenience store at the fuel stop typical hot food and cold drinks. Some drivers fail to talk and need to be signed in again because they did not tell me they will be coming back.

Well of to the post office this morning mailing our absentee ballets back, there was no one outside interviewing how I voted no television cameras, I felt cheated but satisfied we voted. Because of the late date I spent the extra money for priority delivery service supposed to be at the election office Saturday. In our situation with mail my wife called for ballets, got the printed request form filled that out, sent that back and received our ballets. Mileage,

first we were lucky that someone was able to deliver the request to us here at the gate. Twenty-two miles round trip to mail it back. A phone call to check if the ballet was there yet, yes now seventy miles to retrieve the ballet. After the ballet is complete twenty-two miles to mail it into the election office.

“Fallback Saturday night”, set clocks back one hour before going to bed or you will be an hour early Sunday.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Oct 29 - 30 rig in

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Saturday, October 29, 2016

Morning 63 Degrees, Wind S at 2 to 3 Mph, Humidity 92%, partly sunny.

Afternoon 89 Degrees, Wind SSE at 3 to 14 Mph, Humidity 42%, partly sunny.

  

More rig modules came in today along with tank truck loads of “drilling mud”. Plenty of pickup trucks in and out rig workers and other support services. All these modules and the “tower” has not come to the gate yet. 

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Sunday, October 30, 2016
Morning 70 Degrees, Wind SE at 3 to 4 Mph, Humidity 84%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 8 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity %, .

Eleven more loads (tank trailers) of drilling “mud” they are not here long, about twenty minutes to unload, in and out along with other traffic of pickups. Ten truck loads of drilling pipe, large diameter. Some of the rig transport tractors went out “bobtail” to get a trailer from another site returned and put another trailer on that taking away two trailers, a five axle trailer hauling a four axle trailer. The tower did not have a trailer but was using a dolly and that was transported out on a flat bed trailer. So I think the rig is here. Two trailer truck loads of diesel fuel was delivered to power the generator and hydraulic system.

tower coming in the gate

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Oct 26 - 28

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind E at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 84%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 90 Degrees, Wind ESE at 3 to 4 Mph, Humidity 26%, mostly sunny.
 
Busy day for me frak tanks, housing trailers with support equipment and pumps being brought in today. More “lookers” and my usual daily vehicles coming and going checking in the oil wells already producing on the ranch. Most of the lookers will be workers on the drill rig. They were given directions and are checking where the directions take them. With these housing trailers (temporary) and skid trailers we will be having “sleep overs” or workers on site twenty-four hours a day.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Thursday, October 27, 2016
Morning 63 Degrees, Wind ESE at 3 to 7 Mph, Humidity 90%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 89 Degrees, Wind variable at 5 to 11 Mph, Humidity 33%, Scattered Clouds.
 
Very busy day with all sorts of vehicles coming and going, paying back those easy days earlier this month. Fifteen “big” trucks throughout the day a three of them had trailers, with seven axles. These were just the cranes three of them to assemble the drill rig when it arrives. I heard the drill rig has been “stacked” parked somewhere in Texas awaiting a site to drill. That explains some of the lookers that are coming here to see about their work. There are other workers for the water well and the frak pond construction. I have not been able to get any pictures as my hands are full with the gate, an I-Pad and memory, not remembering to get out my phone camera. I also have to ensure the vehicles do not hit the gate.

Word is out the rig is here and salespersons are now coming to try and sell their company’s service or product here at the site. My wife stayed up this morning and got our shopping done for the week. We are finding the shopping in the week better, the shelf’s are full, not wholes where things were in the stores. Both Walmart (not a supercenter) and H E B are small town stores with a limited selection.

Rig module coming in the gate

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Friday, October 28, 2016
Morning 58 Degrees, Wind SE at 4 to 5 Mph, Humidity 89%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 88 Degrees, Wind SE at 4 to 8 Mph, Humidity 34%, Scattered Clouds.
 
Very busy day with rig parts or modules being brought in by the truckload.  Some are also wide loads but all are heavy as just the trailers have four or five axles. Anyone can tell the rig had been out of service because some of the module stiil have weeds on them after being loaded on the trailers.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Oct 22 -25 trailer

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Saturday, October 22, 2016
Morning 51 Degrees, Wind ENE at 3 to 4 Mph, Humidity 68%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 82 Degrees, Wind SSE at 3 to 8 Mph, Humidity 23%, sunny.

Start of our weekend was later today as the first in was after six-thirty but it is still dark out. So far I am expecting a nice slow day.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Sunday, October 23, 2016
Morning 63 Degrees, Wind E at 3 to 4 Mph, Humidity 78%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 86 Degrees, Wind S at 5 to 12 Mph, Humidity 31%, mostly sunny.

We had a few more in today along with the expected every day vehicles. The new ones brought in culverts and a digging machine. These culverts are the start of the oil well drill operation.    

After everyone was out for the day and there was enough daylight for pictures I went down to the pad for these pictures. The machine and the bit used to dig the hole for the culvert. The six culverts are in the ground.


Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Monday, October 24, 2016
Morning 69 Degrees, Wind ESE at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 78%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 90 Degrees, Wind ESE at 5 to 10 Mph, Humidity 40%, partly sunny.
 
it’s Monday and the first in was here early ringing the in alarm as he drove up to the gate as I was going to sit down to breakfast.

We got out voter request for mail in ballet today, I thought it was going to be the ballet. So that created a stir to get that back in the mail hoping we can get the actual ballet bat in time for the election.  I got that back to the post office in Asherton
One housing trailer came in today so it will start moving soon.

Busters Gate Catarina, TX - Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Morning 64 Degrees, Wind WSW at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 90%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 88 Degrees, Wind SE at 7 to 10 Mph, Humidity 35%, mostly sunny.
 
Along with my daily vehicles there were a few “lookers” (checking out) where the “rig is going to be located. After the rig comes they will be workers here.