Texas RV Supply, Dec 15 - 18

Texas RV Supply, San Antonio, TX - Friday, December 15, 2017
Morning 46 Degrees, Wind WSW at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 53%, cloudy.
Afternoon 58 Degrees, Wind N at 8 to 15 Mph, Humidity 36%, partly cloudy.

Maintenance for Buster, front door and entry step need work. Busters Splendide washer/dryer will be replaced the valve on the black tank outlet and investigate a water leak at the front end of the right slide out.

While that is being done we will get Tan Jan washed. Then run around shopping I need a new pillow at kohls. Walmart for prescriptions then check back at Buster. For dinner we went to Whole Foods I wanted pizza and my wife wanted soup and salad. We had the air put in the front tires of Tan Jan and there was another store but my memory went south.


Texas RV Supply, San Antonio, TX - Saturday, December 16, 2017
Morning 46 Degrees, Wind S at calm, Humidity 85%, cloudy, showers.
Afternoon 51 Degrees, Wind S at 3 to 16 Mph, Humidity 65%, cloudy, rain.

Home depot today for a kitchen soap dispenser. The RV service is closed for the weekend so Buster is resting after the washer dryer replacement work yesterday. Just getting the Splendide washer dryer out of the cabinet required removing the doors from the cabinet with the hinges. Then to get it out of the bedroom requires removing three doors and another cabinet door in the hallway. The weight also requires two men for the move, a real project. Them there is the connections, two water hoses electric and dryer vent hose. But we now have a working Splendide 2100XC washer dryer.

Buster’s front door check was making noise, the easy fix we had them remove the door check. To fix correctly would require welding and that heat would cause damage to the paint finish on the outside of the door. We can do with out that and work around the door check not being there. The walk in step was supported better to fix that movement when walking inside. That was all completed Friday and they do not work on the weekend, so we are just chilling today.


Texas RV Supply, San Antonio, TX - Sunday, December 17, 2017
Morning 46 Degrees, Wind SE at calm, Humidity 96%, cloudy.
Afternoon 55 Degrees, Wind ESE at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity %, overcast.

Work around Buster here in the yard and a couple of loads in the new washing machine.


Texas RV Supply, San Antonio, TX - Monday, December 18, 2017
Morning 50 Degrees, Wind E at calm, Humidity 96%, Light drizzle .
Afternoon 58 Degrees, Wind ESE at 3 to 20 Mph, Humidity %, cloudy, misty rain.

There was more work to finish and we have a date in Austin. After breakfast I took Tan Jan for air check in the tires at Discount Tires as we are getting a low air light for the front tires, turns out the sensors are switched front is rear. Then get gasoline at Buc-ees in New Braunfels ($1.919 a gallon) and three more stops before arriving at Westlake Preforming Arts building for our grandsons concert (playing the French Horn).

We were early at the concert hall and waited outside awhile before going inside we meet Avery’s parents and got seats on his side able to see him preform. It was easy to see him as he sits tall in the seat, he has grown since the last we have seen him. The comparison is before he was not taller than his mother and now he is noticeably taller than his mother. It was fun talking and listening to others conversation.

Traffic, where to begin, it is Austin. Ok going there turning off US 290 onto TX 360 Loop we go down to a crawl for three traffic lights, just too much volume of vehicles because after the third light we went right up to speed limit.

Getting out of the parking lot, and rush hour traffic already on the street, and another school coming in to use the building for their concert, lines in every direction we planned to have dinner at a close by BBQ restaurant and after getting on the street we got there pretty fast.

Leaving after seven in misty rain after turning onto US 290 driving to interstate thirty-five exit ramp was stop and go to a crawl (long ramp) to I 35 and south for nine miles (took for ever) before releasing and up to highway speed. No reason for the slowdown and long travel time other than the volume of traffic. The whole trip back to Buster was in a drizzly rain getting back after nine.

The past three days I am dealing with allergy

to Mountain Cedar,

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Dec 7 - 14

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Thursday, December 7, 2017
Morning 42 Degrees, Wind NE at calm, Humidity 91%, overcast rain.
Afternoon 43 Degrees, Wind N at 7 to 16 Mph, Humidity 86%, overcast rain.

Rain continues today, (seven tenths of an inch) I am working from the porch trying to stay out of the muddy road. Mostly succeeding in that effort but there are a few that require me in the driveway road to complete my work recording plate numbers and getting company names.
 

We had snow after dark last night and I got these pictures this morning. Our traffic remains low but there are different company vehicles coming and going every day. Some are companies checking if they left any equipment and clearing out any excess parts still here.

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Friday, December 8, 2017
Morning 33 Degrees, Wind WNW at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 93%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 50 Degrees, Wind WNW at 3 to 7 Mph, Humidity 49%, mostly cloudy.

Flow back with oil tank and water tank trucks is almost all our gate traffic. There are a few other vehicles coming and going in the daytime but not during the night shift. 

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Saturday, December 9, 2017
Morning 32 Degrees, Wind SW at calm, Humidity 96%, sunny.
Afternoon 67 Degrees, Wind N at 4 to 15 Mph, Humidity 24%, sunny.

Continuing with low traffic volume.

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Sunday, December 10, 2017
Morning 34 Degrees, Wind N at calm, Humidity 88%, sunny.
Afternoon 68 Degrees, Wind W at 2 to 5 Mph, Humidity 24%, mostly sunny.

We will not be here much longer as this should be the last week for the flow back crew. 

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Monday, December 11, 2017
Morning 33 Degrees, Wind W at calm, Humidity 85%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 76 Degrees, Wind SW at 2 to 10 Mph, Humidity 19%, mostly sunny.

There is a chemical used at the well site for the oil that is not mixing correctly and they are working that problem now. 


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Morning 49 Degrees, Wind N at 8 to 10 Mph, Humidity %, partly sunny.
Afternoon 64 Degrees, Wind N at 6 to 17 Mph, Humidity 28%, partly sunny.

Late today the chemical mixing problem was solved. Flow back crew said they will likely be done tomorrow. 


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Morning 33 Degrees, Wind SW at  to  Mph, Humidity 91%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 61 Degrees, Wind SSW at 2 to 9 Mph, Humidity 36%, mostly sunny.

The flow back shift change crew came in and they were released to leased with the over night crew coming out together.
 I know our time here is about over now that the flow back crew is released.


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Thursday, December 14, 2017
Morning 40 Degrees, Wind N at calm, Humidity 95%, cloudy.
Afternoon 64 Degrees, Wind N at 2 to 14 Mph, Humidity 40%, cloudy.

About eight-thirty this morning I got the word we are released from the gate. We spent the rest of the morning packing and making Buster ready to roll. We are heading to San Antonio to have some work done on Buster.


At the end of the dirt road I connected Tan Jan to the towbar and headed north to US 87 taking that to interstate four-ten to interstate thirty-five north to Texas RV Supply.

After getting Buster checked in and parked we went to dinner at Olive Garden.



Thought for the day:
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy. 

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Dec 1 - 6

Morning 53 Degrees, Wind NE at calm, Humidity 76%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 79 Degrees, Wind ESE at 2 to 7 Mph, Humidity 33%, partly sunny.

Can you believe we are starting the last month of twenty-seventeen? Work over rig moved out today as their work is done. Flow back crew is on site. 


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Saturday, December 2, 2017
Morning 49 Degrees, Wind S at calm, Humidity 95%, overcast - fog.
Afternoon 80 Degrees, Wind SE at 2 to 9 Mph, Humidity 43%, partly sunny.

Flow back is the main crew in right now working, and water removal trucks, not many just enough to keep us on our toes.


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Sunday, December 3, 2017
Morning 65 Degrees, Wind ESE at calm, Humidity 97%, overcast - Fog.
Afternoon 77 Degrees, Wind SE at 5 to 13 Mph, Humidity 74%, rain drops.

Natural gas now flowing thru the meter, money in for the oil company. Just before or maybe caused my wife to get up was a short hard rain. The light rain continued longer with us getting a tenth of an inch of rain. I went to Gonzales shopping (still raining) anyway. I try to shop on days there is lower traffic thru the gate. I also had to mail letters (snail mail) at the post office.

While there the rain stopped but the damage has been done to “our road” where we walk, mud. We try to clean our shoes but the mud sticks to the soles of the shoes. Our brush and deck helps but we do have to walk into the road to get pictures of the license plates.

Mud drying out

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Monday, December 4, 2017
Morning 70 Degrees, Wind S at 3 to 10 Mph, Humidity 94%, overcast.
Afternoon 86 Degrees, Wind S at 9 to 20 Mph, Humidity 49%, mostly cloudy.

Black gold, oil trucks are now hauling oil from this well. The road is drying out slowly but we have to brush and scrape our shoes to control the mud. Even walking around watching for the “dry spots” helps by not walking into the wet areas that are still wet and muddy.

I had a “water crew” come in they picked up a section of water main hose used in the fracking operation. 


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Morning 53 Degrees, Wind ESE at calm, Humidity 100%, cloudy.
Afternoon 70 Degrees, Wind NNE at 8 to 21 Mph, Humidity 40%, mostly cloudy.

Another load of oil out early today and still walking around the “dark spots”, not dried out from sundays rain.

I had another four vehicles of the “water crew” come in they picking up more water main hose used in the fracking operation. One truck came in pulling a tracked vehicle on a trailer that can spool the hose up. There were two trailer trucks with empty spools that were filled when they went out later. In the picture notice that the trailer is four axles for the heavy weight of the hose.

Trailer with spools of hose

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Morning 43 Degrees, Wind N at 2 to 13 Mph, Humidity 95%, overcast showers.
Afternoon 53 Degrees, Wind NNE at 11 to 16 Mph, Humidity 44%, overcast rain.

Here at noon we have had almost five tenths of an inch of rain, plenty of mud. So far I have been able to stay out of the driveway mud working from our porch. Walking to the edge and using the zoom function on the I Pad to get pictures of the vehicles license plates and picture of the vehicle side. we have been dealing with the rain since Sunday.

At the well site looking west
and flair burning 

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Nov 19 - 30

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Sunday, November 19, 2017
Morning 44 Degrees, Wind NNW at calm, Humidity 74%, sunny.
Afternoon 66 Degrees, Wind N at 7 to 16 Mph, Humidity 25%, sunny.

Sand is moving out their on site equipment to another site as this frack is done. In the afternoon I went to Cuero shopping


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Monday, November 20, 2017
Morning 41 Degrees, Wind NE calm, Humidity 87%, sunny.
Afternoon 71 Degrees, Wind SSE at 3 to 14 Mph, Humidity 31%, .

Final parts and trailers departing today as new work is coming in. Continuing to work the piping on the well site and flow back is moving in with their equipment.
Coil tubing arrived this afternoon


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Morning 46 Degrees, Wind SSE at calm, Humidity 100%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 77 Degrees, Wind WNW at 3 to 12 Mph, Humidity 44%, partly cloudy.
 
Work over rig moved in this afternoon. Kind of slow day before Thanksgiving.


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Morning 55 Degrees, Wind N at 11 to 22 Mph, Humidity 58%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 66 Degrees, Wind N at 12 to 22 Mph, Humidity 34%, partly cloudy.

Flow back has brought in equipment this after 
Coiled tubing is done and moved out.


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Thursday, November 23, 2017
Morning 32 Degrees, Wind N at calm, Humidity 77%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 70 Degrees, Wind NNE at 2 to 5 Mph, Humidity 21%, partly cloudy.

We had a slow Thanksgiving holiday, and turkey breast dinner 


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Friday, November 24, 2017
Morning 42 Degrees, Wind S at calm, Humidity 88%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 77 Degrees, Wind S at 3 to 10 Mph, Humidity 24%, mostly sunny.

Small work crew today piping work on the surface only.


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Saturday, November 25, 2017
Morning 42 Degrees, Wind SSE at 11 to 13 Mph, Humidity 54%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind SE at 4 to 12 Mph, Humidity 31%, partly sunny.

Another slow day seems there is a down hole problem requiring a coiled tubing crew again on site. That will not be available until Tuesday afternoon. Good for me as work will be slow, low volume of vehicles coming and going thru the gate


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Sunday, November 26, 2017
Morning 56 Degrees, Wind NNE at calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 96%, partly sunny .
Afternoon 80 Degrees, Wind NNE at 3 to 6 Mph, Humidity 44%,mostly sunny.

I went shopping in Gonzales, TX Super Walmart and H E B there. It is only small distance longer trip. The roads are a little narrower, but still a decent trip. A little better selection for our regular shopping needs. 


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Monday, November 27, 2017
Morning 55 Degrees, Wind NNE at calm, Humidity 85%, overcast.
Afternoon 79 Degrees, Wind SSE at 3 to 10 Mph, Humidity 43%, mostly sunny.

Still slow waiting for the coiled tubing crew to arrive.


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Morning 52 Degrees, Wind ESE at calm, Humidity 93%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 82 Degrees, Wind SSE at 5 to 15 Mph, Humidity 35%, partly sunny.

My wife went shopping in Gonzlex. Coil tubing arrived on site after dark, not ther crew I was expecting but a crew with equioment.

Not the best pic there is the coil of tubing shinning
in the middle top of the picture

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Morning 60 Degrees, Wind NNW at 2 to 11 Mph, Humidity 90%, cloudy.
Afternoon 73 Degrees, Wind NNW at 3 to 14 Mph, Humidity 35%, partly cloudy.

Crew shift changes otherwise a slow day.


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Thursday, November 30, 2017
Morning 46 Degrees, Wind NNW calm, Humidity 93%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 79 Degrees, Wind NNE at 1 to 7 Mph, Humidity 43%, partly sunny.

 

Looking west

Coiled tubing rigs moved out today. And that finishes another month. Just before dart I took our gargage into the trash trailer and got the following puctures

Thought for the Day:
The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all readers

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Nov 15 - 18

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Morning 65 Degrees, Wind S at calm, Humidity 98%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 81 Degrees, Wind SSW at 5 to 13 Mph, Humidity 59%, partly cloudy.

Busy all day long but I did have time to do some projects. I put our another section of walkway making it four by six foot square with a two by two foot section. When we were in San Antonio in September they installed the new outside grip and having the shoe brush in that area we have a good grip to hold while cleaning our shoes.

My wife was up early and went shopping in Cuero at HEB. We are close to nothing unless you drive thirty miles or more.


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Thursday, November 16, 2017
Morning 68 Degrees, Wind WNW at calm, Humidity 98%, mostly cloudy/showers in the area. (Can I say there is mud in my future, not sure.)
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind SSW at 3 to 6 Mph, Humidity 56%, partly cloudy.

Sand trucks, all day never able to plan when they are coming in the gate. Going out times also vary with how close together the sand trucks arrive at the frack site.
Other vehicles are shift change and delivery of chemicals and diesel fuel.

truck caring loaded sand box

There is other work building a piping network on the well pad that is a day operation so they are in early and out at dark.

Some of the local are now coming around

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Friday, November 17, 2017
Morning 71 Degrees, Wind S at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 94%, cloudy.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind SW at 8 to 24 Mph, Humidity 50%, partly sunny.

Sand trucks day and night. Last Sunday and Monday the sand trucks started coming leaving their sand box at the well site building a supply at the well site. Now it is keeping that supply available. There is a conveyer system trailer that the boxes are placed on that can hold four sand boxes at a time for the operation and they use a heavy duty forklift to change out the boxes.

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Saturday, November 18, 2017
Morning 72 Degrees, Wind SSW at 9 to 11 Mph, Humidity 91%, cloudy.
Afternoon 87 Degrees, Wind WNW at 12 to 25 Mph, Humidity 31%, mostly sunny.

Frack is finishing up and the rigging down has started overnight. The sand trucks started taking out two empty boxes on the trailers. This sand operation uses boxes and gravity to unload on a conveyer belt. Additional empty boxes (four at a time, empty) were removed by a flat bed trailers.

Trailer caring out two sand boxes

Thought For The Day – There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want to do.

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Nov 12 - 14

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Sunday, November 12, 2017
Morning 64 Degrees, Wind ENE calm Mph, Humidity 100%, overcast.
Afternoon 77 Degrees, Wind ESE at 4 to 10 Mph, Humidity 73%, rain.

Rain (0.007 inches) did not start until afternoon (almost dark) and was light rain most of the evening, just enough to have rain gear on. There was a short period of moderate rain but it did not last long. A busier day with equipment moving in and getting setup here at the gate. 


Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Monday, November 13, 2017
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind NE at calm, Humidity 100%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 82 Degrees, Wind E at 4 to 8 Mph, Humidity 50%, partly cloudy.

Mud, overnight and this morning, stick to your shoes type, but with the sun trying to break thru it dried pretty fast. Very busy today with trucks (and sand box trucks) of all types coming and going. I installed the shoe brush and that helps a lot.

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Morning 55 Degrees, Wind SSE at calm, Humidity 100%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 81 Degrees, Wind SSE at 4 to 12 Mph, Humidity 51%, partly cloudy.

Close gate? This was not a fun day. There are multiple land owners and a renter running cattle that access thru this road. The cattle rancher is a renter and complaining about a gate further down having the lock broken and the gate was open. Yesterday a land owner came in saying he was the land owner but I only took down the plate number and not his name. Land owners can get huffy about being challenged accessing their own property so I did not push about the name also not knowing there were multiple land owners here. So the cattle rancher came today wanting to know all who came in the gate so he could figure out who opened the gate. While ths was going on I called my coordinator to advise him what was going on here. Also when I talked with the land owner yesterday he told me about the cattle rancher, so I knew he was knowledgeable about the property here.

 When the coordinator called back ten minutes later an said we were released and ok to stay overnight with the generator. I stopped logging vehicles in the gate. I decided to let my wife sleep until she woke up for her to get good rest. One of the oil company men came in and said we are not released also called the gate coordinator back and his first reply was who is this? I told him and he said that was a mistake about being released. All this took awhile to settle out but I had started to take apart our walkway to pack it back into buster in the afternoon. I never questioned the coordinator about being released, but I knew the oil company still was working inside at the pad a mile and a half away.

Very emotional day for me I was thinking we lost the job because of the cattle rancher and land owner being dissatisfied with our work but just a mistake on the coordinators part when he called me.

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Nov 5 - 11

Vaquero Village RV Park, Botines, TX - Nov 5 - 8
Three days it was sunny and the fourth overcast but no rain. It was nice get up when we wanted go to bed when we wanted and no gate alarm to answer, great time off. Every day we made it into Ladero to explore and have lunch / dinner a nice mini vacation.


Vaquero Village RV Park, Botines, TX - Nov 9
we did something different, we stayed home at Buster today and made plans to take Buster to Crystal City to wait for another gate. In parking Buster here we did not “spread out” too much. We kept in the on the go mode easier to start moving again.


Vaquero Village RV Park, Botines, TX - Friday, November 10, 2017
Morning 55 Degrees, Wind N at 4 to 8 Mph, Humidity 90%, overcast.
Still go up later today and did not move Buster until after eleven o’clock.

El Dorado Ranch Resort, Crystal City, TX
Afternoon 64 Degrees, Wind E at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 68%, overcast.
At the company RV park staying in the go mode not “spreading out too much” waiting for our next gate assignment. While we were in the driveway getting our bearings a guy came over letting me know about low wires. Talking with him he (Fred & Gladis) and I were at a gate together in 2015 in Asherton, Texas. After parking Buster and setting up we went into Carrizo Springs for Mexican, a place we have had tak out from other years.

After returning to Buster we got a call on my wifes phone from an unknown number so we did not answer that latter I got a call from our last coordinator we have a new gate tomorrow with a different coordinator. When I tried to call the phone number was out of service. Calling the coordinator back to get the number I recognized it as the strange call we did not answer.

The new to us gate, starting tomorrow is southeast of San Antonio


El Dorado Ranch Resort, Crystal City, TX - Saturday, November 11, 2017
Morning 57 Degrees, Wind NNW calm, Humidity 94%, cloudy.

Buster was moving after nine o’clock but it was hard to get up and get moving early today as we have been in lazy mode for a week. No “big roads” today as we took US 83 north a mile or so and looped around the south side of Crystal City and onto TX 65 to TX 85 northeast to TX 97 thru Pleasanton, goy we both wanted to stop and get some BBQ brisket but we were pressed for time.

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX
Afternoon 78 Degrees, Wind ESE at 3 to 13 Mph, Humidity 59%, overcast.
From TX 97 to US 87 into Smiley and south and onto county road (dirt to the gate one hundred sixty miles here about twelve-thirty, only thirty minutes late. Coming in the dirt road we passed a EV going out, the people we are relieving. The coordinator who called while we were on TX 97 was already on US 87 when he called so he relieved them while we were on the road. That worked well as there is not much room for two RV and three vehicles. The oil company is bringing in a frack operation for the work here at this gate. There are other oil wells in operation so there is other traffic to come in and record.

Looking in the gate

While arriving and setting up talking with the coordinator Rahlee was “talkiing” to us wanting to come outside where we were talking with the coordinator just outside Buster’s door. After the coordinator left I continued working outside and I could here but nor see Rahlee, then I caught a glimpse of him going under Buster. We both tried to get him to come in but no luck. I decided to ignore him for a bit thinking he would come out. Then I could here him again not see him, following the sound of him I found him on top of the left front wheel. We had been keeping a close eye on the door as I did not think he got out there then I realized it was the drivers window was open. Rahlee jumped out there wandering around under Buster then finally getting on top of the left front tire. Glad that is solved.

Looking out the gate

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX Oct 30 - Nov 4

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Monday, October 30, 2017
Morning 53 Degrees, Wind SSE at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 65%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 86 Degrees, Wind SE at 8 to 10 Mph, Humidity 25%, .

We have had a cool weekend with temperatures getting down into the forties and me in warm long pants for the weekend.

Rig cleaning crew came in today in preparation for the drill rig move out. They started the drill rig move out and pieces and parts on flat bed trucks. These are heavy hauls requiring trailers with five axles tractors with four axles to handle the weight.

This animal hung around for about five nights
coming before dart staying until eight or nine in the morning

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Morning 65 Degrees, Wind NE calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 96%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 68 Degrees, Wind N at 8 to 16 Mph, Humidity 63%, partly cloudy.

The company supplying the onsite housing were in early for the move today of five house trailers, water and waste water tanks. Then there are steps and other parts all on trailers pulled by pickup trucks. Trucks continues hauling loads with equipment used in the drilling operation. 

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Morning 57 Degrees, Wind NW at calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 89%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind N at 4 to 9 Mph, Humidity 50%, partly sunny.

Big pieces moved out today all but one, the tower it is loaded on its dolly ready to roll out in the morning.

Another drill rig moved in four miles further down the road from our location and traffic coming to that gate is stopping trying to enter for us. I have to ask what rig are they looking for and direct them four miles further down the road. So all first timers want to stop thinking they are at their destination and I direct them four miles more, that they are now only half way there to their destination. I did notice a few drivers stop look recheck their paperwork and continue on but more stop and ask to enter here.

Cat TV

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Thursday, November 2, 2017
Morning 71 Degrees, Wind SSW at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 96%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 92 Degrees, Wind SSE at 7 to 12 Mph, Humidity 47%, partly sunny.

With the tower rolling out this morning the drill rig is moved out. I took our trash into the trash trailer still onsite. On the well site there is still material on pallets that will be moved out frcak tanks to be drained and cleaned stll more to be done.

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Friday, November 3, 2017
Morning 74 Degrees, Wind SSE at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 96%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 90 Degrees, Wind SE at 8 to 13 Mph, Humidity 55%, partly sunny.

It was a slower traffic day and late this afternoon we got the word, Close Gate, we are done as of midnight tonight. I started the breakdown for Buster’s move. Worked outside on that til near dark. A lot more to breakdown and put away things in Buster for the move off site.

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Saturday, November 4, 2017
Morning 77 Degrees, Wind ESE at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 86%, cloudy.

Very busy morning breaking down and packing away. While we are doing our thing, there are trucks coming in removing the supplies and draining the frack tanks. I just opened the gate for them to do their work as we are off the clock I made no attempt to keep track of them. There were still some that were looking for the new drill rig and directed them down the road four more miles. Some drivers see a gate guard and think that is where they are going.

About noon Buster rolled out the gate, I put the lock on and started the slow drive down the dirt road, four and a half miles.

Vaquero Village RV Park, Botines, TX
Afternoon 90 Degrees, Wind SSE at 9 to 13 Mph, Humidity 52%, partly sunny.

I sent my wife ahead to the paved road in Tan Jan. And Buster caught up after a slow going down the dirt road trying to keep the dust as low as possible. Then we turn east on the TX 255 and south on US 83, with a total trip of nineteen miles here to the RV park. After setting Buster on a site and taking a shower we drove into Ladero for dimmer and shopping. Getting back to Buster we crashed after a big work day moving.

Buster parked at Vaquero Village RV Park

Thought for the Day:
If the earth were really flat, Cats would have pushed everything over the edge by now.

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Oct 19 - 29

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Thursday, October 19, to 29

Rahlee in the box

Things are routine day after day, there are dump trailers hauling out drilling’s, stinky stuff with a  petroleum smell coming from the material inside the trailer. Some shift change people and other daily visitors. Night traffic is slow and we are now getting different animals coming around as night comes on and even hanging around the generator for the heat coming off the radiator. There is no attempt to try and go to the gate, that is good for us. There are water trucks and bulk material trailers, material for the “Drilling Mud”.

We are happy with the shopping as these stores are the super Walmart and H E B Plus stores that have a large selection available not the mini supers (old Walmarts with only a limited grocery section. It is a twenty-one mile trip with the first four and a half miles dirt road.

Young Wildabeast

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Oct 12 - 18

Buster’s Gate, Ladero, TX - Thursday, October 12, 2017
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind W calm, Humidity 77%, cloudy.
Afternoon 88 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity 48%, partly sunny.

Slow traffic morning workers are just busy in at the well. We are not having a lot of “sales” vehicles showing up to sell their company’s services. Other well drilling sites there was a continus flow of vehicles coming in and trying to sell the company something. Some it was almost no “pitch time” as most of the time they were on site was spent driving in to the “company trailer” and returning back to the gate.

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Friday, October 13, 2017
Morning 73 Degrees, Wind S at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 100%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 92 Degrees, Wind SSW at 5 to 8 Mph, Humidity 51%, partly sunny.

Much slower day today other than the daily shift change vehicles in and out water tankers bringing in liquid for the drilling Mud. They are now hauling out drilling spoils so there are large dump trucks hauling that off site. Those trucks are emitting an oder, they do not smell nice.


Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Monday, October 16, 2017
Morning 62 Degrees, Wind NNW at 5 to 8 Mph, Humidity 64%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 78 Degrees, Wind NNW at 11 to 21 Mph, Humidity 29%, partly sunny.

Gifted with BBQ from McBee’s in Pleasanton, a vendor catered meals to the crew here at the well site and on the way out we were given BBQ brisket dinners, nice treat. Meant more as we know the McBee’s BBQ from Pleasanton and Jourdenton, Texas.


Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Morning 54 Degrees, Wind WNW at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 84%, sunny.
Afternoon 82 Degrees, Wind NNE at 3 to 7 Mph, Humidity 26%, partly sunny.

Dall Ram Goat alert, mid morning a truck comes to go out the gate with this goat following it. During the rig move in days I was leaving the gates open during the daylight hours. After the rig move was complete I have been closing the gates after every vehicle. Actually only opening only one gate unless a tractor trailer came in I was opening two gates. The latching part was not aligning properly so I was using a rope to  keep the gate closed as it wanted to swing open. No the goat arrived and was in the gate area for more than three hours wandering the area around Buster and the generator trailer and walked up the roads but continued “looking” to make an exit. He was looking out to the dirt road up and down the fence line. He finally went up the road on Buster’s passenger side.

Latter snail mail arrived with our coordinator. I comented about the goat hanging here at the gate attempting to exit. With the gate not latching it was a problem and he called for a maintenance company to adjust the gate.

I spent most of the evening sorting thru our mail delivery, priority checks. We had two refund checks and payments from our Northrup Grumman insurance that refunds my payments to medicare supplemental insurance and the prescription plan for me.


Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Morning 60 Degrees, Wind SE at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 92%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind SE at 6 to 12 Mph, Humidity 32%, mostly sunny.

Road on Buster's passengers side

Continued sorting thru the mail delivery today. Late afternoon maintenance arrived and got the gate adjustment that was all. I was also looking for them to have a welder and weld the gate pin to the other gate. We are making do until I go shopping getting some worm clamps that I can clamp the pin to the other gate. In some way every gate site has d orignal operation unique to that location. Here I was happy that first Saturday when the welder came and installed the expanded metal to the cattle guard to allow safe walking to the gate latch. And even more happy he installed a pin to keep one gate in position when the other gate opened. At the time I did not realize he put the pin on the wrong gate. As gate people we want the gates to open in as the vehicles pull up looking for access to the well site. If they open out the vehicle has to backup for the gate to open. The way the gate latch here works the right gate (coming in) has to open first or you have to move that for the lock plate to pass behind the right gate. Most vehicles arriving at the gate only need one gate to enter.

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Oct 7 - 11

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX -  Saturday, October 7, 2017
Morning 73 Degrees, Wind SE at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 95%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 91 Degrees, Wind E at 6 to 13 Mph, Humidity 49%, mostly sunny.

Well the mmorning came and went with only a few pickup trucks nothing large until almost noon when the two skid trailers came thru the gate. Latter in the afternoon housing trailers and a couple of rig loads came in the gate.

Expanded metal walkway

During the morning a welder came and installed expanded metal on top of the cattle guard to allow us to walk there safely. Stepping on the pipes to on latch the gate is not very safe as we are also holding a I Pad in one hand. He also welded a pin to pin that gate open or closed, it will not blow in the wind. The pin will drop down thru the expanded metal walkway to hold the gate closed. I talked to the coordinator about stopping by the Home Depot for some wood for me when he come to deliver our sensor for the gate.  He came and delivered the sensor and wood late when my wife was working.

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX -  Sunday, October 8, 2017
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind ESE calm, Humidity 88%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 93 Degrees, Wind SSE at 7 to 12 Mph, Humidity 46%, mostly sunny.

Rig parts coming in today one got stuck turning into the gate needing a large forklift to push as he was turning in to the gate. I walked in further to allow the rig tower to clear the turn in thru the gate. Another rig part was following behind that one.

Rig tower coming in 

When I got up this morning my wife said the wood I ordered arrived last night. The delivery made a busy morning for me making a wood deck walk and checking vehicles in and out.


Buster’s Gate, Laredo,, TX - Monday, October 9, 2017
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind SSE at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 88%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 98 Degrees, Wind SE at 10 to 14 Mph, Humidity 42%, mostly sunny.

The last of the rig parts are here today with water tankers coming in for the “Drilling Mud” along with other chemicles. A crane came in to lift and assist in the assembly of the rig parts. 

Rahlee checking the tape holding the foil in place

Buster’s Gate, Laredo,, TX - Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Morning 77 Degrees, Wind ESE at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 92%, cloudy.
Afternoon 80 Degrees, Wind N at 13 to 25 Mph, Humidity 53%, partly sunny.

I saw the neighbors for the first time today picture, they are on the ranch across the road from our location. Vehicle traffic is still high with parts and material being brought into the work site. 

neighbor cattle

We have our area setup complete now as I was able to have a roller come to flatten the ruts in our normal walking area. I did have to move most again while the roller packed the ruts in the local area. The decking is laying flat now and when we step off into the dirt there is no stepping into ruts.

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Morning 62 Degrees, Wind N at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 70%, cloudy, light rain.
Afternoon 74 Degrees, Wind NNW at 2 to 5 Mph, Humidity 62%, mostly cloudy.

It is back, the rain, started last night just enough to make mud and stick to our shoes. Well that got me into gear and setup our shoe brush and hoe to scrape and clean mud from our shoes before going inside Buster. Slower work day for me and nights have been easy for my wife. 

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Oct 4 - 6

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Morning 77 Degrees, Wind E at 5 to 8 Mph, Humidity 96%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind NNE  at 6 to 14 Mph, Humidity 75%, mostly cloudy.

.13 rain today, this is our fourteenth day at this gate (over nine inches of rain so far at this gate) and we have had rain seven days this is not fun.

Packaged inside the canopy case was a cardboard stiffener I pulled that out and put aside. Later my wife said to cut in half and bring it inside Buster for Rahlee to use as a tunnel as he enjoys running into them.

Rahlee in the box

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Thursday, October 5, 2017
Morning 84 Degrees, Wind NNE at 6 to 8 Mph, Humidity 100%, cloudy.
Afternoon 8 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity %, mostly sunny.

 We had a nice day, no rain with things drying out. My wife got up before two this afternoon and it is shopping day. I was on the road by two-thirty headed for Laredo
Dollar Tree, Walmart and HEB leaving HEB I stopped at Market Brisket for take home dinner. Not the best we have had by far, not McBees or Pleasanton HEB. We will try some place else next time.

Our flow back crew moved out today so things will slowdown until another job starts inside or they close the gate (release the gate guard).

New Gate

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Friday, October 6, 2017
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind W calm, Humidity 89%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 8 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity %, .

Slow morning and about twelve-thirty I got the phone call, gate closed. This is the hardest part, waking your wife during her night saying gate closed, go to work making ready to move Buster. I started outside and she started inside. Picking things up and packing away for the move all thethings around Buster and the outside lights. We loaded something’s into the trailer instead of packing away inside Buster. The coordinator arrived about two-thirty to move the generator trailer. With everything picked up and Buster ready slide outs in and off jacks move out in the road and connect Tan Jan to the tow bar and we are on the road.

Sunrise at our gate

We have another gate and start receiving vehicles tomorrow morning, so it is a thirty one mile trip to the new gate. Mostly west and a little south from the last gate. The last four and a half miles were dirt road that will be difficult in rainy weather.

After evaluating the location I backed Buster into position. I like Buster pointed to the road allowing us to look out the drivers and passengers side windows for vehicles coming to or leaving the gate. I block the large front windshield with insulation helping to keep Buster’s inside cool. With the “stuff” out of the pickup and the generator positioned and powered up, water connected we are into ladero for dinner out and some small shopping. 


 Thought For The Day – I don’t mean to brag, but this puzzle says “2-4 years” and I finished it in three months.

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Oct 1 - 3

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Sunday, October 1, 2017
Morning 74 Degrees, Wind NW calm, Humidity 87%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 91 Degrees, Wind E at 6 to 10 Mph, Humidity 47%, partly cloudy.

Not as many water removal trucks today he work over rig was moved out. There were five flatbed trucks that came in to take out the other equipment used with the rig.

Canopy back up

Latter today I tried to straighten the canopy poles and put the canopy back up. I will need some shade to sit outside waiting for vehicles to come to the gate and during the ten to two in the afternoon the shade is needed to see the I pad screen. Other times I turn my back to the sun or use the side of the vehicle for shade. But the ten to two o’clock is the hardest time of the day to see the I Pad screen.


Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Monday, October 2, 2017
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind NE at 2 to 3 Mph, Humidity 96%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 8 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity %, partly cloudy.

Water removal truck

Water removal was still the item of the day but they are slowing down, not as frequent. We are still having trouble with our outside lights. The receptacle is a ground fault type and we are running two lines of extension cords. The first is plugged into the bottom and the second is plugged into the top. Trouble shooting I have found the bottom which is running to the light tree is ok by itself. The top I have tried many combinations but the only reliable one is only the bottom extension cord plugged in by itself does not pop the ground fault. I called the coordinator to replace the receptacle.

Buster - Portable A/C - Outside lights

The ground fault receptacle replaced today and both extension cords plugged in and the lights are staying on. The two extension cords are working fine now.


Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Morning 78 Degrees, Wind NE at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 96%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 90 Degrees, Wind E at 5 to 19 Mph, Humidity 57%, mostly cloudy.

It was an ok day until near sundown as a thunder storm moved in from the east dumping a third of an inch of rain in short order followed by light rain. I got the canopy up Sunday evening and had to dump water out of that after the big rain. Yes a couple of trucks arrived during the rain. I waive out the door (so they know I am coming) as I was putting on my rain gear (old warn out rain gear) to go out and check them in. We are still able to receive San Antonio television stations here, (I could switch by why bother and have to do it again when we move to another gate). The noon weather map was showing “weather” coming out of the gulf and swirling east and then to the north, I thought it would not come in as far as where we are located, it did.

The oil company was picking up and moving out water hose (twelve inch wide) that was used during the fracking job that finished just before we arrived at the gate. They have trailers with large spools and roll the hose onto the trailer spools in sections.