December 28, 2019

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Friday, December 20, 2019
Morning 26 Degrees, Wind WNW at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 64%, sunny.

Roswell cataract center everything is OK and I can make a eye glass appointment for one month after my last eye surgery next month on the sixteenth.

Today was an early appointment and that went fast. Then weekly shopping at Walmart and Albertsons.


The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Sunday, December 22, 2019
Morning 31 Degrees, Wind SSE at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 41%, sunny.

I do not know about yesterday but today the electrical contractor is working on connecting the new electric pedestals. The electric company finally added another power pole and the contractor installed the power junction box. Working on two lot pedestals the digger (digging out the old electric pedestals) contacted “water” and water was shutoff.

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Monday, December 23, 2019
Morning 26 Degrees, Wind NW at 2 to 5 Mph, Humidity 48%, partly cloudy.

We got water back this afternoon after two pipe repairs. I have been making a a cabinet for the rear of the big slide out, underneath the mirror. We have been having a fold up table there with a larger top, not screwed down. The cat tipped it all over one day jumping off the table top and everything stored off the table top. The cabinet top will be smaller and there will be another shelf to place stored things. The sides are attached to the back on hinges and the front screws to the sides and this will allow us to collapse the cabinet when traveling.


The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Morning 37 Degrees, Wind SSW at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 41%, cloudy.

Well I screwed up today. Going into the wood shop to cut a couple of boards (for the cabinet) and I tripped over an electric cord connected to a golf cart falling into a table saw. I hit my chest on the left side bruising a rib.

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Saturday, December 28, 2019
Morning 46 Degrees, Wind SSE at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 42%, sunny.

Feeling somewhat better started out with just aspirin then added an ace bandage and changed to a back support worn higher. After two nights sleeping a little better as it was hurting when changing position. Even using the copilots chair (recliner) coming out of recline hurt. It was OK

just sitting or standing but changing from one to another hurt. I am getting over that now, less pain. It is still hard to blow my nose or cough.

Cataracts

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Morning 40 Degrees, Wind NW at 2 to 3 Mph, Humidity 84%, cloudy.

Up and out early, no eating breakfast for our trip to Roswell. After a sixty mile trip going to Lovelace hospital, nine AM for the left cataract procedure. Pretty easy out by eleven AM and over to the doctors office for two checks, instructions and eye drops.
Then we went to eat and do some shopping, gasoline for the car and the sixty mile drive home.


Morning 45 Degrees, Wind SE at 4 to 5 Mph, Humidity 97%, cloudy, fog.
Afternoon 45 Degrees, Wind S at 6 to 12 Mph, cloudy.

It was not fun driving to Roswell today with the fog, although going north of Artesia the fog thinned and lifted as we got closer to Roswell. And then we waited, two and a half hours in the loby and the prep time was longer than the first time. The procedure time was about the same. I did leave my phone and glasses in the recovery area. After we left the hospital and went to eat something then the doctor office for two checks, instructions and more waiting. Then back to the hospital picking up the glasses and phone I forgot, I was trying to get out of there as quick as possible. Too much waiting drained us so we did not do any shopping or stops that we did not “have” to do. We did put gasoline in Tan Jan after eating but that was it. It was getting dark as we started home four forty in the afternoon we had very little sun, and there still were a lot of clouds around.

The SKP Ranch November

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Morning 27 Degrees, Wind SW at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 68%, sunny.

It has been slow here and it has turned cold across the country but it is November, surprise. Winter is coming and we ran out of the propane gas that came in the delivered tank last Sunday. The tank was only thirty percent full, it did not last a month. Good information for future quantity planning. The propane delivery truck comes tomorrow. We have had heat from the built in propane gas tank in Buster that we are using since Sunday. 

cataracts

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Friday, October 25, 2019
Morning 29 Degrees, Wind SW at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 75%, sunny.
Afternoon 61 Degrees, Wind NW at 2 to 5 Mph, Humidity 21%, sunny.

I am on the schedule, we made our trip to Roswell and were there on time at nine o’clock, we left home just before eight o’clock for the nine fifteen anointment. Called almost right away looking into three machines and them taking pictures of my eyes. It might have helped that back in September when the appointment was made I was given the forms to fill out. I did that at home and the next week when I went to Roswell shopping I dropped off the filled out forms. Today I only had to show the insurance and Medicare cards with my license all to be copied by them.

Then back to the lobby for a short wait and called again seeing the doctor. Then the doctor put drops in my eyes to dilate them another round of pictures another after a short wait in the lobby and then the doctor again after another short wait. More forms, they filled out and I signed and initialed. The left eye lens will be done December fourth and the right eye on December eleventh. 

Propane Tank is Installed

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Monday, October 14, 2019
Morning 57 Degrees, Wind W at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 72%, partly sunny.

Propane Tank, they brought the propane tank and placed it on our lot. Then they ran a plastic pipe in the trench and used different types of end pieces to complete the installation with a shutoff valve at the back and flex hose to connect to Buster. We have a thirty-five percent (full) in the tank and they will be out to service and refill tanks the first Wednesday in November. We should have enough gas until then or they will come out for an emergency propane gas fill.

Our Propane tank

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Morning 59 Degrees, Wind WSW at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 90%, partly cloudy.

Cover pipe, now it is fill in the trench covering the propane pipe. It is easier pulling the dirt into the trench and raking it out compared to digging.

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Friday, October 18, 2019
Morning 55 Degrees, Wind SW at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 80%, sunny.
Afternoon 80 Degrees, Wind WSW at 5 to 20 Mph, Humidity 14%, sunny.

Waste basked and brick on the water 

Windy in the afternoon, but this morning “we” men in the park and the water committee place insulation and a waste basket with a brick for weight over our water pedestals to prevent them from freezing in the winter. With the man power and help it only took a half an hour to “get er done”. We did this last year for the first time (park wide) and it worked well.  I our our winter hose (blue cover with electric heat) on yesterday.

Hose connection at the back of Buster

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Thursday, October 24, 2019
Morning 49 Degrees, Wind NE at 9 to 15 Mph, Humidity 52%, cloudy.
Afternoon 57 Degrees, Wind N at 9 to 27 Mph, Humidity 37%, cloudy.

Roswell shopping day, only three stops today but it is still sixty miles one way. On our shopping trip September twenty-seventh we both went to the local Eye-Mart in Roswell to get our eyes examined (new prescription needed) and new glasses. My wife got her’s but I did not. I was having trouble with the “machine” and when the doctor examined me said I needed cataract surgery and to come back after that is done. They made the soonest appointment and that will be tomorrow another trip to Roswell. We did the shopping today as the appointment is for nine fifteen in the morning and we have a one hour drive to get there. So we do have to be moving at eight to be there on time. I do not know as I write this what condition I will be in. I think it will only be a pre op look see but there might also be eye drops and what else I do not know.   

The propane tank system is doing he job and there are no problems. Gas use has been good as of this writing at about thirty-one percent, that is good.

Trench

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Thursday, October 3, 2019
Morning 67 Degrees, Wind NNE at Calm Mph, Humidity %, mostly cloudy.

Checked on propane tank installation, I had preciously made an application for the tank to be put on our lot. This will mean I will not have to refill containers (I have four, one is built into Buster, and I have three portable tanks) as we use propane gas to heat the coach. While parked long term we do not use the built in propane tank as that would require moving Buster just to fill the propane tank. We did that once on 2008, about a thirty three mile trip to only fill the propane tank. Sometimes the bottle runs empty during the night that is a pain changing on a cold dark night or cold early morning. They said they will be out to The SKP Ranch today.

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Morning 61 Degrees, Wind SSE at 2 to 5 Mph, Humidity 85%, sunny.

Trench for propane gas pipe line, well the propane company people were out last Thursday and we noticed some paint reference points on the ground, be we had not heard anything and no propane tank placed at our lot. Today there was a truck delivering (servicing/refiling) to propane gas tanks. I asked the driver about our installation? He said “we (the propane company)  need (me) to dig a trench between the two marked points to bury a gas line pipe. They will not run a flex hose on the ground from a tank at the front of the lot to the back of Buster (our coach). After we have the trench they will come and install the tank, gas line pipe and connect to Buster with a flex hose. I did dig about ten feet twelve inches deep with four rest periods. Them I had a guy come in and do the rest of the trench to the back end of Buster. The rain at the end of last month helped to make the digging “easier” the ground did not act like I was breaking cement. It was still partly wet and heavy digging.

Trench for propane gas pipe

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Thursday, October 10, 2019
Morning 64 Degrees, Wind SSW at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 49%, sunny.

On our way to Roswell to do our weekly shopping I stopped in Artesia at the propane gas company letting them know the trench is there and we are ready for the tank. Friday or most likely Monday they will come out to install the tank and piping.

Trench for propane gas pipe

little more ketchup for the blog

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Saturday, September 14, 2019
Morning 69 Degrees, Wind SE at 4 to 5 Mph, Humidity 80%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 86 Degrees, Wind SE at 7 to 22 Mph, Humidity 22%, mostly sunny.

New Electrical Pedestal and wires

It never ends, we traveled to Roswell, New Mexico doing shopping for a weeks groceries and I purchased some wood to make a larger outside deck for sitting out.
(seven stops, grocery three and gasoline, hardware there was another one but can not remember what). It is a sixty mile trip, one way Walmart being on the north side of town is the far as we go then make our stops coming back.

Rain puddling in front  

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Sunday, September 15, 2019
Morning 67 Degrees, Wind SE at calm, Humidity 65%, partly cloudy.


The park has been having problems with the electrical system. During the years we were away in Texas one section (lots one thru thirty-four) the system was changed to provide additional feed from the power company to our distribution system. Another time the lots eighty thru one hundred twenty was another project done about 2011. Now another project is “being done”, we have been in a six week hold waiting between companies to get a pole set scheduled. This project effects our lot. The project required the addition of a new distribution box and replacing the old box that as for about sixty lots. Originally the expected (designed) load was thirty amp use at each lot. But new RV’s are 50 Amp connection and many of the sheds on lots have electric added the load per lot is higher. The old distribution box has three hundred amp fuses and these are blowing during high loads. The system was put in service thirty-six years ago. There were new wires laid and new power pedestals but that is as far as they have completed. Nothing is connected up as of this writing.

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Saturday, September 28, 2019
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind W at calm Mph, Humidity 96%, mostly sunny.

Thunderstorm last night 0.46 inch of rain measured

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Sunday, September 29, 2019
Morning 69 Degrees, Wind SSE at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 89%, cloudy.

 Rain last night 0.04 inch
 Rain between four and five 0.188 inch

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Monday, September 30, 2019
Morning 68 Degrees, Wind SE at 8 to 10 Mph, Humidity 88%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 83 Degrees, Wind SSE at 10 to 24 Mph, Humidity 53%, cloudy.

Rain this afternoon after four thirty 2.87 inch measured. We have had a lot of rain (for the desert). A little more ketchup for the blog.

the end of our trip east

Tom Sawyer's RV Park - West Memphis, Arkansas - Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind S at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 87%, mostly cloudy.

We moved Buster out of our site before nine o’clock rolling onto the hard top and connecting Tan Jan . We drove some (five miles) on the local streets to get to interstate forty west.  Continuing west to interstate thirty south towards Dallas, Texas. Buster got off on exit seven for diesel fuel and then we motored around a short ways to the new campground done for the day.

 
Sunrise RV Park - Texarkana, AR
Afternoon 95 Degrees, Wind SW at 5 to 8 Mph, Humidity 93%, mostly cloudy. 

Covered two hundred sixty-six miles today.  After setting up Buster in the camp site we headed into Texarkana for dinner.  Getting back to Buster and a while latter we had a rain shower giving everything a rinse off.


Sunrise RV Park - Texarkana, AR - Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Morning 70 Degrees, Wind NW at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 87%, sunny.
Afternoon 92 Degrees, Wind W at 5 to 9 Mph, Humidity 31%, mostly sunny.

Continued on interstate thirty making a decision to get off and travel south to interstate twenty west via TX 34 (about thirty-four miles) to get Buster diesel fuel at Bucees in Terrell, Texas. We had stopped there going east in May. Today diesel fuel price is $ 2.489 per gallon.

From there we continues west on interstate twenty to Aledo, TX where we stopped for the night. Covered two hundred fifty-four miles today interstate thirty to TX 34 to interstate twenty.

Bucees Gasoline and Diesel Fuel, good place to stop when traveling. I have always found a fuel pump available (there two islands with thirty pumps at each island). There is also plenty of parking.

Buc-ees

Cowtown RV Park - Aledo, TX - Thursday, September 12, 2019
Morning 70 Degrees, Wind NE at 2 to 3 Mph, Humidity 90%, sunny.

Interstate twenty west, a mundane day driving interstate twenty west to Big Spring. But we did stop in Tye, Texas for diesel fuel. Two hundred forty-five miles today.

Hat Creek RV Park - Big Spring, TX
Afternoon 91 Degrees, Wind S at 7 to 17 Mph, Humidity 35%, sunny.

We had dinner at a BBQ place that is just south (a mile) of interstate twenty and US 87 exit while the RV park is a couple of miles north.

Buc-ees C-Store

Hat Creek RV Park - Big Spring, TX - Friday, September 13, 2019
Morning 68 Degrees, Wind E at 4 to 11 Mph, Humidity 79%, cloudy.

Today we went back the same way we went east in the spring going north on US 87 to Lamesa, TX where we turned left onto US 180 to Seminole, TX where we changed to US 62 west to Carlsbad, NM. Before getting to Carlsbad, turned right onto the relif route (SR 200) avoiding going thru town coming out on US 285 going to Lakewood, NM. We are home after a four month trip.

Now get (meet people at the front, they ring a bell for arrivals, sign back in) busy time and get backed into our site and parked and setup.

Well I have been lazy and I am trying to catch up

West of the Mississippi

Soaring Eagle Campground, Lenoir City, Tennessee - Sunday, September 8, 2019
Morning 61 Degrees, Wind E at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 90%, sunny.
Afternoon 89 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity 41%, mostly sunny.

As we were getting ready to move Buster I got a call from tonights campground asking if we could take a 30 Amp electric site of we “had to have 50 Amp” or he was full, no 50 Amp available as the site I reserved was taken already by a vehicle that was broken.

I said we will take the 30 Amp site. Now pulling out of the site we were in to get back to traveling I dinged Buster trying to make a wide  left turn but the far side (right front) was a hill going up thus trying to push Buster into the hill the right front cap bulged out a bit.

Well now I have to remove Tan Jan from the tow bar while in a turn, everything is “loaded” pressure on the pins. The bolt for the end of the tow bar arm is longer for the rock screen and at the top a hole for another pin to keep the screen in place but bolt has a lock nut (on the bottom side) and is free try rotate but is now in the wrong position to remove. Got it rotated to free the pin with no more damage

Tanbark Campground, Dickson, Tennessee, it was after eleven o’clock before we were on the road heading west in heavy traffic most of the way into Nashville, Tennessee on interstate forty. West of Nashville the traffic was lighter. We crossed into Central Time Zone gaining an hours time a short while after starting west today. After we had dinner we drove Tan Jan into Dickson for some shopping.

The site I moved Buster out of

Tanbark Campground, Dickson, Tennessee - Monday, September 9, 2019
Morning 62 Degrees, Wind S at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 97%, partly cloudy.

We got Buster on the road about ten thirty for our drive on interstate forty. Getting off the interstate Buster got a drink of diesel fuel on our way to the campground. One hundred seventy six miles traveled today. West of the Mississippi River tonight.

Mississippi River

Tom Sawyer's RV Park - West Memphis, Arkansas
Afternoon 97 Degrees, Wind S at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 97%, partly sunny.
We drove Tan Jan into Memphis for a BBQ dinner. We were a few miles out of the campground when the phone rang, it was the campground asking me to move as I had put Buster in the wrong site one over. With that straightened out we got back to our food plan. Returning to Buster we were still able to watch the barges out the windshield being pushed on the river.
   

Mississippi River Tug Boat

Knoxville

Fort Chiswell RV - Max Meadows, VA - Friday, September 6, 2019
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind SW at 1 to 4 Mph, Humidity 93%, mostly cloudy.

We took the day off yesterday getting some needed rest taking it easy. Today we went to my sister’s house earlier and visited with her and her daughter Margaret. Then an early dinner and back to Buster getting to travel tomorrow.

Buster at Max Meadows, VA

Fort Chiswell RV - Max Meadows, VA - Saturday, September 7, 2019
Morning 61 Degrees, Wind SW at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 95%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 87 Degrees, Wind N at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 37%, mostly sunny.

We got Buster moving about ten o’clock and put diesel fuel on before getting on interstate eighty-one going south. Traffic was not bad through on our travel today even with game day going thru Knoxville. After interstate eighty-one we were on interstate forty west stopping at

Soaring Eagle Campground, Lenoir City, Tennessee. Two hundred thirty miles traveled today. I thought I knew where I needed to go and did not ask if there are any special directions needed. Turning off the exit their road is right there on the right. The campground sign is to the right of their driveway but the far side is another sign (bright). I missed their sign (dark and too close to the exit ramp) saw the sign for the trailer sales (bright) and continued down the street. Skinny road and no place to turn around that road ended into a tee intersection I went right and short way stopped and made a call to the campground for help. We continued on and made a turn onto TN 321 and back to interstate forty going back east one exit. Well at lease I did not have to go out and disconnect the tow bar make a U-turn and reconnect the tow bar. Getting off the interstate and making a left turn crossing the road I could plainly see the campground sign and know the correct turn to make.
   

baseball and trip

Buster’s spot Holly Springs, North Carolina - Sunday, September 1, 2019
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind E at calm Mph, Humidity 90%, sunny.
Afternoon 85 Degrees, Wind W at 3 to 8 Mph, Humidity 24%, partly sunny.

Zane at bat

Chris, Zane and John

We do not like scheduled afternoon baseball games, they start late. The games have a one hour and forty-five minute time play to end the inning but if tied when if there is a tie they play tie braking rule. People for the next game wait. Today Zane’s team first game started forty minutes late. They won that game 7 to 5, allowing some runs late but won. They lost the second game having lead lost of the game and gave up five runs in the last inning. It was a good weekend winning three of four games. Zane had a batted ball come down on his foot in the first inning of the second game but stayed in the game. Playing short stop he dove for a ball and jammed his right thumb, not he sat down for a bit. In the next at bat he hit a double to the base of the outfield fence and scored the first run. Later Zane played left field.

Ariana

Ariana is going to college in Charleston, South Carolina and got the word they are closing the college for hurricane Dorian preparedness and she will be going home with a dormitory mate’s home. We are going to change out plan to travel, sooner rather than later.


Buster’s spot Holly Springs, North Carolina - Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Morning 71 Degrees, Wind E at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 92%, partly cloudy.

 Ariana is not coming home next month as there will not be a semesters break because of the hurricane make up time. She came home tonight at dinner time, a surprise to us.


Buster’s spot Holly Springs, North Carolina - Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Morning 72 Degrees, Wind E at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 92%, cloudy.

We did not rise early today just whenever, finished packing up Buster and getting ready to move Buster today. Buster moved off the spot just before ten thirty to get hooked up with Tan Jan for our trip

 Fort Chiswell RV - Max Meadows, VA
Afternoon 93 Degrees, Wind N at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 35%, mostly sunny.
Buster headed west on US 64 to US 421 north to interstate 40 west then going north on US 52 and interstate 74 to interstate 77 & 81 arriving after two o’clock.

Buster and Tan Jan at  Fort Chiswell RV - Max Meadows, VA

We went over to my sister Irene's and husband Larry for dinner. Her son Greg and his wife Cathy came latter. then back to Buster by dark, busy day.

 
 

zane baseball

Buster’s spot Holly Springs, North Carolina - Saturday, August 31, 2019
Morning 65 Degrees, Wind E at clam Mph, Humidity 97%, sunny.
Afternoon 88 Degrees, Wind S at 3 to 7 Mph, Humidity 10%, sunny.

 Zane’s baseball at West Millbrook school on the north side of Raleigh. Two games today and two tomorrow. Tomorrow’s games are in the afternoon while today’s were morning games one right after the other and we were there about eight thirty for the first game that started on time. The team won that game 12 to 2 and because of the score it ended early. After a short brake the second game the team won 7 to 4 with the game going the full time. These games have a two hour time limit and the tournament has more games on this field today. Zane was the lead off batter and played shortstop.

In the mean time Ariana is at school in Charleston, SC and hurricane Dorian is headed to the east coast. As of not we do not know where it will come on land Florida, Georgia  or South Carolina.



Buster’s spot Holly Springs, North Carolina - Sunday, September 1, 2019
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind E at calm Mph, Humidity 90%, sunny.
Afternoon 85 Degrees, Wind W at 3 to 8 Mph, Humidity 24%, partly sunny.

We do not like scheduled afternoon baseball games, they start late. The games have a one hour and forty-five minute time play to end the inning but if tied when if there is a tie they play tie braking rule. People for the next game wait. Today Zane’s team first game started forty minutes late. They won that game 7 to 5, allowing some runs late but won. They lost the second game having lead lost of the game and gave up five runs in the last inning. It was a good weekend winning three of four games. Zane had a batted ball come down on his foot in the first inning of the second game but stayed in the game. Playing short stop he dove for a ball and jammed his right thumb, not he sat down for a bit. In the next at bat he hit a double to the base of the outfield fence and scored the first run. Later Zane played left field. There was a rain shower on our drive home, the hurricane outer bands are reaching our area?

Ariana is going to college in Charleston, South Carolina and got the word they are closing the college for hurricane Dorian preparedness and she will be going home with a dormitory mate’s to her mate's home. We are going to change out plans to travel, sooner rather than later. Up in the air as of this writing.

Zane in orange on the base path

 

antenna cable replaced

Buster’s spot Holly Springs, North Carolina - Monday, August 26, 2019
Morning 65 Degrees, Wind E at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 93%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 77 Degrees, Wind S at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 52%, cloudy.

It seems like the high heat has broken as it is cooler today. There was rain on Saturday and a cool frond has come making it nicer outside. It also was overcast this afternoon 
John was home early from work and it is time to change the coax cable on the Satellite antenna.

The television has been working as advertised, not dropping out and not having to be reset. These were our problems and are time consuming to fix. Lately we have had a different problem, not recording scheduled programs but that is something else.

The replacement coax cable has color coded ends but the antenna turret connections are numbered. The other difference are the coax cable end fittings are smaller on the new coax cable (I think this is good for clearance).

In the following picture the antenna is parked (in the travel position) replaced coax cable is in the center left of the picture

Antenna down and parked

Close up of coax cables (3) connected to turret base

On the old coax cable you can see in the picture tape, I had John put on the chaffed spots that were warn thru. On the new cable I has put plastic over these to provide more protection to the coax cable just beyond the fitting up to the sleeve that the three coax cables are in to route up to the LNB’S going thru the square support tube. Both the old and new coax cables are different than coax cable we have used or seen before.

Removed coax cable

Nuclear plant tour

Buster’s spot Holly Springs, North Carolina - Saturday, August 10, 2019
Morning 70 Degrees, Wind N at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 89%, sunny.
Afternoon 91 Degrees, sunny.

Shearon Harris Nuclear plant, operated by Duke Energy, tour. We were able to tour the plant today, a lot of walking and a lot of safety rules. In addition Security is tight there and always under review for improvement. This started a couple of weeks ago when my daughter (who works for a contractor there) offered to take my wife and I along with her son and husband. The tours are not available very often so we took advantage of the opportunity.

We had to fill out forms for a back round check that had to be completed before we could enter. We arrived early and attended a safety and information briefing before starting our tour. We were given hard hats safety glasses and ear plugs to use during the tour. We took an elevator to the top where the electric generator and steam turbine are located. From there we were taken into the control room after another short briefing, keeping quit and to not touch anything as the plan was on line (making money). From there we saw a lot of pumps and heat exchanger’s, that is where all the noise is needing ear plugs. We were able to see the “switch yard” and transformers for the electric power going out. There are three diesel generators for backup power to operate the plant. Just operating the water pumps requires a lot of electric and the water cooling of the nuclear reactor is a constant operation.

Cooling Tower & Switch Yard

There could have been more walking but we bailed and went to the administration building where my daughter works after checking out of the secure area and turning in our hard hats and safety glasses. Back in the car we toured around and then visited the cooling tower whet the steam is converted back to water.

Cooling Tower

wikipedia.org/wiki/Shearon_Harris_Nuclear_Power_Plant 

two projects

Buster’s spot Holly Springs, North Carolina - Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Morning 70 Degrees, Wind NE at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 93%, partly cloudy, light fog.

I got two projects done today, No progress Pictures there are after completion pictures, it never came to mind to take pictures. The first project was the electric cord for the tow had dragged on the road and warn thru a couple of wires . I cut out that section and spliced the two remaining sections together. It was easy just connect the colored wires, white to white, red to red and so on. I covered the splices with plastic tubing and then wrapped that with electrical tape.
 
The next project was on Tan Jan the left head light was looking fogged over. A couple of years ago I had the dealer clean them both up and they were good. This past winter the right headlight assembly was replaced as the light linkage had failed. Then the right looked new and the left looked thru a fogged lens. My wife had viewed a you tube video on cleaning the lenses and than had me view that also. Easy to do job and
all I needed to do was purchase the polish, tape and buffer pads. I did wait until the area was in the shade, both the light assembly and where I would be standing.
I taped off the painted fender and put a buffer pad in the drill motor and polish on the lens and buffed, looks good. 

Electric cable (repaired) used when towing

Now the completed project pictures. The cable has two sections of plastic tubing but one with tape over the plastic tubing that is where the splices are.

Left headlight after polishing

New right headlight today

satellite television update

Morning 75 Degrees, Wind N at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 92%, mostly cloudy.

Well I got an email off yesterday (Sunday) to Winegard antenna (satellite television) explaining our problem and what we did with their test suggestion and what we found on the roof, (chafed coax cable and another weathered cable). So far since Saturday night everything has been working correctly and I have not had to “reset the box”.
 
I received an email back, early (today Monday morning), and then called Winegard antenna customer service to order a coax cable assembly. I think that it is a problem with chafed cables as there was a part number on the assembly.

As of Saturday night the satellite television has been working as advertised, no problems viewing or recording programs.

satellite antenna

Myrtle Beach State Park Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Sunday, July 28, 2019
Morning 80 Degrees, Wind NE at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 72%, sunny.

We are booked here till tomorrow morning. So we are having a rest day before traveling back to Holly Springs.


Myrtle Beach State Park Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Monday, July 29, 2019
Morning 73 Degrees, Wind W at 2 to 3 Mph, Humidity 82%, sunny.

We were out of the site just before ten-thirty and hooked up Tan Jan for the travel back to North Carolina. Very busy traffic driving out of Myrtle Beach this morning. About twenty miles out the traffic calmed down until we arrived at interstate ninety-five. When we arrived at the interstate Buster filled his diesel fuel tank. The tank was three quarters full but topped it off so we will start our next trip with a almost full tank of fuel.

Buster’s spot Holly Springs, North Carolina
Afternoon 85 Degrees, Wind E at calm, Humidity 85%, partly sunny.

We were at Busters spot about two thirty, then backed him and leveled out and setup things.


Buster’s spot Holly Springs, North Carolina - Saturday, August 3, 2019
Morning 71 Degrees, Wind N at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 92%, cloudy.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind W at 3 to 4 Mph, Humidity 49%, mostly sunny.

We have been having problems with out satellite television, recording programs and receiving channels. There are issues between Dish and the Winegard antenna. Dish will not do any work on the antenna. While we were at the state park we did not have live television as there were too many trees too close to Buster to receive a satellite signal.

satellite

Here there are trees (high) but far enough away for a signal. Another issue is resetting the cable box is time consuming and stops any program or recording while that is being done. At times we could get and record a channel and not receive or record another channel. If we reset the “box” the channel would come in, that’s why I wanted dish to come and check their equipment this morning.  Normally we can receive or record three channels and watch a recorded program, at the same time. We were able to watch recordings while parked at the Myrtle Beach state park and when not receiving a satellite signal.

The coax on the left has been chafed

After the sun started behind the trees my son-in-law got up on the roof to look at the antenna. We were going to switch coax cables that Winegard had told me to try to see if it corrected the problem. It seams like it worked and he noticed that the cable was chafed. I sent off an email to Winegard seeing if they sell replacement cables for the LNB.