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