The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 29 & 30

Monday, July 29, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and partly sunny to 92 degrees and sunny.

Doctor today for me and blood draw, the vampire. While in Artesia I did some shopping for paint to do the roof of the shed and to the hardware store for screws and wood washers. I have built one mud porch for when we are gate guarding but I want to build two more one half the size of the first one, I will have flexibility in arranging them at different locations. I need to purchase that wood in Carlsbad Lowes.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and partly sunny to 99 degrees and sunny. We are supposed to be in the "monsoon season" here when there can be heavy rain and flooding and there has been all around the state but here in southeast New Mexico the rain has been light but more than last summer.

Bonnie was up awake and up early for a blood letting by the vampire today and next week a doctors appointment. I should get the results for my blood work today or tomorrow. I did get the wood at Lowes and cut for a combination of ways to layout a "Mud Porch" when we are at the oil field gates. I have it set up in the pictures as a four foot by four foot square. Another eight foot by two foot section is packed away inside Buster for now.

Two foot by four foot section

Two foot by four foot section

 

Four foot by four foot section

 

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 27 & 28

Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and mostly cloudy to 89 degrees and partly sunny.

Chassis batteries, I took them out and cleaned the compartment and connections. Then applied some paint and reinstalled every thing.

Bonnie and I went to happy hour

Sunday, July 28, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and mostly cloudy to 89 degrees and partly cloudy.

NASCAR Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis, IN) great race. At four o’clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour then we were back at the ranch house at six thirty for birthday and anniversary the monthly celebration of birthdays and anniversary’s. this month bonnie and I were hosting (with help).  

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 25 & 26

Thursday, July 25, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 70 degrees and cloudy, really black stormy looking to partly sunny to 90 degrees this afternoon.

As I drove Buster south into Carlsbad the sky’s looked better but they were overcast all morning. It did not take long and they were done installing the refrigerator control board replacement now wait for the cooling.

This afternoon the temperature inside the refrigerator is coming down. After setting up on our site and having lunch I remade one of the stabilizing jack pads I use under Buster. I created another problem for myself, when leaving our site this morning I did not check and make sure the tow bar was securely parked, after going over two cattle guards it was dragging on the road. Buster was headed south on US 285 when a passing pickup truck motioned me to pull over.

This is what happens in seven miles

That is when I saw the damage grinding on the road can do to the tow bar end and bolt. When I got set in our site I was on the telephone with the tow bar people to get a replacement end.

Friday, July 26, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 75 degrees and mostly cloudy to 93 degrees and partly sunny.

Desert willow we (Bonnie) transplanted last summer

Do no damage day, read a book. Well I was out early raking and pulling weeds for a short time before the sun was up too high. I have redeemed some points I had for a new camera and will 0send the old one for service. Inside of the lens is dirty and there are spots in the pictures.

evening clouds

Bonnie and I went to happy hour yesterday and today, nothing new there except two visitor rigs came in today, one overnight and the other for a weeks stay. there is heavy "weather" around the state but we are not getting it here, rain and flooding. 

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 24

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 73 degrees and mostly sunny to 97 degrees and sunny. Clouding up and looking stormy this evening.

The front chairs, driver and passenger are adjustable and had stopped working as we were returning here to the ranch. Well today I spent more time trying to figure out what was going on as everything was working. I had found a that a circuit breaker had no power on the out side but the wire colors confused me and there were two wires on that circuit breaker and a space was open for another circuit breaker. I had purchased a coil of wire and alligator clips to make a power test wire and confirmed the failed circuit breaker. I went to Artesia and purchased two circuit breakers and put each chair on ti’s own circuit breaker.

I will be out early with Buster and trip down to Carlsbad for the refrigerator control board replacement and getting the refrigerator operating.

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 22 & 23

Monday, July 22, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 68 degrees and mostly sunny to 93 degrees and sunny.

I was out before eight this morning helping to weed and clean up the common area on the east end of our streets. We are only working for an hour in the coolest part of the day on this project on Mondays and Fridays.

Then I went to Carlsbad Lowes and purchased some wood and made a "mud porch" (deck) two feet by eight feet that we will use when we are gate guarding again. Later Bonnie and I went to happy hour today another member arrived back to the ranch (Lou and Barbara).

Tuesday, July 23, 2013


The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and mostly sunny to 93 degrees and sunny.

I went to Artesia early for ice to keep the coolers and refrigerator cool inside Buster. I also purchased donuts for the men's coffee. Then attend men's coffee and water committee meeting today. After that I took a vacation day, read a book for a while and took a nap.

At four o'clock Bonnie and I attended happy hour.   

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 21

Sunday, July 21, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 66 degrees and mostly sunny to 89 degrees and sunny.

A sunny New Mexico sunrise at The Ranch

I completed installing the portable air conditioner hose board on the drivers window and connected the hose. We now have that operating on the left side. Last fall when we left the ranch for Austin the left fron tire blew out and damaged the fuel filler pulling the end of the fill hose from the mounting plate. Today I worked on that project and re-connected the hose end to the mount plate.

Buster with the driver's window board in place

 Another small job done. In the morning there is a ranch party at eight o’clock to do clean up of common area’s that I will help in, it is only an hour before the sun is too hot and strong.

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 19 & 20

Friday, July 19, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 66 degrees and cloudy to 83 degrees and mostly sunny.

I finished the two boards for the portable air conditioner hose, (hose is for discharging hot air outside) one board for the drivers window and one board for the passengers window, so we could use the air conditioner on the left or right side. Tomorrow I will paint the outside of the boards. Carlsbad RV received the control board for the refrigerator and we scheduled the installation for next Thursday at eight in the morning. So Buster will be on the road early for that.
Saturday, July 20, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 66 degrees and partly sunny to 90 degrees and mostly sunny. After three days of rain and a mostly cloudy day, slowly clearing all day today’s sun was welcome.

I did some raking of the weeds and pine needles on the lot but still need to get it picked up and hauled off to the dumpster. I painted the two portable air conditioner hose boards and will install the drivers board in the morning. We do attend happy hour at four o’clock every day the afternoon social gathering.

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 17

Thursday, July 18, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 61 degrees and cloudy to 77 degrees and mostly sunny. Rain overnight I am beginning to feel like a rain cloud is following me. The temperatures have been great with the stormy weather.

I have the computer table complete and in use now. The larger size allows me to rest my left hand on the table and not the computer, when resting on the computer funny things happen like the cursor moves and if I enter anything it will end up in strange places. It is like a magnetism when the back of my hand wipes across the area below the keyboard.

Tan Jan (TJ) had new glass installed so far no water leaks. I was at the glass installer at 8:15 appointment. I had rain all the way there and showers off and on all day. Then it was off to Wal-Mart and Sam's club, pictures are of the aliens there in Roswell, NM.

 

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 16 & 17

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 61 degrees and thunder storms are forecasted for three days to 83 degrees and mostly sunny. Humidity was up to thirty four today and the morning started with a light fog off on the distance.

Nothing exciting today just working on shaping the boards to hold the portable air conditioner hose to discharge the hot air out the window. I did experience a problem with the twelve volt lighting but just reset the out side circuit breaker to correct the problem.

Bonnie was the Happy Hour moderator today, or "ding-a-ling" at 4:30.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 69 degrees and cloudy and rain actual puddles (no dirt) a slow soaking type rain, to 67 degrees and mostly sunny.

A cool rainy day so I took a day of rest and did very little. On the computer table I have sanded the coats of finish and added another coat to dry on a rainy day. I had to go to Artesia for propane gas and ice for the cooler we are using in Buster while we wait for the electronic control board for the refrigerator. Tomorrow Tomorrow maybe Tomorrow they will here to replace the refrigerator control board or the ice man keeps coming.

Bonnie was the Happy Hour moderator again today, or "ding-a-ling" at 4:30. Then she and Ethel went to a church evening bible study. The windshield in Tan Jan will be replaced in Roswell tomorrow so I will be there at eight in the morning. 

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 15

Monday, July 15, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 66 degrees and thunder storms are forecasted to 74 degrees and mostly sunny. A wind storm woke me last night with rain in the morning, rained lightly until late morning. We ended the morning with about a half of an inch rain.

I write today’s Blog with heavy heart as we loose merry to old age and other internal problems. Merry has been part of our lives and traveled from Long Island New York, to Florida and into RV-ing over the nineteen years of her life.

Happy Hour, I was the moderator again today, or "ding-a-ling" if need be we have a bell to ring for getting everyone's attention at 4:30 as most are in discussion with others. Everyone uses a different bell  After doing the normal things I did a slide presentation of our gate guarding experiences.

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 14

Sunday, July 14, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and sunny to 105 degrees 16 percent humidity and sunny.

Not much done today as it is NASCAR at Loudon, NH. I did some sanding and shaping on both the computer table and the air conditioner hose board. On that I will be making two boards one for the drivers window also as that is where we had the hose last year. On the right side was better while we were at gate guarding so that needs to be flexible.

At happy hour today I was the moderator or "ding-a-ling" if need be we have a bell to ring for getting everyone’s attention at 4:30 as most are in discussion with others. I shared with the group that we had met a number of "Ranch Hands" members of the ranch co-op while traveling over the winter. After the program it was a quite evening.

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 13

Saturday, July 13, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 74 degrees and sunny to 99 degrees 16 percent humidity and sunny.

I was puttering around outside doing a bunch of little jobs and tasks that needed doing then went to Carlsbad Lowes for a couple of pieces of wood for the computer table and the air conditioner hose that is porting hot air out the window. The piece there now is too thin and the screws holding the fitting are pulling out. Both of these are remake projects.

This is was we have had and you can see the under slide out

The computer table will be larger in size (more width) with and will not move around as much side to side. I have that cut and shaped and now need to sand and finish. The air conditioner whole will be relocated slightly higher and a little forward making more edge distance. While at the gate I made this up too quick just to get operational. I also did not have the tools to do a decent job in getting the edges square.

This will be the computer table wider for mouse pad on one side
I also use a USB plug in hub for the printer and camera on the other side

Parkview RV Park Fort Stockton, Texas Jul 12

Friday, July 12, 2013

Parkview RV Park Fort Stockton, Texas mostly sunny 73 degrees. Bonnie and I got started later today but we also had shorter distance to travel. Buster was driven one hundred sixty-eight miles today. Mostly on US 285 Fort Stockton, Texas to Lakewood, NM with a detour to Carlsbad RV for problems with the refrigerator. Last night there was a indication of no cooling. Before going to bed I went and got ice for the cooler and this morning I got another bag for the refrigerator before we left the RV park. we noticed today lower humidity and we are liking it that way.

Buster & TJ at Parkview RV Park Fort Stockton, Texas

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 101 degrees 16 percent humidity and sunny. We arrived home just after one o’clock local time, Buster gained an hour coming into New Mexico, Mountain time zone. Buster was routed to Carlsbad RV they checked out the refrigerator finding the control board bad so that is on order and we are living out of a cooler and our neighbor loaning us space in their freezer for our frozen vegetables. It is nice to be back but there is a lot of work to be done on and in Buster.

a refrigerator non work moment

We also have projects for things we want when we are back gate guarding. Bonnie and I cleaned up and we went to happy hour at four o’clock just and every day park social gathering, an Escapees RV club thing. Bonnie and I having been gone over seven months were the ones to tell our travels story and meet with friends and neighbors.

 

Cracked windshield the star is above the mirror

Thursday, July 11, 2013

By The River RV Park - Kerrville, Texas 74 degrees partly sunny.

In yesterday’s drive I noticed the difference in car weight behind Buster as we are encountering some hilly terrain. The going up I need to be more aware and anticipate the grade change to maintain speed better. On the down slope we gain more speed with the additional weight pushing Buster. San Antonio is a nice city to visit we had fun although we did not do any sight seeing there is always next time as there were other things on our agenda to get done and more to do down the road.

Buster & TJ at By The River RV Park

Parkview RV Park PPA Fort Stockton, Texas mostly sunny 101 degrees. Tan Jan got a stone in her eye today, or the windshield took a rock. Only a short seventy-four miles yesterday just to get down the road some and there are not many options on campgrounds. By The River RV Park is beside the Guadalupe River and there are some pictures. Today Buster went down the road two hundred forty-six miles to get here in Fort Stockton. Bonnie was up early and we were on the road by eight-thirty this morning.

Buster's step extended and firm

Buster's step retracted in

By The River RV Park - Kerrville, Texas Jul 10

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Texas RV Supply - 78 degrees partly sunny this morning.

It was a busy day for Buster and Tan Jan (TJ) here in the service shop (Tuesday) as TJ had the tow bar base plates installed and lights wired for towing after we had gone out for the morning. Buster’s patio awning was squared up so that it could be completely closed, well it still is out an inch in the front but I am happy with the work done on that other wise quite a few parts would have to be replaced to do any better.

Buster and Tan Jan parked at Texas RV Supply

The entry step is firmed up I did not get it to retract last night so I need to review that with the shop in the morning, that was working fine when we came in here. Turns out the sensor on the door frame was out of position and easily fixed. There was a problem I was living with, the control for the hydraulic jacks had been a problem operating the retract button, they had a spare part available so I had it replaced. Generator and engine oil and filters replaced. To today sometime this morning Buster and TJ should be moving down the road I will decide with Bonnie which direction we go.

Looking out the window of our lunch restaurant
Guadalupe River

By The River RV Park - Kerrville, Texas 97 degrees mostly sunny. We finished at Texas RV Supply by connecting the Enclave to Buster and doing a light check. They installed a battery disconnect for when Tan Jan is towed behind Buster. The base plates are Blue Ox and the ends of my Demco Tow Bar were replaced with Blue Ox ends. Seventy four miles west on interstate ten today was most of the trip. We are headed to The Ranch, Lakewood, NM

Texas RV Supply - Jul 9

Tuesday, July 9, 2013


Texas RV Supply - 74 degrees partly sunny this morning to mostly sunny 97 degrees.

After I posted last night things started happening, the partly sunny turned into a quick rain shower just enough water to make everything wet. Then we must have tripped a circuit breaker, I opened and closed the ones in the box Buster is plugged into but the main that powers the t twelve volt would not energize. I started the generator the power transferred and every thing was working normal so we stayed on generator power all night. Now it is our out early today so more work can be done on the entry step and the patio awning.

About eleven o’clock service called for Tan Jan so tow bar base plates and lights wiring can be installed, we were at Buck-ee's travel stop north of San Antonio on I 35. We had breakfast and a Wal-Mart fix gassed up TJ and washed her. Buster’s engine and generator got and oil and filter change. Bonnie I and Merry waited in the store Merry took it all in stride.

Texas RV Supply - Jul 8

Monday, July 8, 2013

Texas RV Supply - 74 degrees partly sunny this morning to partly sunny 91 degrees.

I am remiss in taking pictures the past few days either leaving the camera on the computer desk or not taking it out of my pocket and snapping a picture. I will try and improve that, getting the camera out more often.

Buster Parked at Texas RV

After slowly getting packed up I drove Buster and Bonnie drove Tan Jan (TJ) to Texas RV Supply. On the way we made a detour to fill the diesel and propane gas tanks at Flying J then to the RV shop For Buster. I checked in then parked in the back we took off with our cat Merry to get some lunch. We kept the car air conditioner on (engine running) for merry while eating. The RV shop started this afternoon getting the transfer switch replaced.

Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park - Jul 6 & 7

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park - 71 degrees partly sunny this morning to mostly sunny 96 degrees.

Bonnie and I went to Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen here in San Antonio for a late lunch - early dinner. That was our day today.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park - 76 degrees mostly sunny this morning to mostly sunny 96 degrees.

Bonnie and I went to visit our friends Loyce and Lanie in Big Wells, Texas who are gate guarding there. We stopped in Jourdanton and picked up Bar-B-Que lunch to share, we had a nice visit before coming back to Buster. On our return trip there was one cloud that rained on the car just after crossing I 37 for a mile but there was wind and dirt storm driving thru Pleasanton. Some wind here at Atascosa RV Park where Buster is now.
Now we are preparing to travel tomorrow to Texas RV Supply to get work done on Buster then have TJ (Tan Jan) wired and base plates installed for the tow bar.

Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park - Jul 4 & 5

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park - 67 degrees mostly cloudy this morning to mostly sunny 93 degrees.

Everyone have as good of a Independence day as we had? We did nothing, TJ stayed parked all day. Well Bonnie and I did some small cleaning around Buster and Tan Jan too hot the get worked up into something big.

Friday, July 5, 2013


Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park - 72 degrees mostly sunny this morning to mostly sunny 96 degrees.

Bonnie and I have been going to the "city" everyday until yesterday and on reflection I realized when we chose this campground while we were parked at Fox Creek gate for one hundred and five days. Looking back at that decision I was thinking a park without a large worker population, not close into town but easy accessible. This is a new park on a paved road with newly paved roads in the park and grass, all the right things after being at a gate.

No mud, when the winds blow no dirt and no off road driving. Easy access to town (Pleasanton) twelve miles compared to thirty-three miles eight of which was off road.

Bonnie & I had dinner here today (Jul 5)

After we were setup (June 21) here we decided to go out to dinner the first time together since February why Pleasanton when San Antonio is only a little further all on paved road. Southeast corner of San Antonio (shopping and dining) is twenty-one miles with a "city" to back it up, most anything you could want. It has not been a hard decision to make, as we have been most of the way around the city into different shopping centers they all seem nice after a limited access of Pleasanton.
 

Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park -

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park - 65 degrees partly sunny this morning to mostly sunny 93 degrees. I saw less humidity in the distance driving into the auto dealer than yesterday, a nicer dryer day. It is still hot but not those triple digit days like last week.

We were at the dealer (Tan Jan) and saw the sales man and he took Tan Jan for a short while resulting in all our few things corrected and we were on our way. We checked out one Walmart just because it was close to the car dealer (no gasoline) then lunch and another Walmart with gasoline for TJ. On the way home we stopped at lowes looking for a replacement hose for our portable air conditioner and this store sells a different brand of portable air conditioner and they had no parts for that model either. By the time we arrived back to buster it was like a days work is done.

Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park -

Monday, July 1, 2013

Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park - 74 degrees mostly cloudy this morning to partly sunny 87 degrees.

I checked on line for the "base plates" needed tow the Buick Enclave needs tow bar attachments that fit the Enclave and they are available. The RV repair here in San Antonio where we are taking Buster is also a dealer (Demco) for the tow bar manufacturer and I got a quote to install and wire TJ for towing. That will happen after Buster gets his work done.

After that Bonnie got re-nooked today. She was having a problem starting the Barns & Nobel Nook as the device was not responding to the turn on swipe of the screen.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park - 66 degrees mostly sunny this morning to mostly sunny 96 degrees.

Navigation system installed in TJ is giving me disk errors problems so I went to the dealer, come back tomorrow please. There is also a learning process compared with the Garmin GPS. Ok we will see how that will work out. I am using both as of now trying to learn the new device and relying on the Garmin GPS for the stored places as I have built a knowledge base in the device (stored places we revisit)

After finding some lunch we went to find where Whole Foods is located and Trader Joes is located close by. The Enclave (TJ) is nice to drive and we are noticing the larger size when parking as I can not get into the same small places we could with Silver Sally (HHR). We are also parking "out" so the doors do not get banged and nicked.

 

 

Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park - Jun 30

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Pleasanton, Texas - Atascosa RV Park - 74 degrees mostly cloudy this morning to mostly sunny 96 degrees. Four o’clock thunder and lightening show thank you very much. Now you know what time I got up this morning. There was no water "rain" with that show but there is still rumblings in the area. Well the water came later, after nine o’clock we had rain for a couple of hours, there are mud puddles on ranch road but we are not there thank you.

Sunrise half a year gone

Well it dried and cleared later Bonnie and I drove TJ (Bonnie was excited to drive) into Pleasanton for some shopping and filling TJ’s tank for the first time. I want to get a read on the MPG with us driving. Now I need to order new base plates for TJ to be towed behind Buster Brown. Where does the time go June is gone and so is half of 2013. Picture is east into the sunrise after the light show and before the rain.

TJ at sunrise