The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 29

Thursday, August 29, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 70 degrees and partly sunny to 93 degrees and partly sunny.

MEWS, men eating without supervision. There were two of us meeting at the ranch house just before eight-thirty, going to breakfast and we car pooled. As one was in El Paso, another forgot what day of the week it was and had breakfast at home this morning and the last regular attendee was with an upset stomach from last nights dinner.

buster's Refrigerator coil being replaced

This morning the refrigerator was 40 degrees and also at noon and four o’clock all good news. The ice makes is stating to make ice also. Today after coming back from MEWS I put the small fan in back of the refrigerator near the cooling coil. The cooling coil is the white tubing in the picture. The original coil was painted black, the silver tube on the right is the coil heater.

Sunset the night before

Bonnie and I went to the ranch house for happy hour at four o'clock and at seven o'clock I went card playing in the ranch house, hand and foot.

White is cooling unit

Fan on the left

 

The silver tube on the right is the coil heater.

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 27 - 28

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 68 degrees and partly sunny to 89 degrees and sunny.

Well today will be the last run for ice as tomorrow I take Buster to Carlsbad RV to install the new refrigerator cooling unit. Men's coffee and water board meeting today for me at the ranch house. Bonnie went to Artesia taking Ethel to the doctor appointment this afternoon. I went to happy hour at the ranch house at four o'clock.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 68 degrees and partly sunny to 89 degrees and partly sunny for here some humidity (38%).
To my brother-ion-law Joe rest in piece

Buster was off to Carlsbad with no tail dragging, the tow bar stayed in the stowed position. I was there at eight o’clock and out by three-thirty with the cooling coil replaced. The work involved removing the doors (4) and other stuff then bring the refrigerator into Buster. Now remove the coil assembly. Reverse the sequence and test to see operation of gas and electric.

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 23 - 26

Friday, August 23, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and partly sunny to 94 degrees and sunny. After five there were thunder heads in the east moving northeast from the ranch

Bonnie was in Artesia and got a few drops as the thunder heads passed. But there was no rain here.

Another ice run and washing of Tan Jan in Artesia and this afternoon Bonnie took Ethel to Artesia to do some shopping in Ethel’s van. I went to happy hour at four o’clock not many there today at the ranch house. Tonight the Nationwide cars are at Bristol Thunder Valley racetrack.

 Saturday, August 24, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 70 degrees and partly sunny to 93 degrees and sunny.

Today I received the small fan and timer I ordered from Amazon for the back of the refrigerator that will provide additional air flow in the cooling coil area. This will improve the refrigerator operation. I will start using it on Wednesday after the new coil is installed.

At four o'clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house.

Tonight the Sprint cars are at Bristol Thunder Valley racetrack for 500 laps.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 70 degrees and partly sunny to 92 degrees and sunny.

I went to Artesia extra early for ice before Bonnie went to church.

At four o’clock I went to happy hour as Bonnie was taking a nap and I let her sleep.

At seven o’clock we were at the ranch house for the Birthday anniversary night and there were one of each present here at the ranch this month.
Monday, August 26, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 70 degrees and partly sunny to 93 degrees and sunny.

Another run to Artesia for ice this morning. I had just turned onto Lakewood road headed to US 285 to go north to Artesia when I saw this in the rear view mirror and stopped to take these pictures of the sun ride over the eastern mountains.

 

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 20. 21 & 23

Tuesday, August 20, 2013


The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 69 degrees and partly sunny to 99 degrees and sunny. Monday night I went to the ranch house to play cards (hand and foot).

Men's coffee and water board meeting today at the ranch house. Bonnie went to Artesia with Ethel. I went to happy hour at the ranch house at four o’clock.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 69 degrees and sunny to 94 degrees and sunny.

This afternoon I Called about the cooling unit for the refrigerator it has been a week and the only thing I know is it has been put on a truck that has left the dock.

At four o’clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 64 degrees and sunny to 92 degrees and partly sunny.

MEWS, men eating without supervision. There were five of us meeting at the ranch house just before eight-thirty, going to breakfast and we car pooled in three cars as one wanted to do shopping after breakfast and another was going to Roswell. Walking back from the ranch house I was watching these bunnies playing in the street as the one on the right kept moving the other bunny backwards

Carlsbad RV called early afternoon telling me the cooling unit will be here on Monday and to bring Buster in early on Wednesday morning to install the cooling unit on the refrigerator. Otherwise I have been hiding from the sun and heat this week and resting.
At four o’clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house.

 

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 18 - 19

Sunday, August 18, 2013

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

Sunday chores and NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Brooklyn, Michigan. Bonnie will do the ding-a-ling for happy hour today.

Monday, August 19, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and partly sunny to 99 degrees and sunny.

Ice run again to Artesia this morning keeping the refrigerator and cooler operating is work. Get the extra water out put in the ice and we are not over stuffing them. We are only keeping minimum refrigerated items in Buster so there are more frequent trips to the store also. The new cooling unit should here Wednesday ready to install. The RV dealer in Roswell never did call back with a quote to replace the cooling unit.

This afternoon Bonnie was ding-a-ling for happy hour again. 

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 16 - 17

Friday, August 16, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and mostly sunny to 98 degrees and sunny.

Ice run first thing this morning for the cooler and the refrigerator.

Happy hour ding-a-ling, that is me tonight we change every other afternoon men and woman.
Saturday, August 17, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 69 degrees and partly sunny to 98 degrees and sunny.

Well with the ambient temperatures in the nineties every day it is an ice run every day trying to keep a cooler and the refrigerator operating

Happy hour ding-a-ling, it is me again tonight I will pass off to a woman tonight for tomorrow’s happy hour leader.


 

Thursday, August 15, 2013


The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and partly sunny to 96 degrees and sunny. I prepared for rain last night and there was nothing more than some spits to make the car dirty.

MEWS, men eating without supervision. There were five of us going to breakfast and we car pooled in two cars as one wanted to do shopping after breakfast.

I worked in the front of Buster behind the television getting the cooling fan operational and switching the outside television to the front so when we are back working the bedroom television will be separate. Lifting the thirty-seven inch flat screen up and down a few times and the dish TV box in and out a few times my arms know I did something today.

I am still left with two things bothering me, the volume of the bedroom television is too low when the air conditioner is on and the remote does not operate later in the day working before four o’clock and not after five o’clock. I need to call disk TV later today. Then there is the plate for Tan Jan has not come yet. I called the car dealer in San Antonio this week and was informed they did not send it out until July 24.

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 13 & 14

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and partly sunny to 92 degrees and partly sunny. There is some "weather" moving around us here, more clouds.

Men's coffee and water board meeting today at the ranch house. I called two RV dealers for an estimate to repair Buster’s refrigerator one early this morning and one at noon time and I am waiting for the call back.

We have two ice chest coolers we are using and I am putting ice in the bottom of the refrigerator and using that some also. Frozen we have taken to Betty and Jerry’s Casita as they have a refrigerator and freezer in there. So now the "ice man" comes (me) checking to see which needs to be refilled each day.

Sunset on Windmill Vista

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and partly sunny to 93 degrees and partly sunny. Early this morning there were thunder heads in the eastern sky flashing but the clouds and rain stayed east and north of our area. After dark this evening some wind and clouds and a few small drops of rain fell here.



Looking in the access for the refrigerator

On the right of the picture the silver tube (going up, the silver is insulation) gets hot inside from electric heat or a gas flame, the water supply tube was resting there against the dark spot melted the plastic tube and water was running out until I closed the supply to Buster. I have the tube (white in the picture) routed differently now.

Well Carlsbad RV called this morning reconfirming our refrigerator model number and quoted a price for the cooling unit and with a go ahead it will ship today. I said go ahead. Never did get a return call from the other dealer. At ten o’clock this morning I attended the co-op town hall meeting of members, a short meeting with nothing exciting or no one complaining this month. Other than that I only worked to put weather striping around the air conditioner hose board, sealing up the outside edges. 

Sunday, August 11, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and partly sunny to 91degrees and sunny.

NASCAR Watkins Glenn turning left AND right. Nothing else was on my schedule for today other than the regular chores.

Monday, August 12, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and mostly sunny to 95 degrees and sunny.

In the morning I am smelling ammonia Bonnie said she used some cleaning in the bedroom. In the afternoon I am smelling it again. After happy hour I dropped Bonnie at Ethel’s and came back to Buster I smell ammonia again and the refrigerator is flashing a code NO CO, means no cooling. I reset that by turning the refrigerator off and on again. Not long after Bonnie comes home there is water on the floor. That turns out to be the water pipe to the ice maker is leaking. Shutoff the water, clean up the water then we go to Carlsbad to get a replacement fitting. When we return there is a bad ammonia smell. Did I tell you that the cooling fluid in a RV refrigerator is ammonia. So now I go to Artesia for ice again and Bonnie borrows some freezer space from our neighbors across the street Jerry and Betty. Jerry and Betty have a house refrigerator in their casita and they also are having RV refrigerator problems. 

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 10

Saturday, August 10, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 74 degrees and partly sunny to 96 degrees and sunny. When I was driving out of the ranch this morning the southeast sky was black with rain clouds although we did not get any of that rain here today, it has gone around us again,

I took Tan Jan to Artesia for a wash this morning and a little shopping I prefer to use the power wash places as blasting the bugs to get them off is better than the brush or pad places, besides I get out and do it myself. Yesterday the dish TV replacement box arrived and spent the rest of the morning switching out boxes. They send a package of paper instructions but I still ended up having to call and spend time on the telephone and waiting for the downloading of updates and downloading of program guide. Then started to rebuild the record program list the different shows and rases. Today the Watkins Glenn Nationwide race, turning left AND right.

Northeast end of the track

Bonnie and I went to the ranch house for happy hour at four o'clock. Then I went to Roadrunner speedway with Wally, Greg and his son. Outside of Carlsbad, NM they race
the modified cars on a quarter mile dirt track.

Southwest end of the track

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 8

Thursday, August 8, 2013

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

I was out early and put another coat of paint on the metal shed so the shed is looking good now. just need another morning next week to paint the second coat on the trim color. Then I went to MEWS, men eating without supervision. There was four of us going to breakfast and we all car pooled in Phil’s old (1990) Caddie.

Then I took apart the toilet and the pipe going to the black water holding tank. That pipe was cracked and leaking water onto the top of the tank. I took those parts with me to the RV store in Roswell they did not have all the parts and sent me to a hardware store down the block. When I returned to Buster I realized the flange I purchased at the hardware store does not have the same toilet bolt spacing thus another Roswell run. I went to happy hour mostly to take a break and rest for a few minutes, bonnie was not back from her day with the "girls" Ethel from here at the ranch and two other ladies from the Artesia went to Roswell "browsing some shops".

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 9

Friday, August 9, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and partly sunny to 96 degrees and sunny. It was a bit windy today thus holding down the feels like temperature.

Bonnie worked on cleaning out the shed today, the everything out method we sorted and gave away things we no longer wanted and swept out the dirt. I made a quick shelf of some extra wood and put back the remainder, better.

Alien disk to the right of the tree

I was off to Roswell for the correct bolt pattern floor flange for Buster now the black water tank has no water leaks. While in Roswell I put gasoline in Tan Jan as the price in Roswell is better than Artesia or Carlsbad. You can see the businesses there all play up the Alien thing for the first time visitors. Even here at the Murphy gas station. Latter I went to happy hour and Bonnie took a nap.

RV store

 

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 6

Tuesday, August 6, 2013


The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 74 degrees and partly sunny to 100 degrees and sunny.

Bonnie went to the doctor in Artesia this morning as I was at the ranch house for men's coffee and a water committee meeting. After some lunch Bonnie and I went to Lowes in Carlsbad for a plug for the drain pipe behind Busters washing machine. There is a trap the washing machine drains into and that is connected to a Tee fitting the bottom drains into the gray water tank the top came up a way’s and was open, nothing else but should be plugged.

"Mud Porch" three of the five sections laid out

This was allowing gray water tank vapors to enter buster. In the past two months it has been more noticeable and when I came past the washing machine I could notice the oder. Bonnie is a better detector of these things so if I notice it is bad. I purchased a plug and installed that. Bonnie ran a load thru the washing machine and that worked fine.

The white square is the plug I installed

I also purchased and cut to size another couple of boards for more "mud porch" decking. I also got a new tube and end caps for storing the gray water drain hose inside Buster. I did need to cut that to size to fit inside Buster.

White tube for storing hose

 

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 7

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

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

Early this morning I painted the trim color to the shed. The dish TV box has been giving us problems for a while so today is the day to order a replacement box.

I had been postponing this until we are here at the ranch our regular mail location for less confusion with dish TV company. That should arrive Friday and I will return this one on Monday.

Bonnie and I are still waiting for the license plate from Florida for the Buick we purchased in Texas. Last night I did not sleep well awaking a few times and watching the tv to fall asleep again. Bonnie and I went to the ranch house for happy hour at four o’clock. Not much else today.

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 5

Monday, August 5, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 74 degrees and partly sunny to 100 degrees and sunny.

I painted this morning and applied the paint to the main part of the metal shed before the sun was too high. After that Bonnie and I got ready and drove Tan Jan to Roswell for some parts for Buster and did not get what I was looking for to make repairs to Busters black tank. I will have to take the fittings apart first then go to the RV parts store with those parts.

When we got back and put the shopping away we both took a short nap before going to happy hour at the ranch house.

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 4

Sunday, August 4, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 73 degrees and partly sunny to 92 degrees and sunny.

I finished painting the roof of the shed this morning, maybe a little more touch up later but I will start the sides in the morning about daybreak. Latter I worked on the two draws under the refrigerator that the tracks for the draws had the screws backing out ant the draws will not work correctly. The screws were short and we store can goods there (making the draws heavy) so I drilled the holes for screws that are twice as long hopefully preventing them from loosening.

Then NASCAR from Pocono, PA the tricky triangle, then Bonnie and I attended happy hour.

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 3

Saturday, August 3, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 72 degrees and partly sunny to 101 degrees and sunny.
I was out early this morning trying to paint the roof of the shed. I am trying to work there before the sun gets up too high and the flies are a problem. Just plain old white paint. One or two more mornings and the roof will be done. Then color on the sides.

The first mud porch I had made and put away in Buster, well I took it out again and cut that in half taking one eight by two foot porch into two four foot by two foot porches. This will provide ease of storing and more combinations when we arrive at a gate site.

The tow bar, I receives the new end with the bolt and nut from Blue OX tow bar company and installed that. In removing the nut that was ground down I used my extra large channel lock pliers to hold the nut and a wrench to turn the bolt. When Buster is parked I put a bag over the tow bar well I did not mention that was shredded and came off also when the end was ground down dragging down the road.

Bonnie had taken Ethel onto Carlsbad for shopping so I went to Happy Hour by myself today and Bonnie came back to the ranch right after happy hour.

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Jul 31 - Aug 2

Wednesday July 31, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 72 degrees and mostly sunny to 101 degrees and sunny.

Too hot to work outside today so it was a hiding inside Buster day. Then we went to happy hour at four o’clock. Tonight I went with Bonnie to her bible study and showed the slide show the saga of Fox Creek Gate in pictures with narration by me.
July is done we have my doctor appointment complete just waiting on Bonnie’s appointment next Tuesday. Then prescriptions are in work, mud porches are made although I might make one more two foot by four foot section.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 73 degrees and partly sunny to 98 degrees and sunny.

MEWS, men eating without supervision, first MEWS I attended since Bonnie and I have been back here at the ranch. There has been only one or two interested men the past two weeks but this week it was four of us going to breakfast and we all car pooled in Tan Jan.

Friday, August 2, 2013

The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM 71 degrees and partly sunny to 98 degrees and sunny.

The shed here on our site needs some painting so I have started the roof, a metal shed roof. Well in a short time the sun burned me out and I retreated to buster for the rest of the day.

Today at two o’clock most here at the ranch attended a joy of life for a deceased ranch member Melody and the family. After the remembrance we had a potluck dinner with about seventy five in attendance.