Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 30 trick or treat

Thursday, October 30, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 67 Degrees, wind 4 ENE & gusting to 5, humidity 96% partly sunny morning to 89 Degrees, wind 10 NNW & gusting to 10 humidity 36% sunny. A front came down thru Texas but stopped before coming thru our area. Resulting in is only getting a cloudy day.

Today is a work day, workover rig is moving in to the well pad. (Later) No Stop, wrong location, with sixteen vehicles on the well pad, (about forty minutes) move down the road a quarter of a mile. “Lucy pulled the ball off the tee just before I tried to Kick the ball”. “Halloween, Trick or Treat”, I get trick.

 I was getting excited with work and a regular vehicle stream that would be coming to the gate for a number of days and it was taken form us in the blink of an eye. The oil company man was the tenth vehicle in and he was on site only a few minutes and they were on the way out. When the work over rig was making the turn off the paved road, there was this clanging sound out on the road from parts of the rig falling on the pavement. The rig was only part way off the road and could not make the turn without backing and repositioning. That resulted in a backup of vehicles on the road. I had vehicles coming back out while more still wanted into the well pad. I was able to divert a couple of trucks down the road and finally getting them all headed in the correct direction. The first truck had printed direction for this site and the company man on his way out showed me his (same printed directions) corrected to, one quarter mile down the road.

More wildlife visiting today there were three two young ones and a young mother. the third one is behind the tree.

Wildlife on Busters left side

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 27 - 29 Halloween

Monday, October 27, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 66 Degrees, wind 3 ESE & gusting to 4, humidity 94% mostly sunny morning to 91 Degrees, wind 7 NNW & gusting to 114 humidity 39% sunny.
The absolute minimum amount of activity here at the gate again today.

                                            Happy Halloween 

Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 66 Degrees, wind 3 NNW & gusting to 6, humidity 97% partly sunny morning to 88 Degrees, wind 5 NNE & gusting to 10 humidity 39 mostly cloudy.

Bonnie made her weekly trip to Pleasanton today to poke around the retail establishments. Quite around the gate.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 65 Degrees, wind 2 N & gusting to 4, humidity 90% mostly cloudy morning to 87 Degrees, wind 10 NNW & gusting to 10 humidity 36% mostly cloudy.

A little more activity today, the rancher was in the back clearing brush and burning it resulting in fire department seeing the smoke and investigating. That resulted in a verbal warning for not giving prior notice to the fire department of the burning, things are dry no significant rain since early September. 

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 25 - 26

Saturday, October 25, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 64 Degrees, wind 1 E, humidity 86% mostly sunny morning to 90 Degrees, wind 5 NNW & gusting to 7 humidity 39% sunny.

No Florida State football today as they are playing on Thursday night. Bonnie is getting good naps overnight as there are no tank trucks coming to the gate after one o’clock in the morning. This oil company also has a roving security vehicle that comes about once every five days. They come at any time of the day or night.

                                                            In Memory "Moma Sue"

Sunday, October 26, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 64 Degrees, wind 2 ENE, humidity 93% partly sunny morning to 89 Degrees, wind 6 ESE & gusting to 7 humidity 32% sunny.

NFL football and NASCAR race from Martinsville Virginia “Junior” wins. Gate visits were at a Sunday minimum leaving plenty of time for race watching. We also had our normal turn away, wrong gate vehicles, only two turn-a-way vehicles today.

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 23 - 24 deer

Thursday, October 23, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 72 Degrees, wind 3 NNW & gusting to 5, humidity 84% partly sunny morning to 87 Degrees, wind 3 N & gusting to 8 humidity 40 sunny.

Two days in a row post office in Tilden, wow. Bonnie has been getting more naps overnight thus she is awake more during the day. This is allowing me to have these trips into Tilden. Today we had burgers for lunch, and any trip to Tilden is a chance to dump garbage at the company yard.

i was setting in the passenger chair multitasking, watching the television and checking my eye lids for cracks, finding none (napping). then i looked out the window across Buster next to the computer desk, there was a young deer out there grazing. First one I have seen at this gate.

Friday, October 24, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 64 Degrees, wind 1 N & gusting to 2, humidity 97% partly sunny morning to 89 Degrees, wind 4 E & gusting to 7 humidity 36% sunny.

Pleasanton today for weekly grocery shopping, gasoline $ 2.729 a gallon. I saw diesel at $ 3.399 per gallon.

After lunch Bonnie is napping I am hearing the air or gas escaping and the noise stops. After a time it repeats, and again. Well every time just as I getup and try to investigate where it is coming from it stops. I turn off the television volume listen closely, can not figure out where it coming from air conditioner compressor, water, other system on Buster nothing. Then gate work interrupts we have incoming vehicle. I am getting ready to open the door and go into Buster when I hear the noise again, it is the gas compressor station across the street venting.

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 20 22

Monday, October 20, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 69 degrees, wind 8 E, humidity 84% partly sunny morning to 87 Degrees, wind 10 NNW, humidity 16% sunny.

This morning Bonnie is off to get her Flu shot at Walgreens in Pleasanton. She probably also visit some retail shops thus seeing what is happening in the world outside a gate environment. Nothing is happening here, just the gager and tank trucks coming and going from the gate. There is always the straggler that mis reads the directions or just does not read coming to deliver something. With no work projects underway and looking at the product to be delivered, I have been saying that there is no one in there to unload them. That seems to wake them onto reality that they are on the wrong gate. Then they want me to advise them as where the gate they need is located.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 68 Degrees, wind 3 NNW & gusting to 6, humidity 97% partly sunny morning to 87 Degrees, wind 10 NNW & gusting to 10 humidity 36% sunny. Same old same old day.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 69 Degrees, wind 2 NNE & gusting to 6, humidity 97% partly sunny morning to 88 Degrees, wind 4 NNW & gusting to 8 humidity 42% sunny.

Bonnie is getting some naps these past few nights and is up more during the day. Today I went to the post office in Tilden to pickup a letter and dump our garbage. Is the return trip was a stop to pickup BBQ. It is not as good as our favorite place in Jourdanton but it is on the easy trip into Tilden.

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 18 - 19

Saturday, October 18, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 72 Degrees, wind 4 NNE, humidity 97% mostly cloudy morning to 92 Degrees, wind 10 ESE and gusting to 16, humidity 26% sunny.

Football Saturday night, Notre Dame at Florida State in Tallahassee (#5 - #2) good game tonight. Went into Tilden this morning to the post office but before I left I did a sighting of our wells inside as I had not done that before.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 73 Degrees, wind 4 NE, humidity 91% partly sunny morning to 87 Degrees, wind 10 NE gusting to 18, humidity 56% sunny. 

NASCAR and NFL football Sunday not much going in or out thru the gate. On the road into the pads there was a walker on the road I have a picture to prove that. 

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 15 - 17

Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 52 Degrees, wind 1 W, humidity 60% partly sunny morning to 87 Degrees, wind 5 NNW gusting to 11, humidity 17% sunny.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 57 Degrees, wind 6 SSE, humidity 71% sunny morning to 89 Degrees, wind 3 gusting to 11  SSW, humidity 16% sunny.

Gate Remote 

Just slow days here at our gate. Just daily well checkers coming and going. This is our gate, electrically controlled, remote operated. Each gate has it’s own actuator.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 61 Degrees, wind 3 NE, humidity 92% mostly sunny morning to 91 Degrees, wind 5 ESE gusting to 10, humidity 27% sunny.

My Pleasanton trip today included a Flu Shot at Walgreens along with our normal stops at Walmart and HEB food shopping. Last year we got our shots together in late September and had no Flu or Colds all winter. Bonnie will get hers on her next trip into 

Pleasanton. But, I did learn in January of this year I am allergic to mountain cedar tree pollen. I had sneezes fifteen in a row, that was hard on the ribs along with the runny nose when mountain cedar tree pollen went medium to high levels. I am taking a generic form allergy medication (HEB brand) and that is working for me. 

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 13 - 14

Monday, October 13, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 72 Degrees wind 6 SE 81% humidity cloudy morning to 87 Degrees wind 12 gusting to 21 W 22% humidity sunny.

Bonnie went to Pleasanton this morning to have her hair trimmed, a little me time for her getting her hair done. I was on duty with oil tankers and “gager” today and not much else.

Buster's sewer, electric and water connection

We have switched to well water from the pallet water tank supplied from the gate guard company. So this site we have “grid electric power” no generator running outside Buster for power, Buster is connected to a regular septic system, and now well water. Remote electric control gate opener (and closing) 4 bars 4G Verizon telephone service, no six mile dirt road, right next to a paved road, cannot get any better gate.

Sunrise 

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 53 Degrees, wind 4 WSW, humidity 64% partly sunny morning to 86 Degrees, wind 10 NNW, humidity 16% sunny. With the wind coming around now from th west and north the humidity is coming down. 

We had some early activity today but no real action to speak of during the past day.

Sunset

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 11 - 12

Saturday, October 11, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 74 Degrees wind 6 gusting to 12 SSE 84% humidity partly cloudy morning to 90 Degrees wind 12 gusting 17 to N 39 % humidity mostly sunny.

 There was a squall line that came thru about noontime with more gusting wind and rain “drops”. Across the road a lot of dust blowing mixed into the rain but the rain was not measurable, just a little wet for a short time.

NASCAR tonight from Charlotte, NC I cannot stay up and watch but I will DVR it for
tomorrow’s viewing.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 68 degrees wind 3 N 79% humidity cloudy overcast  morning to 91 Degrees wind 1 NNE 49 % humidity mostly sunny. Bonnie had some rain drops overnight, no measurable amount. The below seventy degrees was a nice morning.

With me not being well on Friday and still in recovery yesterday today was my trip into Pleasanton for our weekly shopping. I went a little too early as some (Dollar Store) did not open until ten on Sunday. Even the Murphy gasoline station at Walmart was late opening, but there was a great price on gasoline $ 2.899 a gallon. HEB reconstruction has moved into a new phase as the second “New” entrance is now open. The new produce, deli and meat cases have been located at this (east) end. There are some disruption in other departments during the transition to a larger store. 

The real show was after the NASCAR race last night with drivers banging cars and with drivers scuffling between the car haulers after the race. There will be a lot of talking about that coming to Talladega next Sunday. I watched the DVR today and was lucky enough to have the extra time option on and caught some of that in the recording. 

This is what a quite gate looks like, gates closed

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 8 - 10 sick

Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 74 Degrees wind 6 ESE 81 % humidity mostly cloudy morning to 91 Degrees wind 12 SSE 39 % humidity mostly sunny.

I was thinking about yesterdays birthday post and my other sisters birthday last month that Bonnie and I had a great summer being able to visit with them both before returning to Texas.

Sunset

Thursday, October 9, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 74 Degrees wind 10 with gusting to 15 SE 87 % humidity partly cloudy morning to 94 Degrees wind 9 gusting to 15 SSE 49% humidity mostly sunny.

Another slow day

Friday, October 10, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 74 Degrees wind 10 SSE 87% humidity mostly sunny morning to 98 Degrees wind 8 and gusting to 17 SE 44% humidity mostly sunny.

Last night was not a fun night for me. I had a bad stomach feeling and was up every hour and even the dry heaves three times so that when it was time to get up I almost could not. Bonnie was a trooper and let me sleep one more time, and it was the longest sleep period of the night.

When I did get up I did not take anything to eat until much later in the morning. It was a tough day but I made it thru until Bonnie awoke, my lower ribs aching all day. There were more vehicles to respond to coming and going but nothing like what other gate guards are seeing. I spoke to a ranch friend Jean S finding out she is west of Tilden six miles (in Texas, real close). I did have some leftovers for dinner (beef & noodles) and got more liquids during the day. I also was in bed early.

Prickly pear bush 

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 6 - 7 survey & birthday

Monday, October 6, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 74 Degrees wind 4 E 91% humidity partly cloudy morning to 94 Degrees wind 7 SE 36% humidity sunny. Just when I thought the weather was going fall like “It back, Summer”, hot today with lower winds.

Bonnie got some retail time going to Pleasanton. The H E B is doing an expansion project and this is making the parking lot congested and it is not a pleasant driving experience.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 75 Degrees wind 4 E 87% humidity partly sunny morning with lite fog to 95 Degrees wind 5 SE 33 humidity sunny. A heavy dew this morning with a lower humidity. A day like yesterday “summer hot” and the weather men are forecasting this for the foreseeable future.

Yesterday a survey crew was coming east and stopped for the day at our driveway, today they continued east charting the location of berried pipes. That is my new excitement here at the gate.

Today is my niece’s birthday, Happy Birthday Kari and tomorrow October 8, is her mothers, my sister Alice’s birthday, Happy birthday Alice.

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 4 - 5

Saturday, October 4, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 60 Degrees wind 6 NE 75% humidity mostly sunny morning to 87 Degrees wind 12 SSE 39 % humidity sunny.

Settling in for a slow work weekend but there is football today Florida State hosting Wake Forest NASCAR this week is in Kansas. Plenty of television time for me during these slow vehicle traffic days

Sunday, October 5, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 65 Degrees wind 5 SSE 90% humidity mostly sunny morning to 90 Degrees wind 12 gusting to 17 SSE 41% humidity sunny.

Today was football and NASCAR from Kansas but there were a few vehicles coming and going thru the “gate” a real exciting weekend.

There is a well site further down and across the paved road from our gate and another well site further east, that has a “frac” in progress. These sites are sending a “gager” person to our wells to check our well pressures several times a day (four or five on the busy days). These vehicles are my biggest traffic thru the gate. Today I have noticed the sand trucks passing our gate headed to the gates where the frac’s are taking place. I never counted them but passing our gate going in to the frac gates the trucks are noticeable but when unloaded if I am not watching (kind of over my left shoulder) I never see or hear them leaving, this is a dead end street. As far as is know there are three frac’s going on further down our paved road. 

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 75 Oct 2 - 3

Thursday, October 2, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 75 Degrees wind 7 SSE 90 % humidity lite fog & cloudy morning to 96 Degrees wind 10 gusting to 19 ESE 50% humidity mostly sunny. A hot one again today and a cool front is coming tomorrow, thank you.

Well they came and installed the new gate actuator late in the afternoon. Now the gates stay closed as there is no “steady stream” of vehicles coming to the gate. I think our time here is now going to come to a close as the original assignment is complete.

This week I had a couple of trucks come to the gate they acted like they knew where they wanted to be I was glad to sign them in. One wanted to pickup a “John Deere Tractor” drove to the well pads and returned after while empty, I just waved him out. Latter a truck with a man lift piece of equipment came to the gate signed him in thinking there is some new work will be starting. When he returned to the gate I just waved him out. The next morning I was reviewing what vehicles came in overnight. The same truck came in and picked up the man lift equipment taking it out. Well I have more activity to show on the log sheet that way. When there is very low activity some “action” is better than none. Actually the way they came to the gate if I was busy with work I never would have known as they did not ask any questions and that is what normally happens.

Entrance to our gate

Friday, October 3, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 71 Degrees wind 9 N 80% humidity mostly sunny morning to 82 Degrees wind 12 SSE 29 % humidity mostly sunny.

This week I have noticed our verizon telephone coverage has changed to three bars 4G from 1X 3 or 4 bars. This is a noticeable improvement. Our AT&T air-card also has 3 bars 4G Lte service things could not be any better for a gate assignment location.

This is Friday and we get our water delivered, and I do the weekly shopping in Pleasanton. It is looking like we are going to be here another week at this gate I do not know why as we are only getting regular oil and water pickups and the gager coming in to check the wells output. There are other “gager checkers” coming for a “look” as they are from another “gate” that is “fracing” and are here four or five times a day to “see” if anything has happened at our gates wells after a event is done at their job site.

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Oct 1 gate

Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 74 Degrees wind 6 ESE 91% humidity foggy morning to 92 Degrees wind 12 SSE 29 % humidity sunny.

Every gate I have had (6) workers drive up to our gate and ask, is this (xyz) I answer yes and sign them in. Then there are also the ones asking is this "where am I going gate". Some of these I can direct to the correct location, others I have no idea the location they are looking for is at and they get up set that I do not know where they need to be is located. The number of "lost soles" in a day seems to increase when a new work project goes up on a gate. Sometimes I have been given their phone with the directions in an e-mail, I read and now can direct them to the gate they are looking for others I can not.

Another interesting sunset

At each gate the oil company post a sign “for each oil well” could be just one sign, equaling one oil well or a rod of signs six or seven that I have seen for the oil wells inside that gate. These drivers do not even take the time to read. Other drivers have a large book with well locations and “drill rig” locations these are updated but if changes are not submitted to the people publishing the book it is not correct. Last fall our gate location listed a drill rig that moved a month before we arrived at the location and two months at the gate drivers arriving at the gate asking for the rig.

Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, Sept 30 sunset

Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Busters Gate - Tilden, Texas, 76 Degrees wind 4 SE 87% humidity partly cloudy
morning to 91 degrees wind 12 SE 47% humidity sunny, hot.

I had a flatbed truck deliver a piece of equipment (man lift) to one of the well sites this afternoon. This morning (Wednesday) I notice Bonnie had the same flatbed truck in after midnight to pickup the man lift and deliver it to the correct location, wherever that is located.

Bonnie (she who works the overnights) got up early (I use that word very loosely) today and went for some retail therapy in Pleasanton. It seems like I get to do the heavier weekly shopping (that’s ok).  

Sunset

Looking east during sunset