Holly Springs, NC - Busters Place - Jun 28 - 29

Holly Springs, NC - Busters Place - Sunday, June 28, 2015
Morning 72 Degrees, Wind NW 2 & gusting to 8 Mph, Humidity 93%, cloudy morning.
Afternoon 84 Degrees high for today, Wind W 6 & gusting to 15 Mph, Humidity 51%, mostly sunny. We have had enough rain to fill the pool up and water the grass for a week and giving Buster a good rinse to get the Texas dust off of him. Buster still needs the good rubdown.

Dad, (John) Zane and cousin 

Zane’s team lost the baseball game today it was a long trip for only one game at Rocky Mount. A lot of driving, an hour and a half from here, wait a minute I was riding not driving, still a long trip. I did catch a few winks on the way back. Ariana had two fast pitch softball games and did better. Zane will “guest play” the July tenth weekend, he has been invited to play on a friends teem.

Ariana

Ariana's team high school, yes she is”playing up” (in age group) played in Cary that was more show for college coaches not the regular tournament weekend play. This weekend was for the individual girls to show their skills. We will go to her next tournament weekend soon.

Holly Springs, NC - Busters Place - Monday, June 29, 2015

Morning 73 Degrees, Wind SE 8 & gusting to Mph, Humidity 94%, cloudy morning.

Afternoon 86 Degrees high for today, Wind S 1 & gusting to 2 Mph, Humidity 61%, mostly sunny.   Happy Birthday Cindy our youngest daughter. 

Cindy

Congratulations Ariana graduating eighth grade and off to high school. Tomorrow is grand parents rest day as we have been on the road driving six days two days of baseball games and the graduation ceremony day. A lot of going or running for us . 

Ariana Female athlete

Holly Springs, NC - Busters Place Jun 29

Our daughter Cindy

Happy Birthday Cindy

Holly Springs, NC - Busters Place - Saturday, June 27, 2015
Morning 70 Degrees, Wind NNE 2 & gusting to 4 Mph, Humidity 99%, cloudy morning.
Afternoon 85 Degrees high for today, Wind SW 2 & gusting to 5 Mph, Humidity 97%, partly sunny with thunder showers afternoon and evening.  

There was rain overnight with today’s ball games start delayed for the overnight rain. Zane’s was an eight o’clock game start that was delayed then brought back to almost on time start that we were then late for. We were driving an hour and a half to Rocky Mount. Ariana’s game was in Cary a half hour away and that ended being delayed until after twelve noon. Zane had back to Back games and we came home. After we had lunch there was a thunder shower and at dinner time a larger shower. Zanes team won both games with him playing different positions throughout both games centerfield, first and second base.

Holly Springs, NC - Busters Place - arrival

Cunningham RV Park - Spartanburg, SC - Friday, June 26, 2015
Morning 71 Degrees, Wind SE 8 & gusting to Mph, Humidity 98%, Partly sunny. We were on the road shortly after eight again today, this is great trip as we are getting on the road at the best time of the day to drive. Getting most of our miles before noon then stopping early in the afternoon is great as we can have an early dinner and relax back at Buster.

Holly Springs, NC - Busters Place
Afternoon 97 Degrees high for today, Wind W 5 Humidity 48%, mostly sunny clouding over for a rain shower.
The shortest driving day two hundred fourteen miles to Busters parking place. Continuing north on I 85 to NC 49 and US 64 east to NC 55. Along the way in South Carolina Buster took his last drink of diesel for the trip. Diesel was $ 2.529 47 gallons. This years trip cost us less as diesel is about a dollar cheaper saving us 175 dollars.

Fifteen hundred-fifty miles from Carrizo Springs to Holly Springs. I purchased one hundred-seventy three gallons of diesel for Buster during the trip east. Five nights and six days driving where in previous years it was six nights and seven days but we wanted to be here for the weekend.

Cunningham RV Park - Spartanburg, SC

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park - Bremen, GA - Thursday, June 25, 2015
Morning 68 Degrees, Wind calm Mph, Humidity 100%, Partly sunny .
Ten after eight we were o the road today headed east on I 20 to Atlanta, Georgia then north on I 75 to I 85 northeast.

Right side mirror of the tractor

Busters right mirror

Cunningham RV Park - Spartanburg, SC
Afternoon 91 Degrees high for today, Wind S 4 & gusting to 10 Mph, Humidity 59%, (hazy) mostly sunny. We stayed here last year on our trip east and was nice to return to a familiar place for the night. Our shortest driving day this trip 221 miles here from west Georgia. Buster went straight thru Atlanta on I 20 and I 75 onto I 85. On I 75 or I 85 heavy traffic from the time we entered thru the I 285 circle, with construction going on there. Buster tangled mirrors with a bob-tail tractor. Buster was in the third lane in from the right to be in the correct lane for I 85 and that was moving a little faster then the second lane in and Buster pushed the tractor mirror forward and Buster’s mirror leaned back enough that it was unusable. When clear we both pulled onto the shoulder to assess the damages. His glass was broken and Busters mirror has a small white paint transfer. After having Georgia State Patrol write a report we were on our way. With the slow traffic and stooping for GHP it was less than only one hour of lost time.

Buster at Cunningham RV Park

Buster at Cunningham RV Park

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park - Bremen, GA

Benchmark RV Park - Meridian, Mississippi - Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind variable 1 & gusting to 2 Mph, Humidity 92%, mostly cloudy morning.

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park - Bremen, GA
Afternoon 90 Degrees high for today, Wind calm, Humidity 64%, mostly sunny with thunder storms in the forecast 40% chance. After arriving Buster had some 40% as we left to have lunch/dinner. No rain driving since we left San Antonio. Two hundred forty-three miles for Buster on interstate twenty today. I stopped for diesel fuel in Bessemer,  Alabama $ 2.729 getting fifty-two gallons, last year I paid $ 3.699 Pell, AL,  almost a dollar a gallon cheaper this year. I purchased gasoline for Tan Jan $ 2.269 in Meridian and in Georgia it is $ 2.729 per gallon. Bonnie and I drove into Carrollton  for dinner.

It is hard to see Buster in the dark morning

Benchmark RV Park - Meridian, Mississippi

Poche's RV Park Breaux Bridge, LA - Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Morning 77 Degrees, Wind SE 8 & gusting to Mph, Humidity 90%, partly sunny.
On the road with Buster fueled at ten after eight this morning, a record for us and Buster. I was I a rush to get going I did not take any pictures of the park, just not remembering to snap a shot.

Benchmark RV Park - Meridian, Mississippi
Afternoon 102 Degrees high for today, Wind N 2 & gusting to & 7 Mph, Humidity 49%, hazy sunny. Bonnie and I stopped here last year coming east, nice clean park but small only 27 sites so a reservation is needed as they do fill the sites most nights.

Three hundred and twelve miles later on Interstate ten and interstate fifty-nine with a short run in I 20 we are in Meriden, Mississippi for the night. That is our longest one day trip as we have not done three hundred miles in one day before with Buster. Seven forty-five we left the camp ground drive the five miles to near the interstate where we refueled Buster. We crossed east of the Mississippi River near Baton Rouge, LA

While at the last gate I wrote about the low cell phone signal we had one bar 1X when actually trying to make a call I would press send and wait over a minute for any change other times Bonnie would try texting and have it reject for no signal or take a long time to send. Well Bonnie has been enjoying herself riding down the interstate texting. Most times if I looked at the phone I would see an additional bar when actually trying to transmit a call. Yesterday she mentioned to me a text she went out in on-time, or so fast she could not believe it was done that fast.  Going down the road we are getting 4G two or more bars for a signal. I reminded her we are traveling a route with cell towers close by major interstate highway she should get that fast service.

You can see I was out early by the darkness of the picture

Poche's RV Park Breaux Bridge, LA

Happy Oaks RV Park - Columbus , TX - Monday, June 22, 2015
Morning 77 Degrees, Wind SE 1 & gusting to 2 Mph, Humidity 99%, cloudy morning. Bonnie was in bed early and up early this morning . Last night she was tired from a nights work and the packing preparation for the trip. Returning from our fathers day dinner she went right to bed. This morning she was awake before I had to wake her up.

Happy Oaks RV Park - Columbus , TX

Poche's RV Park Breaux Bridge, LA
Afternoon 91 Degrees high for today, Wind W 6 Humidity 59%, mostly sunny.
After another half day of driving we left Texas behind us and made it over one hundred miles into Louisiana today. Our day started early as we left about eight thirty and stopped about two o’clock this afternoon. There were fuel and potty breaks today but that was only a few minutes each for two hundred ninety-six miles all Interstate Ten travel. I took the direct route thru Houston only one short slow area where cars were changing lanes for other routes. It is like three days travel in two days, five hundred and fifty two miles we are now from our last gate.

Interstate 10 eastbound

Happy Oaks RV Park - Columbus, TX

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Friday, June 19, 2015
Morning 78 Degrees, Wind SE 8 Mph, Humidity 90%, Overcast.
Afternoon 89 Degrees high for today, Wind ESE 8 Mph, Humidity 55%, Overcast.  

Just another work day.

Last sunset

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Saturday, June 20, 2015

Morning 78 Degrees, Wind SSE 9 & gusting to Mph, Humidity 90%, Overcast rain.

Afternoon 89 Degrees high for today, Wind SE 11 & gusting to 18 Mph, Humidity 36%, partly sunny. Enough rain over night to wet everything nothing big like other parts of the south Texas where there is flooding and above average rain fall recorded so far this year.

Yellow diesel tank white generator and black fresh water tank
Busters support equipment

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Sunday, June 21, 2015  

Morning 79 Degrees, Wind SE 10 & gusting to Mph, Humidity 94%, cloudy morning.

There was a little rain overnight to wash some of the dust off Buster and Tan Jan. Just after six this morning our relief drive up to the site, we were not ready as Bonnie and I expected them latter, eight-ish or so. Well we got busy giving them information about the gate traffic and finishing our preparation for travel. I moved Buster off the parking spot and helped them get parked. Then on the road north and east. We stopped at the stripes in Carrizo Springs as our desk draw and refrigerator flew open on a corner. That was the closest place to stop. Besides I needed to take down a table board we have on the dashboard for our clipboards as it was blocking my view of the side mirror. Well it was a good thing as a door had opened and our grill had fallen out. One of the night workers was returning to the gate as we were departing on route 186 passing I waved as I was driving on. The next thing I noticed parked in the stripes someone had parked right in front of Buster. Confused and trying to close the desk draw I had to stop that and find out about what was happening with someone parking in front of Buster. Well it was the worker we had passed and waved to on the road. As I exited Buster, I noticed the door to the grill compartment open. Well the worker picked up the grill and followed us to the Stripes station. We thanked them and put the grill away and properly closed the compartment. 

Happy Oaks RV Park - Columbus, TX

Afternoon 89 Degrees high for today, Wind SW 4 & gusting to 8 Mph, Humidity 86%, partly sunny.   Two hundred fifty-six miles today from Carrizo Springs to Dilley on TX 85 but mostly on I 35 north and I 10 east. There was some rain showers we drove thru going by San Antonio. We were parked early and had a nice Fathers Day dinner in Columbus

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Jun 17 - 18

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind NW 4 Mph, Humidity 94%, partly cloudy morning.
Afternoon 93 Degrees high for today, Wind S 6 & gusting to Mph, Humidity 50%, Partly sunny.
Coil tubing trucks moved out this morning along with some of their support companies. It has been a very busy Wednesday more pipe and tanking parts people checking progress. Flow back had started with water trucks hauling out water that was used during the frac operation.


Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Thursday, June 18, 2015
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind N 4 Mph, Humidity 90%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 90 Degrees high for today, Wind SE 9 & gusting to 24 Mph, Humidity 61%, overcast.  No rain here at the gate these past two days, but there has been rain and flooding in our greater area San Antonio to Corpus Christi and east.

Today it is get serious about packing up for the road trip. With the hot weather it is hard to spend time out there in the mid day sun or the shade for that matter as the “ weather” has kept our humidity high and I feel the heat more. Early in the morning I was out there to reinstall the battery cut off switch needed for towing Tan Jan behind Buster. I had removed the switch in April with the battery problems. After changing the battery I left it out while we were not going any where. When I removed the switch one of the terminal connections “seemed” slightly loose, probably not making a good electrical connection.

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Jun 14 - 16

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Sunday, June 14, 2015
Morning 71 Degrees, Wind variable 4 & gusting to 6 Mph, Humidity 94%, Overcast rain.
Afternoon 96 Degrees high for today, Wind ESE 12 & gusting to 20 Mph, Humidity 52%, mostly sunny.   Almost a tenth of an inch of rain early this morning, helps keep the dust down. The left sun shade blew off again last night, I found the three magnets on the ground after a short time and reinstalled the sun shade.

Weekend gate traffic and some getting ready for Monday morning work by bringing in parts and equipment.

Weekend vehicle traffic is lower than last week but new work jobs are cranking up keeping us somewhat busy. I went shopping this morning for our last time here as we push off next Sunday. Our week will be partly stowing things for our trip as we are planning to do the fifteen hundred plus miles in five days of travel.

sunrise

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Monday, June 15, 2015
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind E 6 & gusting to Mph, Humidity 90%, partly cloudy morning.
Afternoon 97 Degrees high for today, Wind SE 6 Mph, Humidity 35%, mostly sunny.  

More Monday traffic today along with the continuing coil tubing project.

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind NNE 6 Mph, Humidity 87%, Partly cloudy morning.
Afternoon 93 Degrees high for today, Wind SE 6 & gusting to Mph, Humidity 45%, mostly sunny. The “weather” moved thru southeast Texas today, we are southwest resulting in it passing us by.

These days there is not as much traffic but it is spaced so there is only a few minutes of down time before another vehicle is coming or going. Equipment or pieces of the oil well storage coming in or pipe for another well that is going down.

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Jun 11 - 13

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Thursday, June 11, 2015
Morning 73 Degrees, Wind SE 8 & gusting to Mph, Humidity 94%, Partly morning.
Afternoon 101 Degrees high for today, Wind SE 17 & gusting to 25 Mph, Humidity 41%, mostly sunny.

Traffic was calm today as there was time to update the blog. These have been hot and sunny days and hiding in the shade helps, I just need a way to hand the log sheet to a driver without going in the sun. Our time in Texas is winding down as we plan to go on the road the twenty-first of the month headed east to North Carolina visiting children and grand children.


Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Friday, June 12, 2015
Morning 77 Degrees, Wind SSE 8 & gusting to Mph, Humidity 88%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 79 Degrees high for today, Wind SSE 14 & gusting to 25 Mph, Humidity 41%, partly cloudy.

It stayed partly cloudy all day and lower level of traffic here at the gate was also good. There is a chance of  rain in our weekend forecast but we have not had any this month yet. This weekend I plan to firm up our travel route east. We will start north on I 35 then east on I 10, just where I turn to go north to I 20 is my problem . The selection for overnight stops are not as well spaced on I 65 for me to travel about our driving day. We are trying to get 240 miles per day then stopping early for the night. Getting on the road by nine and stopping by two-thirty works best for me. Morning traffic is all about getting to work where the afternoon traffic is more laid back going shopping and shuttling children to activities.

looking out the gate at a departing work over rig

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Saturday, June 13, 2015
Morning 78 Degrees, Wind ESE 7 Mph, Humidity 87%, Overcast, to partly sunny.
Afternoon 96 Degrees high for today, Wind SE 11 & gusting to 33 Mph, Humidity 41%, mostly sunny. Rain early this morning as forecast Friday we received

The slower traffic is giving me time for planning our trip east. There is another gate guard indide one mile at the entrance to the well pad and construction area. Just out side that gate there are two other options , turning right to other companies wells and tank batteries or turning left to the drill rig that came in a couple of weeks ago. i was able to upload some pictures while in town to grocery shop.

Looking in the gate

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Jun 3 - 8

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Morning 73 Degrees, Wind SE 3 & gusting to 9 Mph, Humidity 91%, cloudy morning.
Afternoon 79 Degrees high for today, Wind S 6 & gusting to Mph, Humidity 45%, mostly sunny.

Gate traffic slowed down a little this morning but we are covering two active well pads, the reason for most of the traffic. There is also maintenance traffic for other wells all coming thru our gate.

I made another run down to the other gate to return the plunger. It is just about a mile there. It is good information for me to direct the traffic onto the work area the “new arrivals” need when entering. Basically the the road turns right to other well pads, and two gates, one straight at the end and the third just before that o

I will try to catch things up some with this post as we have been very busy.

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Thursday, June 4, 2015
Boarder patrol, fifteen vehicles came thru the morning latter coming out after finding thirty-five illegals in side the ranch.

June 5 - 7 busy too tired to write anything. 

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Monday, June 8, 2015

The only thing about the weather is warm over nigh and hot in the day, always looking to be in the shade when not at a truck getting the clip board log signed. There has not been any rain of note this month.   

Busy gate as they are building a pad for a central tank battery (CTB). Belly dump trucks fifty a day making three trips coming and going. Central tank battery is on site storage for multiple oil wells. 

This is in addition to the sand trucks coming and going from the frac pad. The frac crew change shift between five and six every day with multiple companies men coming and going every twelve hours. there is a company that provides water for the frac and they are in and out going to pumps off site with a temporary pipe line thru the ranch to the frac pad. Tanker trucks with chemicals come from time to time. Bonnie went into town today for our weekly shopping run into town.  I was too busy yesterday and Bonnie got up too late for me to go shopping.

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Tuesday, June 9, 2015   The frac ended this morning and companies and equipment are moving out the gate all day long. 

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Traffic thru the gate tapered off today, with more going out than coming in. Some of the inn’s had additional people to drive out vehicles that have been on location since the frac buildup days. 

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - jUN 1 - 2

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Monday, June 1, 2015
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind E 5 & gusting to Mph, Humidity 100%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 89 Degrees high for today, Wind SE 5 & gusting to 12 Mph, Humidity 49%, mostly sunny.  

For me yesterday ended late and this morning started fast with too much to do and then there is gate traffic also that was a very busy Monday morning. Well there were some things that I said to myself yesterday that I will push off to tomorrow seeing as I had late shopping trip. That made a busy morning getting up. The draino did not work as well as expected and Bonnie had taken every thing out of the cabinet for me to work on the trap removal, not expected. That was the first thing for me after breakfast. I needed to do that while Bonnie continued to take gate traffic. She was tired and needed to go to bed so I had to work fast.

I never refueled the generators last night and here is the fuel truck coming to refuel the diesel tank (yellow) as I wanted to have all three full two generators and the yellow tank. No need to immediately lower the fuel level (in the yellow tank) after the truck leaves. More new trucks (people) coming to the gate, need directions where to go required more time to attending to each vehicle. Every day there is water to transfer into Buster’s fresh water tank that needs to be done. Put the draino in last night and this morning took the trap apart and cleaned it out. After getting it back together only a little better. More tomorrow.


Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Morning 70 Degrees, Wind E 1 & gusting to 4 Mph, Humidity 93%, mostly sunny (hazy with the humidity in the air).  Afternoon 89 Degrees high for today, Wind S 6 & gusting to 11 Mph, Humidity 45%, mostly sunny.  

I made my first trip down to the next gate guard as they have a plunger I need to clear the kitchen sink drain. Cleaning the trap did not fix the problem. Trying to block one sink and plunger operating in the other sink and all at once there is that rush sound and the water level is going down fast, now that is a good feeling.

Gate traffic is high again this morning, keeping Bonnie and I busy.  There is a”spud meeting” or well start meeting that also brings in “rig food” catering for after the crew and we are considered “crew”.

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - weekend update

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Saturday, May 30, 2015
Morning 74 Degrees, Wind SE 3 & gusting to 12 Mph, Humidity 92%, Overcast.
Afternoon 83 Degrees high for today, Wind NNW 3 & gusting to 11 Mph, Humidity 100%, rain.   Thunder showers are forecast, Buster will get wet today.

Very busy morning as a drill rig moved onto another pad inside this gate. Actually there are a number of pads in here, the oil company we are working for has two gate guards me at the paved road and another gate guard at the pad entrance. Yes the wind then the rain came just enough to puddle down the road from Buster, down the road is good. A busy Saturday with a drill rig moving into another pad. People and moving equipment along with the sand trucks & others at another well pad. Our kitchen drain is slow and tomorrow I will try some draino to clear that trap out.

One of our neighbors  having a bit to eat

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Sunday, May 31, 2015
Morning 63 Degrees, Wind N 1 Mph, Humidity 100%, Partly sunny.
Afternoon 85 Degrees high for today, Wind NNE 10 & gusting to 11 Mph, Humidity 59%, mostly sunny.   Two hundredths of an inch rain yesterday.

A slower morning than yesterday, sand trucks continuing to come and the new pad move in traffic is slowing down today but tonight or Monday morning traffic will pickup for that new pad. Bonnie was up latter today and after that I went to Carrizo Springs for our weekly shopping. While in town I uploaded some pictures of our gate site. I returned about dark needing to get the “cold into the refrigerator and get the light tower powered up. A working man’s work is never done.

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - May 29

Busters Gate Carrizo Springs, TX - Friday, May 29, 2015
Morning 65 degrees, Wind S 7 Mph, Humidity 83%, Partly cloudy morning.
Afternoon 87 Degrees high for today, Wind S 6 & gusting to 17 Mph, Humidity 55%, mostly sunny.  
There was a inch and a half of rain overnight, woke me up but I was able to get back to sleep. There is a wash like behind Buster that cuts across the road and is acting as a speed bump (actually a depression). For the incoming traffic leaving me after signing in they position the vehicle to cross the depression going slow and going out they slow down, all this means as on the dry days there is smaller dust clouds coming at me. Now today after the rain no dust and at this gate we have no standing water after the rain like we had at our last gate. The road is not muddy, yes this is sandy dirt sticking to our shoes but not the MUD that we had at our last gate.

This afternoon, actually evening as it was just after six our new ladder showed up here. I had to call and remind them this morning, “after our noon meeting I will send it out to you”. It is just a eight foot fiberglass step ladder and not a combination strep & extension ladder.

combination strep & extension ladder. no more

With these storms the sun shades are blowing off, not enough magnets on the outside edge . The bar magnets are not working as well as the round magnets. The rounds are ½ inch and I will next order 2/4 inch size looking for the additional surface area. At this location it is the left windshield sun screen that is blowing off. The wind is coming from the northwest and picks up the edge pulling the of the sun screen off. I need to work on a way to secure the magnets to the sun screen, I am spending time trying to fund them every time they come off. Sometimes they drop on the ground where they were on Buster and sometimes they fly a distance away.