Busters Gate Jim Hogg County TX - Jun 23 - 24

Busters Gate Jim Hogg County TX - Thursday, June 23, 2016
Morning 72 Degrees, Wind SE & variable at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 95%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 95 Degrees, Wind ENE at 3 to 12 Mph, Humidity 43%, partly sunny.

We are settling into the routine for this gate using I-Pads to record people and vehicles entering the ranch property. It is a very large ranch and the ranch also has its own security. The closest town is thirty-five minutes away and our shopping is an hour in the other direction (north - south). I do not expect casual traffic like we have had at other gates.

This is the right front tire and the upper right snap replaced

Busters Gate Jim Hogg County TX - Friday, June 24, 2016
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind E at 2 to 3 Mph, Humidity 94%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 99 Degrees, Wind SSE at 5 to 14 Mph, Humidity 43%, mostly sunny.

Today I repaired the tire sun shield and have them installed on Buster. I also assembled one of our walkway sections. One thing here is we do not have any of the wrong gate vehicles showing up trying to enter as there were no sightings of active oil field gates while we were driving the area last weekend. My wife has had very little traffic at this gate “so far”.

Buster's Gate

Thought for the Day:

                                                                    It’s a heavy-duty jack.

Seawind RV Park - Riviera Texas - Jun 21 - 22

Seawind RV Park - Riviera Texas - Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Morning 72 Degrees, Wind NW variable & calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 97%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 9 Degrees, Wind NE & variable at 10 to 12 Mph, Humidity 63%, partly sunny.

More text messages, gate assignment is on for Wednesday gate start and we need to be there by eleven o’clock instead of noon. We did drive up to Kingsville again today for a couple of things more before going to the gate. When I removed one of Buster tire sun shields I broke a snap. I was able to purchase replacement or repair parts.


Seawind RV Park - Riviera Texas - Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Morning 73 Degrees, Wind SW at 1 to 5 Mph, Humidity 97%, partly sunny.

We were up early for our trip to the gate job. Buster pulled out just after eight-thirty for our trip. Everything was going well and then we were stopped by a section of TX 285 under constriction with single lane traffic so Buster sat still waiting for the other direction vehicles to pass thru the area before our west bound traffic could go. Buster detoured into Hebbronville to top off the diesel fuel and we mailed a couple of letter in the post office before heading south on TX 16.

Busters Gate Jim Hogg County TX
Afternoon 97 Degrees, Wind S at 14 to 20 Mph, Humidity 33%, partly sunny.

After two plus hour a trip of one hundred four miles Buster arrived at the gate. We disconnected Tan Jan on the side of the road (easier) then drove Buster in to position and parked inside the gate entrance.

Seawind RV Park - Riviera Texas - Jun 18 - 20

Seawind RV Park - Riviera Texas - Saturday, June 18, 2016
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind SW variable & calm to 5 Mph, Humidity 98%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 95 Degrees, Wind ESE at 6 to 17 Mph, Humidity 61%, sunny.

We took an eight hour tour in Tan Jan of the area to where the gate is located one hundred and two miles then on to Rio grand City another forty-seven miles and returned to Buster another one hundred and seventeen miles. Wide open space very few options for sight seeing or shopping. As you can tell from the milage given it will be a long way for any real shopping. Rio Grand City does have a H E B Plus and a Walmart Supercenter. Our two main stores and a Dollar Tree, what else could we need?

On Friday I texted that we had moved closer to the gate and  I did get a text back that the gate start was pushed back until Tuesday, O well.

Seawind RV Park - Riviera Texas - Sunday, June 19, 2016
Morning 74 Degrees, Wind N variable & calm to 3 Mph, Humidity 97%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 94 Degrees, Wind ESE at 9 to 21 Mph, Humidity 72%,partly sunny .

On the road again today, researching the area of the gate with a ride to Laredo. One of our finds was to get some filter cartridges for Buster’s water filter. Wide open spaces a long way between developed areas. Laredo is the most developed since we left San Antonio. For this gate assignment our decision is we will be going to Rio Grand City for any shopping the closest with all we will need. Still a drive of an hour each way from the gate to shop there. Most of these road have a posted speed limit of 65 or more (75) miles per hour so that does reduce the travel time, it is just a long way to travel for weekly shopping.


Seawind RV Park - Riviera Texas - Monday, June 20, 2016
Morning 74 Degrees, Wind S at 5 to 10 Mph, Humidity 96%, overcast.
Afternoon 90 Degrees, Wind SE at 8 to 19 Mph, Humidity 61%, partly cloudy.

Rain shower at daybreak clearing to partly sunny after that. We took the short ride from the park today to Kingsville, it would be longer from the gate but a lot shorter from the RV park to Kingsville. Later in the day we received a text message postponing the gate job maybe two days, bummer.

Seawind RV Park - Riviera Texas - Jun 15 - 17

Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas - Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind ESE at 4 to 8 Mph, Humidity 93%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 101 Degrees, Wind ESE at 15 to 21 Mph, Humidity 36%, sunny.

Hanging loose her in Pleasanton waiting for snail mail to catch up with us from New Mexico.

Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas - Thursday, June 16, 2016

Morning 75 Degrees, Wind SSE at 5 to 10 Mph, Humidity 94%, .

Afternoon 98 Degrees, Wind ESE at 14 to 20 Mph, Humidity 39%, sunny.

Mail is in the wind to us and will be here tomorrow.

Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas - Friday, June 17, 2016

Morning 75 Degrees, Wind SSE at 3 to 6 Mph, Humidity 92%, partly sunny.

Checking the website the package was shown leaving San Antonio but was not updating in Pleasanton. I made a plan to stop at walmart Post Office and H E B for a last stock up of things for the stay at the gate. Whren I arrive st the Post office there was a hand made sign the computer was down, that’s way the website did not update the mail.  After that I made Buster ready for the road. Headed down the road I stopped to top off Buster diesel fuel ($2.189) not a bad price but there were a couple of places in town at $1.989 per gallon, but that was on on Buster’s route.

Seawind RV Park

Seawind RV Park - Riviera Texas

Afternoon 94 Degrees, Wind SE at 17 to 19 Mph, Humidity 72%, partly sunny. Our route started on US 281 and taking interstate thirty-seven to Corpus Christi then US 77. That road is confused as there is construction upgrading it to a limited access highway. There are a lot of areas where the four lane highway is adding a bridge but traffic is single lane at grade crossing. Total trip was one hundred fifty miles, nice except for the road construction areas. We had Buster parked in his site by two o’clock.

Thought for the Day:

I used to wonder what it would be like to read other people’s minds. Then I got on Facebook and I’m over it.  (I am Not on Facebook)

                 

Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas - Jun 11 - 14

Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas - Thursday, June 9, 2016
Morning 70 Degrees, Wind  variable & calm  to 5 Mph, Humidity 96%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 91 Degrees, Wind ESE at 9 to 12 Mph, Humidity 46%, partly cloudy.

The gate guard office called today to complete the paper work we had started while we were in Big Spring, TX. The only thin undone was pee in a cup or Drug screen. There is a place close to Buster here in Pleasanton but the ones available on the paperwork we were given had locations in San Antonio, too bad, ha ha. We got ready and went there and got that taken care of today.


Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas - Friday, June 10, 2016
Morning 72 Degrees, Wind NE at 4 to 10 Mph, Humidity 96%, overcast/partly sunny.
Afternoon 93 Degrees, Wind ESE at 7 to 10 Mph, Humidity 42%, mostly sunny.

Later next week I will move Buster further south to another RV Park closer to the expected gate location.

Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas - Saturday & Sunday

We stayed off the streets so as to not be in the weekend traffic flow.

Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas - Monday, June 13, 2016
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind at 5 to 10 Mph, Humidity 94%, Scattered Clouds.
Afternoon 99 Degrees, Wind SE at 9 to 20 Mph, Humidity 62%, mostly sunny.

We took a ride today and purchased a new pull strap for the left side window awning. The trip involved driving up to Texas RV supply after checking that they had the pull strap in stock, no use making the trip for nothing. On the way back we stopped to eat then took the Anderson loop (1604) to avoid the rush your traffic going out of San Antonio.


Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas - Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind variable & calm to  Mph, Humidity 92%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 97 Degrees, Wind ESE at 9 to 15 Mph, Humidity 44%, mostly sunny.

Thread Broken seam is open in end

When I attempted to open the window awning on Buster’s left side s few days ago the pull strap broke, the thread failed in the end connected to the awning drum groove. I was able to get the awning open and locked providing shade to the computer and table windows by using two long hooks. This pull was the original provided with the awning and received the most strain the first couple of years we had the awning.

Revised: on closer look the material has ripped.

Front strap attached to Buster and new pull open hanging loose

Latter I purchased two more straps and clips to hole the awning open, one for each end. These are what I use to hold the awning open since as the strain is too much when the winds are high on only one strap in the canter. Sometimes I also use the pull open strap as a third tie out but not on a regular basis.

Rear strap attached to Buster and new pull open hanging loose

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Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas - Jun 8 - 9

Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas - Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Morning 72 Degrees, Wind NNE at 4 to 10 Mph, Humidity 94%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 91 Degrees, Wind ESE at 5 to 10 Mph, Humidity 44%, mostly sunny.
And a late afternoon rain (just over a tenth of an inch) shower
 

Buster & Tan Jan Parked at Bar M RV park

This morning I tried to have an appointment with the doctor (walk-in) did not work as entering the office door the sign in the door, no walk-ins this week. So I made an appointment for Monday morning.

After getting back to Buster I contacted two of the gate guard companies we had been communicating with telling them we are ready for a gate latter next week. One got back to us with an offer of a gate on June 19, perfect timing. It will be an “outpost” or remote from any town or shopping for groceries. Located about fifty miles southeast of Laredo, TX. Other than that we stayed cool inside Buster today.

Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas June 4 - 7

Texas RV Supply - San Antonio, Texas - Saturday, June 4, 2016
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind S at 3 to 7 mph, Humidity 96%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 90 Degrees, Wind variable & calm, Humidity 46%, mostly cloudy, rain.
 
The service department does not work weekends, very quite around Buster. We stayed in Buster most of the day.


Texas RV Supply - San Antonio, Texas - Sunday, June 5, 2016
Morning 67 Degrees, Wind variable & calm, Humidity 99%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 86 Degrees, Wind NW at 7 to 11 Mph, Humidity 30%, partly sunny.
 
No rain today there, where ever we were this past week we have had rain at some point during the day, driving or parked. Another slow day around Buster for us as there is no weekend work here at the RV service center.


Texas RV Supply - San Antonio, Texas - Monday, June 6, 2016
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind  variable & calm to 2 Mph, Humidity 75%, sunny.
Afternoon 87 Degrees, Wind SSW 2 at  to 8 Mph, Humidity 39%, sunny.

This morning it took a while for us to exit the yard as we were getting out a little later in the morning. There were a number of other RV’s that already had entered the driveway that were blocking our exiting.

As it turned out latter today the gray water tank valve on Buster’s tank was replaced. We were gone for the rest of the morning and when we returned we parked Tan Jan out front until after business hours, even tho there was room to drive in there was no parking places. Actually I did drive in to unload some packages we had from some shopping.

New gray water tank valve installed

Texas RV Supply - San Antonio, Texas - Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Morning 70 degrees, Wind  variable & calm to 3 Mph, Humidity 75%, mostly sunny.
We prepared Buster for travel and I got them to do one more thing, the front slide out topper was pulling out from the travel cover. Just a short pice of the spine that is used in the hem of the topper was missing allowing the front end to flap around. That was verry quickly repaired and he added a screw to prevent that from coming out again.


Bar M RV Park - Pleasanton, Texas
Afternoon 91 Degrees, Wind N 5 at  to 10 Mph, Humidity 43%, mostly sunny.
Total trip for Buster today was sixty-seven miles. I took the long route for two reasons one to top off Busters diesel fuel ($2.229) and to avoid going thru a construction area that also will take Buster thru the downtown area. We will set here for a week or so to see what happens.

Texas RV Supply - San Antonio, Texas -June 3

Texas RV Supply - San Antonio, Texas - Friday, June 3, 2016
Morning 65 Degrees, Wind variable & calm, Humidity 99%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 81 Degrees, Wind E at 4 to 12 Mph, Humidity 60%, mostly cloudy, rain.
 
I never did any troubleshooting on the air conditioner. The service department here did that for me and found that the shroud (for the air conditioner up on the roof) was missing. It turns out the shroud is functional for the cooling process, I never thought of that. That caused a high electric use and popped the circuit breaker. I presume that the shroud, sun and time damaged was blown away in the storm of Sunday May twenty-two.

New shroud on the air conditioner

Buster does not normally retain “gray water”, I usually have the gray water valve open when parked in a RV site. While we were parked at the gates I was keeping the valve closed and when the quantity of water was about thirds full I would open the Valve and dump into the tank on the ground (four times Buster’s size) that the waist company put there for Buster. As the water level got over half full in Buster’s tank I would see water coming into the compartment. Turned out to be the valve and seals leaking, I was thing a part was cracked leaking under pressure of water.

front air conditioner that was replaced last summer

Texas RV Supply - San Antonio, Texas June 2

Busters Gate - Garden City Texas - Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Morning 63 Degrees, Wind SSW 2 & gusting to 7 Mph, Humidity 94%, .
Afternoon 81 Degrees, Wind N 13 & gusting to 25 Mph, Humidity 38%, mostly cloudy.

A couple of the Rancher's "fur kids"

 
We ended our gate at noon today and started our preparations to travel. We are headed to San Antonio to get the bedroom air conditioner replaced. I made a last trip into Big Spring for a few groceries and bring back to Buster a hot lunch.

So we decided to not go to Caterina, TX to gate guard for another company.  Caterina in south Texas is remote and the Ranch gate eight miles off the paved road. With the bedroom air conditioner not working we decided to pass on that gate. After returning from Big Spring shopping I got a call from another gate company for a gate job starting on the fourteenth of June. So the oil companies are starting to work with the price of oil rising and winter snow bird RV’ers are not in south Texas for work. Gate companies are having a hard time filling gate jobs.

"fur kids" and Buster's shaddow

Busters Gate - Garden City Texas - Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Morning 59 Degrees, Wind S 3 & gusting to 4 Mph, Humidity 85%, mostly cloudy.

North Llano River RV Park - Junction, TX
Afternoon 78 Degrees, Wind NNE 8 & gusting to 14 Mph, Humidity 76%, mostly cloudy.
Thunder storms  

Buster Parked at North Llano River RV Park

A one hundred eighty-four mile trip here from Big Spring mostly on US 83 & US 87 four lane roads. Weather was mostly cloudy except for the last twenty to thirty miles there was rain hard at times.

North Llano River RV Park - Junction, TX - Thursday, June 2, 2016
Morning 67 Degrees, Wind NNW 10 & gusting to 11 Mph, Humidity 90%, mostly cloudy.

We gave Buster a late start today leaving just after eleven than getting diesel fuel ($2.229 a gallon) a short way up the road to the interstate ten highway. This was the first fuel purchase since April sixth.

Texas RV Supply - San Antonio, Texas
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind N 2 & gusting to 3 Mph, Humidity 61%, overcast.
We are at our Texas RV repair place for the bedroom air conditioner and a few small things also. The trip was one hundred-nineteen miles and just under two and a half hours with the diesel fuel stop. There was a rain shower we drove thru that caught up to us here, we got rain again from the same storm. We left the RV park late enough to miss the rush hour traffic but there was a couple of slow downs approaching and in the city for vehicles exiting the interstate highway. There was a big slowdown for the exit to interstate four-ten but other than the the exit slowdowns it was clear sailing all the way here. I kept Buster in the right lane as the speed limit is eighty miles per hour west of San Antonio and Buster does not go there. It is tight here and we were parked in a back in spot with 50 amp electric. Weather permitting work could start tomorrow.