Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Sep 26 - 27

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Morning 79 Degrees, Wind SSW at 2 to 5 Mph, Humidity 93%, cloudy, rain.
Afternoon 76 Degrees, Wind S at 2 to 3 Mph, Humidity 89%, cloudy rain.

During the rain this was all puddle

Rain all night and day more than 3.25 inches and there were more than fifty vehicles in and out today. Sometimes the rain was very light and a couple of times it was heavy rain but mostly just raining all day. The ground fault for our lights outside to light the driveway at night is popping and the lights go off. I need to put plastic on the connections preventing water from getting in to the connections. Too wet to do anything else outside today.

Light Tree

The coordinator was here this morning checking the generator trailer (raining very lightly) and latter my wife said there was no water, what? Well I remembered seeing him on the trailer in the water pump area. I went there and saw the wire was not connected, wire nut. I reconnected and water pressure is back. I do need to do more to correct this as the wire nut is small and the wire is fraying. 

Water Pump and connections

Sunday there was a work over rig moved in to the site, good thing with this rain it could be a problem. It is still in there at the well site.


Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind NE at 4 to 8 Mph, Humidity 91%, cloudy, rain.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind NE at 5 to 13 Mph, Humidity 90%, mostly cloudy rain.

Another inch plus of rain stopping for a while so I took my rain gear off, it felt good. I was drying out the rain gear was drying out and the road was drying, you can see the color of the dirt change as drying is taking place. Another another drenching of rain with vehicles pulling up to the gate wanting access, get your rain gear back on. Four vehicles came just during the drenching. My rain gear is a couple of years old and needs replacing. And the rain slowed after the vehicles were past. 

The ground fault tripped last night turning off the outside lights. This means I will have to bag the connections to prevent water from causing a ground fault in the lights wire. We also have lights connected to Busters circuit so there was some light outside.

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Sept 23 - 25

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Saturday, September 23, 2017
Morning 77 Degrees, Wind ENE at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity %, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 98 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity 30%, mostly sunny

Buster Parked

Busy day working the gate, that must stay closed when there are no vehicles entering or exiting. I did more outside setting up and still not where we want it to be for the long term but I get some down every day until we start breaking down.

Our walkway to stay out of the Mud

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Sunday, September 24, 2017
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind E at 5 to 7 Mph, Humidity 88%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 95 Degrees, Wind E at 9 to 12 Mph, Humidity 33%, partly cloudy.              .

Slower day gate wise and more setting up work done. We do have another problem that does have to be corrected before we move Buster. Putting out the table side slide out, the large one, we did not make sure the front was clear and foil got stuck in the slide out edge.

Visitors behind Tan Jan

We had stuffed foil insolation between the drivers chair and the front of the slide out. We use the foil in our front and side windows when Buster is parked to keep heat out. Now the slide out will not move. The slide out will not move now the electric motor is stalled. I tried the manual input but I can not move it with a wench. We can deal with this until we have to move Buster.

Train heading north

Did I say the train tracks are close, on the other side of interstate thirty-five, and they have these big horns they use to warn people driving vehicles to get off the train tracks. A lot of trains pulling all types of freight cars. Also truckers going by on the interstate have a habit of blowing their air horn (not all just a few).

Truck headed south on I 35

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Monday, September 25, 2017
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind SSW at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 91%, partly cloudy .
Afternoon 93 Degrees, Wind E at 7 to 17 Mph, Humidity 45%, mostly cloudy.

Now that th fracking is complete the gate traffic will be lower and the overnight gate traffic should only be water removal trucks.

Late today the canopy frame bent from the wind coming from the east (Buster’s left side). I should have used the ropes and staked to the ground on that side for the extra side holding power. I did not use them to prevent tripping over them.

Canopy frame bent

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX Sept 22

Texas RV Supply, San Antonio, TX - Friday, September 22, 2017
Morning 77 Degrees, Wind ESE at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 91%, cloudy.

We were up a little latter today as there were no workers coming in to Buster. We prepared for our trip today and went to brealfast then to HEB grocery shopping. I paid and had them move Buster into the driveway and I connected Tan Jan. The start was get diesel fuel next then take the I 410 Loop around to I 35 south.

When we arrived Tuesday after dinner I went to Home Depot for a piece of one quarter inch plywood two foot square to make a lock for the refrigerator. I cut a U in the center and added three pieces of three quarter inch square dowel one on each leg where the refrigerator freezer handle aligns with the U legs. The third where the refrigerator handles are on the plywood when it is in place. I think this will prevent the refrigerator and freezer doors from opening when the left turns are made.

Cut Plywood with dowels in place

Plywood in place

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX
Afternoon 100 Degrees, Wind ESE at 10 to 20 Mph, Humidity 31%, mostly sunny.

Buster went down I 35 to Dilley, TX were we pulled off to a fuel stop to call our coordinator confirming gate we are going to. We got direction there and continued down I 35 to San Roman. Buster pulled up on the roadside just before the gate and went to talk with the people leaving the gate.

Then it is the “RV dance” changing places them leaving and Buster being spotted to go to work. Just before the change the coordinator arrived. Then it is setting Buster up and checking vehicles in and out the gate. I worked the outside setup and stayed up later than usual so my wife could nap before the night work she will have.

Texas RV Supply, San Antonio, TX - Sept 20 - 21

Texas RV Supply, San Antonio, TX - Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Morning 78 Degrees, Wind W at calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 88%, cloudy.
Afternoon 97 Degrees, Wind ESE at 7 to 16 Mph, Humidity 40%, mostly sunny.

Maintenance on Buster here at “Buster’s Doctor”, the first is our rear air conditioner. We left for breakfast and shopping allowing the workers to do their work. Also needing attention were the outside grip installation and our turn signals, were not working While we were out I got a call telling us there is a module that is shorted needing replacement, order and ship part over night. They also said our headlights were not working, we do not drive at night

After coming back from dinner we were working around cleaning Tan Jan and making a device to hold our refrigerator closed when making turns. Presently we use a velcro strap that works most of the time. When making left turns I put too much side load on the velcro that it releases allowing the freezer the come open which also opens the refrigerator. As it was getting dark there was a couple walking a dog, they are also here for maintenance, we talked for a while before putting our stuff away and settling down for the night.


Texas RV Supply, San Antonio, TX - Thursday, September 21, 2017
Morning 80 Degrees, Wind SSE at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 87%, cloudy.
Afternoon 96 Degrees, Wind NE at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 45%, partly cloudy.

We got Tan Jan moving early to Jourdinton as we are visiting with our doctor. Shoving off about seven-twenty for the hour trip there. After that it was time for breakfast and give Tan Jan a drink of gasoline for our trip back to San Antonio. The first gas purchase since we left North Carolina.

On our way back we detoured to a drug screen hear by Buster’s parking spot. We heve been gone so long it is a restart of employment. So we could be back to work gate guarding tomorrow afternoon.

Buster’s total trip west was 1,468 miles over six days of travel averaging two hundred forty-five miles a day.  

Texas RV Supply, San Antonio, TX Sept 19

Hwy 155 RV Park, Palestine Texas - Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind SSW at 4 to 10 Mph, Humidity 99%, cloudy.

Buster got a late start today and a longer trip. When we pulled in yesterday it was raining hard so I just pulled into a site with Tan Jan still connected leaving us on generator power until the rain stopped. After the rain I confected electric and water but the waste connection was too far back for me, so I waited until this morning to dump tanks. I want empty tanks for our next stop as there is no connection where they park Buster.

Buster went back down HWY 155 to Loop 256 around to US 79 south. Another round of “Love Bugs” and Another dirty windshield today.

Texas RV Supply, San Antonio, TX
Afternoon 94 Degrees, Wind E at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 43%, partly cloudy.
After a while we turned onto Texas 130 toll road south to bypass interstate thirty-five in the Austin area where traffic slows and stops for no reason, just too much volume of vehicles. The toll road is not “Buster Speed” as I had to keep to the right lane. Speed limit is eighty miles per hour but I did not drive that fast. We connected into interstate thirty-five in Buda, TX continuing into San Antonio arriving at Texas RV Supply about four o’clock two hundred sixty miles today. After talking with service and getting parked my wife and I went out for dinner. They were gone for the day when we returned but they give us a key to the lock on the fence gate, I guess you could say we are living in a gated community.

Hwy 155 RV Park, Palestine Texas Sept 18

Pavilion RV Park, West Monroe, LA - Monday, September 18, 2017
Morning 72 Degrees, Wind SE calm, Humidity 96%, partly cloudy.

Another day continuing west driving Buster on interstate twenty. Buster drive into a section of “Love bugs” messes a windshield real bad. Another reason to stop for fuel, clean the windshield. It has been a good road, with some sections of construction for re-paving, until Shreveport, LA where the road needs more than re-paving, concrete road that is uneven and jars your teeth and shakes Buster to the bones. Slowing down does not help but next time I will take the extra miles of going around on interstate two-twenty. Got diesel fuel for Buster in Greenwood, LA just before the Texas state line. Most of the construction has been nearing the the completion of the job, where they are doing the finishing work on the side we are traveling. The other side the paver and rollers are still working. Today our cat Rahlee ventured here to the front, checking out the bugs on the windshield picture below

Rahlee on patrol

Love Bugs on the windshield 

Hwy 155 RV Park, Palestine Texas
Afternoon 88 Degrees, Wind ENE at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 58%, mostly cloudy rain.

The picture above was taken emtering Texas on interstate twenty about the six hundred thirty-six mile marker we traveled only a short way on interstate twenty before turning onto US 59 south bound then onto US 79 south bound. While traveling on US 79 we had rain a good drenching, cleaned Busters windshield better than I did at the fuel stop.

The rain started again after turning onto Loop 256 and HWY 155 to the campground another “bug cleaning” rain a real down pour as Buster pulled in. I called on the phone for a site number and got one going directly to the campsite. I waited for the rain shower to finish before going out to connect the electric power continuing to run the generator while we waited for the rain to stop.

HWY 155 RV Park

Pavilion RV Park, West Monroe, LA Sept 17

Cane Creek RV Park & Campground Heflin, AL - Saturday, September 16, 2017
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind SE calm, Humidity 99%, mostly cloudy.

Buster at Cane Creek RV Park

I started moving Buster about ten o’clock after connecting Tan Jan to the tow bar and stowing the water hoses and electric cord. In less than two miles Buster is heading west on interstate twenty. Did not notice any tree blow downs today.

Benchmark Coach & RV Park, Meridian, Mississippi
Afternoon 90 Degrees, Wind N at calm to 7 Mph, Humidity 59%, partly sunny.

Buster at Benchmark Coach & RV Park

Stopped for diesel fuel southwest of Birmingham, AL otherwise nothing special. Rahlee (our cat) does well most of the time, but “talks” when Busters engine is started and when Buster starts rolling, every time. He did better in the late spring as a kitten than he is doing a a maturing cat. After he “speaks his piece” he settles (quiets) down. Rahlee set in some interesting places inside Buster while driving down the road.


Benchmark Coach & RV Park, Meridian, Mississippi - Sunday, September 17, 2017
Morning 68 Degrees, Wind SSW calm, Humidity 96%, sunny.

Buster started on the road about ten continuing west on interstate twenty. Today we crossed west of the Mississippi river. After entering northeast Louisiana we had a shower for a couple of miles. It was noticeable crossing into Louisiana flatter roads no more hills up and down as we go west.

Pavilion RV Park, West Monroe, LA
Afternoon 94 Degrees, Wind ENE at 4 to 9 Mph, Humidity 49%, partly sunny rain after dark.

Other than the rain shower it was a nice travel day. Buster stopped for diesel fuel just east of Jackson, Mississippi. While traveling we have the generator running for the front roof air conditioner as the dash mounted car type air conditioner can not keep up also our house type refrigerator is also electric only. We could run the refrigerator off the batteries thru the inverter but not the air conditioner. When we stop I keep the generator running and during refueling it is difficult to get the tank full so I refuel more often. Besides it is a break from driving and strech the legs.


Thought For The Day – Everybody appreciates your honesty until you are honest with them. Then they all think you’re a jerk.

Cane Creek RV Park Sept 15

Pine Acres Campground,  Aiken, SC - Friday, September 15, 2017
Morning 67 Degrees, Wind West calm, Humidity 99%, sunny.

Buster was on the road about ten this morning for our trip west on interstate twenty. Todays planned route takes us thru Atlanta a city I would rather avoid but I will take the shortest route.

Pine Acres Campground

Cane Creek RV Park & Campground Heflin, AL
Afternoon 86 Degrees, Wind S at 1 to  Mph, Humidity 51%, .
Thru Alanta there were slowdowns at the interchanges for interstate two eighty-five on the east and west side of town. Interstate twenty every so often had trees that were blown down and some that were close to the road had to be topped to clear lanes for traffic. Evidence of storm damage from Irma. Crossing into Alabama Buster entered the central time zone. Except for the interstate interchanges it was clear sailing with light to moderate traffic.

Cane Creek RV Park

Aiken, SC Pine Acres Campground Sept 14

Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Morning 65 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity 92%, partly cloudy.
 
Busy day getting Buster ready to travel. Sorting stowing checking air pressure all things put in their traveling locatio inside and outside.

Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Thursday, September 14, 2017
Morning 67 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity 96%, mostly cloud yearly morning rain.
I started today’s outside work before the rain stopped getting some work done then returning inside for that work. The rain stopped and I finished up outside. Getting Buster started I moved him forward some and collected the wood from under the wheels and the jack pads and stowed that under Buster. Connecting Tan Jan in the street getting ready to drive. Our cat Rahlee started crying and carrying on about Buster moving I was not paying attention if my wife was inside. About a mile down the road I realized this and took another mile to pullover and attempt to call her. Then she came forward and spoke saying she was trying to calm Rahlee down. It felt good that she was not left behind. Now I am not saying I did everything as my wife concentrates solely on the inside and there I am only the helper

I wanted to take state roads over to US 1 and take that south but somehow I never reached US 1 in Sanford, NC but ended up on state road 87 south to interstate ninety-five. I was planning on the computer mapping and following the Garmin GPS. I did not follow too close on the computer knowing I will follow the GPS and assuming they were going the same way and they did not. This way was a little longer miles.

Aiken, SC Pine Acres Campground
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind SE calm, Humidity 61%, sunny.
After interstate ninety-five I went southwest on interstate twenty to Aiken. Just under six hours on the road and two hundred seventy three miles. The whole trip was dry and roads were dry for a nice driving day. I did notice some trees in south Carolina along interstate twenty were damaged by the hurricane Irma winds.
 
 
 Thought For The Day – My superpower is holding onto useless junk for years, and then throwing it away a week before I need it.

Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Sept 10 - 12

Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Sunday, September 10, 2017
Morning 56 Degrees, Wind SW at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 88%, partly cloudy.

Today we are making a plan to skip Florida this year and return back to Texas but not traveling interstate ten but taking interstate twenty further north and avoiding Houston, Texas. I also found out my sister has evacuated Clearwater, Florida to Charlotte, North Carolina for this hurricane Irma.

Late this afternoon we are getting some Irma “weather” wind and rain.  


Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Morning 64 Degrees, Wind WNW at 4 to 6 Mph, Humidity 96%, rain.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity 79%, mostly cloudy.

It rained last night and today an inch plus acclimation, nothing compai\red to the hurricane areas. There was some wind last night and again nothing compared to Irma or Harvey.

We now have our plans to travel west from here. We have heard from the gate guard company and they are looking for workers and wanting to know when we are coming back. I told them the end of the month.

Thought For The Day – I think I’m starting to lose my mind. But as long as I can retain the part that tells when I have to pee, I’ll be okay.

Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Sept 6 - 7

Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Morning 70 Degrees, Wind variable, calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 88%, overcast.

What to do, what to do Hurricane Irma is now a category five storm is headed for the bottom of Florida and projecting to go up the east coast as I write this, it will change most likely. When I was at the store here (before noon) in North Carolina the shelves in water and bread sections were almost bare. My only plan is to stay put for now.


Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC -  Thursday, September 7, 2017
Morning 62 Degrees, Wind SSE at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 90%, sunny.

Today I did find a few loafs of bread and took one. I thought of just skipping Florida trip this year and if the hurricane comes close just go west on interstate forty to Knoxville then head southwest to interstate twenty going west. But the unpredictability of hurricanes it might follow me a while.





Thought For The Day – I’m beginning to think I’m never going to be old enough to know better.

Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Aug 31 - Sept 2

Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Thursday, August 31, 2017
Morning 71 Degrees, Wind ESE at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 91%, overcast.
Afternoon 8 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity %, .

This weekend we are cat sitting as the daughter and family are going away on a trip for the holiday weekend.


Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC -  Friday, September 1, 2017
Morning 73 Degrees, Wind SSE at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 96%, cloudy.
Afternoon 928 Degrees, Wind WNW at 2 to 3 Mph, Humidity 68%, rain shower 2 inches total rain.

I know it is nothing compared to Texas, but nobody can compare anything to Texas. The rain shower during the afternoon then late the real rain from the remains of Harvey after a mostly nice sunny day.


Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Saturday, September 2, 2017
Morning 67 Degrees, Wind W at 2 to 3 Mph, Humidity 91%, fog overcast.
Afternoon 8 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity %, .

I have not done any planning changes for our trips as another hurricane, Irma is coming north somewhere. Our coming trip to Florida is impacted and on this trip we have been thinking of deviating east and stopping in Charleston, South Carolina area. Normally we are too much in a rush and do not stop too much along the way. This year Charleston, SC popped into our planning as our granddaughter will be going to college therein two years. On our trips we usually stop one night in South Carolina along interstate highway ninety-five so now I want to go closer to the city and stop two nights to “look around” and tourist the city a little.

Our next stop has been at the Florida Georgia line. There is not a convent stopping place before or after Jacksonville (closer) (ok a price we would be willing to pay for). One campground before Jacksonville is Passport America (50% off) but two night minimum. And I only want one night there so that is off the table. The next place is further than I wish to drive. Stopping near the Florida line in Georgia has also changed to back by exit seven. That will allow us an Atlantic ocean beach check at Fernandina Beach.

So it all depends on the weather what we do from here. Also next weekend there are ball games to play, so we will catch them also.

 Thought For The Day – A giraffe’s coffee would be cold by the time it reached the bottom of its throat. Did you ever think about that? No, because you only think about yourself!

Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Aug 23 - 30

Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Morning 84 Degrees, Wind ESE at 4 to 5 Mph, Humidity 77%, sunny.

I am planning a shelf to make above the inverter to store cleaning supplies. Previously we just piled some things on top of the inverter also stuffing some things in front. It is not good practice doing that as it restricts air flow the inverter needs for cooling during the inverting process. The shelf will allow me to store things above the inverter leaving space around the inverter for the cooling process that is needed when the inverter is making house voltage.


Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Friday, August 25, 2017
Morning 68 Degrees, Wind S at 2 to 3 Mph, Humidity 93%, partly cloudy.

Our daughter Chris and family are having an exchange student living with them for the school year from Spain, a girl and she arrived last Sunday night after a long flight. Yes up early the next morning for the trip to Columbia SC for the eclipse.

I took Sofia to the high school late this afternoon to get her schedule. Ariana met us there and took her around to where her classrooms are located.


Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Saturday, August 26, 2017
Morning 68 Degrees, Wind W at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 94%, partly sunny.

Zane has a baseball tournament in Rocky Mount this weekend we went today with the first game at ten-thirty and the second game immediately after the first game. Took us about an hour and ten minutes one way. Today he played both games at shortstop.

Zane playing shortstop

Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Sunday, August 27, 2017
Morning 63 Degrees, Wind WSW at 4 to 9 Mph, Humidity 85%, sunny.
Afternoon 91 Degrees, Wind WSW at 6 to 11 Mph, Humidity 40%, sunny.

Today’s game is scheduled for twelve forty-five did not until after two o’clock. We decided to stay at Buster as it was only one game today.

Shelf in the Inverter compartment

Buster’s Spot Duncan, NC - Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Morning 67 Degrees, Wind WNW at 2 to 3 Mph, Humidity 88%, mostly sunny.

I have been planning our trip to start after the holiday. Before the Hurricane Harvey it had been my plan to travel interstate ten thru Louisiana going west to San Antonio, Texas. With the flooding going on in the Houston, Texas area I will take Buster around that. I know that the water will be down by then but the roads may not be completely repaired. There is also the chance of additional construction zones.  Louisiana interstate ten is not the best of condition either when there has been no storm. So it is back to the maps and researching our route and planning out stops along the way.

Another variable is my wife went for an eye glasses, about a week for delivery.





Thought For The Day – I can’t believe how old people my age are.