Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX - Nov 5 - 11

Vaquero Village RV Park, Botines, TX - Nov 5 - 8
Three days it was sunny and the fourth overcast but no rain. It was nice get up when we wanted go to bed when we wanted and no gate alarm to answer, great time off. Every day we made it into Ladero to explore and have lunch / dinner a nice mini vacation.


Vaquero Village RV Park, Botines, TX - Nov 9
we did something different, we stayed home at Buster today and made plans to take Buster to Crystal City to wait for another gate. In parking Buster here we did not “spread out” too much. We kept in the on the go mode easier to start moving again.


Vaquero Village RV Park, Botines, TX - Friday, November 10, 2017
Morning 55 Degrees, Wind N at 4 to 8 Mph, Humidity 90%, overcast.
Still go up later today and did not move Buster until after eleven o’clock.

El Dorado Ranch Resort, Crystal City, TX
Afternoon 64 Degrees, Wind E at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 68%, overcast.
At the company RV park staying in the go mode not “spreading out too much” waiting for our next gate assignment. While we were in the driveway getting our bearings a guy came over letting me know about low wires. Talking with him he (Fred & Gladis) and I were at a gate together in 2015 in Asherton, Texas. After parking Buster and setting up we went into Carrizo Springs for Mexican, a place we have had tak out from other years.

After returning to Buster we got a call on my wifes phone from an unknown number so we did not answer that latter I got a call from our last coordinator we have a new gate tomorrow with a different coordinator. When I tried to call the phone number was out of service. Calling the coordinator back to get the number I recognized it as the strange call we did not answer.

The new to us gate, starting tomorrow is southeast of San Antonio


El Dorado Ranch Resort, Crystal City, TX - Saturday, November 11, 2017
Morning 57 Degrees, Wind NNW calm, Humidity 94%, cloudy.

Buster was moving after nine o’clock but it was hard to get up and get moving early today as we have been in lazy mode for a week. No “big roads” today as we took US 83 north a mile or so and looped around the south side of Crystal City and onto TX 65 to TX 85 northeast to TX 97 thru Pleasanton, goy we both wanted to stop and get some BBQ brisket but we were pressed for time.

Buster’s Gate Smiley, TX
Afternoon 78 Degrees, Wind ESE at 3 to 13 Mph, Humidity 59%, overcast.
From TX 97 to US 87 into Smiley and south and onto county road (dirt to the gate one hundred sixty miles here about twelve-thirty, only thirty minutes late. Coming in the dirt road we passed a EV going out, the people we are relieving. The coordinator who called while we were on TX 97 was already on US 87 when he called so he relieved them while we were on the road. That worked well as there is not much room for two RV and three vehicles. The oil company is bringing in a frack operation for the work here at this gate. There are other oil wells in operation so there is other traffic to come in and record.

Looking in the gate

While arriving and setting up talking with the coordinator Rahlee was “talkiing” to us wanting to come outside where we were talking with the coordinator just outside Buster’s door. After the coordinator left I continued working outside and I could here but nor see Rahlee, then I caught a glimpse of him going under Buster. We both tried to get him to come in but no luck. I decided to ignore him for a bit thinking he would come out. Then I could here him again not see him, following the sound of him I found him on top of the left front wheel. We had been keeping a close eye on the door as I did not think he got out there then I realized it was the drivers window was open. Rahlee jumped out there wandering around under Buster then finally getting on top of the left front tire. Glad that is solved.

Looking out the gate