I'm not a weather girl.It has been nice not to hot or cold. colds are rampant here at the ranch.Personally I've been blowing& coughing for 2 weeks but much better today.Geo came along for the ride last Fri. So he hasn't been going to the ranch house for happy hour.It's not my thing so I take advantage of him being gone.vacuum quickly we have a cat who sheds so need to vac daily. Have my prayer time Bible reading after vacuming. Some times we eat a late lunch between 1;30-3;30 then don't eat maybe a mandarin orange aka cuties until breakfast.Haven't needed antacid in weeks. Iwas walking 3 days in a row 30 min ea time. oops to much my hips were hurting Burcitis
so want to get back to walking every other day.might have to adjust accordingly to not flare up the Burcitis. we had our 1st eat out in mos. last Thurs.Red Lobster. Thanks to our kids.we are following the keto plan. we don't join the group for eat outs as not keto friendly.We have been eating mostly Jewish penicillin aka chicken soup.Haven't volunteered at the soup kitchen in Carlsbad for 2 weeks sure looking forward to going again Mon.Looking forward to a massage again by andrew a student of massage.Looking forward to getting out last time I was out was last Thursday our weekly Roswell trip. G has been taking the garbage getting the mail so gets out a little.I'm a home body doesn't bother me to stay in. I grew up in Mn. so being in doesn't bother me. tomorrow will open everything up and spray disinfectant all thru out. Hope the cat play yard will be here soon our cat loves to run out given a chance. Hoping the cat yard will satisfy his outside craving.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Winter
The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Friday, January 25, 2019
Morning 27 Degrees, Wind SSE at 5 to 7 Mph, Humidity 48%, sunny.
Afternoon 58 Degrees, Wind ESE at 4 to 12 Mph, Humidity 19%, sunny.
Winter, to me it is cold, and I do not like it, cold. We have had a couple of “snaps” of really cold nights but not too bad as of late. In preparing for the winter I purchased a “winter water hose” it comes with a heater that turns on as the outside temperature drops below forty degrees. The park has switched to a new system of protecting the water supply at the lot. Five years ago we used heat tape insinuation and plastic outside pipe but the valve was exposed.
There were freezes where the valves frozen and heat tape failures. Now the park has added a layer of insulation inserted in a heavy plastic garbage bag (to protect the insulation) and laid over the top of the water riser and valve.
Covering that with a plastic thirteen gallon garbage container and a brick on top for weight.
We are in a desert and water is always a concern, or how much the park uses on a daily basis. In some areas people have let their water drip during the night the prevent freezing for the pipes, but that is not good practice here in the desert. Additionally we have “RO” water. Reverse Osmosis, we pump water from our two wells, that goes thru the RO filters and is put into storage tanks for distribution. The RO process also uses water to wash away the particles removed from the water we store for distribution. So to let water drip is very wasteful. The park has decided to shut down the water distribution at night when the temperature warrants. Some nights ten at night to seven in the morning the water is off. We keep water (full) in our motorhome tank for this and in the even the park has a water problem, pipe brakes or a pump fails.
On Wednesday I thought it was one of those days, distribution was shut down for a pipe as I knew they were shutting off streets checking for water leaks. Ours was off overnight for that test. But it never came on. Late in the day talking with the water committee they said there was no problem? This means I have a problem with Buster. The water pump was supplying us all day as needed but no water in from the park. Where the hose connects to Buster that port has a check valve inside the plunger got stuck blocking water flow into Buster.
The reason for the check valve is when we use the water pump water will flow out the port if it is not checked. Yesterday afternoon I accessed the inside of the port and removed the port and the plunger came out after I turned it over. I put the port back in place with out the plunger and hooked up the hose, park water now works.
Today was a trip to Roswell RV parts store to purchase a new water port, install, test and put everything back together.
Morning 27 Degrees, Wind SSE at 5 to 7 Mph, Humidity 48%, sunny.
Afternoon 58 Degrees, Wind ESE at 4 to 12 Mph, Humidity 19%, sunny.
Winter, to me it is cold, and I do not like it, cold. We have had a couple of “snaps” of really cold nights but not too bad as of late. In preparing for the winter I purchased a “winter water hose” it comes with a heater that turns on as the outside temperature drops below forty degrees. The park has switched to a new system of protecting the water supply at the lot. Five years ago we used heat tape insinuation and plastic outside pipe but the valve was exposed.
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| This has been our park configuration for five years Blue is the new heated water hose |
There were freezes where the valves frozen and heat tape failures. Now the park has added a layer of insulation inserted in a heavy plastic garbage bag (to protect the insulation) and laid over the top of the water riser and valve.
Covering that with a plastic thirteen gallon garbage container and a brick on top for weight.
 |
| In this picture you can see I have the access open to get to the inside of the water port. This is the test with the check valve removed from the water port. The blue heated water hose |
On Wednesday I thought it was one of those days, distribution was shut down for a pipe as I knew they were shutting off streets checking for water leaks. Ours was off overnight for that test. But it never came on. Late in the day talking with the water committee they said there was no problem? This means I have a problem with Buster. The water pump was supplying us all day as needed but no water in from the park. Where the hose connects to Buster that port has a check valve inside the plunger got stuck blocking water flow into Buster.
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| The hose connects on the left and the white is the plunger or check valve |
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| This is the new water port being tested. I am leaking water from the elbow fitting during this quick test |
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Monday, October 15, 2018
At The SKP Ranch Sep 2 - 11
At The SKP Ranch
(Escapees)
Sunday, September 2, thru Tuesday, September 11, 2018
We are settling into a routine here and doing our work. We got the car cleaned out, everything. That also involved cleaning out the shed not only the junk stuff we just thru in these departing on our last stay here was accumulation of dust dirt. I have been nursing the (car) battery along in the but it needs changing. Changing the battery requires the rear passenger seat floor area to be accessible as the battery location is under the floor there.
In order to put stuff in the shed we need to build some shelves to put things on. Our choices are Lowes in Carlsbad (twenty-five miles) or Home Depot in Roswell (sixty miles) in the opposite direction. We try to do additional shopping when we do go into either Carlsbad or Roswell but seeing as Roswell also has a larger Walmart we went there first. I purchased enough wood to frame out the shelves on one side of the shed.
After assembling the shelves and moving some stuff the decision was made to also build shelves on the other side also. Going to Lowes in Carlsbad I was disappointed with the selection of wood there. We had already done some shopping in Walmart and Albertsons so we went on home to Buster, cold things to put away. I have been keeping the battery maintainer on over night but it does not seam to be enough, new battery is needed.
Cleaning out the car we had moved the electric seat up and it would not return to a comfortable driving position. Nothing I did would correct the back of the seat to recline.
It was Tuesday, Men's coffee at the Ranch House and woman's breakfast. My wife went with another woman to breakfast in Artesia. When my wife returned after also going to Walmart she realized she left her purse in the shopping cart. So we had a quick return there and retrieved the purse from customer service. While there in Artesia we went to Guy Chevrolet about the seat. A few minutes they had it working as normal a connector was partially pulled out. With that done we are part way to Roswell we went to Home Depot for the additional wood needed to complete the shelves on the other side of the shed. Of course we went for a few things in Walmart and purchased another water dispenser we tried it for a few days and returned it. Turns out it is a little unstable, with the cat wanting to get on top of the water bottle. We also did not like the height of the water discharge port.
Our cat is enjoying it here with the people and dogs walking down the street rabbits running around and seeing the birds in the tree on the front corner of Buster.
(Escapees)
Sunday, September 2, thru Tuesday, September 11, 2018
We are settling into a routine here and doing our work. We got the car cleaned out, everything. That also involved cleaning out the shed not only the junk stuff we just thru in these departing on our last stay here was accumulation of dust dirt. I have been nursing the (car) battery along in the but it needs changing. Changing the battery requires the rear passenger seat floor area to be accessible as the battery location is under the floor there.
 |
| looking north on our lot |
After assembling the shelves and moving some stuff the decision was made to also build shelves on the other side also. Going to Lowes in Carlsbad I was disappointed with the selection of wood there. We had already done some shopping in Walmart and Albertsons so we went on home to Buster, cold things to put away. I have been keeping the battery maintainer on over night but it does not seam to be enough, new battery is needed.
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| Roadrunner top center |
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| Cat on top of Water Bottle |
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| Cat in a box |
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| We have foil in the windshield, but the cat wants to see the birds and rabbits |
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| Cat needs his rest |
Monday, September 10, 2018
The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM Aug 31 - Sept 1
Road-Runner RV Park - Fort Stockton, TX - Friday, August 31, 2018
Morning 72 Degrees, Wind N at 1 to 4 Mph, Humidity 62%, sunny.
We left Fort Stockton today heading north to Lakewood, NM on US 285. On our way I stopped and got diesel fuel tank filled. Now we have a mostly full tank of fuel while we sit in one place. From Fort Stockton to Pecos, TX light traffic on a two lane road. Getting into Pecos there was traffic on the vicinity of interstate twenty and more vehicles heading north thru the oil fields of the Permian Basin. Then to the New Mexico state line there is road construction, no one working today but the lanes are narrow and heavy traffic. Getting into New Mexico just reduced speed limit and truck traffic for twenty miles before the four lane area started.
The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM
We started a little later today with a shorter planed drive of one hundred sixty-four miles. And a plus, we crossed into Mountain Time Zone coming into New Mexico so we fell back an hour in time. Arriving here at the Escapees Ranch about noon time. Now it is work and rest, setting up and relaxing. We were greeted by other member on our arrival and the bell was rung announcing an arrival to te ranch.
The Escapees (SKP) Ranch Lakewood, NM - Saturday, September 1, 2018
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind NW at 5 to 11 Mph, Humidity 56%, sunny.
Afternoon 86 Degrees, Wind NW at 10 to 35 Mph, mostly cloudy.
We brought rain to the desert. They (The Ranch) have not had rain here for a while and we arrive here there is rain.
We are cleaning out our shed, most everything and the dirt that has blown in putting a coating on everything in there. The last time we were here there was “the flood” and we were evacuated for a few days as the road was flooded in twenty thirteen. We “thru everything” in the shed we did not want to take with us as we were leaving for Texas.
We had a lot of stuff laid out sorting and decided now to go shopping for some groceries in Artesia while there it started raining. Getting back to the SKP Ranch there was a good rain storm here also. Some ‘stuff” was blown around from the wind and we had left the awning out too far and a member came by and tied it down for us, thankful for that.
Thought For The Day – I need to find a new home for a dog. It’s a small terrier, black-and-white, very energetic, and it tends to bark a lot. If you’re interested, please let me know and I will jump over my neighbor’s fence and get it for you.
Morning 72 Degrees, Wind N at 1 to 4 Mph, Humidity 62%, sunny.
We left Fort Stockton today heading north to Lakewood, NM on US 285. On our way I stopped and got diesel fuel tank filled. Now we have a mostly full tank of fuel while we sit in one place. From Fort Stockton to Pecos, TX light traffic on a two lane road. Getting into Pecos there was traffic on the vicinity of interstate twenty and more vehicles heading north thru the oil fields of the Permian Basin. Then to the New Mexico state line there is road construction, no one working today but the lanes are narrow and heavy traffic. Getting into New Mexico just reduced speed limit and truck traffic for twenty miles before the four lane area started.
The Escapees Ranch - Lakewood, NM
We started a little later today with a shorter planed drive of one hundred sixty-four miles. And a plus, we crossed into Mountain Time Zone coming into New Mexico so we fell back an hour in time. Arriving here at the Escapees Ranch about noon time. Now it is work and rest, setting up and relaxing. We were greeted by other member on our arrival and the bell was rung announcing an arrival to te ranch.
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| Road Runner |
The Escapees (SKP) Ranch Lakewood, NM - Saturday, September 1, 2018
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind NW at 5 to 11 Mph, Humidity 56%, sunny.
Afternoon 86 Degrees, Wind NW at 10 to 35 Mph, mostly cloudy.
We brought rain to the desert. They (The Ranch) have not had rain here for a while and we arrive here there is rain.
We are cleaning out our shed, most everything and the dirt that has blown in putting a coating on everything in there. The last time we were here there was “the flood” and we were evacuated for a few days as the road was flooded in twenty thirteen. We “thru everything” in the shed we did not want to take with us as we were leaving for Texas.
We had a lot of stuff laid out sorting and decided now to go shopping for some groceries in Artesia while there it started raining. Getting back to the SKP Ranch there was a good rain storm here also. Some ‘stuff” was blown around from the wind and we had left the awning out too far and a member came by and tied it down for us, thankful for that.
Thought For The Day – I need to find a new home for a dog. It’s a small terrier, black-and-white, very energetic, and it tends to bark a lot. If you’re interested, please let me know and I will jump over my neighbor’s fence and get it for you.
Friday, August 31, 2018
Road-Runner RV Park - Fort Stockton, TX Aug 29 - 30
Texas RV Supply, San Antonio, TX - Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Morning 80 Degrees, Wind S at calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 81%, partly cloudy.
Slept better last night, not good but better. Maybe because I new it would be a busy morning for me getting Buster Brown ready to travel after sitting for a week. It took a while but the temperature in the bedroom was coming down.
I had to put fresh water in the tank and get things put away to bring in the slideouts. They moved Buster around to put propane gas in and then to dump the holding tanks, need to loose the weight of that water. Then position Buster for Tan Jan to be connected. While that was going on they lightened my credit card so as to not be too heavy going down the road. (Paying for the work done, less the air conditioner as that was a warranty item of free to me).
Rolling out we went for diesel fuel on interstate ten that is on the east side of town.
North Llano River RV Park - Junction, TX
Actually a short drive today for two reasons one is the spacing of RV parks and I am tired. One hundred twelve miles some on interstate 410 but mostly interstate ten.
North Llano River RV Park - Junction, TX - Thursday, August 30, 2018
Morning 73 Degrees, Wind NNW at calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 86%, mostly sunny.
We slept better last night after a short drive yesterday. Today we were on the road by nine o’clock with the diesel fuel stop behind us. We started our drive at about 1,750 feet above sea level. As we drove west that changed as we were up and down going thru the Texas hill country.
Road-Runner RV Park - Fort Stockton, TX
Our drive consisted of one hundred and ninety-nine miles and 2,965 feet above sea level. After leaving the San Antonio area the traffic was lighter on the interstate. Some road work with lane a closed and reduced speed in the work area. The regular speed limit post is eighty miles ler hour in these wide open spaces.
Morning 80 Degrees, Wind S at calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 81%, partly cloudy.
Slept better last night, not good but better. Maybe because I new it would be a busy morning for me getting Buster Brown ready to travel after sitting for a week. It took a while but the temperature in the bedroom was coming down.
I had to put fresh water in the tank and get things put away to bring in the slideouts. They moved Buster around to put propane gas in and then to dump the holding tanks, need to loose the weight of that water. Then position Buster for Tan Jan to be connected. While that was going on they lightened my credit card so as to not be too heavy going down the road. (Paying for the work done, less the air conditioner as that was a warranty item of free to me).
Rolling out we went for diesel fuel on interstate ten that is on the east side of town.
North Llano River RV Park - Junction, TX
Actually a short drive today for two reasons one is the spacing of RV parks and I am tired. One hundred twelve miles some on interstate 410 but mostly interstate ten.
North Llano River RV Park - Junction, TX - Thursday, August 30, 2018
Morning 73 Degrees, Wind NNW at calm to 1 Mph, Humidity 86%, mostly sunny.
We slept better last night after a short drive yesterday. Today we were on the road by nine o’clock with the diesel fuel stop behind us. We started our drive at about 1,750 feet above sea level. As we drove west that changed as we were up and down going thru the Texas hill country.
Road-Runner RV Park - Fort Stockton, TX
Our drive consisted of one hundred and ninety-nine miles and 2,965 feet above sea level. After leaving the San Antonio area the traffic was lighter on the interstate. Some road work with lane a closed and reduced speed in the work area. The regular speed limit post is eighty miles ler hour in these wide open spaces.
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| eighty miles per hour speed limit sign |
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