Nearest town, McCoy, Texas

We made it through July and most of August - the typical summer period - without too much suffering. Oh, there have been some days with temps in triple digits, but all things considered it hasn't been terrible. Mostly work days with very few break days. This is the period of maximum oil field activity and the fewest number of Gate Guards available. Some of the smarter ones go north for the hottest months. But not us. So what does that tell you?

Gretel is growing rapidly and at five months is almost full-dog size. That's not quite right, She's still only half a dog high and a dog-and-a-half long. MOSTLY Annie and Gretel get along just fine. There are some instances of doggie games being played that become quite territorial, as with toys and/or treats. They can be at each others throats one minute and snuggled in their common bed the next as if nothing had happened.

The ranch we have been on the past month is an exotic wildlife game farm. I believe all the exotic animals are of African origin. We didn't get to see all the species (it's a big ranch and we are pretty much stuck in one place) but we have photos of a couple of the horned critters.

The sign on the gate. Many of the ranches have this type of sign, cut with a computerized laser or plasma cutter.

This photo, and the one below, show Blackbucks. There isn't much to judge scale to know the size of these animals. They are about the size of a goat, but their antlers are disproportionatley long.

I think this is a turkey vulture. Found this one catching some rays shortly after sunrise.

Here he is again with wings folded and keeping an eye on the little bird above.

This is how we get most of our exercise. Open the gate. Close the gate. Repeat.

August sunrise.

August sunset.

Mesquite sap (amber). The sunlight just radiates through it.

Another piece of amber. It is very hard, and not at all sticky.

This looks like a stick. In fact, the ground is covered with them and looks like a forest of sticks. Not sticks. This is a mud tube formed by a tiny, winged insect. The sand is moist when formed and then dries and hardens. That's all I know about this item.

It's common to see white ibis "grazing" with the cattle.

Another exotic species. Don't know the name of this one. It is larger than the blackbuck.

Gretel and Annie engaged in a doggy game. Just playing?

Wish this had sound so you could hear the growling and snarling going on.

Guess it couldn't have been all that serious.

Beauty in nature is where you find it.

This is the current view out our dining room window. We're now on a different ranch, but only about four miles from where we were. Slightly different scenery. Looks more like Texas brush country than African veldt. And no exotic animals here, either.

 

 

So, our RV life is still an adventure. There will not be any serious time off or serious travel for us the rest of this year. We will have a couple of months off, January and February, and then do plan a little travel later in the summer and fall of 2015. Watch for the next post, whenever it might be.

First Week of Summer, 2014

Summer is already one week old and we still haven't had any really hot weather. Oh, there have been some days in the 90's, and with pretty sticky humidity, but it hasn't been all that bad. Lots of nice breezes to go along with the warm.

 

Our main air conditioner died a few weeks back and we did have to manage a few days with only the bedroom a/c working. House did get pretty warm. But that problem has been remedied - with a new a/c unit, of course. Same one we had to replace two years ago. All is well now. This will be our third summer in Texas, and we want you to know that life is possible and it does go on in spite of the heat of the season. The oil industry is going full blast and gate guard jobs such as we have are paying a premium. If the help wanted ads are any indication pretty much all the guard companies are hurting for workers. It's a good time to break into the opportunity. So, if any of our RVing friends are tired of being paid $7.25 and hour to clean bathrooms (or the like) check out the gate guard opportunities here in Texas right now. You can make over $5400 a month as a gate guard. Check out www.oilgates.com and look at the employment opportunities.

 

Our present location is near Westhoff, Texas, which is near Cuero. About 75 miles SE of San Antonio. It's hill country, which is a nice change from the brush county/desert we've been in the past two years. Now we can look out on green grass, trees and, of course, oil wells.

 

 

Naturally, our gnome came along for the ride and here he is on the entry sign.

This is the McCollum pad as it looked when we got here. The drill rig setup is coming momentarily.

Here is the drill rig set up and drilling. You can see how close we are to the action.

Gretel loves to sit on the back of the couch and look out the window. Nothing gets past her without some kind of acknowledgement. She's our brown driveway alarm.

Typical oak tree found in the Texas hill country. Reminds me of the Charter Oak of American history fame. When walking along the road it's always a pleasure to stop in the cool shadow for a rest.

Our land owner had a cowboy barbecue and cattle round up this week. Joe Adams and his chuckwagon crew put on the BBQ. "Good" does not begin to describe it.

Here's Joe prepping the steaks.

Except for the steaks, everything else was cooked in cast iron pots using wood coals.

Showing off the peach cobbler.

One of the horses used in the round up and some of the cattle.

Some of the cattle. Beef prices are way high and even the smallest steers are worth $400 or more.

Can't close out this entry without showing some of the wildlife we see. This is a caracara, a type of hawk that frequents the entire south of Texas.

Two caracaras in flight.

Caracaras are large, and yet graceful.

Believe it or don't, this puppy already knows how to eat people food from a fork. Annie is waiting her turn. She has known how for a long time.

 

OK. That's a wrap for this entry. Let us hear from you. 

Franklin Ranch Road, near Tilden TX

We continue to work as gate guards in the Texas Eagle Ford Shale in south Texas. Our assignments have been somewhat in proximity to Tilden, Texas for the past two years. We've had some breaks in service for rest and relaxation, but gate guarding has been fairly relaxing in and of itself. It's pretty easy work - and it pays well. Our side trips and diversions have been to Port Aransas and Mustang Island to enjoy the Gulf shore, and to San Antonio to visit the Alamo and the Riverwalk.

Currently we are at a site on Franklin Ranch Road, a gravel road running east and west between Highways 16 on the east, and Hwy 97 on the west. Our site is about 38 miles from Jourdanton/Pleasanton, where we get our mail and do our shopping. The area is rural and fairly remote. Nothing around us but ranches and oil wells. At night you can see the flare stacks at other wells looking in every direction. It's like having campers with fires surrounding you in every direction.

We could tell that Annie was in a period of deep funk since the loss of Molly. Recently, Pat had a stroke of luck by coming upon a lady at Wal-Mart (in the parking lot) with three mini-doxie puppies. Pure bred, but no paperwork. Bargain price, but you KNOW there is no such thing as a free dog, or even an inexpensive one. Anyway, Pat was smitten with the smallest of the three and brought her home. Annie has become a changed dog! Of course, there has been a positive effect on Pat and me as well.

We'd like you to meet Gretel.

This is Gretel. She's sleeping now, but when awake she's almost too fast to photograph. Seven weeks old at this time. Already able to climb stairs!

Gretel will not leave Annie alone when she's awake. Mostly, Annie tolerates it.

Pat and Annie trying to get Gretel's attention.

After playing, they both usually crash together.

 At the Alamo in San Antonio

 

Sunrise over the pipeline project.

Trenching machine at work digging the ditch for the pipeline.

Vacuum boom moving sections of pipe.

Every section has to be welded by hand, then x-rayed and approved before burial.

 

We've been present at most every phase of oil well production there is. This is a drill rig punching a hole into the shale. The drill goes down about 8000 feet and then bend horizontal for another 8000 feet. Once you learn what they are doing the process becomes mind-boggling.

Control cabin for the drill rig. We got guided tours of the drilling operation. Very interesting. Cost of the drilling operation can vary depending on a lot of factors, but 5 to 10 million dollars are the numbers that were thrown at us. Just one drill bit is about $50,000. Consider each tank truck of crude oil is worth about $18,000. Do your own math, but you can see that having an oil well is not a get rich quick scheme. It takes time.

That's it for today. Let us hear from you.

On our previous posting we made you all aware that our RV was in the shop for some repairs. It was a hassle, and and expensive one at that, but we're back in our home and (most of) the repairs have been accomplished. Could go on and on about that, but what's the use. We're comfortable once again.

When we picked the RV up from the dealership in Corpus Christi we opted to spend a few days on Mustang Island. Sort of a shake-down cruise to make sure everything was working before we headed back to the oilfields. Good thing we did because all was not well. Back to the dealer for one more day of "fixing". This, after they had had our fifth wheel for nearly eight (8) weeks.

Since getting back to work we've been on three gates, all in the Tilden area. Happy in our work.

Not happy in our loss of Molly. This little girl was with us for fifteen years. I think she never met anyone she didn't like. Wonderful companion and friend. RIP, Molly.

Some year, when we Really Retire, we want to be living very close to a beach, preferably this one.

We're a one dog family now. Pat and Annie on the beach at Port Aransas.

Great Blue Heron on the dunes at Mustang Island.

Same heron, closer.

Still finding (some) time for wood carving and other hobbies.

Dozer at work on pipeline right of way. Really close to our RV and I can tell you we're really not liking the dust all that well. Didn't last long, however.

There is beauty in nature. Some of it we never see until it is pointed out to us. These insect eggs (very tiny) were on the underside of a turnip leaf. I marvel at their structure and uniformity.

 



 

Life goes on, and we're doing our best to enjoy it. Winter in Texas has been very tolerable this year. So sorry our family and friends who still live in the northlands had a hard winter. Plenty of room in Texas.