Next Link In The Chain Comes Home

I waited twenty minutes for a sunrise shot this morning but the sky color just never developed.

I can't say I was disappointed though; the quality of the morning air is just not equaled anywhere.
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Another link in the chain of actions and equipment is this 1980 Mack B646, 2 axle, small displacement diesel, 5 speed. It will haul our household goods to New Mexico, and will have paid for itself three times over in money saved by not dealing with any moving company.

My friend, and distant cousin, Tim Hardin looked it over throughly with a mechanics critical eye and we were both surprised at the good condition: 6 new tires, 4 new batteries, new clutch, starter, and alternator. It looks like it has another 400,000 miles left in it. And it was ridiculously inexpensive.
Tim heads for our place from the little village of Escobosa, NM. (about 35 miles north of Mountainair). I followed along to look it over on the road and to take pictures. Nothing came loose or fell off, and all the lights worked as required.
The DOT number tag on the door will come off and be replaced with the "NOT FOR HIRE" sign that will fend off "Smokey's" unwanted attention.
Crossing the creek at Tim and Wendy's place half mile from our gate, passing standing water from the recent rains. The view of the back of the truck cab oddly resembles the same view of a 1951 Ford pickup I used to have. Some experienced truckers would refer to this model Mack as a "yard Dog".
Hey, Bobby, did you ever see a Mack or a Stirling with the real tall long throw clutch pedal? This has one. Takes some getting used to!
Inside the gate at our place; a little over a quarter mile from the shack. Green ain't it?
"Mackaela" in her parking place (rough roads and all) in one rugged piece.
As soon as I replace the Gladhand Grommets (trailer air brake connections) and hoses (just to be safe) I'll hook her up to the trailer and start practicing. I have my own 40 acre "backing yard".
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Some more views of the area around where the house will be:
It is as level and easiest of access for placing the modular home as any location on the ranch.

Looking northeast from the power panel to the well house pad; a distance of 105 feet.

And straight north from the power panel to the metal building site; 200 feet exactly.
The 2500 gallon black reservoir tank will be located elsewhere. Empty it's very easy to push around with the tractor.
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Tomorrow morning at dawn I'll drag a ladder down to the house site (20 feet left of the well house pad in the above picture) and try to duplicate the morning view we'll get from the south deck of the house when it's built. I want you all to see what I see.
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Trenching And Progress

Here's a couple of shots of the electricians doing their thing. They completely tore up the rental trenching machine in our rocky ground.
The service panel will take the place of a temporary pole with a meter, and provide the connecting point for the CO-OP power lines.
This long trench will provide power to the big metal building. They said that since they already had the trencher on site they would do all the trenches for the single price they had quoted me for just the house and the well. Not a bad deal.

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And a shot of the header beam for my carport rafters. I did some painting also to protect the raw wood against the UV.
The shelves on the deck are the permanent cabinet I built to house my bank of six deep cycle batteries. The cabinet will have doors before it is finished.
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And once again I have found a concrete contractor. He's is doing the bid and said he will bring it to me on Monday. I wait with fingers crossed.

NOTE: 30 August 2008-- My hopes for results from this guy were dashed when he came back with an outrageously high bid. I'll just keep looking.
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Sister's little parcel of land in New Mexico

Q: Hi Brother, no question....except, did you get my last question? I'm really enjoying your blog and seriously considering coming to see my little parcel, don't want to sell it anymore. Love and blessings, Sister

Asked by Jean

A: No, I guess I didn't. My profile says I have answered 100% of the questions I have received. Why don't you send me a description (legal location) and I'll see if I can find it and send you a picture. I'm over that way once or twice a week. Send it on email, not ASKABLOGR. That way it will remain private.

Ask David a question.

Baby Got New Shoes

It was pretty obvious that new tractor tires were advisable. They spun easily in the dry dirt, and I probably contributed to their early retirement with my less than delicate practice sessions. With winter coming on and the forecast probability of heavy snow, the aggressive tread is more of a necessity. They will be filled with a 50:50 solution of Ethylene Glycol and water (from our well).

The "BEFORE" condition:



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And the "AFTER" condition:
And back on the trailer ready to be tied down for the return trip home.
I have already gotten the box blade re installed. It was much easier as this time I was using the right controls to position the supports and hydraulic cylinders.
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Brake Caution Notes

Q: Re. Trailer brakes: These brake air cylinders can separate with great force when manually releasing the brakes. Make sure that the cylinder and the cylinder clamp are not badly corroded, before you crank down on the release bolt. Make sure that you are to the side of the cylinder when you tighten the release bolt.

Asked by bobby

A: I got under it and it looks really clean and almost new.

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Ask David a question.

Trailer Brakes

Q: Hello David,I like this photo much better, however, you do need a shotgun over your shoulder. And where's the huntin dawg? Re the air brakes; There are two cylindrical air chambers, usually on the aft side of the axle. These are the actuators. In the center of each chamber is a hole. Install a long bolt (don't remember the bolt size, a big un) in this hole and run it in to release the brakes. BE CAREFUL, THESE THINGS ARE LOADED TO THE HURT YOU POSITION!

Asked by bobby

A: Thanks, Bobby. I will be extra careful. The shotgun and the hunting dog are on the agenda for next year.

Ask David a question.

ELECTRICITY TO OUR PLACE

Frank Sedillo, the electrician, just left and we have a deal. He will install everything to which the CO-OP needs to connect THIS FRIDAY. Not "maybe next week" or "as soon as I can get to it" but this coming Friday.
All underground cable in PVC pipe to the house, the well, the ETS/heat pump, and the pad location for the metal building. He's bringing the trencher. He is familiar with how hard the ground is, and he is ready for it.
He was here exactly at 3;30pm, just as he said he would be. You know I consider punctuality to be a good sign. I guess I am pleased.
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After The Rain, The Lurid Sunrise

It rained long and hard last night, with the attendant high-country artillery barrage of thunder and lightning. Many of the strikes were within a half mile. I counted zero a dozen times and "one" a few dozen times.
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And the trailer arrived this morning. It's too wet to move it into it's final position for convenience of loading and the air brakes are locked.

Hey, Mark ask Bobby if he remembers how to unlock the air brakes of a Utility brand tandem trailer. I sure don't.



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Our Gopher Snake and Car Port Posts

A four foot long gopher snake came to visit Tim Hardin and me this afternoon. He stayed for a few minutes and was not the least bit shy. He looked very well fed, and he certainly was minding his own business, so we let him pass unmolested. The dogs, Russell, the red Pitt Bull, and Rocky, the gray Akita also minded when they were told to leave the snake alone.

I thought that alone was worthy of comment. Both dogs simply acted like the snake had disappeared and showed no further interest in it. These are "country dogs" that wandered in after being abandoned on the forest road. Tim and Wendy made them welcome and gave them status in the "pack" of their animals.

Only a little "attitude adjustment" was necessary regarding their relationship to the chickens, Pea Hens, and the geese. Most dogs believe that fowl are Gods gift to the canine world, and have to be educated to the contrary.

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Also I have some good pictures of the first two posts in the ground for the carport. The only significance being that the concrete in which the posts are set was made with good water from our own well.
The water in the bucket is very clear and it was dipped right from the 217 gallon tank next to the well head.
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The electrician will be here tomorrow afternoon to begin the process of installing the temporary post and meter so the CO-OP can bring in the power lines. We are going to have a triple drop 325 amp service; one line to the well pump, one line to the house, and one line to the ETS unit/heat pump installation.
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My Email

Q: I got a note from Othell recently and got thinking that its been a long time since I've had comms from the south and west. Lacking email addresses, which I hope you'll provide, I did a name search on Google and, lo and behold, there you are terraforming New Mexico, white F150 and all. Its a little foreign to a Philadelphia city dweller but it does look appealing. I'll hold you to your invitation when you get the house built.

Asked by Dave Doler Jr

A: Of course. Mine is <dfdoler@gmail.com> Send me a note to which I can reply and I'll give you Laura's email.

Ask David a question.

A Note From My Son

Q: well, you do look like you're having fun.

Asked by Dave Doler Jr.

A: I certainly am, and any time you feel like seeing the wide open spaces you are most welcome. By next spring we will have a new house built and be prepared to receive. My wife would love to meet you.

How did you come across my blog? 

Ask David a question.

Trailer And Trail

Even though that contractor I was complaining about finally did get back to me, I still don't have his bottom line costs for the slab, stem walls, foundation and raising of the metal building.

(ps: On August 2, I got rid of the contractor. No trust.)

So this morning, as a hedge against my need for storage in the near term, I bought this trailer to put stuff in while I'm back in California for the winter. It's an ex refrigerated trailer with insulation, 28 feet long. It was very inexpensive even though it's in near-new condition.
The refrigeration unit, which I didn't need, was crushed in a minor accident, so it was removed and the opening covered with a sheet of stainless steel. Most of the trailer is stainless steel and aluminum. The interior is in especially good shape.
Concealed in a pocket in the floor behind that side door is an access ladder that allows you to step up easily from the ground to floor level.
At the back door (roll up) I'll build a 4x8 deck with steps. The original loading ramp was sold separately, but I'm not going to miss it.


I intend to get a single axle truck to pull it with so I can use it to move us from California to New Mexico, and in the future it will transport and store building materials for additions to our house (the full deck and my wifes upstairs sun room) and for my daughters barn and some of the outbuildings requiring longer-than-standard lumber.
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Using the tractor and skills acquired in several hours of recent practice, I cleared and graded a short new section of road in one place about a hundred fifty feet long where the old road wandered inside the property line.
Just to the left of the "T" posts lying on the ground, you can see the first strand of wire. That wire is right on the easement line. There is 60 feet between that wire and the south fence of the Cibola National Forest.




Please forgive me if I am somewhat prouder of my work this time. It came out very nice and the neighbors who used this road today were complimentary. Well at least no one threatened to sue!
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And just another picture to show how green the land is getting. It even smells good.

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