Wildlife

The past two days I've seen lots of wildlife, more than I've seen in all of our trips down here combined - apparently it's because of the lovely rain that has been happening.

Two nights ago we met Michael Huston, a biologist from the University of Texas who was out here for three days with a student, doing an insect survey.  He told us that the night after our 7/10" of rain they had the heaviest haul of insects of anywhere they'd been in West Texas. We noticed those insects all over our Nooks as we tried to read that night.  

The next morning (yesterday) I saw a deer crossing our road. Along Terlingua Ranch Road I saw two different families of javelina, one with tiny babies and families of quail, also with tiny babies.  Then on my way home from my "office" at the Bad Rabbit Cafe, I saw a single javelina, a road runner and finally, my first rattlesnake, coiled on the road near our place. I backed up and took its picture then moved on, it didn't move a muscle during the whole time.  Many folks here shoot rattlesnakes onsite, I chose not to.  If it was by the trailer, I may have, I don't know. Then, this morning I on the way back to my "office" I saw a coyote.

Our walk last night was with more caution that we've shown in the past. (Not that we are reckless.) We walk with long sticks and we each carry a knife, but the dogs have nothing to protect them. Henry walks on-leash because he won't listen unless he wants to. The other three we kept close. I know that just seeing a snake doesn't mean there are any more of them than if we don't see them, but just like if you have a near car accident you tend to be more vigilant, so were we in regards to snakes.

Rain!

The past two nights we've had rain! 7/10 of an inch Friday night and 2/10 last night. (According to my plastic rain gauge.). Friday night was a good storm, thunder, lightning, wind. The trailer didn't rock or leak, so I'm happy about that!

Today was partly cloudly and relatively cool. We spent the day reorganizing the cargo trailer. Now all my office stuff is near the front door and the tools are accessable from the back door. There's still much to do in the trailer and I must work next week. Then, I leave for Brazil the following Monday for work - for 24 days. I'm already looking forward to coming home.

Our homestead

Made it to Terlingua

But it took much longer and I'm much more tired than I imagined.

We left Cheyenne on Thursday about 1:00 and spent that night, as I mentioned, in a KOA cabin in Raton. We got to my folks house east of ABQ Friday around 2:00 p.m. We rested and visited until Tuesday. I'll post about the great experience of Tinkertown later.

This morning, Tuesday, we headed out for the drive to Terlingua. We stopped for gas at Clines Corners, east of ABQ on I-40. After leaving Clines Corners, my car started behaving oddly, lurching like it's power was momentarily cut. This happened repeatedly, about 3 seconds apart. We thought that it was bad gas, and topped off the tank in Roswell. No change. We began considering a plugged fuel filter or a computer failure. On we drove to Carlsbad, where we were going to briefly meet up with my sister. Along the way we put dri-gas and fuel injector cleaner in my tank. Still no difference. Dave drove my car to experience the problem. While he was driving he felt the one of the trailer brakes lock up.

I called the dealership that had done the 100,000 mile service on my car. They confirmed that the fuel pump had been changed and reminded me that a computer problem would register a check engine light.

After many more miles of a bucking car, Dave saw the trailer brakes lock up and leave a skid. We were dumbfounded, since we'd disconnected the trailer power from my car. It occurred to me to phone the RV place in Cheyenne that installed the brake controller. The man I spoke to knew instantly what the trouble was - there's a battery on the trailer with an emergency switch that is to come on if the trailer cuts loose from car. If that happens the brakes come on to keep the trailer from going on down the road.  I disconnected that battery and five minutes later, no more issues!

We arrived at the property about 8:30 p.m. Eleven hours after leaving my folks' house and very, very tired.  (But, as we discovered the next day, with a flat tire.)

The first (of many, I'm sure) flat tire.  A long spine punctured it.  

Tired

Finally made it out if Cheyenne. Wanted to make it to Albuquerque, but we left late and are very tired, so we stopped for the night in Raton - at the KOA - they are great for those traveling with dogs. A cabin is very reasonably priced and there is no charge for the dogs. Tomorrow to ABQ for a few days at my folks house and then on to Terlingua!

Packing, Packing and More Packing

We're down to 3 more days before we move on down South.  I'm much further behind than I'd hoped to be, but that really doesn't surprise me.  


Part of my income is derived from sewing.  I make educational costumes for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (and anyone else who would like some.)  

T-bone steak costume for school assembly program

Duck costume for school assembly program

Consequently, my sewing area is very important to me.  Packing it up was difficult.  I had to sort through my supplies, deciding what I might need in the short term versus what I'd be willing to drive 20 hours each way to fetch.  Dave reminded me that I'll be back this way at Thanksgiving, so that made it a bit easier, but I still had a lot of thinking to do.  Not only for the sewing room, but also for my office.  Which supplies do I have to have?  Which parts of the exhibit development do I need to have hard copies of?  I've spent many more days in these areas of packing than I'd planned.  I secretly hoped to be leaving tomorrow, but I was pretty sure that we'd take the full extra week.  And we will be.  


Our flatbed trailer is all ready to take the motorcycles.  I'm very pleased with the set-up Dave has created.  We have e-track running down the sides and center of the trailer with the wheel chocks between and our tool box at the front.  I'll be towing this trailer.  I sure hope my little motor will handle it.  

A Solar System in a Truck!

and, as my brother noted, it did feel a little bumpy.


Monday my dear darling husband drove from Cheyenne to the western slopes of Colorado to purchase our new solar power system.  I'm so excited to start generating our own electricity!  We went to Colorado Solar Inc. in New Castle, Colorado.  Their website had helped us get an idea of the system we would need, then a couple of phone calls and emails nailed it down a bit more.  And finally, Dave spent four hours with them at their shop to tweak the system to meet our needs and be expandable.  It took a little over a tank of gas in his truck, but it was worth the drive. (And that was cheaper than shipping.) He got our parts, plus drawings and information as well as started a relationship with people who will be more than happy to give phone support as he's installing it.  We even got some older style supports for the panels for a song!  (And if you've ever heard Dave sing, you know that's an amazing price!)

He made it home by 10:00 p.m.  All in all a good trip. 

It might not look like much now, but just wait.

This same day I heard on NPR the reports of the enormous power outages in India.  The next day I saw a post that power would be out in South Brewster County (where we are moving) the next morning.  It made me doubly happy to have a solar system in the back of our truck.