Setting Up Infrastructure – Days 59 – 85

March 27 – April 22

Yep.  Once again I am long over due for a blog update.

Lucky for you, I didn’t sleep much last night so I have no motivation to do any physical labor or anything mentally taxing.  So blogging it is today.

I’m going to switch things up a bit in terms of format given how long it has been since I’ve provided an update.  I’ll organize per project rather than per day.

Fencing:

• Fransisco Hung the 16′ gates in the 18′ openings March 27.  While that did not complete the fencing project, it is sufficient to keep the cattle out.  As of April 17, most if not all the cattle have clearly been driven out of the canyon.
• I placed some medium sized rocks in some really low areas between fence posts to deter Sasha from going under the bottom fence wire.  I also requested Fransisco to add one more row of fence wire half way between the bottom run he ran and the ground to deter Sasha from going under the fence.
• After weeks of waiting, the 18′ gates finally came in and I picked up two this past Friday.  The 16′ gates currently “cowboy’d” into the 18′ gate openings will be relocated to the east and west fence lines to enable me access to those areas via tractor if/when I decide to fence those area’s in as well.  Francisco said he would come back April 23 to continue work on the fence now that we have the gates and barbed wire needed to finish the job.

Solar system:

• I decided to bolt some steel L brackets to the vertical posts then bolt some metal to the L brackets so it lays horizontally in the concrete.  The purpose of this is to deter the post from sliding down due to gravity or up due to wind lift within the concrete hole.  It is likely over building it but I was thinking:  If I over build it, I will never know.  If I under build it, I would likely find out in a less than ideal fashion.  I prefer not to find out.
• Thus far I have cut the metal for the anchors, assembled the anchors, and installed the anchors on 8 of the 9 support posts that I have planned to install them on (10 support posts in all).
• 8 of the 10 holes have been completely back filled.  One hole is within 3 inches of the target height so should only need one more batch of cement/dirt mix in that one.  The last hole has only about a foot left to fill.  Need to install the anchor and conduit for solar panel cabling in that one while/before back filling.
• Again, I may be over doing it, but I want to minimize the rate at which the posts will rust out (even though it is generally arid here, there is a bit of surface rust here and there on the pipe).  With that in mind, I have applied a couple coats of Rustoleum paint to the pipes.
• I have mounted the solar panel combiner box to one of the solar panel support posts.  The combiner box will act as both a connection point to merge the electrical wiring for the solar panels as well as providing place to cut power between the panels and the electronics via circuit breakers.
• With the tractor out of commission (see below), I’m not sure when I will get to finish the solar system as I need to trench from the combiner box to the shed and I need to trench for ground rods.  I’m thinking I will just need Francisco to come over with Tom’s backhoe and trench for me.

Water:

• Nothing new really.  Enjoying the use of the garden hose for mixing mud and cement to fill the solar support holes.

Tractor:

• Changed engine oil and filter, front axle oil, transmission oil and filter.
• Replaced broken backhoe control boot which protects the backhoe linkages from dirt and weather.
• Replaced broken hydraulic hose on backhoe
• While on my way to the airport to pick up Artem, I stopped in and asked about options for the auger I bought but can’t use due to the rocky terrain.  They will take it and sell it on consignment for me.  That beats having it sit here rusting and collecting dirt.
• Transmission seized while Artem was working on relocating brush for me.  Looks like I will be contacting the place I bought it from and having them bring a trailer out to load it to take it back to Tuscon for service.  Guess they can take the auger at the same time.  They can find and fix that damn safety switch issue while they have it so I don’t have to jump across the starter to start it every time.

Truck:

• Flat tire in Douglas during shopping trip April 2.
  • I was thankful that I had the spare tire storage mechanism replaced earlier this year so I could get the spare tire from under the truck.
  • I was thankful that the flat occurred in town where could pull into a well lit vacant parking lot to work on it.
  • I am thankful I chose to use the air pump and tow strap case to block the tires to reduce risk of the truck falling off the jack as I was changing the tire.  They were solidly wedged under the tires when I was done and packing up.
• Bought new tires for the truck.  With these rough dirt roads, looks like I will have to budget for new tires every couple of years for the vehicles.
• Truck stalled due to running out of fuel as I was rolling into the fuel pump just south of Phoenix (on the way to the airport to pickup my son Artem who was coming to visit).
  • Filled tank.
  • Confirmed what I had been warned about, diesel trucks are a PITA to start if you run them out of fuel due to air in the fuel lines.
  • Quick google/youtube search educated me on what I needed to due to get it started.  Repetitive process of priming fuel filter/line under the hood and trying to start it.  A messy process to say the least with diesel fuel coming out along with the air while priming it.
  • I went through so many unsuccessful iterations that I killed the truck’s battery trying to start the engine.
  • Called insurance company for roadside assistance and waited with hood up at the fuel pump.
  • Tow truck driver shows up and connects his mobile battery.  Truck starts on about the third prime / start iteration.
  • Leave fuel station to find that because I jumped the truck the computer was messed up – power windows didn’t work and all the indicators on the dashboard were dead.  I know what to do for that.  Disconnect the battery, let the truck sit for a few minutes with the battery disconnected to reset the computer, then reconnect.
  • Pull into a plaza about a half mile down the road from the gas station I just left, park and turn off the truck to execute my plan to disconnect the battery to reset the computer.  Then it occurs to me….   I just had a dead battery and I’ve only driving half a mile.  Not exactly a lot of time to recharge it.  I try it.  The engine turns over indicating the battery has enough juice to do that, but doesn’t start indicating either fuel or glow plug problem.  I put my money on that also being a symptom of an issue with the computer, so I proceed and disconnect the batteries (have two in that thing).
  • Wait 20 minutes, reconnect battery, and truck starts right up.  Windows and dashboard are also now functioning.  Yay.  Back in business.
  • Arrived at the airport to pick up Artem with about 5 minutes to spare.
  • I am thankful I had the day off and had plenty of time.
  • I am thankful I had tools in the truck necessary to prime the fuel lines even if they weren’t ideal.
  • I am thankful that I didn’t run out of fuel until I was actually at the fuel pump.

DR String mower:

• Delivered March 27 and assembled March 28.
• Used for 3 hours March 30 cutting down tall grass around trailer and then expanding to various other areas within fenced area.  It is important to cut down tall grass to reduce risk and difficulty of combating wildfires.
• Went to mow again on April 3 to find that the mower wasn’t working right.  Upon further inspection, I realized who ever reconditioned it did not put in the necessary bearings/spacers for the belt tensioner.  Some of the assembly had melted in a couple locations (it was made of plastic) due to friction during my previous use of it.
• Called service and had replacement parts sent to me under warranty.
• The replacement parts are now sitting and waiting for me to replace them.

Artem’s Visit:

• Arrived at the trailer from the Phoenix airport and shopping in Tuscon early Wednesday morning (shortly after midnight).
• Wednesday evening, Tom was kind enough to take us into Horseshoe canyon in his ATV and showed us some of the historical sites in there.
  • Old Indian grinding stones where they turned beans and grains into flour.
  • The last homestead established in AZ.
  • The site of an Indian ambush on soldiers that were pursuing them.
• I took vacation Thursday to join the area hiking club to hike up one of the mountain trails with Artem.
  • There were a number of hikers at the morning’s rendezvous point, and I volunteered the use of my truck to drive up to the trail head.  The last bit of that was an interesting drive up a rocky, narrow one lane mountain road with trees and brush on both sides of the road scratching along the side of the truck as I drove.
  • For the hike, I made it as far as Winn Falls.  Many of the hikers turned back at that point, whereas a number of other hikers soldiered on to the hike’s destination which was a cabin atop of the mountain with the mountain ridge a 1/4 mile beyond that.  As I felt it would be dangerous for me to try to continue to hike those narrow mountain trails with steep drops inches away from the foot path given the level of fatigue in my legs and Artem wanted to keep going with the group, I opted to remain at Winn Falls alone and wait for their return, then hike back down with them.  The hike’s leader estimated they would get back to Winn Falls in approximately 3 hours.  I managed to kill about 90 minutes before I was well rested and sooo bored just sitting there that I proceeded alone up the trail I saw them take.  I topped the mountain ridge and proceeded along the mostly level trail until I finally met them on their return journey.  I turned around and accompanied them back down the mountain.
  • On the truck ride back down the mountain lane, I learned that the new character my truck’s paint job acquired that day was commonly referred to around here as “Arizona pinstripes”.
• Saturday I put Artem to work helping me fill the holes around the solar support posts.
• Sunday we picked up a guitar from an acquaintance out here for Artem to play while he was here, we then proceeded to spend the day exploring.  We stopped at the Desert Museum so we could learn a bit more about rattle snakes. After a couple other misc stops we stopped by Paradise Cemetery then drove on to Rustler’s Park which is a park pretty much on top of a mountain.  That was an interesting drive.  We drove up a one lane mountain road supporting two way traffic with switchbacks back and forth up the side of the mountain with mere feet (usually less than 5) between the road and the drop off down the side of the mountain.  No guard rails.  The scenery was beautiful when I dared take my eyes off the road to look.
• Monday we went to a fund raiser musical event in Portal with a cellist and pianist playing chamber music.
• Tuesday we ran to Douglas to for a certified check, food staples, and fuel.  While there, I drove near and pointed out the border wall to Artem.  “Dad, can I get out and go take a picture by it?”  “Sure, why not.”  A few minutes of driving after Artem got back into the truck, we were stopped along side the road showing our ID’s to a nice border patrol officer explaining to him what we were doing by the wall.
• Wednesday was a long day – working nearly a full day then a round trip to Phoenix to drop Artem off at a hotel near the airport so he could catch an early morning flight the next day (which he missed and ended up spending the day and night in the airport terminal to catch a flight Friday morning).

Purchase of used 5th wheel:

• After living in this trailer for nearly a year by myself, I can’t fathom three people trying to live in it for any length of time.
• Bought a nice used 5th wheel to live in the next couple years while we build.  It will also serve as our home away from home in the coming summers when we go to Michigan for the month of June to visit and avoid the worst of the summer heat in Arizona.

Wild life:

• I’ve had the pleasure of watching cotton tail rabbits and their young hopping around outside the trailer window.
• There are a number of jack rabbits tooling around as well.
• I’ve been watching road runners take nesting material into the brush pile.
• I’ve seen quail scurrying back and forth.
• As I was sitting and thinking near the compost pile one day, I noted a lizard climbing about on the pile.
• While killing time at Winn Falls I had the pleasure of watching a couple different lizards for a while.
• At Tom’s, his dogs alerted us to a gila monster which we then watched for a few minutes.  Tom says he saw one by one of our rock structures last week.
• Mule deer are common around here and I’ve seen them on a number of occasions.
• Artem and I saw a family of javelina on our way to Portal one day.

Miscellaneous lessons learned:

• If you turn a 2″ ball shut off valve attached to a 5k gal water tank with pressure from 10′ water head the wrong direction (full open instead of close) suddenly, the bucket you are holding at the opening of the valve will likely get blown out of your hand and water will shoot 4’+.
• Due to the change in temperature and associated air pressure, an empty plastic fuel can sealed when it is warm will substantially implode in the cool of the night. Same goes for any sealed plastic container really.
• Due to the change in temperature and associated air pressure, a plastic fuel can sealed when it is cool will pressurize and expand in the heat of the day.
• If you foolishly chose to release the pressure built up in a fuel can with fuel in it by opening the fuel spout, fuel will join the escaping air and spray gasoline about 10′ away.  It is also not a good idea to try to fill a generator using a pressurized fuel can as the force of the gasoline being sprayed into the fuel tank can result in gasoline being splattered back out of the tank through the opening being used to fill the tank.  It is better to loosen the collar holding the spout to the can thereby breaking the seal and releasing the pressure without spraying gasoline all over.
• It is important to remember to tighten the collar to secure the spout to the can before tipping the can up to fill the tank else you will spill gasoline all over.
• Rabbits can run about 20-25 MPH for a couple minutes.  So one evening, I was driving up the road and the dumb rabbits were as usual being dumb.  One ran out right in front of me from the left, not leaving me any time to react, so I kept going figuring he was a goner or he was lucky and I saddled him between the tires or he did an about face that I didn’t see.  A couple minutes later another rabbit further head ran out from the right, so I slowed down a bit.  I’ll be damned if that rabbit from the left didn’t pop out from in front of the truck to where I could see him on the left.  I figure I had been “chasing” the poor thing at somewhere between 20 and 25 MPH for a couple minutes.  I’m guessing after he made it to safety away from the road he keeled over from a heart-attack.
• It is better to remember to engage 4WD at the start of the climb of a long rocky mountain road rather than when you are just 200′ from your destination.
• Don’t take vehicles whose paint job you want to keep nice up narrow mountain roads.
• My snake/work boots are not impervious to mesquite thorns through the soles.
• Do not run out of fuel in a diesel vehicle.

 

With that, you are up to date.  Yes I know, I am behind in sharing months worth of photos…  Stay tuned for those.

Cary