winchworks...but

Gotta first squash just about ready to eat.

Old Brown Cow is a new favorite at TFL.  She is the only other longhorn that Benita would back off from.  Did the Good Samaritan thing this afternoon.  Another trespassing tourist got stuck in the bad spot 4.5 miles SW of TFL.  After his long walk I drove him back down and got him out with the winch....BUT...now my truck is down there with a nice big stick stuck through the sidewall of my drivers side rear tire.  Will deal with that tomorrow.  87,95,56,0,C

all day project...

Well...I didn't think it would take all day to finish the winch hookup, but it kinda did.  First thing - I needed some bits to bolt it all together which prompted another trip down south to Bee Mountain Hardware and an excuse for another Cafe breakfast.  Found a home under the hood for everything and snaked the wires around away from all the hot'n'moving parts of the engine.  Plugged in the remote and it winched!  The goal of course is to never have to pull myself out of a bind since I have yet to get stuck out here in 4 years.  Will save this new capability for the less prepared, which happens often out here...and I will only charge half what the local towing service does. 

Meanwhile, back in critterville - had a full day of longhorn, burro and rabbits.  Dennis spent half the day snacking on top of a bale of alfalfa.  Might just have to set up a bed of alfalfa sprouts for the rabbits once the greenhouse gets going - they will be allowed in the courtyard but I won't have to worry about them eating my food since all the growing beds will be out of their reach.  63,80,32,0,B

got the winch

Morning run to the post office to mail out books and grab a real breakfast at the Motor Inn Cafe.  No Mr. Floppy today, so Benita ate without disruption and I didn't have to chase off a donkey over and over.  Moved a pile of dirt into the last back fill section of the courtyard.  Afternoon visit from my friends Casey http://www.allenergies.net/ and Dr. Gig  http://www.gigatrike.com/ .   When it comes to off grid systems, I'm just a hack - but these guys really know how it all works.  Rounded out the day with deliveries from Fed Ex and UPS....got my hitch mount and winch.  Lots of wires to snake around once I get the thing bolted down.  61,79,30,0,C

too little too soon...

Poured the threshold for the north wing this morning.  Jam was having a little trouble mixing the concrete.  Fought with her till I got the section finished (9bags).  Opened up the motor housing and found that the shaft key was missing and the pulley was no longer firmly attached to the shaft.  Stuck a big screw in there and now they are one again....oughta make the next pour go a lot easier. 

Just as I finished the pour, some folks stopped by asking how to get to the swimming hole.  I gave them simple directions but didn't draw a map - mistake.  Removed some fittings under the front end of my truck to make way for a new part.  While I was waiting for UPS to show up with it...one of the swimming hole seekers came walking up.  They got their truck stuck 4 miles from TFL and 2 miles in the wrong direction from where they wanted to go (and about a mile further south from the spot where I was able to pull out the last folks that got stuck).  I drove him back down but there was no way for me to pull them out.  Ended up driving them to the Ghost Town to spend the night - Beechie will have to come yank them out tomorrow.  At least I got a nice view of Panther Mountain that I hadn't seen.

So....the part I was waiting for was a front hitch for my truck.  I have a winch that I got over 2 years ago and thought it was about time to mount it.  Still waiting on the winch mount receiver.  If they had only waited about a week - I probably could have pulled them out.  I hada feelin....46,68,28,0,B