Timekeepers Gate Guard Job:

Well the great thing about Full timing is that plans can and often do change. We had been enjoying the wonderful marvels of the Arizona desert just as spring was blooming and weather warming, our summer / fall schedule was set, we were to head toward Oregon for a season of Camp Hosting in the various State Park, something we have been trying to setup for several years.

Late Thursday evening on April 1, 2010 – Timekeepers Security Company ( another workamper company I have been in contact with over the last year or more) called us and asked us if we were interested in a Gate Guard Position in Texas. This position involves couples signing in and our trucks and vendors at gates on private ranches were there are oil and gas rigs in operation. Nice thing about this position is that it pays $100/day per couple just for sitting in your RV and securing the gate. The position requires one of the couples to be available 24 hours a day.

Always up for something new and challenging and noting the money would be really great for the wedding and some unexpected repair bills to the our motor home would come in really handing.

So canceling our Oregon’s plans and packing and heading southeast to southern Texas.

We reported to the company on Monday evening. Us and four other couples were set up on a ranch in Encinal, Texas – 35 north of Laredo. The company supplies, a generator, water and provides for dumping It still a challenge but becoming better each day as we settle into a routine. The worst problem is the condition of the equipment (generator) and the lack of immediate support from the company. The field manager for the company has way to much territory to cover. When a problem occurs he is often too far away to do much about it and measures to fix equipment is often a “Band-Aid” approach. Compounding the problem is we are about 1 ½ hours away from Laredo which makes running into town for parts and supplies. But all in all especially with the money we are making and the interesting people we always meet , we are settling in. We should be here until the first part of June with this project will be done. The company doing the drilling is Lewis Petro (BP) and they are drilling for gas on this private ranch. The company I work for contracts with BP to provide security and monitoring the coming and going of workers and vendors on the roads during the drilling. We are pretty remote but we have Border Patrol that comes thru quite frequently. We have seen Javelins, road runners, coyotes, an owl, and host of birds and of course snakes. See the photos below.

Cute Little Golden Finch that sees his reflection in our window and keeps coming back.

The Gate we are responsible for registering people in and out

There is over 20 miles of road that has 5 gates before the drilling rig. There is a "Gate Guard" at each gate. We are the last check point.

Typical rig coming in with equipment for the drilling site.

Border Patrol on routine surveillance. Illegals are a problem, since we are so remote and close to the Mexico Border. Art opening the gate.