Ranch Maintenance (Sunday Oct 29, 2023)

 Allen has been busy around the ranch with various maintenance projects so today’s blog is a compilation of pictures with some limited text describing what is going on. You should be able to get a good idea of the wide variety and unusual nature of his work. He is part of a small group with Edi (pronouced Eddie) as the head of maintenance and Tino (Cellistino) and Marciel (not to be confused with Marcel) in assistance along with Allen. Edi grew up on the ranch starting at the age of 14 or 15. Marciel is putting in a year of service before starting at the University next year to study computer programming. There will be another university student in service when Marciel leaves for University the 1st of the year.

The maintenance crew does not speak much English and with the limited Spanish that Allen has acquired, he is becoming quite an expert at using translator on the phone. It sounds like he is able to communicate adequately with the rest of the guys to figure out what work is needed and, at times, to make suggestions as to obtain the desired result.

The maintenance crew fixes a lot of septic and water problems and does inspections to check the water levels in the dams, test the chlorine levels in the potable water, and change the filters, if needed, for the bottled water plant on site. They dig out clogged septic systems, fix leaks in the water pipes, trim trees, install appliances, wire in new or renovated housing, build concrete steps, repair tile floors, and even replace light bulbs and trim the grass with machetes and weed wackers.

They often come across interesting flora and fauna on site, some of which is shown below:

Marciel Grouting new Tile to Repair a Tile Floor

Marciel Polishing the Repaired Tile Floor

Tino and Marciel Removing a Potable Water Tank for Cleaning

Praying Mantis

Tino Widening a Set of Concrete Steps

0.5 Micron Filter for the Bottled Water System

Bat Shown Next to Allen's Hand

Utility Pole Rotten at Base was Downed to find that it was a Bat Habitat

One Line was Fiber Optic and Had to be ReSpliced. 
Tino and Allen Riding a Motorcycle to a Maintenance Activity
Tree with Holes Pecked by Woodpecker and Subsequently Filled with Acorns

Trimming Trees Around Power Lines (no chainsaws, just machettes and a small axe) 
New Concrete Pad, with power, water and drian and eventually a metal grid enclosure for a new Clothes Washer

Edi wispering to a Local Goose to settle it down from all the activity

Marciel and Eddie reconfiguring the piping to provide potable water to a new area.

    Allen has a growing collection of tools as he finds equipment that could help out in different circumstances. He very generously shares what he has and is happy to promote easier ways to accomplish a job. 






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