Friday, April 1, 2011

Dungeon II (Its here!) /Javelina sighting

Before the move.
After the move.
The Dungeon II turns out to be 11'3" in diameter instead of 10 feet. All the better. We worked most of the day yesterday modifying and old trailer that had been used to haul a very old bulldozer  so we could use it to transport the tank here. It worked well but was stubborn about coming off the trailer. I had it chained to the trailer hitch on the falcon and Juan tried to pull forward to get it to slide off, but it stuck. I stuck the falcon in low gear and shot the gas to it and the falcon is actually what pulled it off of the trailer. Fortunately Juan had an old Mack truck that had been turned in to a winch truck and that was how we loaded it on the trailer. I'm still pondering whether to build a pyramid over it, but now I'm thinking more about building an observation deck on top instead. That would be more functional and could also be used as a shooting platform for target practice which would put the targets considerably further away. Its going to take considerable work to get the tank ready for storage, but I should have that done well before the end of this month so I can have the Dungeon picked up.

Pretty crappy photo since it was taken through the dirty windshield of the falcon. While on the way back from Study Butte a couple of days ago I passed a large pack of Javelina beside 118. I made a U-Turn to take photos of them and as soon as I got back beside them they started scattering. The ones marked with the red lines are only part of the number that were actually in that pack. Id say at least 5 of them had headed in to the brush and can't be seen. These make the first live Javelina I've seen since I've been down here. I have seen quiet a few deer including Mule deer and white tail.
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22 comments:

  1. Dizzy-DickApril 1, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    Dang, even if I moved down there I wouldn't be getting away from the pigs. Yea, I know, they are not technicly pigs.

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  2. tffnguyApril 1, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    DD, they are open season so it could be food in a pinch. I'd have to be pretty hard up to eat one though.

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  3. AnonymousApril 1, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    Javelina once ate all my bubble gum! Tank looks good. It is tasty..properly prepared..

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  4. DaniApril 1, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    Cool DungII - still think a pyramid - with a view deck would be outstanding!

    Wild piggy - at a push t'is food :-) There again I hear the well hung venision (mule deer) is delicious.

    Hmmm - am thinking that the round house could make a cool "Round House"! Is it wide enough for you to stretch out in? Bit of insulation, couple of windows - you'd have a house to match Frann's :-)

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  5. tffnguyApril 1, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    Frann, I've heard they are pretty good eating, but have to be cooked for a LONG time for the meat to be tender enough to eat.

    Dani, I'll get around to a pyramid sooner or later. Just don't know how big it will be.

    I'd thought about making a hut out of it, but need storage more now so I can start saving $85 a month when I get it paid off. I can then start putting that $ into building something to live in.

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  6. DeneseApril 1, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    tffn, I bet it won't take long to get that tank in shape. Your original post about it got me to thinking about my storage problem and not wanting another bill even if it's temporary. Then I remembered Starplates. Gonna put up two and cover with ferrocement. Will take a week or so for both - one to live in and one for storage.

    http://www.strombergschickens.com/starplate_building_system

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  7. tffnguyApril 1, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    D Rose, many years ago I bought some land outside of Odessa and bought the same type plates at one of the lumber yards. It was my plan to build one big enough to live in, but I found out my credit was good enough to buy a mobile home so I ended up doing that. I don't have a clue what ever happened to the plates. I was going to cover the one I started with plywood, but found that would have been a nightmare. I guess if planks were used like in the picture it wouldn't have been too bad.

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  8. GYPSY JESSApril 1, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    Looks cool. I've been dying to see a javalina lately. We haven't seen them for a while.

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  9. tffnguyApril 1, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    GJ, I don't mind seeing them from a car, but don't what a bunch of them hanging around here. Probably won't happen because there isn't much for them to eat here, but I've seen some tracks on the other land I have and there sure wasn't anything to eat there either. I've heard they will come in your house if the door is open.

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  10. AnonymousApril 1, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    one of those pigs chased me up on top of my truck several years back, nice tank and good job.
    looks like signing into my youtube account and commenting resurrected my blogger account. I hate computers

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  11. Bob from AthensApril 1, 2011 at 9:11 PM

    One of the guys around here will put a rack of wild ribs on the bbq with a real slow fire, around 220 230 or so and then keeps basting them with his secret sauce until finally about 12 or more hours later the meat literally falls off the bone when poking it with a fork. UMMMMM good.

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  12. JenApril 1, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    Glad you got the tank in place. So many options fer the storage such as shelving where stuff could be stacked up high for space saving purposes. I vote for the observation deck. I love the birds eye view from atop the lil house. Often times late evenings I climb to the roof of the lil house and just sit there and watch the world go by. I dont care fer danged javelinas. The state is overpopulated with 'em and feral hogs. I always find pig roadkill. But if you had to, you can eat javies in a pinch. Love the pic of yer set up.

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  13. El ViejoApril 1, 2011 at 9:19 PM

    I bet you'll be able to bake a tater in that tank.

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  14. tffnguyApril 1, 2011 at 9:34 PM

    Nick, good reason to have a ladder handy. I don't think I'd want to tangle with one of them without steel boots on and maybe a shotgun in hand,

    BfA, I bet they would make some awesome tamales and maybe some other meat usage. I just don't really want want to mess with them otherwise, but if they show up around here I might change my mind.

    Jen, Most of the lumber that was used in the first dungeon has gone to other projects. I'll probably add shelves out of other stuff though. Might even come up with a little shop in there to, but I've been using Dungeon I for that lately and it gets mighty hot in there in the afternoon and evenings!

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  15. tffnguyApril 1, 2011 at 9:36 PM

    El Viejo, I think you are right. Might make a great LARGE solar oven.

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  16. AnonymousApril 2, 2011 at 6:18 AM

    Tffnguy

    Oh' boy I cant wait till you build your observation/shooting post on top of that old tank. I gotta bring the M1A down for that.
    Im glad everythings coming togather for you Tffnguy.

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  17. Bigfoot and LittlefootApril 2, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    don't forget about adding a whirly turbine rooftop vent.

    and paint the tank dayglow orange & green for your neighbor.

    Bigfoot

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  18. tffnguyApril 2, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    CC, should be about a 500 foot shot so I want a shooting bench up there.

    Bigfoot, I'll paint it sooner or later, but am thinking it would be a great place for a sign that could easily be seen from 118. Guess I need to come up with some sort of business here. ;)

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  19. DaniApril 2, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    David - check out this site:

    http://www.omick.net/native_foods/native_foods.htm

    Food for thought LOL

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  20. tffnguyApril 2, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    Thanks for the link Dani! I don't think there are any Saguaro Cactus in this region, but I'll have to check. I knew about the mesquite pods and making flour out of them. Don't know if there are any of the greens plants here or not. I'll have to find some good pictures of the ones mentioned and see if I can find any. There are a few mesquites here on the property and I may plant more. There are plenty of Yucca, prickly pear and some strawberry cactus though.

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  21. DaniApril 2, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    David - more links:

    http://www.desertharvesters.org/calendar/archived-events/ If you check out the left hand column they have various items on the native food guide. If you click on them, they give you pic of what the plant / tree looks like, and downloadable pdf's on how to harvest, etc.

    This is a bit of a commercial business, but there is some basic info there for you to reap for nowt :-)

    Plenty of mesquite recipes at: http://www.t-a-d-a.com/Mesquite.html

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  22. tffnguyApril 2, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    Thanks Dani, I'll check it out when I get the chance. I haven't been back from the Terlingua Green Scene long. Saw Frann and a few other's I know, but it was sort of disappointing really.

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