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Post by udwe on Dec 17, 2018 23:45:25 GMT -6
Wonderful story! You could easily write 120 chapters with all your characters!
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 19, 2018 0:03:53 GMT -6
Bonus! Two groups of shorter chapters.
Chapter 33 - Friday, 9 July
"So you want to live 'in the middle of nowhere', Andie?"
"Jack, considering the train wreck that's coming, this seems like a very good place. So many of the people we've met are close to self-sufficient and their skills make them barter partners for almost anything we might need. James has even been smiling about getting dairy production going again and I know that's hard and dirty work…"
"But Charles has said he wants Glen to help me with that. Andie, you said Melissa has milked before?"
"At the working farm they were on for 'camp' last summer. If we can't get milk at a store, I think she'd be willing to at least milk enough for our use."
"If Jack gets all the solar power equipment he has on order, we could run the milker for at least a half dozen cows and be able to refrigerate the milk. Plus there is a springhouse on that property that we could rebuild for keeping milk cool if we don't have enough power for other refrigeration. The water from the spring is 53 degrees instead of the 37 of a standard fridge but having milk in those stainless cans and surrounded by water that cold will add several days to its life. If we have pigs, the older milk could be fed to them. And there is equipment - hand and power - for making butter and some cheeses. I think we could make the barter system work if we have milk, butter and cheese to trade."
"So James is committed to living out here. Laurie?"
"I can think of several similar places we lived as kids, Jack. I'll still have my big brother to lean on and some terrific kids to borrow for doing odd jobs."
"Yes, some of them are a bit odd…"
"Daddy!"
"But I might like them a little bit."
"We know."
"As the rest of us can tell from you girls' almost instant response when Jack says 'book' and 'lap' in the same sentence."
"Un huh!"
"Jack, Sally. We'll text you when we get home. As soon as we can get the move started we'll let you know our plans."
"Hugs for my 'little sisters'."
"You goof!"
"That's what Momma calls him!"
"She knows him well. Also hugs for this group of nieces - and I want you to teach me how to make your great-grandmother's brownies when we come back."
"Yes!"
---
"Your feelings about driving these roads with tandem trailers, Charles?"
"Andie, I should have enough experience from the previous couple thousand miles that how fast to take the curves and in which gear will be second nature."
"James?"
"I don't have Charles' background driving semis, but I think a couple thousand miles in a big truck will provide a good education. The proper thing is likely to be 'downshift and slow down' - and I'll be following him."
"You got it, James - other than the endless hours being bounced around by the less-than-stellar suspension on most big trucks."
"Three or four days to drive here, Charles?"
"At least three, Laurie, and probably not more than five. We'll temper that with any traffic problems we encounter and the possibility of riots, blocked roads or people looking to hijack whatever we're transporting."
"I hadn't thought of that."
"We'll be traveling armed as soon as we're out of California. At the moment, that state doesn't seem to have a good enough system in place to handle a big medical emergency. Considering the reports that the Camp Fire may have started with a powerline problem the power company was aware of, it seems a lot of small problems are being ignored until they're too big to be ignored - which isn't the best time to start to fix those problems. If we can get out within 24 hours of things starting to go south, we should be OK. That does mean we'll need to plan the move carefully and pre-position things we want to take from the houses - don't even think about asking to take some piece of furniture on the third floor at the last minute."
---
Chapter 34 - Saturday, 10 July
"So what do you girls think of your new aunts and uncles?"
"They're nice, Grandma Leanne."
"Lots nicer than Uncle Bobby!"
"Yeah!"
"Me too!"
"You have an opinion, Sally?"
"They're Jack's family so they're all Jack in different flavors. How could I not like them?"
"I think that's what I expected of them. On a totally different 'family' topic, could I persuade you to join us at church tomorrow and then for the annual Jenkins Reunion in the park behind the church? I know some of the folks on Walter's side of the family want to meet Jack and some want to see that Alice is actually getting better as quickly as we've said."
"Jack?"
"What time, Leanne?"
"Morning service starts at 10:45. Remember that the Community Church is big on music so I'm sure there will be things that keep the girls' interest."
"Sounds good. Is this a typical family reunion that's a covered dish affair?"
"Yes, but you're not expected to do that on such short notice."
"Girls?"
"Yes, Daddy?"
"Would you like to go to Grandpa Walter's family reunion tomorrow?"
"At the park behind the church?"
"Yes, Sarah."
"With all the yummy food?"
"Yes, Marie. And would you like to take your 'yummy' brownies that Aunt Laurie just kept bragging on?"
"Can we start now, Momma?"
"All of you but Sarah go wash your hands. Sarah can wash her hands after she starts the little generator because the stove's power cord for the oven controls is still run to that gen."
"My mother's brownie recipe, Sally?"
"Yes, Leanne. The one that won first place at the Thompson County Fair so many years ago."
"I'm looking forward to having those tomorrow! Remember to have the 'Made By' sign with them so people know who to thank. And copies of the recipe for those who ask."
"I will."
"And enough for the kids - and adults - most of whom will be coming back for seconds and thirds."
"That too."
---
Chapter 35 - Sunday, 11 July
"Mom, who's the girl with red hair two pews up?"
"That's Sarah Jackson. Her Mom is Sally and her Dad is Jack. He's a Deputy Sheriff. Her sisters are Marie, Lisa and Alice."
"She's the prettiest girl here."
"Don't get your hopes up, Tim. You won't be marrying her in seven or eight years as she's your first cousin. But I agree that she's a very pretty girl."
"Bummer that she's close family."
---
"Mom, Sarah can cook! She and her sisters made these brownies and they're really good!"
"So it's 'Sarah' and not just 'the girl with red hair'?"
"I went looking for dessert and there was a line at their table so whatever they had musta been good. We got to talking and I thought she was my age but she won't even be ten until the end of the month. She sounds and acts more like a seventh grader."
"I think we had this discussion about another girl."
"Yeah, Lisa. At least she'll be in middle school this year so I won't get teased about talking to a 'little kid' in elementary school."
"Sarah is still in elementary school."
"But she's family! No one says anything if you're talking with family because all of us have some cousins in elementary school."
"I picked up a copy of that brownie recipe. Read the notes at the bottom."
"The brownies won first place at the County Fair! No wonder they're so good. Is it OK if I go get another one?"
"Don't be gone more than an hour or you'll be walking home."
"Mom!"
"You spent 30 minutes getting the first brownie and you were hungry then."
"Well… it's kinda nice to talk with a girl who can cook, care for animals and has her own rifle."
---
"Did you girls enjoy being at the reunion?"
"Yes, Momma. The food was yummy!"
"Rather what I expected from you, Marie. Lisa?"
"I didn't remember that I had so many cousins! It was fun being with all of them."
"It is a big family. Alice?"
"Tim is really nice. He talked with us a lot and carried me in the places I couldn't walk."
"Sarah?"
"I could wish that Tim wasn't my first cousin. He's nice and he's cute!"
"I think he felt that way about you Sarah. So is he a kissin' cousin?"
"Maybe, when I'm ready to start kissing boys."
"You'll talk with me first?"
"Yes, Momma. I'll want to know how before I start kissing somebody special."
"Sometimes the learning can be the most fun."
"I wouldn't want him laughing at me for not doing it right!"
"I don't think that will happen."
---
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 19, 2018 0:04:43 GMT -6
Chapter 36 - Monday, 12 July
"Hello the house!"
"Who's that, Jack?"
"Probably the fence crew I asked Warren about. I'll go out and wave them in the driveway."
"You're Dr. Jackson?"
"Yes."
"I'm Harry Todd and these are my boys Joe, Tom, Ed and Al. Warren said you had a lot of fencing to do. How many feet?"
"Not feet, miles. Here's the plot of the area."
"Everything inside the roads?"
"Yes."
"That's maybe 2000 acres."
"Correct. I want four strands of barbed wire with three strands of electric around the perimeter and between the properties as this map shows. The manual gates are in green. The solar fence chargers are in red. Which fence sections are on which chargers are shown by the red numbers at the ends of each fence line. The power-operated gates are in blue."
"That's about a week's work and some of those old fence lines are pretty heavy with brush."
"The tractor has a sickle bar mower and a bush hog. One or the other should take care of most of the undergrowth. If you start here and work clockwise you should be able to get to more than 90% of it with the tractor."
"You want the posts in concrete?"
"Just the corner posts and the gate posts. The line posts you can drive down with the bucket on the tractor."
"That sure speeds things up! You in the fence business?"
"The only fences I've built were when I was in the military."
"But you probably had a big CAT dozer to do the post setting."
"Correct."
"Warren gave you our prices?"
"Yes. Here's a check for the first half of the work and I'll have the other half when you finish."
"You ain't gonna dicker?"
"I've walked most of the property. I know what you'll encounter. This way you won't feel that you got the short end of the deal when you're up to your eyebrows in rocky outcrops or briars."
"Pleasure doing business with you, sir."
"Call me Jack."
"Yes, si… Jack."
"Boys! This here is this week's work."
"A week, Pop? This place ain't that big."
"This place isn't, Ed. But this is what we're fencing."
"The whole thing?"
"Yup. With some in-between fences. Four strands barbed and three strands electric for all of it."
"We're busy for the week."
"Plus Saturday because of waiting longer for the concrete to set on the posts of the power-operated gates."
"That's OK 'cause Martha was telling me yesterday that all the kids need clothes and shoes for school. Looks like they'll be covered."
---
Knock! Knock!
"Yes?"
"I have two trailer loads of solar panels, batteries and accessories for a Mikhail Jackson. The delivery sheet says it's a split load with four delivery points so what goes where?"
"I'm Jackson. First, do you have a forklift?"
"No."
"Then I'll put forks on the tractor's bucket. Meanwhile, the orders are split by my order numbers. While I get the tractor, you check for which pieces are on which trailer so we only move the needed trailer in each driveway for unloading."
"Will do."
---
"That's the last of your order 801. You said the others go elsewhere?"
"Follow me with 802 and we'll get it unloaded where it's needed. Then we get the other trailer and it will be unloaded to two locations on the next road over."
"Lead on."
---
"How'd you unload so fast? I've delivered to commercial sites that weren't as good."
"Being organized helps as does knowing how big the load is and planning for 20% more space than the load should occupy. Plus the guys doing the fencing need the tractor."
---
"Daddy, what's that smell?"
"Marie, that's the smell of concrete being mixed. The crew to erect the windmill and the big water tank are pouring the base for the windmill and the foundation for the tower that will have the water tank 30 feet up which is high enough for us to have running water without needing to run the pump." **
"It stinks!"
"But only for a week or so - just until the concrete has cured."
---
** Author's note: Water has a pressure of 0.43psi per foot of head. Jack's 30 foot tower minus the 7 foot height of the showerhead gives 23 feet of head when the water tank is almost empty. 23 * 0.43 = 9.89psi. Eight psi is considered the minimum acceptable pressure at a fixture. An 1150 gallon tank from Poly Tanks is 5ft 3in in diameter and 7ft 6in high. When that tank is filled, the head is 30 feet (allowing 6 inches for expansion and splashing during pumping). 30 * 0.43 = 12.9psi with a full tank.
---
Chapter 37 - Tuesday, 13 July
"Daddy, can we go shooting today?"
"Lisa, did you know the rules yesterday when Grandma Leanne asked you?"
"Un huh. All of them the first time."
"What about the test questions?"
"I got nine right."
"Nine out of ten and some of those are things we've only talked about once. Very good. How about your sisters?"
"They all did as good as me except Sarah - she got all ten right."
"So which guns did we talk about shooting today?"
"Me and Marie get to move up to the pellet rifle and Sarah moves up to the .22 rifle and maybe the .22 pistol. Alice is still on the Nerf gun 'cause her arms aren't long enough for anything else."
"Can you c*** the pellet gun?"
"Marie can if she holds the bottom in place with her feet and uses both hands. I can't yet. Bending the barrel down is hard!"
"What do we need besides the guns?"
"The goggles and the ear thingies 'cause the .22 is louder than the pellet gun."
"Maybe some ammunition and some targets?"
"That too!"
---
"You're shooting too, Momma?"
"Yes, Marie. Shooting is a skill that you must practice. Your Daddy will also be practicing."
"But that target is a long way off. How can he see it?"
"We won't take his rifle out of the case, but is it different from the pellet gun or the .22?"
"It has the hot dog thingie on top."
"That's a telescopic sight, often called a 'scope' which brings things closer like looking through these binoculars."
"I see! The target has four little targets on it. He can hit those?"
"All of you get in your goggles and hearing protection and you can watch."
"OK."
---
"I'll put one round in each of the small targets then someone can bring the target back so all of you can see it."
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
"I'll get it!"
"MARIE! STOP!"
"Why'd you yell at me, Daddy?"
"Was the range hot?"
"Un huh, you were shooting."
"Did anyone say the range was safe?"
"No, but you're the only one shooting…"
"Am I? Didn't your Momma and your sisters come out with us?"
"Un huh."
"Did you look at what any of them were doing?"
"Un uh."
"Did anyone say the range was safe?"
"Un uh. I was just busy watching you."
"Is it safe to go on the range?"
"Momma's rifle and Sarah's rifle are pointed that way."
"Are they loaded?"
"I dunno."
"So, yes or no. Is it safe to go on the range?"
"If I don't know, then it's 'No'."
"So why did I yell at you?"
"To keep me safe."
"Correct. I might…"
"Like her a little bit."
"Correct, Alice. If Sally and Sarah will check their weapons?"
"Clear."
"Clear."
"As is mine. Now the range is safe, Marie."
"I'll get your target."
"Thank you."
"He shot the middle of the little targets!"
"He's very accurate, Marie."
"Will I ever do that?"
"Maybe. With time and lots of practice."
---
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Post by gipsy on Dec 19, 2018 10:14:32 GMT -6
Lots and lots of practice
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Post by ydderf on Dec 19, 2018 13:13:15 GMT -6
Thank you for sharing all your hard work with me/us.
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Post by 9idrr on Dec 19, 2018 21:41:08 GMT -6
Better to learn it this way 'cause there'll be times in life when you're your only range master. Teachin' new shooters is just about as dangerous as bein' around some of us older know-it-alls. I know I can get kinda cocky when I get too comfortable.
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 19, 2018 22:58:41 GMT -6
So far, these kids have been pretty well behaved but excitement often overrides everything else for a kid of single-digit age.
Happens to those who are numerically adults also. How many people do you know who have a house or vehicle they really can't afford to insure and/or maintain?
Any time I mention "shooting lessons" for anyone, memorizing the four rules will be emphasized. They may not make you an accurate shooter but they do assist in making you a safe (to yourself and the other good guys) shooter. Range discipline doesn't always involve having a reminder in your hand so much of it is verbal reminders and physical practice. I'd prefer not to be someone's primary teacher and I certainly don't want the responsibility of rangemaster for multiple shooters.
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Post by texican on Dec 20, 2018 0:02:30 GMT -6
PP2,
Thanks for the chapters....
Now....
"I could wish that Tim wasn't my first cousin. He's nice and he's cute!"
"I think he felt that way about you Sarah. So is he a kissin' cousin?"
"Maybe, when I'm ready to start kissing boys."
"You'll talk with me first?"
"Yes, Momma. I'll want to know how before I start kissing somebody special."
"Sometimes the learning can be the most fun."
"I wouldn't want him laughing at me for not doing it right!"
"I don't think that will happen."
Seems like Sarah has found a beau....
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 20, 2018 0:49:48 GMT -6
Hard to laugh at a pretty girl who wants to kiss you. Laugh with her maybe, if she starts to giggle ;-)
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 22, 2018 20:15:56 GMT -6
Chapter 38 - Wednesday, 14 July
"Daddy, can we go shooting again?"
"Marie, first animal chores then breakfast then some questions then maybe shooting."
"You'll have some questions every time?"
"Correct. Until such time as your words and actions tell me that the things I'll be asking about have become good habits."
"Like always having goggles?"
"And hearing protection."
"Can we go now?"
"You can go do chores now. That's the sequence I gave you and that's what we'll be doing almost every day."
"Oh. Yeah. But they're no fun."
"Having pancakes made without eggs or milk wouldn't be fun either. They're flat and tough. Chores first, immediately after getting into your chore clothes."
---
"Jack, I'm still a bit surprised at how accurately Sarah can shoot that .22 pistol - all six shots inside the second ring and two of them in the center."
"Sally, it helps that she has a good eye, steady hands and she's learned how to brace her body. The modified Weaver stance works well for someone her size."
"How well would she do under the stress of a real world event?"
"About like the adults do, with maybe slightly more than half of them actually carrying through with what they learned and hitting the bad guy? If she's in 'surrogate mother' mode, possibly even better."
"At least we know that everyone's eyes are OK, other than you needing slightly longer arms for reading."
"Comes with maturity."
"I think what the doctor said was 'comes as you approach 40'."
"You hear it your way; I'll hear it my way. She did recommend the inexpensive readers at the CVS near her office and they're working out OK."
"How many pair did you get?"
"Truck, computer, kitchen, bookcase, barn, workshop and a couple of spares. They aren't something I can easily create."
---
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Sarah?"
"Can we go make Bobby's truck so I can drive it?"
"More correctly, we'll be making the truck so *someone* can drive it but I don't think you can see over the steering wheel yet."
"I can if I use this big cushion from the sofa!"
"And what do we do for a sofa cushion after you get that one dirty when moving animal feed or cleaning their pens?"
"Well… Uh… I didn't think about that."
"So you might be able to drive that truck if we can find a cushion from somewhere else?"
"Un huh! Where do we look?"
"Your Momma mentioned needing a few spices and other things. There's a thrift store near the IGA. If she still thinks those things are worth the risk of being out, I'll measure the sofa cushion and then we'll put on our traveling clothes, including masks and gloves, to go looking."
"Thank you, Daddy!"
---
"Sarah's too excited about grocery shopping to sit still?"
"Sally, she's willing to do that so we can check the thrift store for a cushion or two the right size to get her in position to drive Bobby's truck."
"It would be good if she could see over the steering wheel."
"She's already tested that with a cushion and a pillow from the sofa."
"Cushion for height and pillow for closer to the wheel?"
"Correct. She did either think it through or experiment enough to find a workable combination."
"And you always reward their independent efforts."
"If possible."
"The cream of tartar is the most important item on the list so I can make baking powder from our stock of baking soda. Some recipes use one, some use the other and a few use both."
"I'd say these items look important for the end of the month."
"Either at least ten small ones or the two large ones that are equivalent."
"I'll see what they have and be sure to bring back one or the other. Will you be available later today to help with removing the original engine after the girls have helped with getting everything disconnected?"
"Yes. I'm planning a one pot meal for supper - a roast with potatoes and some veggies - so it can be left on its own in the solar oven for a while."
"See you in a couple of hours."
---
"Daddy! There's some pink cushions over here!"
"Sarah, stop and think for a minute. Where will the cushions be used?"
"In the truck."
"What will we be moving in the truck?"
"Feed. Maybe stuff when we clean the stall for the cow you talked about."
"Do you think this fabric can be cleaned easily?"
"It feels really nice but that probably means… Yuck! We need plastic or something, don't we?"
"Yes, 'we' do."
"Your 'we' means just me 'cause I'm the only one big enough to want to drive and small enough to need the cushions."
"I love it when my smart girls put things together!"
"That sounds like another 'I love you'."
"It might be. Now, tell me which cushions will work best for what you want to do."
"The brown one to sit on and the green one behind me. They're ugly but they look like something that can be scrubbed clean."
"Did you look at the prices?"
"The ugly ones have the yellow 'Clearance' tags. The brown one is $3 and the green one is $1."
"And how much are the pink ones?"
"The big one is $10 and the smaller one is $6."
"So what does 4/16 work out to?"
"1/4?"
"Yes…"
"So the things that will work best are 1/4 the price of the pretty ones that won't stay pretty long. I have the money to pay for that so I can say I helped pay for making it so I could drive it. You're pretty smart not to have been a Daddy for very long."
"I think that earned you some serious tickles when we get back in the truck. It wouldn't be fair to go for your ribs when you have both arms full and can barely see where you're going."
"Not my ribs!"
"Not yet, anyway. I want to look in their mish-mash of hardware and automotive parts."
"For what?"
"Something to make your legs longer."
"Huh?"
"They make pedal extenders so people with short legs can reach the gas, brake and clutch pedals. If they don't have them here, I could make a set it's but faster if I can buy them. Plus the staff here isn't likely to know what the extenders are and they'll probably be priced at a dollar or less each."
"What do they look like?"
"Like this one for a brake or clutch pedal. The one for the gas pedal will be somewhat longer…"
"Like this?"
"Exactly like that. Where'd you find it?"
"In this box under here."
"We hit the jackpot. There are two sets of them and each piece is marked $0.25."
"I can buy those too!"
"Then you carry the cushions to the register and I'll carry the box."
"Yes!"
"Is this all for you, sir?"
"It's not my purchase, it's hers."
"You've piqued my curiosity, young lady. How can these things possibly go together?"
"There's a pickup with a busted engine that Daddy said we could put the engine from a little diesel generator in and make it a motorized wheelbarrow for moving animal feed or fencing and I can learn to drive it if I can see over the wheel and my feet can reach the pedals!"
"You're how old?"
"I'll be ten this month."
"I'll guess that she's a joy to be around."
"She and her three younger sisters."
"You, sir, are blessed to be their father."
"I am."
"Can you explain about the masks and gloves?"
"The flu that hit back in November and December is coming again but the second pass is much more deadly - fatality estimates for those who didn't have the first version are 80%."
"I haven't heard much on the news…"
"It seems the national media thinks people will go crazy if they hear the truth. Call the Sheriff's Office and ask them. You know Sheriff Jenkins is always honest with the people about threats of any kind…"
"Like the rabid coyotes last year."
"Exactly. He has his deputies in masks and gloves…"
"That's all I need to hear. Do you know if the Feed and Seed has them?"
"Last I heard, they were out of stock and waiting for the next delivery. Northern Tool and Tractor Supply still had both on Sunday."
"Enjoy your purchases, young lady. It's time for this old man to lock up the store and go out buying things. Sir, can I reasonably assume that shipments of food and fuel will be impacted by this?"
"That's my assumption and we'll probably have some family coming out here to stay with us."
"You folks can raise food?"
"For now, chickens and goats plus garden and crop space. Working horses if we can't get fuel for a tractor. Maybe a few dairy cattle in the future."
"Then you're much better off here than in any city."
---
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Post by texican on Dec 22, 2018 22:37:26 GMT -6
"Enjoy your purchases, young lady. It's time for this old man to lock up the store and go out buying things. Sir, can I reasonably assume that shipments of food and fuel will be impacted by this?"
"That's my assumption and we'll probably have some family coming out here to stay with us."
"You folks can raise food?"
"For now, chickens and goats plus garden and crop space. Working horses if we can't get fuel for a tractor. Maybe a few dairy cattle in the future."
"Then you're much better off here than in any city."
The older generation understands what the possibilities are....
At another site one of the owners states: Get out of the cities....
Wise words....
Which we have done....
80% death rate for those that did not catch the flu before....
A month until the SHTF....
When it is apparent that the SHTF is around the corner or here, you better be out of the cities or have a place out of the city to go.... Do not show up empty handed or your safe place may not be so safe for you and yours....
Thanks PP2 for the chapter....
Texican....
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Post by gipsy on Dec 23, 2018 10:06:09 GMT -6
Words to live (or die) by
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 25, 2018 14:09:12 GMT -6
Merry Christmas to all! May you have received all the things you need, some things that you want and one thing that was a surprise. My avid reader wife got her surprise when it was just the two of us at lunch - a Kindle Fire with 10 hours of battery life for reading.
If you don't recognize the significance of this chapter's title, go back and reread Chapter 33.
Chapter 39 - Thursday, 15 July - Not a Train but a Plane
Ring!
'This is Jack.'
'Mickey, it's Andie! It's started!'
'How do you know?'
'James has a scanner that covers the aircraft frequencies and he was listening last night. A terrified passenger in a Cherokee was yelling into the microphone about the pilot being ill.'
'That's not good. Could they talk him down?'
'They were apparently trying to when the person started screaming "He's vomiting blood!" and was too distracted to fly. The Cherokee clipped two of the tall metal poles which bring power to the substation that feeds the shopping center a couple of miles from the county's general aviation airport then crashed into that substation and caught fire. As of an hour ago, some 30,000 customers are without power with restoral prospects of several weeks.'
'Has the hysteria hit yet?'
'Not yet. We know that "vomiting blood" was more likely coughing up blood and what that means but most people don't. James and Charles are out renting trucks and trailers so we can pack and move immediately. Do you still have a place for us?'
'Yes. Somewhat sooner than we expected with Laurie's dream appearing to indicate school was back in session when it started.'
'School starts here on 3 August - that's about 2 weeks. I'm sure the flu will be on the move very soon.'
'Remember your masks and gloves.'
'Charles cleaned out the nitrile gloves at Harbor Freight plus the N95, P95 and N100 masks at Home Depot. We also have some Tyvek bio-hazard suits. We're covered, from the plastic "hairnets" right on down to the plastic booties on our shoes.'
'Where will you stay along the way?'
'Probably Wal-Mart or truck stop parking lots, although there are a few RV parks that we might be able to use - James owns quite a bit of stock in one of those companies and is checking on that now. We plan to leave space to hang hammocks in the box trucks and sleep there. We have propane and unleaded gas camp stoves so we're good to cook - or at least heat water for the Mountain House pouches. Do you have your ham gear connected yet?'
'I'm good on 80 through 10 meters plus 50, 144 and 440MHz. Or do you not remember calling me when you got lost in Big Cedar on your last trip?'
'I remember. You still monitor the same frequencies as in the past?'
'Yes. There's usually someone in the house when we're home so they'll tell me if I get a call. I have all of your callsigns written down so Sally and the girls will know it's someone I want to talk with. I have a cell booster in the attic so our phones work over much of my property.'
'Speaking of property. How much does Sally want for her house and land?'
'You're welcome to stay there while you get moved in but it's not for sale. Remember that you've seen the properties that we own and a few of them have livable houses. One has a dairy barn and milking equipment. We'll show you around again when you get here.'
'I can't believe I forgot that we looked at the book and the houses and chose the ones we wanted when we were there! Guess I'm more spooked by this than I've admitted to myself. I'll let you know when we pull out from here - hopefully well before noon tomorrow. We'll be pulling tandem trailers behind the 28 foot box trucks: one for my SUV because Charles wants me to be navigator for him and one loaded with on-the-road supplies including diesel. James will have Laurie navigating if she's recovered enough. Otherwise, he'll be following us and we'll stay in touch via 2 meter simplex. He'll be towing a trailer of supplies and his Suburban.'
'I thought you planned on 24 foot trucks?'
'We did an inventory of our LTS foods and realized Glen didn't pay enough attention when he was allowed to help with ordering things. We've gotten lots more grocery store canned and boxed goods and more "rice and beans" types of bulk foods and need more space to move them. We did order more from the various LTS suppliers and those will be packed in plain overwrap boxes and delivered to the one storage facility near you if possible. Hopefully getting there about the time we do so we can unload the box truck and go pick them up.'
'Keep good distances and watch for the idiots who will soon be out on the roads.'
'If we can leave tomorrow, we think we'll be ahead of the other people and I've planned a route that skirts most metropolitan areas. A little longer than the direct route in some places but better to avoid the known bottlenecks.'
'Sounds like you're doing your usual good job of navigating.'
'Direct on I-40 as far as it goes and then the lesser roads to you would normally be about 28 hours driving time. We're estimating 36 to 48 driving hours because with the tandem trailers we'll be going less than the posted limit. We'll split that up over three to five days of no more than 12 to 16 hours each day, depending on the traffic and the weather.'
'Sounds do-able. Stay safe and stay in touch. Have you heard from any of the others?'
'Mary Ann and Allen are on their ranch in Montana. They've told their older kids to bring their families and stay with them for the duration. Howie and Daniel and their families have a big farm somewhere near the Ouchita National Forest. Is that close to you?'
'Ouchita's a big place. You have a town or city name?'
'Mail goes to Harvey, Arkansas, but he said they're way out from town.'
'Maybe three hours by car. Consider it "close" if you can drive or fly. Long way on horseback. Even longer on foot.'
'I need you to point it out on a good map.'
'I have those maps.'
'When we were there, you were working with the girls on making a map to the grandparents' house. I should've guessed that you'd have the maps for all the surrounding area.'
'Just because I've been obsessed with maps all of my life?'
'I don't know about all of your life - I'm not that old!'
'I'll remember that remark when you call at three in the morning to ask why a toilet won't flush.'
'OK, I take it back. See you in a few days.'
'We'll be listening and watching for you. Convert as much of your assets as you can into portable form.'
'As in cash or physical metal?'
'That, plus weapons, ammunition, heirloom seed for foods you like that will grow here, fuel, fuel preservative and shelf stable or LTS foods.'
'We're working on all of those. Do you have greenhouses?'
'I told James I probably hadn't thought of everything. Those weren't on my list but they are now. I'll get on that as soon as we hang up. If you have an idea on the number, sizes and proper equippage, text me.'
'I'll think about the greenhouses and text you later today. See you Tuesday or Wednesday and we'll phone or call on the radio if we're delayed.'
'Be careful. See you when you get here.'
---
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Post by texican on Dec 25, 2018 14:58:40 GMT -6
PP2,
Harvey, Arkansas Harvey is an unincorporated community in Scott County, Arkansas, United States. Harvey is located on Arkansas Highway 28, east of Waldron. Harvey has a post office with ZIP code 72841.
Surprise, Surprise, PP2 used a real city this time.
Now the SHTF is starting.
Thanks PP2 for the CHRISTmas chapter.
Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours and may your CHRISTmas be grand.
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 25, 2018 16:12:18 GMT -6
I occasionally use real places and roads - just that the places might be off the beaten path ;-)
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Post by kaijafon on Dec 26, 2018 17:58:28 GMT -6
I wanted a place with some ability to raise crops and animals and the potential for a more primitive bug out location. The driving time description puts them in "the middle of nowhere" with both crops and pasture possible but is close to a National Forest if worst came to worst. I do use some real place names (Octavia, Zafra, Big Cedar) and highway numbers (US 259 is in the area), but Doug's Creek is fictitious. Since the setting has many properties along the creek and the creek once powered the local mill, the area could reasonably have been named for the creek. There are places named for less obvious natural features, such as Marked Tree, AR. A place where the main highway paralleled the railroad when I was kid - part of Douglasville, GA, is still that way, although they have grown out from just the city center next to the railroad tracks. Haven't been to Marked Tree in many years so I don't know how it may have changed over time. That is just south of me go through it every day on my way to work.... train still there
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 26, 2018 18:01:53 GMT -6
That is just south of me go through it every day on my way to work.... train still there I'll guess that there might still be more pickups than cars parked along there ;-)
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 26, 2018 19:01:47 GMT -6
Chapter 40 - Friday, 16 July - Trip, Day One
California, 6:10AM
"You trust all the people who did the loading, Charles?"
"Think about it, Andrea. They came over here at 3AM to help and refused any pay - other than coffee. I trusted all of them with my life when I was in the sandbox, as they trusted me. The only thing they'll tell anyone as that we left for your brother's farm which is somewhere in Arkansas."
"Well, he is near Arkansas."
"Close enough for government work. James, have you been through the checklists?"
"Yes, Charles. Just waiting for Laurie to finish the final coolers of food from the fridge and ice from the freezer. The handguns are in their usual locked cases in the cabs. Long guns are in the gun safes near the back door of each truck. A week's worth of shelf stable food plus MREs and water are in the somewhat cool freezer in your truck. Tents and tarps in both trailers. Sleeping bags in the cabs. Hammocks in the back of the trucks. Radios checked and on the first of the frequencies we may need. List of ham repeater frequencies by location taped to the radios. Scanners programmed for state and local law enforcement plus NOAA weather in the areas we'll be going through. Fuel tanks all topped off and full fuel cans on the tongues of all trailers. We should be good for the first day plus some hours with what's in the tanks and the additional fuel is 20% more miles. Extra spare tires for the trucks and the trailers are in the back of the trailers and we have a 20 ton jack plus a tire patch kit. Two GPS units per vehicle plus paper maps. Freshly charged batteries in all flashlights. Serious jumper cables if we need that for one of the box trucks."
"I didn't expect fuel tanks that big."
"These are commercial rentals. They're over-the-road box trucks with double the diesel tanks most rental trucks have. These have two 50 gallon tanks and they get about 10 miles per gallon - probably less with what we'll be towing but not much less because the biggest load at highway speeds is the wind resistance of that big, flat box front."
"That explains the driving distance but it'll be a pain in the wallet to fill them up because I'm expecting fuel to be one of the first prices to start climbing. I think you have everything covered. One last trip to the necessary and I'm ready for some time on the road."
"Same here. I'll tell Laurie and we'll be ready to roll in five minutes."
"Andrea…"
"I get the master bath one last time - you're in the basement."
"As long as all the fixtures work, I'm fine with that."
Bzzt!Bzzt!
[Jack. Leaving the house now. Andie.]
---
"Charles, it's 11:15. Should we stop to eat?"
"It has been a long time since breakfast. Use the FRS to tell James we'll stop at the rest area about 10 miles up the road."
'James from Andie.'
'Laurie here.'
'Lunch in about 10 minutes.'
'James said he saw the sign. See you there.'
---
"Where are we staying tonight, Charles?"
"There's an RV Resort about 300 miles up the road. We have reservations in their commercial area. That means we'll only make about 700 miles today but I think we'll be tired of riding in a big truck long before we get there. That also means we'll have time for a complete check of all the vehicles before dark. There's a truck stop about 30 miles this side of the RV Resort so we can fill up there and be ready to go early tomorrow. The truck stop also has a good restaurant as the parking lot always has many local cars in it."
---
"Charles, that was a good meal! Not just 'good for a truck stop'. I didn't know truckers ate that well."
"Some do, James. Others stay in trim. If we weren't headed for a stopping place in the next hour, I'd have ordered scrambled eggs, toast and coffee so I could stay awake for multiple hours."
"I hadn't thought about food and driving. You learned that when you were a long haul trucker?"
"Oh, yes. Fresh out of the military and looking for 'adventure on the open road'. I got that idea beat out of me in the first 10,000 miles of poor roads so I went looking for a job that was less damaging to my body."
"And you wound up doing software development."
"Among other things. I also designed and built a few prototypes for the military. Pays very well but you can't tell anyone what you've done for at least 30 years. Better to be doing commercial work that's seen as obsolete in 30 months and almost no one is interested in what you know about 'ancient' technology."
"You two quit talking shop and come help set up the hammocks."
"On my way, Andie."
"Me too, Laurie."
---
"How much diesel did we use getting here?"
"Right at 75 gallons for each truck. If the 673 miles on the trip odometer is accurate, we're getting about 9 miles per gallon."
"That was 150 gallons at $4.67 a gallon so $700 and change. You were right - a pain in the wallet."
"We could be paying a lot more before we get to Jack's. If the people driving some of those Tom Joad-loaded trucks are talking about why they're loaded like that, the gas station operators will know what's coming and the prices could easily climb a dollar or two a day."
---
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Post by texican on Dec 26, 2018 20:43:55 GMT -6
PP2,
Thanks for the chapter....
The road journey has started and one day down and at least four to go....
Just how much trouble can the travelers get into with pulling two loads with double trailers....
Texican....
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Post by gipsy on Dec 26, 2018 21:22:40 GMT -6
You had to go and jinx it. now they will have a wheel fall off or something
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 26, 2018 21:39:27 GMT -6
If there wasn't an occasional "or something", I'd never get a MOAR ;-)
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Post by texican on Dec 26, 2018 21:42:37 GMT -6
If there wasn't an occasional "or something", I'd never get a MOAR ;-) PP2, Kind of like marriage and martial relationship.... For the uneducated, meaning making whoopee with the wife.... Texican....
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Post by htfiremedic on Dec 26, 2018 22:03:57 GMT -6
Great reading!!
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Post by 9idrr on Dec 27, 2018 20:19:49 GMT -6
I somehow get the feelin' that their friend Cliff is just down the road.
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Post by gipsy on Dec 27, 2018 20:31:51 GMT -6
I think the author has him chained in the basement to bring out whenever he feels frisky
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