Rolling out

This is going to be written in parts since I can only spend sp much time at once on it. So, here is part I:

At approximately 0720hrs, I started up the truck, opened the garage, and rolled out. The apartment windows were taped over, everything of valuee was at least a couple feet off of the ground. My motorcycle was parked in the entrance to the alcove in the front, blocking the way. That had a twofold effect; It created a wall for anyone who wanted to get into or out of the apartment to go over (D6 could enter and exit through the garage) and it would (hopefully) protect the motorcycle. I set the trip odometer at zero. The sun was just rising, and cast a brilliant red-orange light upon my back as I left.

Jim had called me just before to tell me that I shouldn't bother leaving, since the traffic was so bad. There were reports of people taking 12 hours to get the 40 miles from Galveston to Houston. There were also reports of it taking people 10 hours to get out of houston itself. While that was certainly concerning, the information at the time was that Rita was a Category 5 1/2, and t hat it was barreling straight for Houston. The best thing was to be somewhere 200 miles away. The second best thing was to hunker down, and ride it out. The worst thing was to only be a few miles away, trapped on an exposed road or interstate only a few miles inland. So, I had decided that since D6 was safe in the Hospital, I had better try to get out, and that if things got rough, I would turn around, go back to Houston, and choose some defensive terrain to make my stand.

I had my bug out bag ready. I had also gotten enough extra food and water for D6 and myself to last quite a while. It was a good thing, too, since the shelves were now getting pretty bare at Kroger.

That photo was taken a couple of DAYS before I left.

I had also packed a hiking backpack and 5 gallons of fuel, as well as stuff for a camping trip. It was just in case I needed to abandon the truck, and head out on foot. I also was sure to go armed. I actually had a lot of guns (I had been asked to get them to safety for those who could not get them out), but only three were loaded. I kept the bug out bag, hat, and shotgun in the passenger seat, since If I had to exit the vehicle in a real hurry, they would be the things I needed most. So, as I headed out, this is what I had beside me:


Kind of reassuring, isn't it?

Anyway, I have stuff I have to do, so I will post more when I can.
btw, comm lines are getting better for D6 and myself. It seems like the load on the Houston network is now lighter, and Dallas is not overloaded...so far.

Respectfully Submitted,
-doc Russia