Our End Of The Lake: Surviving After The 2012 Solar Storm (Prepper Trilogy) (13 page)

“No problem, we will take as many breaks as you need.” I said settling back in the chair and thinking about tomorrow’s road trip.

“Looks like you get your scout pack back, Ray. I don’t think I could wear it without overcrowding Phil on that shortened banana seat.” I contemplated.

“I got a old Boy scout pack I will give you when I get to the house. And yeah, you can have it for free before any one asks.” he said smiling at everyone.

YOU GOT A TICKET TO RIDE

“Dump, I am going to miss you buddy.” I said looking at my trail companion and loading some water bottles into the flowery basket.

“I am going to miss you too, now we got our own personal adventures starting again my friend. I am going to hang out here for a few days and make some plans.” He said leaning against the porch railing.

Martha came out from the kitchen and said, “I made you and Phil lunches and I got some beef jerky you need to find room for.” she said handing me two bags.

“I appreciate all the hospitality, Martha. Good luck Ray.” I said hugging Martha and shaking Ray’s hand.

“Climb on, Phil, lets get this road trip started.” I declared.

“Phil, I will be down your way in a few days to check on you and figure out what we need to do about the gardens.” Ray said.

“I will see you then, and I sure do appreciate it.” Phil replied warmly.

I said, “Hang on Phil.” and we were off with a chorus of good byes ringing in the background.

We didn’t talk much first mile or so, as Phil was trying to stay balanced and hanging on for dear life, every time I tried to share the seat with him. I noticed a yappy little dog starting to approach us and stopped the bike, so it didn’t start try to nip at our heels and hollered at it to go home, while chucking a small pebble at it.

“Phil, dogs on these country roads don’t mix with bicycles to good, hang on second I am going to get something off that car ahead.” I told him.

“Antenna?” he questioned.

“No, something stouter, a dip stick.” I said wheeling over to the vehicle.

“That will make good critter getter.” he said handling the flattened steel stick.

“Put it under the rope on my pack and you or I either one can grab it.” I said turning around some so he had access and then remounting the bike.

We rode on pretty uneventfully the next few miles and with an occasional water break, Phil was holding up well.

“You want a lunch break or you want to keep on?” I asked him over my shoulder.

“Might as well go on, we only got a few miles left.” he said sweating profusely, but not that chalky grey he was yesterday.

I thought how glad I was that we would make it without a medical emergency or God forbid the old guy dying on me. My legs were tired, but this sure does beat walking and at least there is a bit of breeze today.

We arrived at his home a lot sooner than I expected and Phil directed me into his long winding drive way.
This guy sure has a bunch of land
I thought as we came up to a big white antebellum looking house.

“That’s your tractor over in the corner of the field.” he said pointing a few hundred yards away.
Didn’t look to bad at this distance, though it was hard to tell at this distance I thought
.

“Come on in and we will rest a bit before you go play with it” he said unlocking his front door.

“I got lots of can goods, but we can see if anything is still good enough to eat in the freezer, too. I assume your going to stay for supper and maybe spend the night?” He inquired hopeful of the company.

“I would appreciate that, Phil. I don’t know these roads around here and I don’t relish the thought of driving them at night. Does that tractor have headlights?” I said wondering what I could do if it didn’t.

“It’s got them, but I don’t know if they work or not. I never tried them to be honest. Let’s go see if that thing even cranks and you can explain to me on the way, why some things might work when most things don’t.” he said while looking into a soggy freezer.

“This meat on the bottom is still a bit frozen, how about grilling us a T bone steak for dinner, Dave?”

“Great! Let’s go see about that tractor first.” I said very curious about what condition it was actually in after hearing Phil and Ray go at it about its appearance and mechanics.

Phil I set off across the field and the closer we got, I saw it didn’t really look all that bad.

“Now she uses a bit of oil, but if you keep an eye on it you shouldn’t have any problems. She is a little cantankerous to start so don’t be put off if it don’t fire up on the first few tries.” He said, climbing up into the seat and I went around front to crank it.

“Now I know you done this before, but just have a listen to me for a minute, Dave.” he said advancing the throttle a couple notches and turning on the gas.

Phil said “If the tractor is properly tuned, hand cranking is a relatively simple process. Two major things to look out for: NEVER, EVER wrap your thumb around the crank. Cup your hand and lay your thumb along side the crank handle. If, for some reason, she kicks back (backfires) and the crank doesn't disengage, you won't spend an hour looking all over the yard for your thumb. For the same reason, crank only on the UPSTROKE. Pushing down on the crank is a good way to get your elbow permanently embedded in your ear.”

“All great advice, Phil.” I replied.

The process on these things is something like this.

1. Turn on the gas

2. Advance the throttle a couple of notches

3. Double check to make sure it's in neutral

4. Set the spark advance about half way

5. Set the choke

6. Engage the crank onto the crankshaft pins and turn SLOWLY until you are at or near the bottom of the stroke and you hear the impulse on the mag click.

7. Pull up sharply to the top of the stroke and let go of the crank. 8. Repeat 6 and 7 until it starts.

Well I repeated six and seven about 5 times and then VROOOM! It started! I hopped up on the side of Phil and off we went laughing back towards the house.

“Hey Phil where do you want Martha’s bike parked?” I asked moving it out of the way.

“I ought to mount the damn thing over the fireplace for a conversation piece, but its just plain too ugly to look at.” He laughed and added, “Just leave it sit there. I will make Ray do something with it later.”

“I could have strapped it onto the front of the tractor as a hood ornament, if Ray hadn’t of already traded it to you.” I joked back.

“You want it, you can have it.” Phil said grimacing.

I thought about it for a moment and said, “No I think its time me and that bike parted ways. I sure am glad I don’t have to try to ride to Montgomery on that thing.” I said with a sigh of relief.

“You want a drink Dave? Seems we both got a lot to celebrate and be thankful for. I got a bottle of Gentleman Jack I keep for such occasions.” He said heading towards the house.

We got our drinks and headed out to the back porch of the house and I took in the sight of a huge barn and several horses in the back pasture.

“After dinner I will show you the Barn and my other tractors” he said settling into a lounge chair.

“I will finish this drink and start the fire. Where’s the grill?”

“It’s over there,” he said motioning off to the side of the courtyard. “But it’s the gas kind, so no need to worry with it for awhile.”

“You know Phil, it won’t be long until the hunters are out in force, you might want to keep them horses closer in.” I said watching them serenely wandering in the distance.

“I need to think about other security, too.” he said thoughtfully sipping his drink. ”Now that I know old tractors and some older cars with points and carbs will run, I am going to round me up some live-in farm help to help take care of things.” he said while reaching for my glass. “Let me get you another.” turning to go in the house, while I was telling him I’d forgotten to check the tractor’s head lights and headed around front.

I turned them on and they worked just fine, so I went back to my chair and Phil and I talked long into the night.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

I fired up the old tractor and arranged the pack that Phil gave me and followed him out of the driveway. Phil had saddled one of his horses and was going to go check on a neighbor. We progressed as far as his turn off, and then we waved goodbye to each other, and I putt-putted on down the road towards home.

I figured I could do about 15 miles an hour and not stress out this old beast too badly.
Let’s see, I calculated, that should put me at the city limits in about 10 hour’s if I got back on the interstate somewhere. Wow! That’s a hell of a difference from the weeks it would have taken me walking or even riding that stupid bike.

I think I will stay back roads, as much as I can, and pick some obscure exit to get back on the interstate. I sure didn’t relish the thought of seeing mobs of refugees wanting to get a hold of my tractor. I rode on for a while avoiding cars and trucks in the road and only occasionally seeing a homeowner who waved for my attention, but I just kept on going by as fast as the tractor would let me.

Hell, it looks like its going to rain soon; I hope it doesn’t get too bad. All I got for protection is one of those disposable plastic paint tarps and the canvas one I used for my pack earlier if I needed some shelter. I better stop and cut a hole in the plastic one for my head to fit through soon, I thought as thunder started to rumble.

I better check the oil in this thing, too, I thought. I am glad Phil supplied me with a gas can and a laundry bag full of oil bottles or this trip might’ve started out twice as long. I can just see me having to rob cars for oil or gas, well I would have to get some more gas eventually, but siphoning doesn’t take long.

I can’t get that opening song from Green Acres TV show out of my head
. I chuckled to my self thinking,
how surprised my mom’s going to be seeing me ride up on this thing, if it makes it. It will make it, think positive
. I reminded myself.

I made a little pit stop on a deserted stretch of road and rigged me a poncho, after I put gas and oil into the tractor.

Oh hell, it’s starting to drizzle, come on rain just hold off a bit longer
, I was hoping or I was going to get drenched.

The rain held off for about an hour or so and then started intermittently coming down.
Well, at least it’s not storming
. I allowed while trying to keep the rain out of my eyes. I hadn’t seen anywhere to get under cover, so I might as well just grin and bear it.
You know this rain might help me out, if I got back on the interstate, everybody would be seeking shelter in cars and not be all in the road
I figured.

I started towards the interstate and came on at an exit with very few stores. I didn’t see any signs of life around and the buildings didn’t look like they had been broken into yet.

This was always a desolate stretch of highway with few exits and mostly wooded terrain. There were relatively few cars on the road, but I saw an occasional face peering out the window watching my passing in a moderate rain. I saw one, I think prepper, taking refuge from the rain at an underpass with a military looking backpack and a bicycle heading towards Atlanta or one of its surrounding towns. Guy was pretty cool as I gunned it and came whizzing by. He held up his hand and gave me a thumbs up which I happily returned.

What do we have here?
” I wondered a few miles later, while slowing the tractor and looking ahead at a RV on the road shoulder with its awning out.

An elderly couple was sitting outside under the tarp in lawn chairs and waved to me. I slowed down and stopped the tractor in front of the vehicle and we exchanged hellos.

“Mind if I get out of the rain for a bit?” I asked.

“Sure. I will get you a chair.” the man said.

“My name’s Sara, that’s my husband, John.” she said motioning to him coming out the door of the RV with another folding chair.