J.R. opened up the connex to check on the fuel situation. Since the end of the Olympics, every thing just started to fall apart. First the stock market lost 50% of its value in a month. Then the banks started to enact a federally mandated $500 a week cash withdrawal. Then the gas stations started a 10 gallon limit per purchase. J.R. thought back to the 70's when the oil embargo had almost crippled the country. He was satisfied with the 110 gallons of gas and 55 gallons of diesel.
Food was another thing that had not only rapidly accelerated in price, but also the selection and availability had become spotty to the point that if you did not get to the store on the 1st and 15th of the month there was a good chance that staples like bread, eggs and milk would not be available. The rumor was that the escalating cost and supply issues had a drastic effect on the supply chain and that trucks were sitting loaded at the distribution centers but could not leave due to fuel shortages. And to add to the already fragile situation the electrical grid was suffering an ever increasing outage situation. J.R. was not really affected by the grid-down situation as he had a solar dc/ac system which could power his necessities for a week at a time. A diesel generator backed up the house when the days were cloudy or the climate changed. A satisfactory inspection of the pantry showed the supplies that had been accumulated over the past 3 years. “I will not starve” mused J.R. with a smile. Eggs from chickens, goat’s milk, turkeys in the barn, deer in the back yard, and a cattle and pig deal he made with his friend, Dan. Two fridges and a freezer full of food. J.R. thought that the whole thing could come crashing down and he and his family will at least eat, and eat well.
The gobble, gobble of the turkey brought his attention back to the task at hand of the fuel inventory and checking on the generator. J.R.’s thoughts soon turned to the snowmobiles on the trailer. It would be soon time to put them away and pull out the dirt bikes. A small smile formed as he thought about the trails in the Sierras, and how much he enjoyed the freedom of riding. There was nothing like the dirt to clear your head and embrace the true spiritual sense of you, your bike, the trail, and nothing else. And the views from 8000 ft were just incredible. He was often asked by non riders what it was like to be 100 miles into the forest by your self. His retort was often, “If I had to explain it to you, you would not understand.” His thoughts drifted to the extensive amounts of throttle and how the prodigious amounts of roost could be directed to your riding partners as you passed them.
It was the end of the month and J.R. was on his way to pick up one of his unit members, Craig. He was a 10 year vet and had moved from the east coast when both he and his wife had lost their jobs. Craig was a diver by trade and had extensive underwater commercial diving experience. He was a victim of the economy’s crash in '07 and had gotten an opportunity to move to his in-laws place on the outskirts of lower Calaveras county. It was a nice 20 acre spread with good water and a defensible location. Craig was as J.R., a prepper, and was busy with the final preparation for what all of the unit members knew as the up and coming collapse of society and the fall of the USA.
As J.R. pulled up Craig’s road he observed him kneeling by a bunch of feathers. “Another coyote attack?” “Yeah" Craig mumbled with disgust. “Third one this week. Got to get another German Shepherd. This is starting to piss me off.” J.R. just shook his head, “Yeah, well you better hurry, you are running out of chickens.” “Yeah, I know. I wish they would have found another spot to nest. There has got to be a at least four or five in some den. I will get another rescue Shepherd this week and put this situation to rest." “Roger that” was J.R.’s comment. “Let’s get going.” The two climbed in the truck and headed out to the meeting.
The conversation was mostly about the economy and how much worse it was getting. A lot of comments about Obama and his jobs bill, the general feeling of that there was just no way out of this mess and a total melt down was imminent. “You Know,” J.R. commented, “this million man march is going to be a complete waste of time. I mean, what’s the shit about marching almost to DC? If you want to have some effect, you march to DC right up to the Capitol.” Was commenting on how after the feds got notice that an armed march was planned to the Capitol, they had enacted a new law prohibiting firearms within 15 miles of the Capitol building. “I mean like, where is the effect when you're 15 miles away from you source of irritation.” “If you want them to know how you really feel you need to get up close and personal, in their face. That way Obama and Pelosi can really get the gist of the anger.”
The conversation turned to the food situation and the price and availability of fuel. J.R. had just started one of his long rants about how things are going to get so bad that the populace will start to get really pissed off and eventually its all going to come to bullets flying when Craig all of a sudden yelled out ”Whoa! What the fuck! Do you see that?” “What?” said J.R. “Look at the parking lot at the Albertson's store.” “The deuce and a half, parked over at the far end of the parking lot.” J.R. looked over to his right and sure as life there it was. A UN deuce and a half parked in the shopping center’s parking lot. It was at the far end as to not be so obtrusive but the two soldier's trained eyes had caught its presence immediately. “Shit! We need to check it out” said Craig. “Yeah we do” whispered J.R. J.R. pulled a right into the parking lot and slowly moved towards the UN truck. “See any blue helmets?” asked Craig. As the truck slowly moved to the UN vehicle it was obvious it was manned. Two soldiers sat in the cab and another four where leaning against the bed. “Chinese” said Craig. “Yeah” was J.R.’s response. “What the freaking hell are these guys doing here? “You see any weapons?” asked Craig. “No, not apparent” said J.R. “Hold on, I see a side arm, Chinese tokerov clone. Must be an officer.” “Damn” was the slow retort of Craig. “What do you think that’s all about?” “How many do you count?” “Five" said J.R., “Looks like one officer, can’t see his rank, and four enlisted men.” “This can't be good” said J.R., “this can’t be good at all.” “Yeah, this is not a good sign” said Craig.
The two men were stunned as they drove out of the parking lot and back onto the highway. They drove in silence for about twenty minutes and finally J.R. broke the silence. “This is messed up. Foreign troops, in uniform and armed, in California. There is no good that will come out of this, no good at all.” Craig was silent the rest of the trip, his thoughts were on seeing Blue Helmets in his town and the ramifications of that.
Part 2 is coming soon.
Posted by Ltcl J.R. at 9:24 AM