Zombies Don't Burn

The weather has been hot and dry which makes for good traveling.  Dr. Jividen was down from New Portland staying with us in our small FEMA compound.  We were running at Ft. Clatsop on the Fort to Sea trail.  Dr. Jividen was looking for signs of the Mortis virus in the surrounding woodlands.  It was all routine.

We had bicycled to the start of the trail out at Sunset beach then ran it out to Fort Clatsop and nosed around there for some time before the sun was threatening to set and it was time to make tracks back to our bikes and get behind the fence before night fall when the zombs are at their most active. 

This entire time we had not seen any Zombies at all.  While Grants people were with us last year they had taken considerable time to chop off heads and burn or bury bodies thus decreasing the danger and general population of the local Zombies - as long as one did not go over near Seaside.  As I've written previously Seaside is a very dangerous area full of tourist zombies. 

So on the way back we are almost to our bicycles when we see white plumes of smoke from around the bridge.  A voice from far away yells at us, "Don't Go Down There!" 

But of course we had to.  Apparently there were some zombies, shamblers, and whoever yelled at us or possibly someone else thought to dispatch it by setting the whole place ablaze. 

We had to go through.  The trail was still there and sandy which acted like a fire break but it was also very narrow so we went through the bracken and hoped the fire did not jump.

It was very warm.

I was worried about the soles of my sneakers melting when I hit areas that were black from being recently burned.

We made it through okay and up the hill enough to see three zombies shambling onward toward whoever had set the fire.

Burning an area to make it zombie free is never a good idea!

1 Year Later - Arrival at the Sand Wastes

My blog is a year old - crazy. 

It has been a year of writing.  I'm no longer at Fort Stevens, as of last weekend.  We moved into the old FEMA camp which is on high ground.  The camp area drained an existing wetland and all that was left was endless sand.  It's everywhere. 

We - the Commander and I.  <3  No regrets. 

At the FEMA compound modular homes were setup in neat militant rows and they all were fenced so survived the apocalypse really well.  The entrance of the camp was hidden more or less from tourists.  The Commander and myself have a tidy little house with all the amenities that a post civilized world can offer.  Some days this includes a hot shower. 

I've adopted an orange hair tom cat.  He catches grasshoppers and brings them to me.  This is the high ground encase of earthquakes / tidal waves.  FEMA put in a big chain link fence with barbed wire around the entire perimeter.  (Thank you government paranoia!)  There is also a lot of drainage keeping this from reverting to wet land. 

Leaving the Fort was so hard.  In these times when you call a place home you figure that's where you'll always be.  So much has changed. 

The new location in the sand wastes allows me to run Astoria, Hammond, Warrenton Oregon areas and someday I will cross the Megler bridge into Washington.  Bicycles are now an important part of our operation.  Some of Grant's people are here and ride guard so I can get across Young's Bay safely. 

I've been visiting the Astoria Library remains when I have time and picked up several books of interest this week.  Several Vegan cookbooks, embroidery and bead craft I think I brought home this time.  I have an utter passion for vegetables.  Wondering if this sand could ever grow anything. 

It would take me too long to fill you all in on what happened to Dr. Jividen, the Mortis virus, and the final demise of the Forts tourist population, but I will be writing of my continued adventures.

Officially - Rain Runner 5 

After April - Rain Runner 5

Rain Runner reporting for duty.  This Monday is my first real day of training back as a regular runner.  The summer had me training a young Runner by the name of Ian.  Ian says running is just way too hard.  He makes me laugh and now that I'm running solo again I miss the company. 

Three days a week I'm in Astoria (what used to be Oregon) running supplies for colonies on board the big ships.  The runs are mostly short - 2 miles at a time but on Monday I start cross training for much longer runs as my feet can handle after being injured in April. 

I'm doing better with my food intake since becoming Vegan.  Something added to the meat, particularly beef made me eat way too much.  After coming into a stash of canned beans I've been more or less alright and slowly losing weight and running better, albeit I need to get back into my former running shape prior to November. 

The rain is coming.

The rain forest has been beautiful.  Warm.  Inviting.  Paradise.  But soon the rains will begin again.  Time to get ready.