NOTE: Ruth and the girls have a Cobra 25 CB Radio and not the Cobra 29 or 19 CB Radios. This is a mistake on my part in not paying attention to the original posts ( http://www.hondosackett.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1428938728/962#962 ) that gives them the Cobra 29. The Cobra 29 has the Channel 9/14/Dial switch as the Cobra 29 and 19 does not. These radios look similar (depending on the models chosen like “LTD” vs. “GTL” models) but in closer inspection, one can see that the Cobra 29 and 19 does not have that separate channel switch where the Cobra 25 does.
 
Jeanette’s radio has this switch even though it is not a Cobra name brand Radio but a Uniden, which is strange because some Uniden radios of the same model series have the switch and others don’t, her does have that switch.
 
Both Cobra (made in the USA) and Uniden (made in Japan) are high quality radios. In RL, strangely enough, it is the Cobra that is the higher cost radio despite being equal to a similar model Uniden radio but both are very popular CB radios in the USA.
 

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At 3:45, the call goes out on PA and CB Channel 14 and 19 for all vehicle drivers and owners to get ready for the 4o'clock meeting. Those like Fernando, Hondo and Jeanette who were resting, get up and get ready for the meeting. Ruth (the oldest of the girls in the camper) also shows up with the three of them to go to the meeting at the large information tent at the center of the market.
 
There must have been over 350 people here though some share responsibilities for the same vehicles. Others were in their own groups like Jeanette, Hondo, Fernando and Ruth being in their Medical & Rescue Group. inside the tent, basic information was taken, and as agreed upon before, their Medical & Rescue Group requested in being the last vehicles of the caravan. This had to be agreed upon by those in charge of the caravan, and asked technical questions about their vehicles such as fuel & capacity, range, top speed on various road conditions and what services can they give in an emergency. Satisfied with the answers Fernando and Hondo can give, it is decided that they would be the last 4 of the line.
 
Introductions and listening to the other drivers' experiences of past caravan runs gave a lot of information. Handouts of printed maps of the roads to be taken to what town and information on what groups specialized in what road services (rescue, repairs, refueling, etc). Fernando nudges at Hondo, pointing at his guide "Half Track Groups 1 - 6 will be dispersed among the caravan for protection against attacks by raiders. The Last known attack from the raiders was in 2052..."
 
"14 years without an attack? Makes you wonder who won that battle!" Fernando leans to Hondo.
 
"Ha! You know it Jefe..." Hondo replies.
 
Jeanette listened intently to several drivers who were talking about some of the mountain and cliff side roads, taking careful notes. Something catches her ear, something about "some of the larger transports can only go as fast as 30mph, if that." This is the reason why the first leg of the trip is over 4 hours, despite it being some 80 miles away and the second leg of the trip being over 8 hours despite it being almost 200 miles away – the caravan is only as fast as its slowest vehicles. The Medical & Rescue Group taking up the rear has more than enough fuel reserves to make the trip though they will need to refill their empty tanks when they get to their destination - the second town.
 
Only a few in the caravan will be heading to the first down – part of a fortified hill with the town behind it in front of its own fortification. From hearing of it, it is very anti-mutant and anti-spirit, worse than the first anti-mutant town the group went into.
 
They finish the meeting at around 4:20, with many of the hanging around to about 4:30. Fernando and the rest of the group stay only for a couple of minutes and get any last minute intel they could find. They go back and discuss plans of their position in the line. It is decided on the following:
 
Ruth and her girls would be first of the group behind the last vehicle on the caravan - an armed Half Track taking the defensive position in the rear.
 
Jeanette and the girls would be behind Ruth and their trailer, case the Gas VW Camper breaks down, the Box Truck camper can tow it the rest of the say
 
Hondo and his trailers would be next in line with Fernando taking up the rear, in case Fernando's electric VW Camper breaks down, Hondo's truck can tow it. Fernando's electric camper would be the last vehicle on the caravan.
 
8:30 - 9PM would be the suggested bed time for the younger passengers for the long ride. In Jeanette's camper, the girls would have to sleep in the rear bed, and the pop-up section remaining down for safety reasons. Dinner Meal Time would depend on the individual vehicle groups.
 
CB Channel 38 would be the Medical & Rescue group's agreed channel, though everyone needs to be on 14 for the main caravan communications - the group needs to switch to 38 as to not to tie up the main channel. All the radios of the group have switches on their faces for Channel 14 and 9 for direct switching when needed. Do achieve this, the main dial was set to 38, and then the panel switches set the channel to 14 (and 9 when needed) so it would be on channel 14 and then brought to 38 at a flick of the switch.
 
Soon they were back at their main camp and share the information with the others. At 5PM, sounds of the larger vehicles were heard being started as some engines need to be warmed up. Though the Caravan leaves at 6PM, a couple of motorcycles roll out to check on road conditions ahead and some 60 of the slower vehicles start their journey at 5:15 for a head start over the others. Moro thought silently about how some vehicles spewed out black smoke and others did not, though this is a matter of cold diesel engines starting and the black smoke only last for a minute or two until the engines heated up to operating temperatures.
 
For Jeanette, Fernando, Hondo and Ruth, the food that Val had prepared were handed out in tupperware (they had when they were transported to this time) and stored as a few items needed to be made fresh. She throws in some potato salad she made from the left over French Fries on top of the sandwiches, chicken salad and macaroni salad they had made. Fernando took the soda offered though he's trying to cut down on it and not expose Macey to too much sugar. He also takes some coffee Val had prepared for them. Fernando puts most of his share of the meal in the passenger side lower bin of the dashboard in his camper and everything else in the refrigerator..
 
Sunset is expected to be at 7:30PM, and the weather so far from the motorcycle scouts seem to say its favorable conditions along the highway - low winds, and no rain so far, with the roads having been as clear as it has been for the past many years.
 
At 6o'clock, the main body of the caravan consisting of over 250 vehicles creating a line over a mile in length begins to roll out. Among the merchant vehicles were a couple other emergency vehicles including a couple of fire tanker trucks, ambulances, tow-trucks, and a few VW Campers with merchant trailers connected to them but they made an odd noise as they were diesel powered and not gas or electric. These VW Campers had a water cooled diesel engine still in the rear with a radiator in the front and a reinforced front end; some with an extra storage box in the front with the radiator. Fernando and the others get into their respective vehicles and get ready though it would be for another 1/2 hour before vehicle of the market group caravan leaves the market area. Ruth begins going after the last vehicle of the caravan, with Jeanette following her, Hondo following Jeanette, and Fernando following Hondo.

Hondo stared out the windshield. He had Valentine drive ahead of him in case he needed to pull Frrnando's ride.  As the time wore on he ate the salad from his sand which container as he drove with his knee. Then he packed his pipe. Through the ride he puffed on his pipe, drank coffee he had in his Thermos,  and sang along with Hank, Willie, whalen, lefty, George, Johnny, and Patsy  as he drove into the night.

NOTE: Sorry Hondo. Forgot about Val driving the Bronco.

Note: This is written with Arik.
 
Jeanette has questions for Fernando on time loops; she will wait until it is a good time to talk. Still, she thinks about her conversation with Moro. If her decision, the one in which she returns to her time when the mission‘s over, broke the time loop then how far beyond the end of the mission does this time loop extend? Years? Based on two facts, Jeanette can’t imagine the time loop extending beyond fifty-six years. Does immortality fix the time loop problem by having her other self here to continue on after the mission is over?
 
“Jeanette,” Hikaru says, “I was thinking it would be best if I stay in the Camper when we reach our destination. This way there will be an adult here.”
 
“Okay.” Jeanette thinks it’s hypocritical for Fernando to lecture her on accepting immortality when he has immortality pills. On top of that he talks about the offer as if it were a reward or a bribe. No one said anything about it being either one. Quite the contrary. The Texas Spirits went through hundreds of years of trouble just to get Jeanette to accept it. He also asks if she wants to watch as ALL of her friends die. Jeanette just wanted to scream at Fernando. Hikaru, whom Jeanette has known since she was nine, is an Immortal. Still, Jeanette believes she owes it to herself to get all of the facts from someone who does not have anger issues. “Hikaru, what is it like to be an Immortal?”
 
“I’m only ninety-seven-years-old. It’ll be better to wait and ask when I approach a thousand.” Hikaru puts all kidding aside. “Seriously, this would not be as much of a problem for you since you are not interested in getting married. If you are married or are interested in getting married, it is a problem. If you marry a mortal you have to watch as your husband or wife grows old while you stay the same. If you want to marry another Immortal, you really don’t have much of a choice.”
 
“I thought you are interested in Theodore.”
 
“Theodore and I are friends but I can’t say I’m in love with him. There’s more I want to say but not with others in the Camper.”
 
“What about Tsubasa [Hikaru’s twin sister]?”
 
“Tsubasa won’t live forever. I’ve accepted it.”
 
“You said Tsubasa means the world to you.” Jeanette pauses. “I know what you mean.”
 
Jeanette Isabelle and Arik

Another 2 hours minutes of driving along the mountain cliffs, they make it to the first town, a fort like structure on one of the lower plateau and the main town along the ruins of another fort like structure below it on another level. One can not go into the town without going into the fort first. Here many of the on the caravan break off to head into town.
 
"This is Caravan Leader speaking - if you are breaking off from the line to get to town - this is your turn off point! All others remain to go to the second town! I repeat - if you are breaking off from the line to get to town - this is your turn off point!"  All others remain to go to the second town!"
 
This took about a 1/2 hour to complete as various vehicles broke off the line to get into the first town. Furthermore, several vehicles from the first town join the line, filling in some of the spaces left by those who went into the first town. The caravan reenters the cliff roads. Until now it the only sound out there was the roar of various engines echoing off the cliff side roads. Now a new sound is introduced into the darkness: the blast of a long whistle with repeating "Chug-Chug" sound off-set by the Doppler Effect as it's tone frequency changes as it seems to get closer. The closer it gets, the roaring sound of a strong engine and clanking sound of metal against metal gets louder until it roars over head - A steam train pulling various freight and passenger cars rolling to the first town on rails set on a higher roadbed above the highway some 50ft feet. Though it only takes the train some five minutes to pass the caravan in the opposite direction, it was a site to behold above the heads of the caravan on the highway below. Eventually the highway road levels off with the railroad as the land flattens out after a half hour of driving along the cliff and the main roads head away from the mountains. The railroad seems to make a sharp turn to the southwest as the caravan continues to head south and after a while disappears into the distance of the darkness.