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AE Year 1
On the map, our shortest route would be to go north to I 15, and then west. But, we encountered ash and lava before we reached I 15, and had to turn back south to reach I 40.
It was late afternoon by the time we reached I 40, and we camped by the on-ramp at exit 133. We kept a careful watch that night. A quick breakfast before an early start and we headed west. After a few miles we cut the fence and crossed the median to top off our fuel from an abandoned big rig.
We made good time until just past Newberry Springs. The highway and everything south and west was covered with ash and lava. Fortunately, Danny knew the area, and we were able to backtrack a few miles and take a dirt road north to I 15.
When we reached the ridge overlooking Barstow, we could see the town and the whole valley south was covered in ash. Danny did not speak as he turned the rig around, and I knew he had many high school friends that lived there.
We again diverted north on a mix of paved and dirt roads paralleling the northern edge of the ash layer. We camped that night on Old Highway 58, and our mood was somber.
The next day we were able to take Highway 58, all the way west and again skirted the northern edge of the ash fall. We reached the community of Tehachapi and camped on the highway at the south end of town.
That night, we looked for lights, without success. There was smoke I could smell, but no sign of where it was coming from. The next morning, we met two men walking up the highway. They were armed and cautious, but not threatening.
We talked for a while, and they told us that the town was severely damaged in the quakes, and less than a hundred people survived the winter. One man had come from the north and reported that Bakersfield was covered in ash. We left them a package of seeds and continued.
When we crested the last hills overlooking Bakersfield, ash covered everything. Danny turned back toward the junction with Highway 223. When we reached it, he turned southwest. This road skirted the major ash fall, and several times it was covered with a light coating of ash. I was reminded of Roswell as we drove through the burned-out town of Arvin. We stopped at a burned gas station and were able to top off our fuel from the underground tank.
We continued west, still running in a light layer of ash, and crossed over Interstate 5. The northbound lanes were filled with burned-out vehicles. When 223 dead-ended, we turned north on Highway 41, and ran out of the ash a few miles later.
Danny was anxious to reach his Dad’s place, and we pushed through a series of back roads until we reached Highway 43. We had bypassed most of the towns since we didn’t know how we would be received.
The anticipation grew as we approached the crest of the coastal range. We had seen so much death and destruction. Had the senior Mr. Ross survived?
Rounding the curve, I could see a gas station. The pump roof cover was down, and no signs of life were obvious.
Danny pulled into the driveway, just as the door on the shipping container storefront opened. Suddenly, Danny was out of the van, running into the arms of an older man.
Eventually, we were all introduced, and Mr. Ross, or Sam, as he demanded we call him, told us his story.
When the quakes started, he shut down all the power and closed the shutters over the store windows. After riding out the storm inside the store, he found his RV upside down across the road. His truck was not damaged too badly, but none of the electrical systems worked, and it would not start.
He explored the area on his mountain bike, and discovered a massive debris line just below the crest of the Santa Lucia Coastal Range. He surmised that a huge tsunami had driven the wreckage of the Morro Bay community, up the canyon.
Suddenly, I knew what I had refused to consider, was true. My father was gone. Tracy's face told the same story. We embraced, and it was dark before either of us had our emotions under control. The long quest was over. We had no family, just the clothes on our backs, and each other.
Finally Tracy wiped her tears, and said, “Friends with benefits ain’t gonna cut it any more. I need to feel committed.”
I assured her that I felt exactly the same way. We slept together that night in the van, and Danny didn’t attempt to join us.
The next morning I made coffee at sunrise. Tracy was apparently still sleeping when Danny came out.
He poured a cup and then said. “I know our situation has changed now, but I don’t want to lose either of you. I love you both and want us to be a family, forever.”
Tracy chimed in, “I heard that. You need to make an honest woman out of us. We’re ready to have kids and build a life together.”
Danny answered, “I agree. It’s time to stop running and settle down right here and build a future together.”
We had a group hug, returned to the van, and when we emerged, all of us were considerably less tense.
Within days, Trever and Alice had come to a similar agreement.
In the weeks that followed, we salvaged a lot of materials from the debris, and built a pair of bedroom additions on to the store. We also planted a large garden and scouted the area. After clearing the road of debris, we drove down to the ocean. The sea level had encroached far up the canyon and it was obvious that it had risen a lot. The fishing was good, and it looked like between the garden and fishing, we would be able to feed ourselves.
