Detroit

[DetroitOtherday]

Hello?

Cities are definitely not a good idea. Somewhere where you can have a campfire would be good but water is essential The pandemic could get worse yet and it's not going to be over soon :(

No idea. Chad's place was nice by the photos, but total prick.

I'm used to being able to move on.

Electric I can do without, I've lanterns. Bathroom I can cope without. No well. I guess at least as long as we have electric here the well works.

Miserable for us all. I'm kinda writing again, picked up my guitar and started on a song. Keeps me amused. I found spring very hard.

Noone is having fun right now I know. I'm sorry I'm not cheerier.

What a shocker Chad was though! Glad you found out before heading there though.

Shame about not having a fire. That and a flush loo and I am set. Our family are ‘car campers’ but I am happy to be rustic with the site as long as I have a flush loo and a fire am happy.

Hope you can keep warm and dry Detroit.

I thought of you as I used the clippers on my husbands hair this afternoon. Only my second time I have cut it and I got over confident. I cut a chunk out of his fringe. Luckily it is quite thin in the front and it will be kinda hidden. He spends most of his days on video conferences for work so I am interested to see if anyone notices . I could have just taken it all off like you did.

Yeah, cutting a short hair cut is not that easy is it! Mines very short but not bald. Chilly though! Very easy to clean and dries in seconds.

Flush bathroom! I dream of that! And hot showers! I miss my old camps!

This is my longest stint with no shower since I left. Makes me feel kinda scuzzy.

I decided that if things get worse here, I'll drive to my plan b. Haul water. I'm a bit scared at this point.

I can certainly understand being worried. Hopefully though you have enough food without resorting to looking mouthwateringly at the sheep!

Sheep no. Looked at deer with slight blood lust when I ran out of food and had a lean few days before I could get out to town. I like fishing, but just don't have what it takes to hunt animals. I've plenty of potatoes and carrots and pumpkin, onions, cans of sardines, dried goat milk and tea bags. Big bag of sugar. I'm doing great. Even got eggs and a bit of cheese in my cooler. It's wierd but ok. 3 bars of chocolate left. I'm grateful for what I have.

The kind people at the grocery store fixed me up with a lot of discounted $1 bags of ugly veg.

Ugly veg = tasty veg.

You sound sorted. I remember growing up on powdered cow’s milk. My mum would sometimes run out before her fortnightly grocery run. I also remember as a kid my dad making me hold the legs of the scrawny chook (chicken) that we were destined to eat for Sunday roast. It is a wonder that I am not vegetarian myself to be honest. Plucking was worse. But as farm kids, you knew not to make pets of the chickens or cows.

And I think I could probably live on chocolate and veges.

I grew up in cities, Winesalot. Dirty,noisy cities. I longed for some remote place without people. I'll do exactly what I want while I'm still on this Earth.

I've horrible dangerous severe food allergies, so my options are limited. I'm doing ok. Bit scrawny, need to get weight on, but ok. I ration out my allergy chocolate to three squares a day. Two apples. Sugar. Three tea bags maximum. Two scoops of milk. I got some organic veggies in my bags, so I usually make boiled veg, two eggs, or a can of sardines. No lunch. If I get too lacking in calories, I'll eat sugar from the bag. It gets tough sometimes.

I'm grateful for what i do have.

I really wish I could help, Detroit. I have family in (if you're in Michigan) the next state over. If you're stuck, they are genuinely lovely people and would, I'm sure, be able to help out with a hot shower and some food.

FWIW, it sounds like you're eating a healthier diet than many people. Have you got access to clean water?

Ive got well water, the guy who rented me the spot said it's clean. I'm not sick yet, so I think it's fine. I fill jugs up, let em stand in the sun. Possibly should pick up water purifier tabs, i guess. I'm not over in the Midwest currently, but that's very kind to offer.

The diet is pretty healthy, yes, allergies save me from myself! I'm trying to up my calorie intake. I don't really get hungry as just feel weak.

I'm doing better than I sound. I'm just glum, and this spot is not very nice, right on a busy road, and the other people on the acre...

I'm sorry about the glum. Hope you find a better spot, soon. And do keep checking in here.

I think I've decided to leave tomorrow instead of paying another week.

Hi @Detroit how are you?

Not great. Very smoky. Still camping. Pandemic plus this disaster ...not great. Hope you are all well.

Detroit. Hope you are safe.

Safeish. Much safer than many. When I can see a non firey route open I'll get out. I think i'ld be in more danger if I try and leave right now. Very smokey to hazardous levels, but the fires are currently a ways off. We need rain very badly and no more wind!

Good to hear from you Detroit but sorry that your situation is so awful. Please keep us updated if you can. Take care.

To be frank I'm not sure how much more I can take. I'm doing my bit, I can safely heat water for people. I can't breathe, eyes stinging, no route out. The only mercy is right here isn't burning. I think I'm in shock. We had these terrible very hot winds. It just went up. The closest fire is doing ok. I may have reported bbqers. Just call me Karen. I'm getting used to it. Total grouch, me. Need to learn how to be nice. Hah.

@Detroitinsixtyeight

To be frank I'm not sure how much more I can take. I'm doing my bit, I can safely heat water for people. I can't breathe, eyes stinging, no route out. The only mercy is right here isn't burning. I think I'm in shock. We had these terrible very hot winds. It just went up. The closest fire is doing ok. I may have reported bbqers. Just call me Karen. I'm getting used to it. Total grouch, me. Need to learn how to be nice. Hah.

No need to be nice. Good on you for reporting BBQers, seems pretty fucking stupid TBH to risk a random ember floating along considering the current situation.

Hoping you have clean water and something to cover your eyes/face for moments of relief.

Beyond terrible that you are stuck in such a state; thinking of you.

I've clean water, food for a few days, and my covid masks. I'm doing ok for now. Scared, coughing, but ok. I hope the weather starts to give the firefighters a chance and we can get out of here. I think out of the west coast is my only option at this point. Resources are going to be stretched, and covid will spread in the aftermath of this. One foot in front of the other. Been a tough year or so. My chest feels awful.

Even bugs are spilling into this field. Bugs, birds, smoke. A few people who made it out here with very little. Pretty grateful for my bucket of potatoes, water flask and cans of sardines. I keep vacillating between panic and being utterly upset. The smoke is terrible, but that hot wind has gone, it's not red sky and ashes falling right now.

I hope that you can find somewhere safer soon Detroit somewhere where you can stay for winter.