Kawi2strokes.com Forum

I consider myself pretty well prepared but I did learn something from our recent fire evacuation.

1) I had my full-size frame backpack and other gear at the house set for survival (food, water, first aid - including amputation kit, suture kits and much more). Two small white gas pack stoves, tent, emergency crank radio with USB output to charge cell phones etc - the list is long and contained in one bin but mostly all in my backpack.

2) During the standby evacuation I changed it all around. No longer "survivalist" mode more of a property mode. Our portable fire safe with our documents (insurances, vehicle titles, safe deposit key, birth certificates etc) along with clothes and a few other personal belongings like our 400 year old Quan Yin statue!!!

3) We had a bug-out plan set. Liz in her Volvo with the critters, me in my truck with stuff and in case we were separated a meeting place across town. During the drive out we were directed onto a road that eventually was on fire and we were stuck in traffic - it was hairy. To make matters worse my truck was vapor locking due to the 100+ degree heat. I've been chasing this issue for a while but it's really rare when it happens, conditions need to be just right. If I can keep it going it's fine but once I stop it stalled. Of course it would start again but cars were speeding in front of me and stopping. I will say that there was panic all around me when the fricking road was on fire and we're stuck in it.

I could not reach Liz somewhere ahead - because cell phone coverage was down. I knew she was worried and would pull out of the traffic and wait for me - once she saw me coming she would get back in traffic so I could not tell her keep going don't stop! Worse case I had the DT400 Yamaha in the back and I'd bug out on that and leave the truck...

One thing I did not have in my backpack was my portable CB radios and my Scanner, I have a big Cobra CB in my truck but no way to contact Liz on it. This has been rectified...

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This is true. Where I grew up the hills were so steep and long, when your ball rolled down the hill you just said "screw it"...

very cool "rubber duck".
glad it turned out ok for you.

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she will never be pretty but she is a fun ride.

73 KAWASAKI H1 (Sold).
82 YAMAHA RD350LC
2000 KAWI KDX200H
2001 Triumph TT600

Scary stuff....Very glad to find you fireproof!

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1972 H2, modified and Tracy bodied. 77 Kawi 1000. Lime green. Cafe. Lester wheels.

I had a set of the GE walkie talkies. The range wasn't that good but decent enough for a hike in the woods.

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74 H2B with reeds and 34mm carbs
75 S3A Ram Air with reeds and 30mm carbs
73 S2A (wife's bike)
71 Yammi RT1B
83 HD Sportster
03 Yammi R1
06 Kaw 750 Vulcan (wife’s bike)
12 Yammi vstar 250 (wife’s bike)

If you really want to be able to communicate in an emergency, you might want to look into getting entry level ham licenses and some VHF/UHF mobile or hand held radios.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

As a long time Public Health employee, everyone needs a family emergency plan written out and well understood by all family members! PH in my state takes a primary role in case of natural disasters and emergencies. Looks like some lessons learned or what we call the hotwash afterwards Barry.

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1972 Kawasaki H2 Mach IV (Candytone Blue),1984 Yamaha RZ350 (KRR- Yellow/Black), 2004 Honda Helix (Clipper Yellow).

“Jeff and Chris are THE MEN!”
RIP John E. Evans

Thinking short range Jim, while driving etc like during our bug-out when the truck was stalling, wanted to tell her I'd meet at the pre-arranged spot but she kept pulling over waiting for me. Worse case I had the DT in the truck and I'd get out that way but she did not realize that. We depend on cell coverage too much these days but in this case they were down, even my two copper telephone lines were toast at home and only the fricking VoIP worked when we got back and I got a 4G verizon hot spot going because Comcast was down for a week....

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This is true. Where I grew up the hills were so steep and long, when your ball rolled down the hill you just said "screw it"...

I understand, and am not trying to convince you of anything, but with natural and man made noise, and interference from a zillion other CBs around the world (depending on the sunspot cycle) handheld CBs can end up with a range of a block or two. They're not a tool I would personally rely on for emergency communication.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.