I finally got ahold of Kroc. They're still at home, but they and a group of 4 other families are getting ready to head out I-10 now that it's opened up. They'll be going to a lake house on Canyon Lake. It will be a long hard drive, but they should be fine.

Terry called from El Dorado, Arkansas earlier and is fine. He hasn't heard from Pat either but knows he's no dummy when it comes to these storms.

Take care all. I'm headed up to the ranch for this evening but will be back tomorrow.

Susan, I don't like how this storm is shaping up for you. Please consider AJ's earlier recommendation to head NE. His information has been very accurate for the past few days.

Take care and God bless,
Dave

Quote:

Originally posted by action jackson thinking about braking out the proto 9m phantom tommarrow for a roof session here at transtar, can you think about the press coverage!!!:singing:.......aj

Well lets see. You've buggied under low bridges and on hotel rooftops. On top of the only occupied building in Houston would make for a good photo op.

Keith "Tinker" Anderson phoned me late this evening and said that he is staying at home in Pearland (SE Houston area) and will try and ride out the hurricane. I tried to convince him to leave, but he's hard headed! I made him promise me that he would contact me by noon Saturday if at all possible to let me know how he is doing. His wife "Lou" is at her mom's house in Katy.

Hi guys, sitting back here in Oz watching with keen interest what's happening. We've already had to reschedule one city because of Katrina. Praying with you that things will work out and what people are preparing for will not eventuate. But most of all that lives are spared and people are safe.

HERE IT COMES.
get ready for the storm of your life.
this is it. hopefully everybody down there is
out of harms way.
i watched the weather channel last night.
lots of clips of galveston. it looked errie. nobody around. i`m sure the island is about to be changed.
after this thing passes by everybody please try and post here and let the rest of the buggy world know you guys are alright. i`m really worried about you guys.

hope you guys dont get it to bad over there

Kroc left a voicemail message this morning. They and the rest of the families on their block decided to stay. I don't know if they tried to get out again or were just too tired to keep trying. The good news is the storm has weakend to 125mph winds and is expected to go east of Kroc's home.

McDuffy just called and is fine in Kenedy.

Still no word from Pat. He may be locked in at work.

No word from Rick and Sarah since Thursday morning, as far as I know.

Terry may have to start worrying about fooding in Arkansas since they are predicting the storm to stall and dump 2 feet of rain in that area.

For those helping people still on the road, I just got off Hwy 281 between Burnet and Lampasas and the traffic was suprisingly light. Same with Hwy 183 in Lampasas. I understand Austin is pretty packed though.

Here's the latest from Charles Huckabee:

Hey everyone. We are here riding out what looks to be a long evening. I set the windmeter out back tiewrapped to the play fort and we’ve had a max of 62mph go by so far. We had one large band with wind and rain go over and just now it’s cleared up and the sky is a fantastic color of red/blue. Just as fast as the band came through it has gone away. Can’t wait for the next one! We have the big windows boarded, plenty of food and water, and lot’s of company at the house. Our neighbors and us made the decision this morning to bunker in after the dire tv reports of continued traffic snarls, no gas, and improving forecasts. The storm is expected to hit us hard around midnight so this will probably be my only post until we get back online. Thanks to all who are praying for Houston and Louisiana.

Krocdoc

Take care Charles. You all will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Kroc, Susan, Rick and Sarah, Terry, Pat and everyone who might be in Rita's path...

I sure hope you are all going to be ok. Wish the evacuation went a little smoother so that everyone could get out.

We will pray for you guys.

Steve.

Terry just called and said Pat is fine and in San Marcos. Terry's daughter is in Austin.

Still no word from Rick and Sarah... anybody?

Susan is probably hunkered down, but I trust their judgement.

Hang in there AJ. Sorry you won't be able to launch the Phantom in the eye of the storm. :evil:

i talked to rick and sarah about 2230hrs they are in kerrville at the ranch, looks like houston and galveston have been spared the worst. i doubt if anything is wrong with the house in g-town. just got to get 3.5 million back home then i can go to sleep.the beaches are going to be great for dbbb this yr!!!.....aj

What a night! Power went out around 11 last night and has been coming on and off since about 7am. This is my third attempt to post! Wind is still gusty but very little rain. It looks like the worst has past. We have one tree that snapped about 5 feet off the ground and flew into the fence but that's all I can see right now. The windmeter is still working and shows a max of 82 mph. Houston and Galveston have weathered the storm well. Let's hope our friends to the east are ok.

I can't tell you how ecstatic I am right now!

krocdoc

hey charles
thats good news.
i watched the weather channel until about 2am EST.
the waves and water looked liked like it never got over the sea wall.

That's great news people! The only one still unaccounted for is Susan but as long as they didn't get hit by a tornado they should be ok.

What's the opposite of Exodus? Well whatever it is it's already started. The highways leading out of Austin back towards Houston are bumper to bumper and moving at a snails pace.

Here's the corrected link to AJ's jobsite: http://www.houstontranstar.org

Galveston won't be allowing residents to return until Sunday. People that left their shelters this morning in Bastrop (east of Austin) are turning around and going back to the shelter. There's just too much traffic.

OMG! A chopper just flew down the beach on the west end of Galveston and the beach was beautiful! I've never seen it so pristine. I didn't actually see SLP but it should be just as nice. There was water standing around and under many of the older homes (like the beach house we occasionally stay in) but I didn't see any debris!

ya they will not let you on, but i got one of these special red ic bages and stack of bussiness cards, got i wish my leg worked, i be on the beach for sunset tonight, thinking about heading down there now........aj

Quote:

Originally posted by mecdave Galveston won't be allowing residents to return until Sunday. People that left their shelters this morning in Bastrop (east of Austin) are turning around and going back to the shelter. There's just too much traffic.

I did get out to Old Settlers for a bit today. I couldn't resist with these winds. As it turned out it was too gusty for my 3m but not enough for my 1.5.

The family that stayed with us contacted their neighbors and decided to go home early this morning. They made it in about 5 hrs. I'm not sure which route they took, but traffic was not unbearable.

Wishing everyone a fast recovery and clean-up. Anyone hear from Susan?

Steve.

Quote:

Originally posted by TexasBuggyRider Keith "Tinker" Anderson phoned me late this evening and said that he is staying at home in Pearland (SE Houston area) and will try and ride out the hurricane. I tried to convince him to leave, but he's hard headed! I made him promise me that he would contact me by noon Saturday if at all possible to let me know how he is doing. His wife "Lou" is at her mom's house in Katy.

Any word from Tinker yet?

She's alive and well and is in North Central Mississippi.

Glad to hear that everyone is alive and well . I hope all of your houses are in the same shape to. Everyone have a safe trip home.
Big John

Thanks John. AJ was about to send an Army helicopter to check on Susan. We had to find her. She has all the dbbb money. :singing:

PS Thanks for buying one of the turkeys. What flavor do you prefer?

hey gang
that great news. everybody alive and well.
lets hope this was the last hurricane for the season
i had enought of this s@%t already worrying about my texas
buggy family.
looking forward to seeing my buggy family and galveston soon.

leaving for the beach at 7am sunday, looking forward to get this 20 hr day over......aj

I'm sure you don't realise it AJ but you were sleep working when you called about 6pm. Great job guy. You can sleep well knowing you made a big difference in this crisis.

Quote:

Originally posted by mecdave Thanks John. AJ was about to send an Army helicopter to check on Susan. We had to find her. She has all the dbbb money. :singing: PS Thanks for buying one of the turkeys. What flavor do you prefer?

No problem, Dave it's the least I can do to support such a good event. I would have to say whatever flavor does not get picked by someone else. They are all good or you can pick. I to hope this is the last scare for any of the coastal cities. I think the US has seen enough destruction this year. Again everyone have safe travels home and see everyone for the best DBBB ever real soon.
Big John

yes i know i only took care of 3 tankers of gas that need police escote and trying to get help to susan during my 45 min sleep cycle.last night i had to figure out how to keep krocs bubble boy neibor inflated and cool. then a freaking barge hits the bridge in shepard and closes 59 both ways, bet ya it was a drunk redneck fishing for stripers that floated away..aj.........aj

Quote:

Originally posted by mecdave I'm sure you don't realise it AJ but you were sleep working when you called about 6pm. Great job guy. You can sleep well knowing you made a big difference in this crisis.

Quote:

Originally posted by mecdave Quote: Originally posted by TexasBuggyRider Keith "Tinker" Anderson phoned me late this evening and said that he is staying at home in Pearland (SE Houston area) and will try and ride out the hurricane. I tried to convince him to leave, but he's hard headed! I made him promise me that he would contact me by noon Saturday if at all possible to let me know how he is doing. His wife "Lou" is at her mom's house in Katy. Any word from Tinker yet?

I spoke with Keith Anderson Saturday at noon and he was safe at home. Late Friday night he went next door to check on his neighbor, and he and his neighbor ended up having a small hurricane party, drinking themselves to sleep. Keith said that the damage around his house only amounted to a few tree limbs down, like you would normaly get during a strong storm.

Just to let ya'll know, one kiteflier that many of you don't know because she isn't a buggier, lost her home in New Orleans. She then was evacuated to Houston, then to far east Louisiana, then she and her kids had to evacuate from there before Rita. We haven't heard from her since Rita hit.

Made it back home safe tonignt. The Texas and Louisiana people were the talk of the town in Water Valley Mississippi. See everyone in a few months.

Susan