The morning was interesting. In the sense that digging long, shallow rows in the side yard of the Museum was interesting.
Long and constant digging. Yvonne and Chris took up the smaller tools and held them as well as they could with their hooves, trying their best to pitch in. They didn't get very far, but the thought counted. I didn't get quite done before noon rolled around and we all stopped for lunch before changing up what we were doing.
Yvonne took the radio, while Chris began planting some of our seeds. Grace decided to take the roof, probably to keep watch, while I took the van out to look for the Serta store. I found it quickly enough, it was near one of the main streets and easily visible. I drove up to it and parked with my back facing the front door, before I hopped out and used my sledgehammer to break some of their glass windows. Bigger than the doors and all. After that, I watched my step before checking the back first, finding a broom easily enough and using it to sweep the broken glass to one side, where I wouldn't step on it.
Then it was time to look for beds for us all. Four twin-sized beds was the order of the day, because I don't think any of us were sleeping with anyone else. Nice, comfy, memory-foam beds. Then my mind considered another problem, and I drove over to Wal-mart again.
The order of the day - Blankets. And pillows. Lots of them. Grabbed some more packaged food while I was over there as well, along with some bottled water. Because we could always use more water. The van was packed nearly full, though. I...might have overindulged on the blankets and pillows a little. Sue me, they looked comfortable.
Just as I pulled into base, the sky opened up with some rain. It had been threatening to rain all afternoon, and only actually did once I needed to unload things. So we waited, though the little moisture I'd been splashed with made my feathers puff up a little once it dried. I could only imagine what would have happened if I had stayed out there, trying to unload the van while the rain poured down. I'd probably look ridiculous.
Eventually the rain paused, and we took the chance to unload the food first, followed by the blankets and pillows. The water was quickly moved out of the way, and then the beds were quickly moved in as well, before I shut the van and bolted inside. Just in time as well, because once I did, the rain picked up again.
Dinner was a more subdued affair. Chris said he'd managed to spread some seeds throughout the furrows I'd dug, but would like me to help dig a little more tomorrow, if only to plant a little more. I agreed to his idea. Yvonne said that she'd heard nothing on the radio, and Grace said she hadn't seen anything from the roof at all today.
It was the last one that worried me. The dogs were also quiet today. That can't be good at all.
Tomorrow, after helping Chris with the farm and lunch, I'll be Grace's escort through the city. Just in case.
I managed to actually feel some lift from my wings today during my little exercise period for them. Guess that means I'm getting closer to actual flight. Now if only I could remember the finer points on bird-of-prey flying from that video, I might be able to do something with them other than crash when the time comes.
Skippy's taken to the new guys so well, he's only just now showed up here. Yes, hello mutt. You like the attention, don't you? C'mere, I'll give you a quick scratch behind the ears before I nod off. That's a good boy.
Well, it's late and I'm tired. G'night.
"To those in the Denver area, you aren't alone." "We have food, water, shelter. We're willing to share." "Yeah, but don't expect to get it for free." "We won't make you pull more than your fair share, but you can't contribute less than your best either." "Please...somebody. Anybody. Be out there to hear us."
I thought of 'that video'.
6615132 Well - no.
Gasoline, stored in a 'normal' car tank may in many climates go off rapidly.
I do note that I have started and run my car on 3 year-old fuel that had been stored in the tank just fine. (I started it and ran it every month).
I live in Scotland however, which is not notably hot and humid.
This is basically due to oxygen and water reacting with the fuel, and producing undesired compounds.
You need to find a (preferably large, clean) tank, fill it with fuel, and then ideally flush the void with inert gas, then seal it.
In some cases, especially for very large tanks, you may need to explicitly arrange an expansion vessel, to cope with air pressure changes, and not allow any gas to leak in or out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expansion_tank#Larger_systems
http://www.swri.org/10light/fuelqual.htm - is related too.
In short - stored in a vapour and oxygen tight container, especially flushed with inert gas, gasoline or especially diesel is going to last a _long_ time.
A more relevant question might be 'sustainability'.
Getting enough fuel to last your lifetime is pretty easy, for modest consumption.
Getting enough fuel to last several generations into the future for an expanding community is probably unlikely in most scenarios.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_strategic_petroleum_reserves#Europe
Some of these are such that they are likely to last well into the future with minimal maintenance.
However, most are not refined petroleum.
But, from most you could run a 'flex fuel' or diesel car.
Biodiesel is of course readily producible, as is bioethanol - though if you have stored petroleum of any form, you probably want to use that first, rather than spend effort farming.
Engines is another interesting issue.
Electronic fuel injection makes vehicles a lot more reliable, but the electronics are going to die in likely under 50 years - even with repair. The components are not makable without billion dollar fabs, with an extensive industry supporting them.
An interesting question becomes 'repair spells'.
Can it redo bearings, and other moderately complex moving parts.
A fairly modest machine shop can do quite in-depth repairs of engines, but when you stop trying to scavenge old engines and make new is an interesting question.
A fancy turbocharged engine gets a _lot_ of power per unit weight.
20hp can do a lot though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_TE20
how strong is he? could he learn to climb buildings and tree's and glide?
6617471 I want to find the "Owl Troul" video from Gravity Falls, but I'm too lazy.