On Monday morning our neighborhood was under voluntary evacuation due to the wildfires. Sunday night, I drove up to Ramona to load items from my brother's house as he was in the danger zone. I had to consider what to load up of our stuff, as well as those items belonging to my brother.

On the other hand, I couldn't stand the thought of evacuating and leaving 3 Paramounts behind....

So, I loaded them on top of the boxes on the cross-bed rack. It worked pretty well.



I had to leave my Gitane and Nishiki behind, plus I found room for my bin full of Campy stuff. One Paramount and my Raleigh Pro were already at my office/shop, where I now have all the items stored. We are staying at a friend's house to the south.

We were able to get back today to pick up some other items, but we could not stay.

It appears our area will be OK, though that could change with the wind. Other nearby areas have been allowed to repopulate, so I am hopeful that tomorrow will be the day for us.

We all wish you the best!

Stay safe.

Geez what a frightening experience! I know San Diego county is/has suffered greatly in these wildfires. I am in the south Orange County area. If I can be of any assistance just PM me. I sincerely hope that all turns out well for you and your family.

Stay safe and keep those Paramounts close! I wish you well and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for posting, Rabid. I hope all is well with you. As I packed my emergency getaway bags into the car with the usual laptop computer, passport, documents, and a few changes of clothes, I thought long and hard about the Capos. I realize now I should simply have bolted the bike carrier onto the Passat's roof rack, to faclitate a last-minute bicycle evac. Fortunately, I think the danger has passed for those of us along the coast, but this has been my scariest fire experience since 1961, when flames consumed all of the houses on the ridge above my elementary school and several houses on my own block.

Usually I envy you SoCal folks your warm, dry winters........
Best of luck to all of you, and may Kali spare you and yours.
Top

If I had seen you on the road headed away from the fire with three Paramounts in the bed of your truck, I would definitely have recognized you as a man with his priorities in the right place.

Having spent my youth in Carlsbad, and as a result the first few thousand miles of my cycling life on San Diego County back roads, I simultaneously envy you the great riding, but remember the smell of a wildfire well enough to be glad to be living here in wet, wet, Oregon ...

Good luck. Sounds like the worst is over.

Not to worry, top. We here in California are doing all we can to promote climate change so that you can enjoy warm, dry winters!

+1

I am glad you saved your bikes, but don't do anything stupid just to save some possessions.
Best of luck to you and yours.

Those aren't "possessions," those are "Paramounts."

Rabid is like the guy the TV news reporters interviewed Tuesday afternoon as he prepared to drive off in his 1953 Jaguar roadster. He had dutifully followed evacuation orders on Monday, leaving the Jag behind, then sneaked past police and fire barriers with a buddy to retrieve it on Tuesday. The anchorman said, "Well, that is a car worth risking one's life for," then quickly recanted, "Of course, we recommend strongly against entering evacuation zones." That same day TV reporter Loren Nancarrow boasted about being able to take advantage of his press pass to retrieve additional belongings from his home in Olivenhain.

Nothing stupid at all, as we were under "voluntary" evacuation at the time. The forced evacuation did not come for several more hours. We were able to get lots of valuable (monetary and sentimental) items we could not have taken with less notice. The bikes were the last to be loaded.

BTW-We are back home along with the Paramounts as of last night.

I have to commend both the citizens of San Diego County as well as most agencies for doing a very competent job in handling the evacuations and emergency services. I don't often praise government officials, but our local people generally did an exemplary job.

I think we are all glad to know that you and yours are all ok!

I'll hope that the rest of the SoCalers will check in with us soon, too.

East Hill