Riverwalker's Pics - Big Texas Gator and Rattlesnakes

Have you ever seen a BIG Texas gator? Here's a good one for you from a small town in Texas with a few rattlesnakes thrown in for good measure!

A Texas Power and Light crew, putting in lines for an addition , found the following in a culvert they were using...

The gator was 18' 2" in length.

Another use for duct tape!

The rattlesnake roundup totaled a final count of 87.

Got stick?

Special thanks go out to Texas Power & Light for sharing these pictures.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Special project - Lightning Video # 5

Here is the fifth lightning video made by RW, Jr. for a special ten part series on lightning.

Lightning is a natural phenomena that everyone should take seriously.

Enjoy the show!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Reads - Skills, Soup, and Freezing Eggs

Riverwalker gives a big thumbs up to his current reads!

Test Your Gear and Practice Your Skills: Practice, practice and more practice…and have fun learning survival skills!

Homemade Camp Food: Got black bean soup - dehydrated no less!

Main Production Hens Molting: Learn to freeze your eggs!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Special Project - Lightning Video # 4

Here is the fourth in a ten part series of lightning videos by RW, Jr. These were taken during some severe thunderstorm activity in our area and provide an awesome view of lightning activity.

Enjoy the show.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Simple Facts About Lightning

You owe it to yourself to be aware of the possible life threatening dangers of the beauty of nature. Lightning displays during a severe thunderstorm, while visually exciting, can also be extremely dangerous. Here are a few simple facts about lightning you should be aware of because lightning strikes are one of the most awesome and dangerous things in nature.

Simple Facts About Lightning

1.) The fear of lightning is known as keraunophobia.

2.) Approximately 1% of all deaths in the U.S. attributed to lightning are a direct result of people talking on a land line (i.e., corded phone) during a severe thunderstorm.

3.)There are approximately 10,000 forest fires started by lightning strikes each year.

4.) Lightning strikes kill more people than deaths due to tornadoes and hurricanes.

5.) Worldwide there are more than 8 million lightning strikes each and every day.

6.) Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania are the top 3 states for lightning injuries.

7.) Florida, Texas and North Carolina are the top 3 states for deaths due to lightning.

8.) Lightning is the most dangerous thing produced by a severe thunderstorm.

9.) Your odds of being struck by lightning in your lifetime is 1 in 5,000.

10.) Approximately 20% of persons struck by lightning die as a result of their injuries.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Shotgun Point of Impact Test - .410 Gauge Shotgun - Part Two

In Part One of a simple test of point of impact and how well they patterned with different shotshell rounds for our .410 gauge shotguns, results of RW, Jr. were posted. I am now posting my results of the recent tests that were done with my H & R Topper Model 88 .410 gauge shotgun.

Using the same basic target rounds as RW, Jr., the first shotshells I used were the Remington Long Range Shotshells in #6. I used green colored targets for my targets instead of the black colored ones that RW, Jr. used. No mistake or confusion on the results that way.

I had a very good pattern on the 8 1/2 inch by 11 inch target with the Remington shotshells aiming at the center mark of the target from 50 feet. This was pretty much in line with what I thought would happen. I’ve made a point to make sure I know just what my firearms are capable of and what, if any, limitations there might be on the gun or my abilities.

I had similar results at 50 feet using the Winchester High Brass Shotshells in both the # 7 1/2 and # 6 shotshells. This was to be expected though. I have been using these loads for quite some time and they have always done well in my .410 shotgun. Good patterns were achieved when aiming at center target with all shotshell rounds (see pics above). I would feel very comfortable using either the Remington or Winchester shotshells, as both produced excellent results for me. It is important to remember that this was done with a stationary (fixed) target from a standing position (not the most stable platform). Moving targets are a whole different ball game.

Pictured above is a pellet from the 000 buckshot rounds that RW, Jr. dug out of the tree behind the target when repairing the tree damage. You should always make an attempt to repair any unintended damage done to the natural environment. This is a basic precept of good hunting, shooting and bushcraft skills.

From a distance of 75 feet, it penetrated the good oak tree about 1 1/4 inches and mushroomed very nicely to a little less than 1/2 inch in diameter. The pellets in the target went only slightly deeper but the old stump was fairly rotten. No surprise that they went a little deeper!

The buckshot rounds tested fairly well also. My first rounds were within a five inch circle but were slightly to the left of center and this was probably due to the fact that I’m right-handed but left eye dominant. If I cock my head ever so slightly, my rounds have a tendency to go left of center and down to the left. This depends upon how bad I cock my head when aiming. It takes a conscious effort on my part to keep my head straight. This is something my good friend Bitmap pointed out in the comments section of Part One. The position of your body will affect your aim. My second shot was even worse. I over compensated and my head was turned too much to the right. Hence the rounds went low and to the right.

I need to shoot more of the 000 buckshot before I make a definitive decision. This may be a while though. I can shoot a 25 round clip of .22lr for the cost of just one of the .410 buckshot rounds. I also need to mention that there was a minimal amount of additional recoil from the buckshot loads. Those of you out there that are of smaller stature don't need to worry about it.

If you don’t know for sure how your firearm performs, you may need to do a little practice yourself. Practice only makes you better and will give you more confidence in your own abilities. It’s too bad I don’t have any free rounds from a manufacturer to test out or I would be doing a lot more shooting!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Special Project - Lightning Video #3

Lightning Video # 3

Here is the third lightning video in my ten part series. This video, along with the others, were taken by RW, Jr. Lightning is a very real threat to our everyday survival and everyone should be aware of its deadly potential.

You can get a brochure in PDF format with additional information on the types of lightning and some basic first aid tips for lightning victims here: Lightning First Aid (PDF)

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Special Project - Lightning Video # 2

Lightning Video # 2

Here is the second lightning video in my ten part series. This video, along with the others, were taken by RW, Jr. Lightning is a very real threat to our everyday survival and everyone should be aware of its deadly potential.

You can get some facts about lightning safety from the National Lightning Safety Institute here:

Fast Facts About Lightning (PDF)

These videos were made fairly short in duration to make it easier for those on dial-up to view.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

First Shot Cook-Off - Push Rod BBQ

Push Rod BBQ

Even mechanics in Texas can cook BBQ!


Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Stealth Survival

Thought a few people might be interested in why this picture was chosen for my website.

Hippos kill more people than any other wild animal in Africa.

They are aggressively territorial and very protective of their own kind.

Hippos are more dangerous than big sharks or giant crocodiles.

Hippos have been known to bite crocs in half.

Hippos are “THE NUMBER TWO” most bad a** animal on the planet.

Hippos actually kill more people than any other vertebrate combined, except people, who are “THE NUMBER ONE” most bad a** animal on the planet.

Hippos live on land or in the water.

Hippos have big mouths.

Hippos make loud grunting noises.

Hippos are also very cute.

This sound like your average survivalist?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Myths About Lightning

Lightning easily travels further than can be seen by an individual. If you see lighting, this means you are already in danger of being struck by lightning and should immediately seek out a safe place until well after the storm has passed. If you hear thunder, you are in immediate danger and should seek safety immediately.

The maximum distance you can hear thunder is about two miles and will seldom be greater than twelve miles. Lightning has been known to strike as much as 100 miles from a thunderstorm. In October of 2001 in Texas, a bolt of lightning was measured traveling a distance of approximately 110 miles. Wind speed, wind direction, terrain, and noise levels are just a few of the factors involved that can make it difficult to judge how close the lightning is to you. It is extremely possible that you could have lightning strike in your vicinity and not hear any thunder, even though you are still able to see the lightning.

Here is a NOAA publication about the different myths involving lightning:

Lightning Myths (PDF)

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Personal Protection Items - Dust Masks

Working outside in the yard or at the farm can cause serious problems for many people. Simple things like dust or pollen in the air can cause difficulty breathing or trigger strong allergic reactions if you happen to be susceptible to the effects of airborne dust and pollens. The act of working with your chainsaws or table saws will put minute particles in the air that can endanger your lungs and the ability to breathe properly.

When working indoors, strong fumes from household cleaning products can also leave dangerous fumes in the air and pose a serious risk to your health. Even a simple dust mask will help you avoid problems associated with exposure to hazards in the air you breathe. There are a number of different types of masks available but even the cheapest ones will afford you a small measure of protection. When possible, try to find masks with a NIOSH (NIOSH stands for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) N-95 rating.


Every breath you take is important. Make it a clean one!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Special Project - Lightning Videos

Lightning Video # 1

RW, Jr. has made some short videos of lightning that we hope you will enjoy. Lightning is one of the most beautiful displays of the power of nature. It can also be very destructive. Here is the first in a series of ten short lightning videos he made during a recent thunderstorm.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Shotgun Point of Impact Test - .410 Gauge Shotgun - Part One

RW, Jr.'s .410 Shotgun

Shotguns can have a wide range of variance in the type of pattern they shoot and will affect the point of impact when shooting your shotgun depending upon the type of shotshell load. It's best to know ahead of time if you will hit your target or if your aim needs to be adjusted to get the maximum benefit of the shotshells you are using in your shotgun.

The Target

Over the weekend RW Jr. and I conducted a very unscientific POI (Point of Impact) test with our .410 gauge shotguns. The first part will show the result of our little test with RW Jr.'s Stevens Model 311A. This .410 shotgun was manufactured in Chicopee, Mass. by Savage Firearms.It's a double barrel model with a full choke and a modified choke. For purposes of our practice it was used with the full choke. The test was designed to simulate real life conditions in order to get a better idea of just how well this little shotgun performs. It was done at a distance of 50 feet and from a free standing position, which is probably the most unstable platform you can use for any type of shooting. The target was an old tree stump that stands about 4 1/2 feet tall. RW, Jr. cleared an area around it with the riding mower and we were good to go.

Test Rounds

The test rounds that were used were all 3" shotshells with with 11/16 ounce shot. We used #6 and 7 1/2 Winchester High Brass Game Loads and some Remington Express Long Range #6 shotshells that RW Jr. likes to use in his shotgun. We also included some Winchester 2 1/2 inch shotshells in 000 buckshot (3 pellets).

Remington Express Long Range Shotshells

Winchester High Brass Game Load #6 Shotshells

Winchester High Brass game Loads 7 1/2 Shotshells

RW, Jr. fired numerous rounds of the shotshell loads and found out his shotgun was shooting several inches low with all the different rounds when aiming dead center on the target. By adjusting his aim up to the top of the center circle he was able to get a good spread on the target with his rounds.

RW, Jr. 000 Buckshot at 50 Feet

Repaired Tree Damage

The next part was to test out the 000 buckshot loads and see how they performed. I told RW, Jr. that I wanted to do it at a distance of 20 feet which would be about the maximum distance for a home defense scenario. RW, Jr. stated "In the country, 50 feet is a home defense scenario! If they get within 20 feet, it's only because you've stopped to reload!" RW. Jr. then loaded up and proceeded to shoot some 000 buckshot at the target from 50 feet. He was probably anticipating the recoil from the buckshot load and his shot went low and right. It was probably due more to his aim being off a bit. Only one pellet struck the target from 50 feet. The other two pellets hit low on a big tree about 25 feet behind the target. Very important to remember that you will be held responsible for where your rounds end up. Afterwards he moved up to 25 feet and shot some more 000 buckshot rounds. The results were a little better this time.His first shot was a little low and to the right but his second shot put all three pellets within a 5 inch circle at 25 feet, with two pellets inside 3 inches.

Although not very scientific, it does give us a good idea of the point of impact and what kind of pattern spread to expect from our .410 shotguns. knowing how your gun performs will help you develop more confidence when you are using it.

In Part Two, I will post my results.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Bottle Cap Cookers

Bottle Cap Cookers

Texans will cook on anything!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Ugly Drum Smoker Team

Ugly Drum Smoker Team

BBQ from a trash can? Where else but Texas!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Smokin' in Texas

Smokin' in Texas

Every smoker needs a flag!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Smokin' RV

Smokin' RV

My kind of survival RV!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

The Ugly Drum Smoker - Cook-Off Time!

I put a fresh coat of paint on my smoker barrel and added some wheels and an exhaust pipe to the lid and it's now ready for the cook-off. There is going to be a Go Texan BBQ Cook-Off in my local area and it's time to see if what it cooks agrees with anybody else's opinion. I might even have a picture of a trophy to show you when it's over. I still want to customize it a bit more but for now my smoker barrel will have to perform as it now sits. Time to get smoking!


Got cook-off?


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

Survival At Home - Hygiene for Food

Bacteria live and thrive on almost any type of organic material. Your food provides the ideal conditions for bacteria to grow causing problems for any food you may eat if not properly stored or prepared. Most bacteria will spoil food making it taste, smell or look bad. It is important to remember that bacteria can also produce toxins, many of which have no smell or taste, and can also cause food poisoning.

Many types of food can be frozen and kept for long periods of time because the freezing temperatures prohibit the growth of bacteria. Bacteria aren’t always destroyed by freezing but simply become dormant and once your food has been thawed the bacteria will soon start to grow again. An important point to remember is to use your frozen food quickly once it has been thawed out. This limits the growth period of any bacteria that may be present. Never re-freeze frozen food items because this simply preserves the bacteria that were growing while your food was being thawed out.

Another important aspect of food hygiene is to be careful not to store or place uncooked meat items next to raw meat items. This will prevent contamination of your already cooked food from bacteria that may be present on uncooked food. Some meat items, such as chicken, already have some bacteria present and can easily contaminate your other food items, both cooked and uncooked.

One of the most common places where food contamination occurs is in the home. Poor hygiene practices are usually the cause and practicing a few simple things will help you to avoid contamination of your food. Things like countertops, cutting boards, knives and utensils and even can openers can harbor bacteria that can cause food contamination if not properly cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis or prior to food preparation.

Another vital and important part of food hygiene is a really simple thing. Keep your hands washed and clean at all times when handling your food items, especially after handling any type of raw meat. Don’t forget to clean your fingernails also because the dirt underneath your nails is also a good place for bacteria to hide.

Got food hygiene?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Humming Bird At Rest

Humming Bird At Rest

I'll be doing the same thing today. Taking a little rest!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Frugal Prepping - Free Budget Planning Worksheet

Standing on One Leg

There’s an old saying “If you take care of your pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves.” One of the best ways to take care of those pennies is to have a personal budget as a financial road map. Without one, you may be going nowhere fast. Here is a simple budget planning worksheet that will allow you to keep track of your monthly expenses. This will give you an idea of what kind of year you can expect according to your own monthly expenses.

It’s in a simple one page form that can be printed out for future reference. It includes two separate categories for Primary and Secondary Expenses, as well as a place to keep track of any savings you may have put aside. You can even enter your own categories in place of any existing category depending upon what your expenses happen to be currently. The categories that have been included will cover most expense categories for you. You’ll be able to see where your money is going and if you can save additional funds for prepping or other necessary items. It will automatically show you what percentage of your income is going to savings and what is going to expenses, both Primary and Secondary. Tough times sometimes require tough choices and without a proper budget you may experience more difficulty surviving financially. It has examples included but these can be removed by clicking the cell and clearing the contents. The areas where entries are required are color coded. All other figures are automatically calculated for you.

This personal budget spreadsheet is meant to help you create a budget which will help you get a handle on where your money is going. Planning a budget will help you make decisions about where you stand financially, now and in the future. It doesn’t matter if you’re changing jobs, purchasing a home or land, or moving to a different location: you are going to need a budget to help you get there.

Planning ahead is a good thing!

You can preview and download this Budget Planning Worksheet here:

Budget Planning Worksheet (31.5 kb)

Before you wind up without a leg to stand on, get a handle on those expenses!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Freezing Fish for Long Term Storage

Fishing is a great survival skill and something everyone should spend a little time doing. After all, practice makes perfect and there aren’t too many things that are more fun to practice than fishing, unless of course you’re pumping a few rounds through your 12 gauge shotgun. The main problem is that when you become proficient enough to catch a lot of fish; you can’t eat it all and need to put some up for later. One of the best ways to preserve your extra fish you’ve caught for later use is by freezing.

Fish won’t keep very long when frozen if you don’t take a little time to do it right. Just wrapping it in tin foil (save that for your hat!) or plastic wrap isn’t going to do you or your fish a lot of good. After a couple of months, it will hardly be worth cooking because much of the moisture and a lot of the flavor will be gone. This is due to the fish drying out because of what is usually referred to as “freezer burn”. The technical term for this is called sublimation.

Now if you weren’t paying attention in high school chemistry class you probably don’t remember what sublimation is all about. It’s simply a process where ice turns to water vapor without becoming water first. This is made even more difficult to control when freezing fresh meat items because most modern day freezers now have automatic defrosting mechanisms.

It’s not really a big secret on how to properly freeze your fish for long term storage and the technique can be used for other types of fresh meat as well. Simply clean, fillet and skin them as you normally would and it’s best to remove the heads and tails also. Then using a proper storage container for freezing food items, which can be easily purchased most anywhere, you are ready to freeze your fish.

The trick is to completely cover your fish with water in an appropriate container. Leave a little space at the top but make sure your fish are completely covered with water. You may want to tap the side of your container to make sure there aren’t any air bubbles trapped inside your container with the fish. Then freeze your storage container. It’s that simple! Your fish will be frozen in a solid block of ice that will prevent moisture lost, or freezer burn, and you will have fish that will retain its flavor for a year or more when frozen in this manner.

To prepare it for cooking simply let it thaw at room temperature in a colander or strainer which will allow the water to drain away as it thaws. After your frozen fish has completely thawed, simply pat it dry with some paper towels and prepare it according to your favorite recipe.

Staying above the frozen water line!

Riverwalker

The Bug Out Van - Doing a Test Run

Last year I gave my bug out van a good workout while working the Texas Independence Relay. It's about time for me to give it another workout and make sure I have all my bases covered. Putting in a little practice to make sure your vehicles and gear is going to work the way you want and when you need it can be crucial. The time to find out if you've forgot some small detail is not during a crisis or emergency. Knowing everything is going to work ahead of time can save you grief later.

An oil change, a check of the tires (including the spare) and a little gear re-organization is in the works. I also had to change out the serpentine drive belt because it was starting to show some wear and made a little squeaky noise at low idle. A quick belt change (20 minutes) and the problem was solved. Mrs. RW even gave it a good wash job so that it would look as nice as it runs. The tinted windows are also nice and gives me a little more privacy without detracting from the ability to view traffic around me when I'm on the road.

Give your vehicles a workout once in a while and you'll know if you can rely on them in a crisis. Find out if you need to do a little extra work to avoid any major problems. You can check them out good but until you put it to the test you never know what may be going to happen. It's a lot better to have a breakdown or other failure at a non-critical time than during an actual emergency.

Got van?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Fly Your Flags Today

Remembering September 11, 2001

Personal Protection Items - Socks for Survival

One of the great things about the end of summer and the start of a new season is all the bargains that are available. Summer close-outs and pre-season specials are a great way to save some money on clothing items that can be critical to your survival and protecting my size 10’s has always been a big priority. The best way to do it is with a good pair of wool socks, especially if you can get a special summer markdown or a pre-season deal.

Now Mrs. RW has her cute little “booties” that she likes to roam around in the house when those unexpected “cold fronts” blow in and the temperatures suddenly change by 30 degrees and drop down below 70 degrees (just kidding!). But let’s be realistic, I’m not wearing any type of “bootie” on my precious size 10’s, even if they are “cute”. My apologies in advance to the ladies because I really have nothing against cute little booties, even the pink ones, as long as I don’t have to wear them. Give me a good pair of wool socks any day of the week and I’ll wear them out! I think it’s a “macho” type thing with us guys or something like that.

It actually gets pretty cold even in South Central Texas and when its 35 degrees and raining those wool socks come in real handy. Mrs. RW also doesn’t take well to me stomping around in my boots and leaving mud, wet leaves and grass burs behind on her clean floors and rugs and makes me take my boots off when I come in the door. These particular socks are made with Merino wool and they are really soft and don’t make your feet itch like some wool socks. I’ve got a wool sweater that’s made from Merino wool and it’s become one of my favorite sweaters mainly because it is very lightweight and soft. The no itch factor is also a big plus. You might as well be comfortable when you’re trying to survive the cold weather or Mrs. RW’s wrath (she can get really upset about her clean floors). If your feet are as old as mine are, that’s a pretty big deal. These caught my eye because they have a special ribbed bottom that is supposed to help wick the moisture away from your feet. I haven’t been able to fully check this feature out yet (waiting on the next big cold front!) but they sure make it comfortable to walk around the house in something besides my bare feet. They’re also made in the USA and I really prefer to buy American made products whenever possible. I got these wool socks in a four pack on a summer special from http://outersports.com.

Winter’s on its way and will be here quicker than you realize. So get out there and look for some of those bargains. If you wait until you get cold feet, you and your feet may have to pay a bigger price.

Got bare feet and cold floors?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Special Preppin' Project - Under Construction

I'm busy working on a special project that I think will be of interest to everyone. It's not finished yet but will let everyone know when it's done. I think it can be of great benefit for a lot of people. It should be finished in a couple of days and I'll post more info about it then.

I don't really have much else to say about anything survival related today because my mind has been on getting this little project completed. All I can say is sometimes even Riverwalker gets stumped on what to write about and the special preppin' project is still under construction.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Mountain Stream Driftwood

Got driftwood?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Turnin' Up the Heat on Your Smoker Barrel - Fast Cookin' A Brisket

Got any refugees from their lastest BBQ disaster showing up this holiday weekend without your knowledge. Wondering how you're going to feed everybody in such a short time? Here's a great way to feed a bunch of unexpected guests or refugees from the nearest disaster.

Since I had some time off recently, I dropped in on my son-in-law, Steve the Chef, and on short notice he decided to quick cook a brisket. He planned to use me as a guinea pig for his taste test knowing I'll consume most any type of food cooked on a smoker barrel. Here's how he did it!

Keeping the basic preparartions the same, Steve the Chef rubbed down a 13 1/2 pound brisket and throwed it in his smoker barrel. The next thing he did was turn up the heat to 300 degrees. This is supposed to be the ideal temperature to cook a brisket and he decided to put it to the test. He needed to keep two air intakes open most of the time in order for the heat to stay around 300 degrees but it wasn't too difficult to maintain and didn't require any extra attention on his part. You won't save any charcoal though, as the higher temps take a little more charcoal. This is in spite of the shorter cooking times.

Putting the brisket on at 1 PM when I called started it off and it was pulled from the smoker barrel at 6:30 PM when I got there. I was already hungry and really couldn't wait much longer to eat. The results turned out great! Being the Official Brisket Taster is one of my more important titles that I readily subscribe to whenever the chance prevails.

The flat of the brisket came out really tender and juicy. A quick taste test on my part was all that was needed. The point was fully cooked and turned out great also but could've been a little more tender if given slightly more time but it tasted great also. Steve the Chef sliced it up and we ate it up. A portion of the point was thrown back in the smoker barrel to keep it warm and give it a little more cooking time.

The only thing that you could probably do to make a quick-cooked brisket any better would be to used a well-trimmed brisket to start, trim your brisket yourself to cut down on the thickness of the point or make sure RW isn't coming over to eat so there would be a little more time for cooking. Figure 30 minutes for each pound of brisket when fast cooking at the higher 300 degree temperatures instead of the usual 1 hour per pound for a slow cook. If you didn't invite RW there might even be a few left-overs for somebody else.

Steve the Chef is also going to be in a BBQ Cook-Off coming up soon in my area and we want to wish him luck!

Have a great holiday weekend!

Stay safe and keep them barrels smokin'!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Frugal Prepping - Free Vehicle Maintenance Record Spreadsheet

One of the best ways to save money is to keep track of your expenses. This will keep you from wrecking your budget if and when your expenses get out of hand. One of the biggest expenses in anyone’s budget is the maintenance of your vehicles. The cost of decent transportation probably ranks right at the top of the list, just behind food and shelter. Let’s face facts. A car or truck will eat up a lot of money in a very short time even though good transportation is a real necessity for everyone. Keeping track of your maintenance expenses will let you know right away if things are starting to get out of your control.

I’m offering a simple spreadsheet for anyone to use to help keep track of their vehicle maintenance costs. You simply enter the starting mileage one time and the mileage at the end of each month. The mileage totals will be automatically calculated for you. It will also give you monthly totals for maintenance expenses as well as a yearly total. It also includes an up to date total for maintenance costs per mile. While figuring the fuel costs per mile is pretty easy, figuring your maintenance costs per mile is a little more involved. It includes categories for most vehicle maintenance items and is in the form of a single page printout. It is not password protected and may be modified for your use. You will need to be familiar with using Excel in order to use this spreadsheet. Make sure to save a copy in a different place just in case you accidentally change one of the formulas. Always keep a back-up copy! I included comments to help get you started.

I’ve also included a screenshot of the single page vehicle maintenance record above.

You can preview and download the Vehicle Maintenance Record Spreadsheet (35.0 Kb) here:

http://www.box.net/shared/rfyb6u606q

Due to the overwhelming response to my Food Inventory Spreadsheet, I thought this vehicle maintenance spreadsheet may also be of value to others. So before that lovable old wreck that you treasure so much totally wrecks your budget, it’s time to get a handle on your vehicle expenses.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Basics - The Disaster Book

One of the main basics of survival involves planning. Having a plan and knowing what needs to be done when disaster strikes is crucial. There will be a great many decisions to be made when the worst happens and having a plan of action will help to minimize the stress that split second decisions can place on a person. More importantly, you will feel confident in your abilities to control the chaos that will arise when a man-made or natural disaster occurs and leaves you with very little time for critical decision making. Time is going to be critical to your survival and the survival of your family because no matter where you live, work or travel; everyone is subject to some form of natural or man-made disaster.

What is a disaster book? A disaster book is simply a plan of action for the different scenarios that can affect your survival. It will provide you with an outline of things to do, where to go or stay and what you will need to take with you or have on hand depending upon the type of threat you are facing. It doesn’t need to be very complicated but should contain some major components to aid you in the tough decisions that will have to be made when your survival is threatened. It will be your plan for survival.

What are the major components of a disaster book?

1.) Threat Assessment - The first and most important part of a disaster book is making a list of those threats which have an immediate or real possibility of affecting your survival at anytime. These threats could be anything from wildfires to earthquakes, tornadoes to hurricanes and flooding or civil unrest or a threat from failing infrastructure. These threats will be different for people depending upon where you live. You will need to do an assessment of these threats and develop your plan to set certain goals in place should one or more of these disasters happen. Know the threat!

2.) Risk Assessment - The next step is to make a decision and about whether you will be able to stay and tough things out at home or whether you may be forced to evacuate if the situation makes it impossible to stay at your present location. Making the decision ahead of time will save time that will be critical to your survival. Know the risk!

3.) Preparedness Evaluation - The final step is to make a list of what you will need depending upon the type of disaster and whether you will be toughing it out at home or have to evacuate to avoid the disaster. Make sure you know where you will be going if you have to bug out in a hurry. Deciding which direction to go at the last minute is not going to be very effective. Make sure that all family members are aware of where you are going and when you expect to be there. This will eliminate a lot of needless worry for everyone if a disaster strikes. If you decide to bug in and ride the storm out, you will need to make sure you have all the needed items for your survival and the survival of your family. Include the items you know that that are going to be needed and whether or not they are available or can be obtained. Know your needs!

This can all be done on a few simple pages and kept handy for easy reference when a disaster occurs. It can be as detailed or as simple as you care to make it. It may not even be the best plan but it is a plan. Plan to survive!

Got disaster book?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker