Blackout
The power went out today. It was about 10pm. There was absolutely no light from the stars and no moon. So of course what did I do? I took to the streets! At first it was just routine driving around to see how far the blackout went, but then I decided to have a little adventure. There's an old road that goes through some field connecting one part of town to the other that no one uses, so I had some fun and went down that way with my car lights off. I drive down it all the time, so I was pretty used to the road, but it was very weird. I was about to get onto the freeway to see if I could get a view of how far this block of darkness went, but then I remembered there was a road that leads off down the side of a mountain near the offramp that I had never been down before. What better time to check it out than when all the power is out for miles around you? None! Just my car lights leading me through a windy road on a cliff edge. I found a turnout and decided I was going to park my car and get out to have a real wilderness experience. I got out of the car, looked around, then began to smell a rotting carcass, heard some rustling in the bushes and a faint howl in the distance.
So I was on the road again going back to town as fast as I can. Now instead of getting on the freeway I went back down the field road. The power was still out and there was no real incentive for me to get home so I took a turn I had never been down before that led off into the boonies. This road seemed to be going on forever past plot after plot of dark warehouses and offices, then a long stretch of road as it got thinner, then taking a sharp turn where I saw it. A fairly massive compound that I never even knew was out here. They obviously had a backup generator as their lights were on, but not quite to full strength. I roll my car up alongside the entrance, which was just a gap in the giant barbed wire fence with a sign that read "Treatment Plant". Now think about this. Miles upon miles of darkness as far as you can see, driving down an old worn out road to come to a massive, dimmly lit compound with what seemed like no one there. This was so deliciously X-Files I just couldn't resist. I get out my car and slowly walked into the treatment plant. There were parked heavy duty trucks and heavy machinery all over the place, and giant tank full of water. Here I am, sneaking around all this stuff, practically ready to shout "I'm a federal agent and I'm here to investigate a federal case!" to anyone who might sneak up on me. That's when I heard someone grumble something around the corner and I swiftly made my way back to the car and started the engine. I pulled forward to another dark and empty office type building where I sat with my lights off. Was going to leave myself a voice memo of these events on my phone to complete the experience, but then one of the most nerve wracking things happened to me.
Headlights. Coming down the road. They're about to pass me, and suddenly he flips on his flashing blue and red lights. I've just about resigned myself to my fate when another pair of headlights coming from the opposite direction begin to head by. My engine was still on, so as the officer began to turn around I flipped on my lights and got on the road in front of the other car and was off down a side street before anyone knew what happened. I drove back to down about the fastest I had ever done before... that was crazy.
So I was on the road again going back to town as fast as I can. Now instead of getting on the freeway I went back down the field road. The power was still out and there was no real incentive for me to get home so I took a turn I had never been down before that led off into the boonies. This road seemed to be going on forever past plot after plot of dark warehouses and offices, then a long stretch of road as it got thinner, then taking a sharp turn where I saw it. A fairly massive compound that I never even knew was out here. They obviously had a backup generator as their lights were on, but not quite to full strength. I roll my car up alongside the entrance, which was just a gap in the giant barbed wire fence with a sign that read "Treatment Plant". Now think about this. Miles upon miles of darkness as far as you can see, driving down an old worn out road to come to a massive, dimmly lit compound with what seemed like no one there. This was so deliciously X-Files I just couldn't resist. I get out my car and slowly walked into the treatment plant. There were parked heavy duty trucks and heavy machinery all over the place, and giant tank full of water. Here I am, sneaking around all this stuff, practically ready to shout "I'm a federal agent and I'm here to investigate a federal case!" to anyone who might sneak up on me. That's when I heard someone grumble something around the corner and I swiftly made my way back to the car and started the engine. I pulled forward to another dark and empty office type building where I sat with my lights off. Was going to leave myself a voice memo of these events on my phone to complete the experience, but then one of the most nerve wracking things happened to me.
Headlights. Coming down the road. They're about to pass me, and suddenly he flips on his flashing blue and red lights. I've just about resigned myself to my fate when another pair of headlights coming from the opposite direction begin to head by. My engine was still on, so as the officer began to turn around I flipped on my lights and got on the road in front of the other car and was off down a side street before anyone knew what happened. I drove back to down about the fastest I had ever done before... that was crazy.