Euroman's 2012 Journey to RAMCAL

Euroman and Grover start a new journey to again save lives protect the innocent and search for true love at RAM clinics in Oakland and Sacramento. They will be reunited with many of their RAM friends including – The Commander and Chief, the Cornel, the Cornel’s wife and Euroman’s Airborne Buddy. First they must travel south from Oregon down coastal roads lending aid where needed.

When last we saw the Superheroes they were leaving their home of Jackson to travel west to see loyal members of Northwestern CCM chapter Moondoggie and the sweet Gidget. There Euroman spent a most enjoyable week on the M & G planation and brewery. He and Grover were treated to around the clock Sammie’s and home brews with McMoon-D’s sandwiches, traditional nightly movie and “THE” best hot tubing ever. Although Euroman was promised he would see their 3 goats give birth. This was not to happen. Euroman believes the Goats were faking and had just eaten enormous amount of high quality hay used for pregnant oats or Moondoggie and Gidget wanting to please the Euroman, force feed them enormous amounts to make them appear pregnant. In either case no new little goats, just three very fat happy ones. Euroman and Grover thank the plantation owners for their hospitality, generosity and place to rest for wayward travelers.

Sunday, March 11th, 2012
Euroman is doing ROIDS. He loves them, he thinks he is addicted. Euroman is up early ready for road life. His daily routines still includes a very expensive med that has not solved the problem but is told by very expensive Doc he must continue to take, like forever. He is not sure about that. Euroman has also been prescribed a 5 week course of prednisone. He didn’t realize how bad he has felt the last few weeks until actually feeling good with taken the roid. Within a couple hours he was his old self his superpowers were restored. The team is sad to leave planation life yet eager to be on the road. Euroman stops in town to resupply and refuel. He drives slowly to the coast where he takes Grover on a very windy beach hike where Grover wrestled with a giant beached squid. Afterwards they found a Motel Walmart. Euroman also need to take care of pulled calf muscle, same one he had a problem with while visiting the east. He is using ice from soda machine inside the mart. Cold wet windy evening.

Monday, March 12th
Much Wind. Euroman took his time leave Motel walmart because of the wind and rain.
First made steel oats than omelet with Planation eggs which Euroman was given a week’s supply by Moondoggie before departing. After cleanup he continued south on by coastal route. This may be a mistake. The wind is blowing at 70 plus. Euroman cannot even park at the overlooks because the Euro rocks so mush, He worries cargo or bike rack might be blown off. With the driving rain, he also rules out hiking. By 3:00 he makes it near the OR/Cal boarder. Euroman than does something he has only done maybe 3 times in all his road travels. He paid for a campsite. It was the only sheltered area where the Euro would not be buffeted all night. From here he took Grover on a shore walk along the bluffs. Grover needed to strapped very securely to the pack. Rice pasta and stir fry vegg for dinner. Calf icing continues. Evening weather is not improving and forecast for next week is also not good. Euroman may make a course correction.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Euroman woke to silence. This did not last the pounding rain was soon back. He first made planation egg omelet. Decided since he paid for site he should make use of the free shower. Slowly continued drive south. Last fill up in Or at 3.99/gal, Euroman is figuring Calif will be substantially more. As he crossed the border the sky brightened. He made his way to Redwood Park visitor center for maps. Euroman decided on 5 mike hike through a redwood grove to start. It was wet dank uninspiring hike but it did test his calf muscle. Back to the Euro for lunch and another short hike in the afternoon. Euroman found the Motel Walmart just outside the park, except it had signs saying no overnight parking. That seems inhospitable, what is the world coming to when you can’t trust Motel Walmart. Euroman went into check at the customer service. They said it was not the store, town policy. Federallies sometimes patrol the lot and might ask Euroman to leave or cite. Since there is no other real choice Euroman is going to take his chances.
He continues finding ice machines for his calf.

Euroman thoughts……. Euroman still has not secured a summer park. Many nibbles but when they check with “the park with no name” he is turned down. This only goes to reinforce Euroman’s belief they were a bunch of scumbags and dick heads. Euroman knows he did the right thing and even looking back he would do the same. For Euroman stands for truth, justice and the American way….. He has become comfortable with the idea he may no longer be a ranger and is exploring other opportunity should the need arise…… Euroman wants to find a permanent home, but where….. He believes life on the road, constant travel is not a healthy life style….. While Euroman enjoyed the company of CV, he was disappointed it was still not true love, he wishes it was, his search must continue.

Thursday, March 15, 2012
Another windy night. Planation eggs and steel cut with green tea. Euroman first plan was to hike coastal water to abandon lighthouse. Given the strong winds, rain and high tides he decided to go to backup plan. Next option was the highest peak along this area of the coast. To get there entailed a 7 mile drive on a forested dirt road. At first Euroman thought nothing of this, seemed simple. He drove up from the beach for hour on a not very well maintained secondary road to around 2,000 ft. This was though mostly redwood forest and rolling mountains, much up and down before finding the dirt rd.. Euroman thought it would be reasonable level. Nope, instead it plummeted down into the jungle the surface was wet and rutted. No good come of this. After 2 miles Euroman grew very concerned the Euro would not make it back up given the present condition not mention the heavy rains that were forecasted. Next plan, He turned the Euro around. As he started climbing back out there was a major slippery rut on one of the turns. Euroman knew this would be trouble. He decided to try the slow approach so not to bottom out. The Euro was immediately stuck. He rolled back downhill. He figured the only solution now was the fast approach, he step on the gas. The load bang that followed was the Euro bottoming out but it still lurched forward across crevasse. Euroman did not look back. He later stopped at a small state park to go for a rainy run followed by ice treatments. The heavier rains arrived by late midday. By late afternoon Euroman found a scenic overlook that did not have a No Overnight Parking sign. He will see how this works. Modified mini-burritos for dinner.

Euroman Thoughts…. He would not rank the Redwood National Park among his top 10 favorites, nothing to go out of your way for, he is glad he never accepted a position there….. Euroman spends much of his idle time thinking about what to do after RAMCAL but has not come up with an answer.…. RIODS are working better than he would have predicted…... Euroman needs to work on CCM thoughts for opening day. Much to think about…

Friday, March 16, 2012
Peaceful yet stormy night. Planation eggs, steel cut and green tea. No real plan today just continuing driving very slowly south. He made early called to Alboulder, good to catch up. Euroman again went for very wet run along the coast. Raining heavily most of the day. Euroman wanted to spend more night along the coast but suitable locations seem to be in short supply so he heads inland. It just so happens he is near Santa Rosa. This where he spent a winter in the ranger academy. He took sometime revisiting the campus and where he lived. Many memories. Euroman ended up at Motel Walmart about mile from academy.

Saturday, March 17, 2012
Slow morning. Planation eggs, steel cut and green tea. Plan to jump but clouds and rain are not favorable. They opt of for hike at state park. Continue drive south on interior roads. Late in day he pulls into Motel Walmart nasty signs and security patrol are not very hospitable. This is becoming a disturbing trend in Ca. If you can’t depend on Motel Walmart who can you depend on? Euroman learns there will be 300 college cheerleaders
Volunteer at RAMCAL, excellent. He continues on to small dropzone about hour outside Oakland. He will spend night here, Sammie time.

Sunday, March 18, 2012
A strange day. Planation eggs and green tea, Euroman is cutting back as he starts replace lost pounds. Another windy day. Euroman was going to jump but winds are gusting to 20. The regulars at this DZ are boasting that it’s always windy and that they only stop jumping at 30 mph. They do get up one load than shutdown. Euroman goes for run. The DZ is in a fairly deserted area mostly pastures and cows. Late in the day when everyone has left Euroman is ready for dinner and Sammie he notices a car stopped about 1/4 mile away. Seemed like a strange place to stop. The car speeds away, Euroman see 2 dogs now chasing the car. Euroman immediately thinks they drop the dogs off. But then thinks maybe they live nearby and are just giving them exercise. He watches for a few minutes until dogs and car is gone. As Euroman is preparing Euro for dinner mode the 2 dogs, a brown and black lab come up. They are the friendly dogs. They make themselves right at home, jumped into the Euro one on the bench seat the other on the floor. Euroman is unsure what to do. They have collars but no tags. They are older and well behaved. He has only Sammie to offer. Euroman checks the I-net for humane society, none nearby so he calls police department. About hour late animal control arrives. He says they might have a chip, Euroman does not think so. This was platen abandonment. He named them Chief and Dennis. Euroman was sad to see his new friends go, he had companions for short time. Animal control said of not claimed they would go to rescue group. Euroman will stay another night at DZ. Sammie time

Monday, 19th, 2012
Quite night. Final round of planation eggs. Euroman proceeded slowly into Oakland, arriving around 10:00. Tried to check in at motel provided by RAMCAL, room won’t be ready till 2:00. Euroman decided to kill time by doing wash, repair work on bike, checking look food supplies. After checking in more killing time, iron clinic cloths, clean euro. Waiting for familiar faces. Nice to have roof of his own. Sammie time.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Restless night under a roof. Euroman goes down early for free breakfast. They have his favorite, giant waffles. Fueled by super waffle Euroman has good run than head over to coliseum for setup. This is actually stadium where Raiders & A’s play. Euroman immediately see RAM folks. He meets briefly with C & C. He asks Euroman about parks jobs. Euroman tells thing have not materialized. C&C says “you know you always have backup option.” Euroman spends most setting up computers at patient registration area and watching for prospective female volunteers. He is back in the roll, so is Grover, he has many RAM fans. Euroman has Sammie hour with his good friend and RAMCAL’s only Golf team member.

Euroman thoughts….. Why do people who won’t shop at Walmart buy IPhones and Ipads…… Coastal drive did not meet his expectations, perhaps Euroman’s expectations are getting too high.…... Deciding where to live is at like searching for true love, very hard to find…… Chances deeming for ranger job. Euroman feels at times he has so many options and others times like he has none, He wonders if too much freedom is not healthy…… Euroman has thought about getting his pilot licenses or taking next step to paramedic…. He realizes the 3 supervising rangers at the park with no name were actually the Three Stooges….

Wednesday, March 21, 2012
2nd setup day. Euroman is woken at 3:30 from AB who was on Eastern Time just to say hello. Euroman did not get back to sleep. After Giant waffle meet golf team for get errand to pick up supplies. More computer setup. After lunch Euroman started working signage to control patient and volunteer flow. AB arrives at 2:00 along with the Cornel and wife. Euroman received a call from Navajo National Monument. After a short interview he is offered positions. Euroman initial accepts. The park is small not much at all going on. Euroman knows he would be bored after a week; he wants to save more lives and protect more of the innocent. At much thought he turns down the offer. Euroman AB goes back to their motel room around 7 to rest for overnight shift. AB far asleep in minutes and immediately starts snoring. AB gets 4 hours sleep Euroman gets about 4 mins. Back to clinic at 11:00 pm to start night watch. Patients have already started lining up. By Midnight there around 150.

Thursday, March 22, 2012
Around 1:00 it is raining. At 3:30 am numbers are given out. 450 are now online. CNN, NBC and several other news shows are filming. 5:00 am numbers are called. By 10:00 am 700 numbers are given out. Since not enough dentist and eye doctors showed up services were cut short. Now began the process of turning people away for the day told to come back tomorrow. At 2:00 pm Euroman and AB go back to motel to rest for 7:00 pm shift. At 4:00 Euroman is awoken by another phone call from a park. When Euroman made mention of the park with no name they said they understood and that is not uncommon. Euroman thinks perhaps there is hope. He does not get back to sleep. At 6:30 they back to clinic for night watch. It’s much colder and winder night. Patients have already started to line up. It’s going to be a long night. By midnight tempsare in the low 40’s and over 300 on line.

Friday, March 23, 2012
Euroman had to put on many layers for warmth as temps kept dropping. At 3:30 its number time. Line stretches about ¼ mile. There is a mad crush to get near the start. Impossible to control a crowd of 700 with 3 people, Euroman just turns an walks away as mass bolts towards the front. There are several disagreements about who is ahead of who, not a nice time. At 5:00 numbers are called for people to go inside. Many of the volunteer eye doc’s and dentists who said they were coming don’t show. This means not all the 800 given numbers and who had waited all night would get services. Much chaos. By 1:00 the dust has settled. 700 patients received services of some type a 100 would have to return again tomorrow. Euroman and AB have lunch with the Cornel and head back to motel. Euroman is able to sleep for 2 hours before AB snoring is too much to take. When Euroman runs out of pillows to throw he gets up. Ready for 3rd night. At 7:00 pm 10 people online. Rains are holding off. Midnight 300 online.

Saturday, March 24th
Stampede. It’s a warmer night. 3:30 600 numbers given out all that are available. Almost 300 are turned down. At 5:00 numbers are called and patient start inside.
At 5:15 the heavy rain starts. The Cornel calls numbers as fast as he can, it not fast enough. The Crowd of 500 surges toward the covered area. Euroman is only person
In between them and settle. It’s like a soccer stampede a black Friday Walmart crush.
Euroman realizes he is overwhelmed. He yells for people to slow down, it’s somewhat effective. Everyone eventually makes to the covered area near the stadium entrance.
Now comes the long process of sorting the mess out. Euroman, AB and the Cornel have a conference on what to do next. Basically they need to start from the beginning calling numbers. While everyone is under cover they are still outside in the cold damp conditions. This process takes hours. Euroman is very wet by mid-morning. Done by 1:00. Sleep from 2 to 4. Return to clinic at 6:30. Rain now is steady. About 20 people online with tents and tarps. They are in it for the long haul. By midnight 500 people lined up.

Sunday, 25th
Euroman, AB and Cornel conference again to decide on new course of action. They all agree they should give out the numbers now and not wait for 3:30 so people can get out of the rain. Of course this means putting up with complaints from those who show up at 3:30. All numbers are eventually given out by 5:00 am. There are complaints as expected. Everyone is told to be back at 5:00 when the numbers will be called. As the morning wares on Euroman has several altercations. One lady tries to tell him how the clinic could run smoother. Another who looks like a gang banger is handing pamphlets which is not allowed. Euroman comes close to throwing him out but decides creating a major scene is not needed. The morning drags into afternoon, trying to squeeze as many people in as possible. When last patient is in the door breakdown starts. Registration computers can be packed away, slow process of dissembling everything. 6:00 pm Euroman has slowed, he just wants dinner and rest. He goes to dinner with AB and Golf team than finally gets the chance to sleeps for more than 2 hours.

Monday, March 26, 2012
Euroman turned up TV to drown out AB’s snoring, this with continued pillow throwing works. The TV stays on all night. AB takes shuttle to airport at 5:00. Euroman goes for Giant waffle. Euroman goes over to clinic at 7:30 to help finish breakdown. That is completed by noon. After lunch Euroman goes for run and meets Golf team for Sammies on Fisherman’s Wharf. As Euroman is maneuvering in a parking lot near Pier 39 he backs the Euro into a new BMW he did not see. Euroman got out surveying the damage.
There appears to be a small scratch. Euroman also noticed the license plate has a Navy Seal ID. Owner does not seem to be around, he leaves a note. Euroman and Golf team find a names spot for Sammies on the Wharf and another. On the way home they spend 40 mins driving in circles trying to get on the Bay Bridge. Apparently in S.F you are never allowed to make left turn. Once in S.F. you never leave. As they near the entrance ramp Euroman has to make a decision at a fork, he as the Golf team who is navigating with his IPhone, Euroman yells “directions”. There is silence, the Golf team has frozen in battle, Euroman has no backup, his wingman is missing, flying blind. Euroman has to makes a quick choice on his own. The Golf team will never make Airborne.

Tuesday, March 27th
Travel day. Last giant waffle. Euroman and Golf team drove north to Sacramento stopping at one of Euroman’s favorite DZ’s, Lodi. Another windy day kept him grounded. Arrived in SAC around noon checking into Tom’s Mo 6. Euroman decided to take free time to do wash and have Euro checked. The transmission has been slipping badly when cold. He first went to dealer who wanted $130 and several days to diagnose problem. Euroman than stops into a regular trans shop, they would not touch it. They suggested taking to Chet & Cliff’s VW repair. Euroman could not resist a place called Chet & Cliff. He dropped Euro off. C&C will charge $95 to diagnose and said old trans could be covered under warranty, Euroman sees a ray of hope. He walks back to Mo 6. He leaves message with previous owner to find out history of transmission. Finish doing wash. Euroman receives email from Navy Seal looking for insurance info. He looks up guy on internet. Navy seal is some type of restaurant owner, apparently in navy back in the late 80’s. Sammie with Golf team.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Setup day one. Euroman bikes over to CALexpo at 7:30 to start unloading trucks. He then spends most of his time setting up 21 patient registration laptops. At noon he bikes over to C&C to get Euro. He is told it needed 3 qtrs. of transmission fluid. This plus $200 seems to have cured the problem the Euro runs better than ever. Back to clinic where he meets Bagel girl who Euroman was interested at last year’s clinic but got little response at that time. This year Euroman is not as interested, she will have to show initiative. Euroman also received a phone call from insurance company of BMW guy. He is waiting to hear repair estimate. Euroman and Golf team are given free tickets to Sacramento Kings basketball game from a dentist volunteers. These are season seats a few rows off the court. Wanting to experience full flavor they get one Sammie from vendor, $10.00. Euroman is glad he did not have to pay for ticket. This no Madison Square Garden, they have to manufacture enthusiasm. The cheerleaders are overweight and are not very good dancers. Euroman is not impressed.

Thursday, March 29, 2012
The marathon begins. Up at 6:00 am. Steal cut oats. Run. Bike over to clinic to finish setup. Euroman thought this would be a short day he was wrong. Lots of signs to put up directing patient and volunteers. Barricades to be assembled. Euroman took Grover to Volunteer registration to sign. Grover sat on the table, Euroman told a new volunteer handling registration that Grover would like to register. She asked “Where is he?”. Grover was insulted. Euroman said he is right here! There are already 20 on line by noon. Finishing setup takes a lot longer than expected Euroman bikes to MO 6 for sleep at 4:00. Returns to clinic a 6:30, several hundred on line. The clear night changes to rain at midnight with 500 on line.

Friday, March 30, 2012
Angry people. Weather worsens, line grows. At 3:30 its time to give out numbers, it becomes again impossible to control a crowd of 1,000 with only a few volunteers. There is much cutting in front. People who were 200 are now 500, lots of yelling and near confrontations. After all the numbers are handed out things settle down but a few till complain. 5:00 numbers are called and patient can start going in. This process takes to 2:00 when Euroman gets to return MO 6 very exhausted and wondering how he survive 3 more days. Euroman collapses into quick sleep for an hour before phone rings. He is in a state of confusion having a hard time focusing on voice on other end. It is Yosemite inquiring about summer availability, it also happens to a ranger Euroman knows from BC skier trip (’10 CCM meets the Federallies) this is a hopeful sign. A welcome call but not at the best time, he has trouble falling back to sleep. Up at 6:00 pm for night shift. 100 people on line. Euroma is already tired, he needs go rally. Midnight 500 on line.

Saturday, March 31, 2012
It was decided to use a different method to distribute numbers in hopes keep the line orderly. Instead of moving the line towards the number holder, the number holder would move up the line. This along with increase police presence made for a very orderly number procedure. 300 patients were return from yesterday who got numbers yesterday but did not receive services. Additional 650 numbers were given out. 5:00 am called numbers. This takes about 4 hours with Euroman almost falling asleep while calling numbers. The next day has already started and so has the rain. Euroman has to act as AAA jumping cars and as messaging service leaning cell phone to patients. There are many aspects to RAM clinics. Euroman calls best daughter in the world for her birthday. Euroman gets to go back to MO 6 at 1:00. He falls asleep until phone rings. He intermittingly sleeps till 6:00. Ready to go for round 3. The wind and rain has taken its toll on clinic signs and barricades. Euroman makes repairs. 100 on line. Rain returns.
This could be a long night.

Sunday, April 1st
Chilly night. 3:00 am hand out 800 numbers, this takes an hour. 5:00 am calling numbers till 10:00. Just prior to calling numbers a patient came up to Euroman to say she slipped and fell in the potter potty and she was having trouble walking... Euroman asks if she needed medical attention, she says no, he ask does she would like a wheelchair she says no. Euroman arranges for another volunteer to help her into the clinic. Euroman sense she will be trouble. By the time she gets into the clinic she is talking about liability, no surprise. A standby line for possible additional numbers starts immediately. Euroman answers the same questions hundreds of times he this he should just have a voice recording and press a button. 100 more number is given out at 1:00pm. Euroman heads back to MO 6 or his standard 2 hours of sleep. Return to clinic at 6:00 pm. 80 on line for final day.

Monday, April 2nd

Cold night Euroman is chilled. By 3:30 am. Over 600 looking for 450 tickets which brings out the line jumpers and scammers. Some people who have waited overnight are selling their numbers. Then there are those who walk up at 5:00 giving also sorts of reason of why they should get in without waiting. Euroman’s tolerance is
Short. After brief explanation with one fellow who wanted to get in without a number, Euroman told him to leave, he wanted to speak to someone else so Euroman pointed to a nearby cop. Later in the day when the standby line had grown Euroman had to split them into a vision and dental line. When vision line was given numbers several from dental tried to jump the line saying Euroman never told them which line was which - Euroman had gone up and down both lines many times announce which was which.
C&C was there as Euroman turned his back on one scammer and walked away. So many scams being run on this final day. At midday C&C said the dental line needed to be separated into cleanings and extractions. Euroman cringed. Trying to do this would create chaos, not to mention how does anyone know if they need exaction or a filling even Euroman who has had extensive dental work could not tell. Euroman suggested they get a dentist outside to do field triage. C&C agreed this worked great. Dentist gave each person a 30 sec look and determined cleaning, filling or extraction. Several people come up saying they lost their number. Euroman sticks to company line – to bad, these numbers are gold, show some responsibility. At 2:00 clinic doors close to new patients, Euroman starts to break down patient registration and triage. He turns to MO 6 at 5:00 pm. To rest for Sammie hour with Golf team. 7:00 he meets for Sammies this last till 10:00.

Tuesday, April 03, 2012
cleanup day. Euroman goes over to clinic at 8:30 to finish breakdown and packing. This is a tedious process that ends around 2:00. Euroman says goodbye RAM friends and takes golf team to airport. Then goes for run. He will spend one last night at Mo 6 thanks to RAMCAL. Sammie time.

Euroman final thoughts….. One patient thank you out weighs many complaints……
Many people don’t understand the goal is to get as many as possible into the clinic, not least and to do in the fairest way possible… Working the line you never have a nice day….. It is good to see returning volunteers. Euroman is now one of the most veteran having been with RAM since Katrina ’05…… Euroman is thinking about buying a piece of undeveloped property to use a home base. He wants lots of land where a puppy could roam freely. Where he could build a self-sustaining structure. Something near mountains yet warm…… He also is considering getting his pilot license so he can be more use to RAM… It feels very weird not knowing where he will travel next….. Grover has taken on life of his own, many people ask about his whereabouts and his travels…..

Epilog…. Euroman and Grover having completed their 2 weeks of saving lives protecting the innocent and searching for true love and are unsure of their next adventure or destination. There was little success at finding true love at RAMCAL. Working the line on the overnight there is little opportunity for finding true. Although he did see, which is most usual, several very cute patients. The volunteer crew was also a little light. Euroman did discuss a new project with C&C. One in which Euroman and AB put their own mission together for either Haiti or Guyana. It could be a medical clinic or runway project. C&C was very supportive. Euroman is still waiting to hear about Valley ranger positions and has also been interviewed by Big Horn NRA WY. If neither come about he will research pilot training school.