Round 1, Pick 11 - Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State:
NFL: Though he enters the NFL as a work in progress, Fashanu is a long, athletic offensive tackle with a lot of upside. The good thing here is the Jets don’t need him to start from Day 1, so the Penn State product can learn behind established veterans Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses.
CBS Sports: B-. He is a left tackle for the future, but also insurance if Tyron Smith can’t play the whole season. He is good in pass protection, but needs to improve his run blocking. This isn’t an all-in pick like Brock Bowers might have been.
ESPN: Not the sexy pick, but the right pick. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers would've garnered bigger headlines than Fashanu, but the need at offensive tackle trumped what would have been a luxury pick. This was general manager Joe Douglas pouring more resources into an injury-riddled line that allowed 64 sacks, including the one that ended Aaron Rodgers' season on the fourth snap. Douglas acquired veterans Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses and John Simpson in free agency, and now he has a highly skilled heir apparent at left tackle. Fashanu needs seasoning as a run-blocker, but he allowed only one sack at Penn State and was named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. This marks the third time in the past five drafts that the Jets used a first-round pick on a lineman.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: He was not alive when The Waterboy came out.
Round 3, Pick 65 - Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky:
NFL: Some have likened Corley to "Deebo Samuel Lite" for his running back-like build and tackle-breaking ability, although he's not as dynamic a player yet as Samuel is. The Jets can use him in the Randall Cobb role and upgrade that spot, however.
CBS Sports: B. Angry WR who plays like a RB with the ball in his hands. Some route-tree experience but predominantly deployed as gadget type and showcased insane contact balance in college. Fun addition as extension of Jets run game. Just a niche type.
ESPN: The Jets have a new king -- the "YAC King," as Corley was known in college. They coveted him so much that they traded up seven spots, giving up a third-round pick (72) and a fifth-rounder (157). Rodgers gave his stamp of approval, telling Saleh via text that he's excited about Corley. He did two things exceptionally well in college: make yards after the catch and score touchdowns. From 2021 to 2023, he scored 29 receiving TDs (tied for the second most in the FBS) and racked up 2,068 yards after the catch, easily the most in the FBS. He's not a blazer (4.56 seconds in the 40), but he's a strong, violent runner, evoking comparisons to Deebo Samuel. The Jets' receivers didn't generate much YAC last season, so he should provide a needed dimension to the receiving corps. Corley is best out of the slot, but he can be used as a gadget player on screens and jet sweeps.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Round Three: If this was a MK fight someone would be a winner here.
Round 4, Pick 134 - Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin:
NFL: Allen is a big, fast back who might vault to RB2 behind Breece Hall eventually. There was some talk about Allen possibly landing in Round 3, so the value appears good. He's a straight-line runner but one who brings juice and force to the position.
CBS Sports: B+. Not a freaky specimen athletically but enormous RB with loads of experience. One of the youngest prospects in the entire class. Game is predicated on between-the-tackles vision and effortless power through contact. Not elusiveness or speed. Best pass pro RB in the class.
ESPN: A bit of a surprise, considering the Jets already have a terrific RB1, Breece Hall. Yes, they needed another backup to pair with 2023 draft pick Israel Abanikanda, and they opted for the 235-pound bruiser instead of a veteran free agent. Allen brings size and power to the position; he squatted 610 pounds as a freshman. He was the heaviest running back at scouting combine. His mindset: "I try to punish defenders." He befriended Derrick Henry via social media -- a pretty good resource for a "big" back. Allen rushed for 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns in a highly productive career at Wisconsin, which has produced some fantastic running backs. His numbers dipped last season with a new coaching staff. Allen will push Abanikanda, who rushed for 70 yards as a rookie. In Hall, Allen and Abanikanda, they have plenty of speed, power and youth. In fact, Allen, who doesn't turn 21 until Jan. 20, is the youngest player in the draft.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Enjoys baby carrots and ranch as a light snack at the end of the day.
Round 5, Pick 171 - Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State:
NFL: Someone check on Aaron Rodgers! All kidding aside, this feels like an excellent landing spot for Travis, with Zach Wilson shipped to Denver and Rodgers perhaps a year or two from retirement. Travis made steady strides as a passer and leader over his five college seasons, taking care of the ball, threatening defenses with his legs and displaying the competitiveness and creativity to give him a shot.
CBS Sports: B-. Older but ascending passer who demonstrated clear improvement as a thrower during his collegiate career. Flair for the improvisational play with his legs and simply when keeping his eyes downfield after pressure mounts. Touch at all levels is good. Late-season torn ACL. Small frame with average at best arm talent but good accuracy.
ESPN: Five days after trading Zach Wilson to the Denver Broncos, the Jets added a new face to the quarterback room. Travis is a long-term project, a developmental player who can learn from two wise heads, Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor. It's an ideal situation for Travis, who, like Rodgers, is attempting to return from a major injury. In his case, it was a gruesome broken ankle last November, a devastating setback that ruined a storybook college season. Travis improved last season as a passer (20 TDs, two interceptions), but he still has a way to go. He has average arm strength, but he has exceptional movement skills. As he noted, "I'm a playmaker. I make plays when everything breaks down." Naturally, his surgically repaired ankle is a big question mark. He declined to give a timetable on when he'd be ready for football activities.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Once moonwalked an entire marathon. That’s right. 26.2 miles of moonwalk.
Round 5, Pick 173 - Isaiah Davis, RB, South Dakota State:
NFL: A consistent producer at the FCS level, Davis reminded me of Tyler Allgeier a bit as a prospect. Davis also showed up against a very good Iowa defense, with 80-plus yards from scrimmage. But did the Jets need another big back? They're pretty loaded with Breece Hall, Israel Abanikanda, Braelon Allen and now Davis. I like the player, but the redundancy is confusing.
CBS Sports: C. Big, highly athletic feature back without serious top speed but nifty cutting skill at all levels of the field. Will make many defenders miss although could experience some growing pains making step up in competition. Serious feature back potential but another RB?
ESPN: Another running back on Day 3? This certainly should send a message to Abanikanda. The competition is on. Davis is an interesting pick. He absolutely dominated FCS competition, rushing for 4,548 yards and 50 touchdowns in his career. He led the FCS last season with 1,578 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. But can he make the jump to the NFL? At 6-foot, 218 pounds, he has an NFL body, but his speed (4.57 in the 40) is suspect. He came from a gap blocking scheme and will have to adjust to the Jets' zone-based scheme. He should be a terror on special teams, which is what you want out of a backup running back drafted in the fifth round.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Knows the difference between a null value and zero on a tax return.
Round 5, Pick 176 - Qwan’tez Stiggers, CB, CFL (Toronto Argonauts):
NFL: Stiggers never played college football, which is why he had to take the unusual CFL-to-the-NFL draft route. But he's a fascinating talent with clear ballhawking skills in his one year with the Toronto Argonauts, even if he's a clear project.
CBS Sports: C+. Traits and flash-based CB who still needs to learn the nuances of reading routes and understanding concepts but at times his athletic skill and size get him to the football. Twitch and speed jump out on film. Not a sound tackler right now.
ESPN: The Jets drafted three projects in the fifth round, none bigger than Stiggers, who has no college experience and played one season (2023) in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts. He was eligible for the NFL draft because he didn't attend college. He's extremely raw, but the tools are there. He has good size (5-foot-11, 203) and ran the 40 in 4.45 seconds at his pro day. For the Argos, he recorded five interceptions and was named most outstanding defensive rookie. He joins a loaded cornerback room, led by All-Pro Sauce Gardner. Stiggers is an ideal candidate for the practice squad, where he could continue his development.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: I’m just here to remind you that the Arizona Cardinals exist.
Round 7, Pick 257 - Jaylen Key, S, Alabama:
NFL: Key has pretty interesting length for a DB and he played arguably well for Bama after transferring from UAB, but his lack of long speed likely keeps his role limited to box-safety duties in the NFL.
CBS Sports: C+. Sizable, reasonable athlete who’s best near the line of scrimmage but doesn’t play with his hair on fire. Sound tackler and will lay the lumber. Has the linear speed to run with TEs down the seam. Not a bendy mover so doesn’t stick to his responsibilities in coverage often. Average-at-best ball skills.
ESPN: Hello, Mr. Irrelevant -- the Jets' first since 1969. Key is a 6-1, 208-pound safety known for his physical style of play. He doesn't have great speed (4.6 in the 40), but his noted toughness will help him land a role on special teams. Key began his career at UAB, spending only one season at Alabama. He started 12 games for coach Nick Saban, but he didn't have much ball production -- only one interception and two passes defensed. The Jets' safety depth could have an opening or two. After incumbent Tony Adams, they have veteran Chuck Clark and career backup Ashtyn Davis.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Was drafted into the NFL and no one can ever take that away from him.

Round 1, Pick 21 - Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State:
NFL: I see Miami using Robinson as a rotational player early on. An A+ athlete, Robinson is a developmental prospect with first-step quickness and explosiveness but needs more consistency.
CBS Sports: A. I love this pick for Miami. He has the best first step in this draft. With a little coaching, he will become a dominant pass rusher. They can also move him around as a joker on their front. Love it.
ESPN: At some point, the Dolphins may have a lot of money tied up in their outside linebackers room. But until then, this could end up being one of the better pass-rush rotations in the NFL. Robinson recorded fewer than 12 sacks in three collegiate seasons, but his physical traits jump off the tape. He has a powerful first step and will ideally fill the rotational role left by Andrew Van Ginkel's departure. Coach Mike McDaniel loves his pass-rushers and he gets an exciting one in Robinson.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Wants his face mask to be one solid piece like Master Shredder.
Round 2, Pick 55 - Patrick Paul, OT, Houston:
NFL: With the offensive tackle ranks significantly thinned, the Dolphins jumped in on Paul after going defense in Round 1. He wasn't my favorite OT prospect this year, with Paul giving me some Josh Jones vibes. His mass and reach are impressive, and he has 44 college starts at left tackle. But if Paul is Terron Armstead's eventual replacement, getting a year to develop his craft, this pick might work out.
CBS Sports: C-. Strange fit because this is one of the least mobile blockers in the class. Mike McDaniel typically prioritizes athleticism along his offensive line. Absolutely enormous with supreme length. Hand placement is very inconsistent. Gets outside the shoulder pads. Very experienced. Hits on a need.
ESPN: Offensive tackle is not an immediate need with Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson set to reprise their roles at left and right tackle, respectively. But Armstead is expected to retire after this season, and Miami had no immediate successor on its roster -- until Friday night. Paul has enviable size for the position at 6-foot-7, 330 pounds and made 44 starts for Houston at left tackle. He also registered the longest arm length of any tackle at the combine -- a trait which the Dolphins' staff loves. He's not a finished product but the opportunity to develop behind Armstead for at least a year should prove invaluable for a player the Dolphins couldn't hide their excitement about when speaking to the media after the pick.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Did not manage to escape being drafted by the Browns. Oof.
Round 4, Pick 120 - Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee:
NFL: The Dolphins love speed, and Wright has plenty of it. He might be able to develop into Raheem Mostert's eventual replacement and a good complement to De'Von Achane. Wright has a lot of tread left on his tires but must prove he can exercise better ball security to earn that role.
CBS Sports: B-. More speed to Miami’s offense. Weight ran through some gaping holes at Tennessee but has high-end acceleration once he’s in the open field. Elusiveness is good, not amazing. Slashing style as opposed to jump-cut back. Would’ve liked to see another position addressed here, but Mike McDaniel will be happy.
ESPN: The Dolphins love speed, and Wright ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds. He also averaged 7.4 yards per carry last season for the Volunteers. He is yet another home-run hitter on an offense that already features De’Von Achane, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert. Wright also caught 22 passes for 141 yards last season, teasing potential as a pass-catcher at the next level.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Is excited for the re-release of the 1999 classic, THE MUMMY.
Round 5, Pick 158 - Mohamed Kamara, DE, Colorado State:
NFL: The final player in my last top 100 list, Kamara will have to make it in spite of his poor length, but his hell-on-wheels style and ball-hunting ability make him a fun guy to root for. Watch the Colorado game for a sneak peek of how disruptive he can be.
CBS Sports: B. Smaller EDGE who converts speed to power consistently because of low center of gravity. Burst is there as is his dip/bend around the corner. Nice collection of pass-rush moves. Gets overwhelmed a lot because of his lack of size and length. Turns 25 in his rookie season.
ESPN: Kamara was highly productive in college with 29.5 career sacks, including 13 in his final season at Colorado State. He also recorded 45.5 tackles for a loss, proving he can be a disruptive presence in the front seven. The Dolphins needed to rebuild their depth at pass rusher and may have found a steal with Kamara in the fifth round.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Has a large collection of mini farm animals made of cheese in his dorm.
Round 6, Pick 184 - Malik Washington, WR, Virginia:
NFL: He wasn't going to be for every team because of his smaller frame, but in my opinion, Washington should have been drafted prior to this. His speed makes him a perfect fit in Miami, as Washington could be an ideal fourth or fifth receiver and return threat.
CBS Sports: A+. Electric, short not small wideout who was the heartbeat of the Virginia offense after transferring from Northwestern. Wins underneath with explosion and powerful lower half gives him high-end contact balance. Won’t be huge separator on full route tree. Leaper who can find it in the air. Good, not great speed. Niche type but a lot of fun.
ESPN: Washington led the nation in catches last season with 110, turning them into 1,426 yards and nine touchdowns as the focal point of Virginia's offense. He won't quite play the same role in Miami, but he's a dynamic receiver who could earn reps with a strong summer. The Dolphins' third receiver job is up for the taking.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: He’s convinced he could play in the league today with a leather helmet.
Round 6, Pick 198 - Patrick McMorris, S, California:
NFL: McMorris opened eyes a few years ago with a four-INT season at San Diego State and finished with a solid final year at Cal, but his average traits could always hold him back from starting duty.
CBS Sports: C. Checks size and physicality boxes but doesn’t met normal athleticism or tackling-reliability requirements. Multi-positional usage in college will help him learn the playbook in the NFL. Surprising selection.
ESPN: The Dolphins signed Jordan Poyer this offseason after losing Brandon Jones to free agency, but McMorris adds depth to the position and a potential running mate for Jevon Holland in the future. McMorris recorded 90 tackles in two separate seasons at San Diego and Cal, and is a versatile defensive back who can play multiple positions.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Shocked at how much it costs to rent a jet ski nowadays.
Round 7, Pick 241 - Tahj Washington, WR, USC:
NFL: Washington's small frame likely took him off some boards, especially after he ran in the 4.5 range in the 40. But his big-play production on offense and special teams value cannot be overlooked. Washington might be the type who finds a way to hang around in the league.
CBS Sports: B+. Another springy slot option for Tua Tagovailoa. Nifty after the catch and plays with fun lateral bounce although he doesn’t appear to be top-level athlete. Can uncover underneath and has solid hands. Tiny frame and little catch radius.
ESPN: The Dolphins doubled up on wide receivers and took Washington, who recorded at least 600 receiving yards in four straight seasons. He has a similar physical build as Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, and is a solid route runner. His best bet to make the team is likely by establishing himself of special teams.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Thinks sneaker heads are crazy when you can get shoes at Target for like $15.

It is a man, old and scraggy. He wears a jacket that lays over the red plaid button shirt and blue jeans. He wears an old baseball cap and a pair of glasses. He yelled something to Dad, holding his hands up like he was pleading, although we couldn’t hear it over the truck engine. They talked, but we couldn’t hear what they were saying.
“Hey, what are they saying”, I asked, while petting Matt’s hair, calming him. The old man then put his hands down and came close to Dad in a cautious way. They seem to start having some kind of conversation.
“I don’t really know, hopefully, something good”, Mom answered. They talked for a little while, with daylight beginning to disappear, giving us a sense of dread, and making me more worried about what weird creature was going to show up. Eventually, the old man turned and pointed toward what I think is the northeast. They then shook hands and walked back to their respective vehicles. “What’s going on”, Mom asked as Dad got into the truck.
“Well, our new friend here invited us to dinner at his farm”, Dad replied.
“Does he have supplies?”
“Well, he says has supplies for us to make the journey.”
“Should we even trust him? We just met h-”
“Relax, he’s just an old man, living alone at his farm, feeding his cows. What could go wrong”, Dad countered. The old man then entered the truck that was running and drove slowly, expecting us to follow him.
“Alrighty then, but we have to be cautious”, Mom said, with her suspicions of the old man. We then followed the old truck along the dark, frozen road. It just feels like something is going to show up along the road, but nothing happened. Matt did eventually stop crying, but he is still upset about the Joe escape thing.
“Where are we going”, Matt lamented, with the prior series of events in mind.
“I guess somebody is offering us dinner”, I answered.
“Why can’t we just go home?”
“It’s only going to be a stop, like a hotel. After that, we go to our new home, I guess”, I said, taking another look at Matt and cradling to comfort him. “It’s going to be okay.” I stared out into the darkness. I looked to the sky from the window and I faintly saw something in the clear, dark sky, lit up by the waning moon. They were brilliant, green auroras that defy the bright moon, dancing across the sky like ribbons in the wind. The truck eventually took a right-hand turn into another road, with us following suit. I can see a bright, orange light emerging from a patch of tree. When we passed by, it seemed it was a house, at a farm, burning in a massive flame.
“I guess those people aren’t so, uh, lucky”, Dad said, taking a quick look at it before looking at the road. Passing by, we went on and continued to follow the old man’s truck. We passed onto another intersection until he turned into a driveway to what I believe to be his farm. Going into the driveway, I can see an old house, along with a dilapidated farm further away, barely visible by the headlights. The old man parked by the house, where there were a few other trucks there. We parked alongside the truck and we got out into the cold, near-silent night.
“Welcome to sanctuary, where all are welcome”, the old man bellowed. This is the first time I’ve heard his voice. Matt was the last to get out of the truck, slowly and clumsily climbing out of the truck.
“What’s your name”, my Mom politely asked the old man.
“Oh, I guess your husband didn’t tell ya. My name is Steven, but you can call me Steve”, the old man said, with some crackling in his voice. “I am very proud to host a dinner for you and your family”, he continued. “What’s your name, ma’am?”
“Oh, my name is Janice”, Mom replied, quite pleased at his politeness.
“Hello, Janice, and what are their names”, Steven asked, pointing to me and Matt.
“That’s my daughter Kate and my son Matt”, Dad said to Mom.
“Oh, what wonderful names for a couple of beautiful children you have”, Steve grinned. “Come, it is dangerous out here.” We followed him to the house, which looked like it had seen better days. He entered through the double-set door, the first a solid door and a screen door behind. Entering the house, it smelled like what you’d expect, old man. Looking onto the floor is made of glossy wood and walls with cracks, likely caused by the earthquake. It is dark in there, lit by candlelight from many candles, yet it’s fairly warm here. I don’t know why we went into the house, but Dad was right, Steve is just a lonely, old man. Matter of fact, there seems to be nothing wrong here, other than the cracks in the walls. “Sorry, the power went out. Had to resort to the candles. I knew my wife would come in handy”, Steve explained as he took his coat off. “Oh, supper will be ready right away. Had to use the fireplace to cook. Also, can you take your boots off?” We took our boots and set them aside. We went into what seemed to be a living room, with dusty old-style furniture.
“So, where do we sit”, Mom asked.
“Oh, well, follow me”, Steve commanded, leading us to the dining room, with a long, wooden table and six wooden chairs, along with their corresponding old-fashioned plates, glasses and cutlery, lit up in the candlelight. We noticed that everything on the table was covered in a thin veil of dust. “My apologies, the recent shocks dropped a bit of dust on the table”, he explained as he noticed us looking at the plates and moved into another room nearby. “Take your seats if you like.” We all settled onto the chairs, and blew off our plates of the dust settled there.
“When will we eat”, Matt impatiently said.
“Once Steve comes out with the food”, Mom answered. Matt sat there with a tired look on his face. Dad seemed to be in a better mood than before and it looked like he wanted to start a conversation.
“Hey, should we talk about something”, Dad asked. I then see Steve with a bowl and a silver plate.
“Here we go, may not be much, but at least it’ll fulfil the soul”, Steve said, smiling when he served us mashed potatoes and meatloaf. “So, shall we pray?” That came unexpectedly, as we are not too religious, but we were in his house and gave us shelter and food.
“Sure, we can do that”, Mom said and we all bowed our heads and put our hands together. Steve cleared his throat
“Thank you, Lord, for this good food to feed the soul in these hard times. I shall pray, in the name of the Lord and Jesus Christ, that these hard times shall be over, so we can get on with our lives. Amen.” We raised our heads and grabbed whatever food there was onto our plates. “Oh, there’s no gravy, so we have to deal with bare potaters and meatloaf.”
“Oh, not to worry. Thank you for the food”, Dad thanked Steve. We began to eat the food once we got it sorted.
“So, what brings you here”, Steve asked.
“Well, there is an evacuation order in effect for this area, so we had to go to Regina”, Dad explained, with Steve taking in every word. “So, we came from Strasbourg, we tried going south towards Regina, but we hit an obstacle in the way and we had to take another route, leading us here.”
“And we encountered a few odd things along the way”, Mom added.
“Huh, interesting. What do you guys think is going on”, Steve inquired.
“By the things we saw, we have no idea. Dinosaurs, devil dogs, hell pigs, the whole deal. I shouldn’t forget the earthquake. They told us a pipeline leak caused by the earthquake”, Dad clarified to Steve.
“Hmm… is that so”, Steve wondered. “Wonder what I think is happening? The Rapture is happening. Do you know how the Bible tells us of the end times? Good people sent to be with God and his kingdom, the rest here to suffer the Hell unleashed by Satan.” By this point, he was beginning to rant, but we couldn't stop it as we all began to feel tired and powerless. “So, the Devil will send his demons in the form of these illusions so that they can torment the sinners. It is happening, it is-” Steve manically continued as I drew towards blackness and his voice becoming less coherent. My vision is now all black.
I saw those same lights, but more rapidly than before. I then emerged onto the same clear sky, but something felt different. I can smell something in the air. I can smell what seems to be chemicals in the air. Looking down, I was terrified. Dark, grey rock in the shape of ropes and folds, similar to those I saw of lava flows on a volcano in pictures. This went on as far as the eye could see. I can see no tree this time, just the cooled lava everywhere. I then walked, feeling every bump and crag. I thought I walked forever until I heard a rumbling sound and woke up.
I am in total darkness. It is cold and it smells like cow manure. I tried to move my hand, but it seemed to be bonded behind my back by a rope. I tried to move my feet, but they were also bound by rope to the legs I tried to speak, only to realise my mouth was agape by a cloth in my mouth. I heard shuffling nearby but I could not see. It was then shone in light when Steve entered the door, holding a candle, revealing all of us in the same situation. I then can see what we are in. We are in that same wooden dilapidated barn we saw earlier and seems to be more damaged than the house, wood creaking can be heard.
“These sedatives are more effective than I thought. Maybe I should use them more often”, Steve smoothly explained, like he’s some kind of agent and began pacing. “Wonder why you are here? Well, I wondered the same thing to myself, why didn’t God take me to his heaven? When I first heard of the government telling us of those evacuation plans, I thought it was that, a leaking pipe. I began to notice things I couldn’t believe myself, at least at first. Earthquakes, weird creatures showing up, people disappearing, the whole spiel. I connected the dots. The Rapture is happening, for sure, but why me? Why was I the one left here on this Earth”, Steve calmly ranted, pacing around the barn, but it seemed to sound crazier and angrier the more he paced. “I thought I had lost my way. I’ve been unfaithful to God and his son. But, I realised that God always has a plan and he left me on this Earth to serve a purpose. I wondered what my purpose was until I had a moment.” He then stopped in place and calmed down. He turned to look at Mom with accusing yet crazed eyes.
“I’m supposed to keep the sinners here in line, to earn a place in God’s kingdom, or suffer in Hell. I know you are a sweet woman, Janice, but your treachery with Satan is over and I am going to do what’s right.” Mom then looked at all of us, with assuring eyes like that of an innocent yet caring mother we all know knew. I began crying and trying to speak through the cloth, but I was helpless to watch by. “Forgive me, Father, for what I am going to do.” He then pulled a knife from his pocket and plunged it into Mom’s neck with no mercy. I looked away once he did that, trembling, with tears pouring out and my vision glazed and I fell limp. I could see my brother tearing up, but he did not look away. I can hear Dad behind me, with his screams of agony and anger covered by the cloth. It felt like I was in slow motion, taking in every moment.
I then heard the chair, screeching as Steve dragged the chair containing Mom’s lifeless body towards the door, leaving behind a trail of blood. I couldn’t bear to see my mother like this. I shut my eyes very hard and hoped it would go away. The door then shut, leaving us alone with a candle, fearing what would come next. I stared at the candle, seeing it dance in the flames like a woman dancing in the darkness. Is this how it’ll end, I thought. End up dying to this sick man? My Mom was killed in front of me. I sobbed with that thought, then I began to think about the inevitable death of me. I hope there’s something after I die. Maybe I’ll see Mom again.
It was silent for a while, nearly no sound other than our moans. Dad seems to be fidgeting at the back of his chair, rocking it slowly. Looking past him, I shuddered at the glistening pool of blood, where Mom was last alive, could be my fate. I then see Dad release his arms from the back of the chair and remove the cloth from his mouth. He silently stood up and bent down to untie his legs from the chair legs. He then went to me and removed my cloth.
“H-h-how did you do that”, I silently wept, fearing that Steve would show up at the door and kill us all.
“My binding is loose. The old man probably took a liking to me”, Dad whispered. “I should remove your binds.” He untied them, releasing me, doing the same for Matt. “Now, we need to be quiet.” We then walked, quietly, along the painfully creaking wood in the near dark, following the blood trail, glistening in the candlelight. We cringed and dreaded each sound we made and watched the door in case it began to creak open. A few silent steps later, we made it to the door and we slowly opened it so as not to make any noise. What was revealed to us is nothing new, other than the blood trail continuing in the snow directing towards the back of the barn. “Okay, Kate, Matt, you guys run to the truck.”
“What about you”, I sobbed.
“Don’t worry about me”, Dad responded, giving me his keys and forcing them into my hand. “If I’m not back in a few minutes, leave. Don’t look back, take care of your brother, okay? I love you, no matter what happens.” He then kissed me on the head and ran to follow the blood trail. We quickly walked towards the black truck, stranded there for maybe hours. Getting closer, freedom is getting closer. When we got to a fair distance to the truck, I heard footsteps behind me and, the next thing I knew, I was knocked over to the ground into the hard snow on my face. A hand turned me over to give me a glimpse of a crazed Steve, his eyes wilder than before.
“Oh, yes, trying to escape”, he bragged. I looked at him, frozen in fear, like a deer in headlights and he caressed my face with his bloodied blade. “You do have a pretty face, but I’m afraid you are just one of Satan's creations, made to pull me to lust.” He then raised his knife in the air when a familiar side emerged, out of the blue.
Joe came and bit him in the arm that was holding the knife. Steve screamed in agony the moment he realised what happened. He shook Joe off and stood up to stand his ground. I stood up as Joe hissed and walked around the crazed being he wounded, not in fear but in aggressiveness. “Is this one of your pets, demon”, Steve screamed as Joe came in for another attack, but Steve countered that with a slash to the snout. Joe then ran away, whining, into the darkness. This sequence of events gave me the chance to enter the truck on the driver’s side. I had some trouble starting it, besides this is my first time driving a truck.
Steve menacelily walked towards the when Dad came barreling and tackled him to the ground. Dad was on top when he went limp. I finally put the keys in the engine turned it on and backed out, with memory serving me the instructions on such a vehicle. Steve pushed Dad’s body and stood up, but by that time, we left the farm.
“Turn back, we have to get Dad”, Matt cried, but I was very emotional, accepting what happened. I felt that, without my parents, I feel… useless.
“Dad’s dead”, I screamed at Matt and he began gagging uncontrollably in tears. I began to feel sorry for him. “Sorry, I, I don’t know.”
“It’s okay”, Matt sniffled. “I guess Mom and Dad are dead anyways.” It was silence for a few more minutes, tears welling in our eyes.
“Hey, our parents are in a better place”, I said, trying to make the situation positive.
“But we are stuck here, without them? Don’t we deserve to go to a better place?”
“Don’t say that”, I huffed and I paused for a bit. “I know we are in the, uh, right place now. Let me tell you something, once we get to Regina, I will take care of you, no matter what life throws at us.”
“What about Joe”, Matt asked.
“He’ll be fine. He probably found his girlfriend already.”
“Hey, don’t you have a boyfriend?”
“I, uh, I don’t have one. That I know of”, I spoke, bringing me back to Sam, remembering that she’s the only friend that I ever knew, and I left her. Without her, I felt alone, no one would ever relate. I began to tear up. “I don’t have any friends. I am alone,” I sobbed.
“What do you mean? I’m your brother!” I looked at Matt, and smiled, happy that he acknowledged that we were in this together.
“Thank you”, I thanked him. I slowly stopped on the road, just to hug Matt hard, crying my eyes out. We then heard what sounded like an elephant in front of us. We looked up to see a walking snow-covered brown fur wall with four pillar-like legs in front of us. Its curved tusks gleaned in the light and the eyes reflected in the light. The furry trunk waved around like a searching snake from a tree. We both knew what it was.
“Hey, look at that, a woolly mammoth”, Matt said, excitement running through him. At this point, we weren’t surprised.
“Yep, that is a woolly mammoth”, I added. The mammoth turned to us on the road, seemingly confused about where it was. It looked at our truck and seemed to growl, like an elephant. We are starting to realise this thing is becoming aggressive.
“Uh, should we move”, Matt asked. I remembered hearing something about standing your ground in case of an encounter with an elephant. I hoped it would work for a bigger, furrier version of one.
“No, we have to stand our ground.”
“But, it’ll attack u-”
“Trust me!” I then honked my horn and it backed up. It then rushed, then stopped, a mock charge. Eventually, it moved out of the road, disappearing into the darkness. We sighed in relief.
“That was close”, Matt sighed. I then continued to drive in the night, headlights leading the way. The road is bumpy, as noticed by every ditch and peak we hit, but surprisingly, Matt was fast asleep. I began to get comfortable driving and used to the road by that point. It was silent for a while until we hit a smaller intersection. That is when the truck shut down, completely and stopped. I tried the gas many times but with no effect. There is no light, nothing. It is near-darkness here, shone only by the moonlight.
“Shit”, I yelled, desperate to turn the truck on without much success. Matt woke up, confused.
“What happened”, he yawned.
“The truck turned itself off. I can’t get it back on”, I fretted and at that moment, Matt was just as panicked as I am.
“Why?”
“I-I don’t know. One moment, we were driving, another it just-”, I quavered, when I heard something rustle in the distance. We stood still, hoping whatever it was didn’t find us. I looked around, hoping to see something in the moonlight. I then see a long, walking animal. It looked like some sort of alligator at first, except for a dinosaur-like head. Once I strained my eyes to the darkness, my fear levels rose as I could see it walk on its hind limbs, with its forelimbs dangling nearly touching the ground.
It was wandering around on the road when I heard a near-crocodilian growl at Matt’s side of the truck. Another of those creatures appeared, seemingly looking into the window like a hungry bear, giving us a chance to see its scaly head. Its exposed alligator teeth gleaned in the light like knives, but more terrifying was the eye. Its serpentine pupil shone brilliantly in the light like eyes in the dark. It then ducked down, gave a hiss, and moved towards the other one. A few more showed up and formed a group.
“What should we do”, Matt asked. “Should we stay?” I looked around, hoping for another way to escape them without them noticing. I further strained my eyes and mentally mapped out the area. There is a cemetery on my right-hand side, a grain bin storage yard on my left and a series of trailers on the other side of the highway, which is ahead of us, from the storage area. There, I see a series of white, storage buildings, something we can go to and wait it out inside.
“Okay, so slowly open the door”, I instructed Matt. The click of the doors opening cringed us. We looked at the group, but there was no response from them. We then, as slowly as we could, opened the door and stepped out. Still no response. Matt then quietly ran to the other side, towards me. “Okay, we are going into the storage yard and go to the other entrance”, I said, pointing to the other right-hand corner. I wanted to get as far away from these things as possible before making a safe crossing. “Then, we cross the highway on the other side, run into the buildings and stay there for the night. Are you ready?”
“I guess”, he whispered, looking at me in fearful doubt.
“We are going to do this”, I whispered back. We then silently ran over, having to rely on our night-adapted eyes, to the corner, walking past the bins. We made it and nothing behind us so far. “We’re good so far.” We then crossed the road and noticed nothing. We noticed a tanker truck, leaking some sort of fluid across the road. I easily recognized it as fuel, based on its distinctive, sickly smell. I wouldn’t be worried about it if it weren’t for a collapsed light pole that is somehow still flickering with electricity near the area where the fuel would be flowing. We quickly avoided the fluid when I froze to see the group of the walking alligators, running towards us. “Run!” Matt tried to run, but one of those things appeared and clamped its jaws at the back of his neck. He yelped in pain and it took him down to the ground. “Matt”, I yelled, helplessly watching as the creature tore into him.
Matt reached out his arm before the others came to him, then a flash of fire came. At this point, I knew what happened, but I couldn’t even think before it exploded. It blew me towards the building, far away. I was knocked out for a few seconds before I regained consciousness, groaning in pain on the ice. I noticed something especially painful just below my chest. I reached towards the area with my hand. I pressed on it, more painful than ever and raised my hand, only to see blood, brightened by the fire. I realised I was wounded, maybe by shrapnel made by the explosion.
I looked toward where the truck was and all I saw was a blaze. Those things weren’t there, at least. I also noticed something else, too, there’s no Matt. I tried to look around for something, some sort of sign of my brother within the fire, but I saw none. I then wept, realising I had failed. I have failed to keep him safe. I have failed to give him a better life. I failed him as a sister. I could’ve done better. The thoughts poured in as tears glazed my eyes. At that moment, I failed to look around me.
I noticed a dark thing beside the blaze. I thought it was Matt, preparing to greet him back, even though I knew he couldn’t survive the explosion. The image became clearer and clearer as I noticed it was one of the walking crocs that, glazed by the fire, was coming towards me.
“Just kill me”, I screamed, preparing to painfully die to meet my maker. The creature was about to attack me when something large, silent as the wind, came charging and clamped down its massive jaws, filled with conical teeth on the hapless creature and raised it. The crocodile struggled before going limp with a crunch within its strong jaws. The big, dark and scaly monster that it is towered over me and is as long as a bus, possibly longer. Its large legs are a contradiction to its small arms that hide beneath its scarred, bulky body.
It turned to look at me with an oddly bird-like expression, revealing in the firelight numerous scars from battles I could never know and looked at me with its beady bird-like eyes, breathing out wisps from its nostrils like a dragon in the cool air. I recognized it as a creature I know too well, a T. Rex. I breathed heavily and sickly, looking at the thing, nearly expecting me to drop the body and go after me. Instead, it simply walked away, carrying its bloody prize with it, and steadily retreated into the darkness.
I then lay down in agonizing exhaustion on my back, thinking of the next step of action like I'm on a suicide mission I would never come back from. I looked in the direction of the graveyard and had one thought. I guess I am dying. a graveyard will do. I struggled to stand up, noticing my blood-soaked clothes and felt a broken left leg. I grasped my wound, limping step by step and enduring the sharp pain while shaking in the cold. Every step I took, I remembered all the memories, good or bad, that I had with my parents. My brother. My friends. My family. I eventually reached the cemetery and slouched at a tree.
“Guess I’m joining you, guys”, I said, speaking to the snow-covered gravestones, only to hear something. A familiar sound of chirping emerged and, lit by the blaze, it was a sight I can hope for. “Joe, what are you doing here”, I depressingly cheered as Joe went to me and curled up in my lap as if he were a cat. I noticed the new-found scar he had on his little snout, but I paid no mind as I petted him. “I guess you came back. Thank you so much for what you did”, I thanked him, not expecting such a loyal creature would be with me, comforting me, to the end, like what my mother used to do when I was a newborn. I heard another noise, this time a deep rumble.
I thought it was another earthquake coming, but it got louder the closer it got to me, becoming more animalistic only felt small vibrations I barely felt. Joe stayed put, oddly enough, as T. Rex, different from the first one, came. It walked towards us until it stopped short of us. It began to produce a low-pitched, bird-like purring, attracting Joe. I realised something, that this T. Rex is Joe’s parent. He joined the rest like him, whom they showed up and all chirped around.
The grown Rex then brought its snout closer to me, not to kill me, but to look at me. It did not reveal its teeth and was still purring. I put my hand out and its nose came close to it. It rubbed it against my hand and started to pet its cold, scaly skin as it breathed through its nose and put it on my chest. I rested my head on it before it pulled away. It gave out a hiss, but I knew it wasn’t that of a threat, but more of a thank you for bringing its small, sometimes immature, child home.
That gave me relief, as it felt like I at least did something for once. They walked away, along with Joe, towards the darkness amongst the gravestones in the cemetery. I glimpsed one last desperate look at Joe before walking beside his parent. I looked up at the sky and I could see all the stars, twinkling, and the dancing green auroras. I began to feel limp and felt the cold embrace of death coming over me, tears pouring out of my eyes. The sky then grew brighter and brighter, the stars faded into the light and I could see my family welcoming me to a new home. It then slowly went black, darker than a cave.
You would think this is the end of me. It wasn’t, or else I wouldn’t be writing this right now. I eventually woke up in a hospital in Regina. I was told I was rescued by a team that transported me while I was in a coma. The doctors said I was very lucky to be alive, as the shrapnel narrowly avoided my vital organs. After that, I was adopted into a new family, but I was only with them for a couple of years before finding a new job and moving out.
As for Sam, I don’t know what happened to her. I would like to think she is safe, somewhere else. As for my family, I think of them all the time. I was in a depressive period right after that. Eventually, over the years, I accepted that they were gone and went to a better place. For Joe, I would like to think he is all grown up, like his parents, and becoming the king of the jungle. I hope we meet again.
As for the evacuated area, it wasn’t some pipeline rupture that caused an evaluation, but an anomaly, with the exact reason not known. There are excuses for the claims of weird stuff going on in there, from disease to chemicals, to eventually a previously unknown geological event, but I saw through it all.
You may ask how, it's because I've been there. Take it or leave it, this is the story I have. As the decade came by, cover-ups were made to hide it, even walls were put around it. Since the incident, the exclusion zone grew from a mere 80 kilometers in diameter to 460 kilometers in diameter, emptying entire cities of the likes of Regina and Saskatoon. I had to move to North Battleford, by the recommendation from the same government covering it up, making me think that time will tell before the floodgates of truth open.
The anomaly didn’t have a name initially, however, over the years, everyone agreed on one name in particular: The Saskatchewan Anomaly.

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I was 6 when the Plainfield tornado hit my neighborhood. We were the first subdivision hit when it entered Plainfield. It was weird bc half the subdivision was gone and the other half was still standing. It also hit a pig farm at the end of the street and there were dead pigs everywhere. The ones who weren’t dead made awful noises and people went around performing mercy killings.
Right before it hit I was outside with a friend. We just happened to decide to go inside our perspective houses before it hit 10 mins later. I remember thinking the clouds looked weird and now I realize they were mammatus clouds. I went inside to turn on the tv, Ghost Busters were on at 3. The tv wouldn’t turn on but the power was still on. My mom was on the phone, my dad was sleeping and my brother was getting ready to go deliver his papers for his route.
It got really dark outside and the wind and rain picked up, throwing things off our deck. My dad came tearing out of his room, yelling we needed to get downstairs and into the bathroom. My mom decided to continue her phone conversation downstairs until about the tornado hit saying “girl, I gotta go, there’s a tornado”. My family and I hid in the bathroom, all of them piled up on me. At one point I could feel the wind pulling all of us out of the bathroom, my dad holding onto the toilet seat while being pulled in the air. I don’t remember it sounding like a freight train, it was just very loud and our house was being torn apart. After it hit we went to our neighbor’s whose house was still standing. We had to peel the garage door up to escape, the top half of the house and all the stairs were gone. Our neighbor’s son happened to have one of the first cell phones and my parents were able to make a few calls to our relatives a few towns over.
I remember seeing the tornado, it was massive, black and looked like it had mini tornadoes swirling around it.
My dad had left to go help with the neighbors. A woman behind us was watching her grandson and she couldn’t get to him bc the stairs were gone. The grandson happened to be on a bed and a wall collapsed on him. Because he was on the bed, it was able to indent enough, he didn’t get crushed. Fiberglass was in his throat and my dad was able to get it out to help him breathe again. Then, the farmer down the street had his tractor roll onto him. My dad and some neighbors helped pull it off of him. He didn’t make it in time to get to his storm shelter. We had no warnings.
Around the neighborhood trees were stripped, cars in and on trees. Glass and fiberglass everywhere. All of our belongings were gone. We couldn’t even save clothing bc fiberglass was just embedded in everything. They found my dad’s savings bonds miles away. Our cats got blown away too, still lived, but were miles from home.
We had to evacuate to the end of the street bc of gas leaks.
My brother and I were supposed to start school the next day. Him at the high school and me at the Catholic school that was destroyed.
My aunts and uncles spent over 3 hours traveling to us from towns 45 mins away. We stayed with them a week before being set in a temporary home. Our house was one of the first to be rebuilt. It was eerie going to the neighborhood after it hit. I went w my dad often. The National Guard was there and also my neighbor, old man, was sitting outside w a shotgun to make sure there were no looters.
I wanted to be a storm chaser for a while, but well I’m not great at math so killed that dream. Also, I still have a fear response regarding bad weather. Watching the patterns change has been fascinating and scary.

I am NOT OOP. OOP is u/justathrowaway282641
Originally posted to TwoHotTakes + her own page
Previous BoRU #1, BoRU #2, BoRU #3, BoRU #4, BoRU #5, BoRU 6
Editor’s Note: removed all relevant comments from older posts to make space for new updates. To see all older relevant comments, check out the previous BoRUs above
NEW UPDATE MARKED WITH ----
[New Update]: My family forgot to invite me to my grandparents funeral, but they are convinced I was there.
Trigger Warnings: death of loved ones, emotional manipulation, gaslighting, harassment
RECAP
Original Post: November 14, 2023**
I’m 30s F and caused a major blowup in my family and now none of them are talking to me. For background, my hometown is tiny (500pop) and when I went 2 hrs away to “the city” (15,000pop) for college, I loved it. I ended up staying after graduation, got married, and am happy here for a decade. I visit my home town every few weeks or so, call/text my family near daily, and thought we were all good. My family’s pretty small. Just my brother, mom, step dad, dad, step mom, and an aunt and uncle (mom’s siblings, never married, no kids). My mother's grandparents moved to my home town when I was in high school and were just down the street from us. My family has always been pretty drama free (aside from my parent’s divorce when I was a kid) and we’ve been happy. The step-parents were blended in perfectly and we share holidays and celebrations together. We’re all super close and just the perfect little group.
Ever since I moved away, the topic of “when am I moving back?” is constant, and I’ve always laughed it off. My home town has nothing. You have to drive 30 minutes for milk and bread. 60-90 minute one-way commutes to work. And floods shut down the main road every Easter. I love the town, but I love here more. I have parks, stores, community events, a library! The “city” is great. My family grumbles that I need to move back, but I refuse. I've been trying to encourage them to come here, especially since it's not an hour drive to the nearest medical facility.
Now to the meat and potatoes: both my grandparents passed over COVID times. They were both old and their health had been failing for a while so it was only a matter of time. Thankfully they didn’t catch it, but it made visiting them impossible and we survived mostly through FaceTime. They both passed in their sleep months apart. Both were cremated and kept securely under the kitchen sink for safe keeping while the pandemic blew over. That was 2021.
Well, I just found out my family held a funeral for them and scattered the ashes in my uncle’s maple grove over the summer. No one said a word to me about it. I’ve visited numerous times before and after and not one word. I only found out because my great uncle from California posted on Facebook a few weeks ago that he is entering hospice and was so thankful his health stayed strong enough for him to see his little sister (my grandma) to her final resting place. I was confused and called my mom. She was all “Yeah, the funeral we had in July, remember?” Ya’ll, I visited them for the 4th of July. They did the funeral the 8th. Not a word about it to me. They had planned this for months. Long enough to arrange for my infirm great uncle to be brought over from the other side of the country. Apparently, they talked about it “all the time”.
Everyone is convinced I was at the funeral. They SWEAR I was there. I can prove I wasn’t because Google’s got my location history. My hubby is baffled because he was supposedly there, too, but he had to work every weekend in June and July. Time clock doesn’t lie. My family straight up forgot about me. I’m hurt. I’m sad. And they’re pissed at me “for lying”. They think I’m causing drama over nothing. Nothing I say can convince them I wasn’t there. My family is united in this. And they’ve all put me “on read” until I admit I’m wrong. They think I’ve gone nuts. Either there’s a doppelganger of me attending events, or my family doesn’t want to admit they screwed up. I’m not backing down.
Thanksgiving is coming up, and my family’s been vague posting on Facebook about “forgetful kids” and mental health. It’s so freaking weird and I don’t know if I’m in bizzaro world or what’s going on. My mom’s best friend reached out and said I should just admit I was wrong and apologize, that I’m causing my mom so much unnecessary stress. I asked her if she’s checked everyone’s home for CO2. She hung up on me. (We checked our CO2, and our testers are running just fine.) I have reached out to a few people in my home town to check in on my folks, and they all say they're fine. I even spoke with the local volunteer fire fighter group to see if they could check for gas leaks. Not sure if they were able to.
I don’t know what to do. I’ve shown them the proof I wasn’t there, but they know I’m tech savvy and just assume I’ve Photoshopped it. Hubby says we need a break, and we’re going to be staying home this holiday season.
Edit: I don't know the update rules, so I'll post updates to my profile should anyone want them.  
Update #1: November 27, 2023
Not sure how to do updates on posts, so figured I'd post anything on my profile. Folks have private messaged me and this will be easier I think?
It's 11/27 and Thanksgiving just happened. Hubby and I stayed home. We got a small turkey and made our own little thanksgiving. It was nice. We ate around noon, then watched a movie, and later sat outside with a bottle of wine to watch the sun set behind the trees and neighbor houses.
We usually take the day before off, drive to my folks, stay the night, and help with the Thanksgiving Day cooking. So it wasn't until Wednesday night that my mom broke the silence. Mom called and asked when I was showing up, and I told her we were staying home this year, but for them to have a happy Thanksgiving, and to give the rest of the family my love. She was quiet for a long time after I said that, and I think she eventually mumbled an "okay", or something, and hung up. It wasn't an angry hang up. Just a hang up. On Thanksgiving day, I sent a group "Happy Thanksgiving!" gif to our family group chat. I received a few "happy Thanksgiving"'s back. No one's said anything else. There's been no posts on Facebook.  
Update #2: December 12, 2023
So, I think I mentioned in one of my comments that my dad and I usually talk on the phone every Sunday morning. We're both early risers so we'd chat over our morning coffees and watch the sunrise. Him and I haven't really spoken since this all went down and it's been tough. I'm used to talking to him, you know?
Well, I was sitting outside in my usual spot, watching the sun rise and freezing my butt off, and he called me. I'm not entirely sure how to describe the emotions I felt. It was a mix of panic, hope, terror, happiness, and dread. I ended up answering because I just had to know what he wanted. It was an awkward conversation. He didn't address the current "drama", but instead tiptoed around the situation with all the grace of an cow on stilts. For instance, a simple "How are you doing?" Type question was answered with a "Not good." And the whole conversation would stall out for a bit because he knew why I wasn't doing well. So we ended up talking about the weather, the various winter birds we'd seen in our feeders, and the Christmas decorations around town. Things like that.
Eventually he asked if we were coming out for Christmas, and sounded sad when I told him we weren't. He asked if him and step mom could come visit us instead, and I told him it wasn't a good idea this year. That hubby and I were going to spend a quiet holiday together. I let him know he should be receiving some gifts at his PO Box any day now, so to please pick them up from the post office and put them under the family tree for everyone. He said he'd ship ours to us as well.
And that was pretty much it. No crazy drama to report. The only posts on Facebook have been the usual Christmas excitement ones, countdowns, photos of Santa, silly gift ideas, photos of company Christmas parties.
On a personal note: Hubby and I are doing alright. Our health is good, our spirits high, and we're as solid as ever. We each got Christmas bonus' at our jobs, so we're excited about that. They're not large, but we're happy to have them. We have also done advent calendars for the first time ever. I got him a Lego one, and he got me a hot chocolate one. We're going to do the calendars again next year. Maybe make a tradition out of it.
Everyone please have a safe and happy holidays.  
Inheritance: December 16, 2023
I've received a lot - A LOT - of messages and private DMs urging me to check into inheritance and such. I'm really touched a lot of Internet strangers are worried about me and I wanted to ensure everyone that inheritance is most likely not an issue here. I'd almost be relieved if it was, because then it would at least make some sense. Money does weird things to people, you know?
No one in my family is wealthy by any means. After my grandparents' passed, their small estate was used to pay for their end of life expenses and remaining assets split up. Everyone directly related got an equal split (so excluded my dad and the step parents). I don't remember the exact amount I received, but it was around $5k if I recall. My brother gave me his share, too, so I could finish paying off my college debt while the interest freeze was active.
The great uncle from California has kids and grand kids, and great grandkids of his own, and also isn't wealthy. I think one of his kids makes good money doing something in finance, but I'm not entirely sure. I can't imagine he left us anything, as we hardly knew him. My mom, aunt, and uncle only met him a few times in their lives, and my brother and I even less. Grandma and him were close, but I don't think he liked my grandpa much.  
Christmas: December 25, 2023
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I've received a lot of support through my posts and I'm really grateful. Writing these updates have had a therapeutic effect.
Yesterday was Sunday, but I didn't answer my dad when he called. I just really didn't feel up to a pointless chat, so let it go to voicemail. He tried to reach me a few times throughout the day, but I didn't answer.
Our bestie last minute invited us over to his house for Christmas day lunch (today), so husband and I were busy all Christmas Eve making cookies, peanut brittle, and homemade suckers/hard candies for his kids. Mom tried to reach out as well, but I also ignored her calls.
We had a BLAST at lunch! Our friend's kids are a lot of fun to be around. They got some techy presents from their grandparents (Quest vr headset and steam decks, lucky little rascals) Friend and his wife aren't good with tech, while hubby and I are, so we helped get them set up while our friend played a good host to his folks and inlaws. The grandparents didn't realize that a Steam deck required a Steam account, so we got the kids all their own accounts set up, added them to our steam friends lists, and gifted them some games. We also bought them a few VR games for their headset, and they were off to the races with Beat Saber in no time.
As for my folks: My brother texted and asked if we could talk sometime tomorrow. I think me ignoring mom and dad has caused some kind of upset. Which they deserve.  
Brother’s call: December 26, 2023
Spoke with my brother over the phone this morning.
For starters, he apologized for everything. Him and I are good (for now). For a bit of background, my brother and I are only 2 years apart. There weren't a lot of kids around growing up, so the two of us were often stuck doing stuff together. So we have a lot of shared interests and passions. He's been pretty silent on this whole matter, but still "part of the group", if you know what I mean. I think the thought of losing him out of my life was probably the most painful, because he's always been there. He was my rock until I met my husband. He's definitely a Mama's boy, though, so anything mom wanted, he made sure she got. I'm happy to have him back.
Without further ado, here's the story from the horse's mouth:
Mom apparently had a cancer scare late last year (which no one told me about, go figure), and dad had a stint put in his heart back in January (which I did know about). This "sense of mortality" has apparently lit a fire under Mom's ass to get me back home. But since I wasn't reacting to her passive aggressive hinting, she and step mom decided to go full crazy. My great uncle's health was bad, and he'd been asking about funeral arrangements for his sister (my grandma) for a while, so the moms decided to plan it. And use the event as a giant middle finger to me. They kept all the planning pretty hush-hush between the two of them, so no one on our side of the family actually knew about the funeral until like 2 weeks before. The moms said they'd invited hubby and I. No one thought anything about it. No one thought to mention, confirm, or check with me.
The plan was to scatter the ashes, say a few words, and maybe head to town for lunch. It was a small affair. The mom's didn't even tell the family that our great uncle was coming for it. Like I said, it was a small thing. Barely a footnote. No one thought it was odd because we're pretty chill people.
4th of July happens. Hubby and I are out. No one thought to mention it, as we were all busy celebrating and having a great time. Any time the topic of "this weekend" would start, the conversation would be quickly shifted by one of the moms. We went back home.
8th of July happens. Great uncle rolls into town with a few of his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, and it's a surprise to everyone (but the moms). Everyone drives to the maple grove and the moms have brought a ton of food and stuff. It's a full blown party. No one on my side noticed I wasn't there, because there were so many extra faces outside the usual group. They did the spreading of the ashes, they said their words, they ate, they had a great time. It wasn't until our great uncle left, and all his side left with him, that they realized I wasn't there. And hadn't been there.
And this is where the crazy went up a notch. My brother says the moms were happy no one noticed I wasn't there. And that this was proof to everyone that I needed to move back because I was so easily forgotten about. Because none of them thought to reach out, right? They basically did a ton of guilt tripping manipulation bullshit and it made everyone upset at me for not showing up. Somehow it was my fault for being excluded. So suddenly everyone was on their side with "sticking it to me".
But then a few months went by, and tempers cooled, and then I guess the horror of it set in. Followed by the shame, but by then they were "in too deep". How do you undo something like this? And since I hadn't brought it up, I guess they figured they would all just stay quiet about it and hope I never asked about a funeral.
That's when I discovered the situation from my great uncle's Facebook and called my mom, who panicked and went with the stupidest solution. Claiming I was there. Don't I remember?
I ended up talking with a few friends from high school, mentioning the situation, and word got back to those in town. So suddenly town gossip and little old church ladies got involved. Was I, or wasn't I at the funeral? Did my family forget to invite me to the funeral of the only grandparents I'd ever know? Or am I just causing a ruckus? My brother said they all just went with mom's answer. Of course they wouldn't forget me. Of course I was there. Of course they're good people. And it just snowballed.
The family expected me to eventually fold. I'm usually a nonconfrontational person, so me sticking to my guns was unexpected. And then I missed Thanksgiving. And now Christmas. With no sign of backing down. And I guess the realization that I could just stop being part of their lives is setting in and my parents are panicking. He's tried just getting them to apologize and explain, but stubbornness prevails. They want to rug sweep, but I'm not letting them.
My brother is upset with everything that's happened. He's realized just how crappy it all has been and he wants nothing to do with it anymore. But since he lives with my mom, he can't "get away from it".
He has asked if he can come stay with us for a little bit. I spoke with hubby, and he's in agreement with me that my brother can come crash in our spare bedroom for as long as he wants. Brother works remotely, so it's no trouble for him to pick up and go. I believe he's making the trip today or tomorrow. Not entirely sure, but I expect crap to hit the fan when he arrives.
On a side note, hubby's stoked that my brother and I made up. The two usually game together, but haven't due to "the situation". He's downstairs right now setting up his man cave in preparation for my brother's arrival. I'm happy to see him so excited.  
Brother's Here: December 27, 2023
My brother rolled in late last night. He'd obviously been crying and when I opened the door, he just held me and sobbed. I'd never seen him like that before and soon both of us were just standing in the doorway crying into one another. He kept apologizing. Over and over again. Said he wasn't sure why he went with it. Just kept saying sorry. Hubby got him all set up in the spare bedroom while brother and I talked. My brother's a wreck. He's always been a big guy, but he's lost a lot of weight and his clothes just hang off him. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was on drugs. We talked for a little bit before bed and he re-explained everything for my husband. I'd told hubby the story, but it was just so weird that hearing it again helped.
This morning my brother was up at dawn making some coffee and getting his work day going. Hubby's off all week (lucky) so hubby made us working folk some pancakes and bacon. So far everything's peaceful. We've decided not to answer any calls from our family. They've been made aware that he arrived safely, and that we are going to spend the New Years together, and that we're not answering any calls until January 1st. They may text if they wish. I'm sure they're losing their minds. Serves them right.
Everyone, have a safe and happy new years! Don't drink and drive!  
Happy 2024!: January 2, 2024
I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holidays, and may the new year be full of joy and happiness!
Not too much of an update. Things here have been quiet. My brother's settled in nicely and he's a great housemate. Our place isn't very big, but we have full basement and a nice outside patio/porch area so it doesn't feel crowded at all with the extra addition. He's a quiet and clean guy. No hassle at all. He got some fresh clothes from the Walmart, a haircut, and trimmed his beard, so he's more "presentable" now. He's a lady killer when he gets cleaned up. He's made nice with the (very nosy, but kind) retired couple next door and is adapting to "city living" nicely.
Folks back home have been mostly well behaved. There's been a few texts back and forth, as we're not answering calls. Mom mainly wants to know when brother's coming back, but he's keen on staying here for a while. Mom said I can't "keep him" and I told her he's a grown ass man and can do what he wants. Brother says he has her blocked after she ORDERED him to return home.
Brother has tentatively asked if he could stay long term, should he decide to, or at least longer than a usual visitor would stay. Which we're fine with. He has a good paying job and could afford an apartment, but he's never lived on his own and I would guess he has some anxiety about it. Should that be the case, he'll start paying us some rent and we'd probably adjust to give him the basement as his own space.  
Had to change the locks: January 17, 2024
My brother is officially staying with us for the long haul. Hubby and him spent all Sunday organizing the basement and shifting things around so he now has his own area to be comfortable in. He's pretty handy and has also started fixing little things around our house. Our windows and doors have never closed and locked/unlocked smoother. He even fixed one of the closets we never use because we can never get the darn door open. Sadly, he also had to change the locks on our house and get us all new keys.
This is because while hubby and I were out this Saturday, the moms showed up. They'd been calling and texting us all week, but we weren't really answering them, so I guess the two decided to drive over and hash it out in person. They have emergency keys to my place, and just let themselves in. Brother told them to leave, they argued, and my nosy (but kind) neighbors called the police when they noticed the commotion. So, we get a call from neighbor's wife, return home to some cops in our yard, all the neighbors out "vacuuming their trees", and my nosy (but kind) neighbors standing on my porch with my brother behind them, doing their best Gandalf "You shall not pass" impression.
Had to talk with the cops, explain that we were having a family dispute and word vomited. I don't really remember what all I said, and was shaking a lot. Our local cops are really great. Fantastic guys and gals in blue, and took it all in stride. It's really cold here, so one had me join him in his cruiser with the heat on, and gave me a bottle of water to calm down while we talked. They asked if we wanted the moms trespassed but I wasn't sure if that counted as a criminal charge so just asked the cops if they could just make them leave, which the cops did with no fuss. I think the moms were shocked we were taking this so seriously. They didn't fight or scream at us. Just left quietly.
My dad promised me he'd make sure his wife left us alone. "Or else". He said he'd also have a stern talk with my mom. Him and I talked Sunday morning, and he seemed absolutely at the end of his rope. Husband jokingly told my dad he could move in, too. To which he declined.
Not sure where to go from here, but we're getting some ring cameras installed once they arrive. And everyone but my dad is blocked. Hopefully they all just leave us alone.  
Nothing New To Report: February 2, 2024
Had a lot of DMs for updates, but don't have much anything to report on. The moms are behaving themselves. All's quiet on the western front. Felt weird ignoring or copy/pasting "no updates" to everyone, so here's what we've been doing, should anyone care.
Dad got a new bird/squirrel feeder from Amazon (looks like a little picnic table for a child's dolly but has a mesh top for the bird seed. I think it's supposed to be for chickens?) It's totes adorbs. To his horror, it also works as a Cooper hawk feeder, so now he's "fortifying his defenses" and putting up some trellises around it. He'll have to wait till warmer weather before planting anything to grow on them.
We had some ring cameras installed and put in a motion-activated camera that double functions as a light bulb. It goes in the light fixture outside the front door and is pretty cool. Video quality isn't all that great, but it's a nice addition I guess. It does overlook the bird feeders, so I've been watching it on my lunch breaks on the days I have to go into the office.
Hubby and brother are feuding. They started a coop farm in Stardew Valley a few days ago and they both want to romance Leah. My husband confided in me that he's also been romancing Sebastian as a backup. I'm not sure why he's keeping this a secret, but he's pretty smug about it.
RELEVANT COMMENTS
fractal_frog I hope your dad can outsmart the hawks!

OOP: He'll be able to, I just know it. He's used to dealing with the wildlife and having hawks about, but he just wasn't expecting one to snag a meal right from his new feeder.
I told him it was "technically" still a bird feeder. Just....for bigger birds. Which he thought was funny. He said he might make a little "no hawks allowed" sign to put up next to it.

MissOP: keep the updates coming. the moms are so close to folding it's just a little bit more. LMAO also, the bro mance between your husband and brother is so cute. lol Honestly, I think your husband making sure he has a side piece of Sebastian is absolutely the play.

OOP: So far still no word from the moms, but I hope you're right. I would love an apology and for us to begin moving past this. But I NEED that apology. I feel selfish saying that, but I refuse to "be the bigger person" on this. I just won't.
As for my brother and husband, yeah, they're basically soul mates. The two hit it off immediately when they first met, and they've been thick as thieves for years.  

Update: February 27, 2024
My dad came out for a visit over the weekend. We had a good time and the weather was lovely for some grilling and beers. It was really nice to see him again and he seemed healthy and in good spirits.
Here's his report from back home: Step mom (dad's wife) has started to realize she's screwed up. I credit her change of mindset to the fact that my dad sat her down and laid it out for her: she leaves his kids alone, or she's getting divorce papers. That apparently shut her up right quick, because they had a prenup done when they married and I'm not sure the details of it, but it wouldn't end favorably for her. She hasn't worked in years, so I imagine she'd be eligible for alimony? But I'm not versed in any of that legal mumbojumbo. Dad didn't seem too worried about it, so I'm not gonna worry about it.
Step dad was pissed the police were involved in the last "mom visit" (despite no one getting arrested or anything) and was in a "the kids are out of control and need to be reigned back in" mindset. When my dad pointed out that "the kids" in question were all in their mid-30s, it took some of the steam out of stepdad's sails. According to my dad, even my mom looked a little surprised when he said that. So, part of me is wondering if a good chunk of this whole thing is my mom not truly realizing that her kids were grown, and no longer children she could make demands of. Both of the moms have left us alone. I expected my mom to continue to kick up a fuss, but I think the cops spooked her.
There was a wonderful suggestion by a comment or to get their pastor involved, which I passed along to my dad. Dad has since spoken to their pastor about everything. He's a young guy, relatively new to their church, and joked that his first month on the job he had to do 3 funerals in a row and his new "flock" were just dying to get away from him, so he's got a sense of humor which is nice. The new pastor agreed to sit down with everyone and help the family hash it all out in a true "Come to Jesus" type moment next month, so that maybe we could celebrate Easter together as our first holiday as a family. Dad said the pastor was aware our family was having some troubles, but unsure of exactly what was going on, and since he was new, the pastor didn't want to pry. He has also agreed to do a small service down at my uncle's maple grove later in the summer, as it usually floods and is a muddy mess all spring. According to my dad, my aunt and uncle are so over all the drama and just ready to move on, so I expect hugs and apologies from them when we next meet.
Stardew Valley Update: My brother was victorious in the grand fight for Leah. It was a hard battle. Well fought. When my husband exposed his plans to woo Sebastian all this time, it was quite the betrayal. Dramatics aside, their farm is really cute and I'm so happy they're enjoying the game!  
Update 4/1 - Final one I think - April 1, 2024
Happy April Fools everyone! I hope you all check your caramel apples for stray onions before taking a bite! I also hope your Easter weekend was a delightful one.
It is with great joy that I tell you all about our most recent update! Possibly even a conclusion to this whole ordeal.
The entire family (aunt, uncle, moms, dads, brother, me, husband) and pastor met at my dad's house and we all sat down to hash the situation out. As expected from what my dad said, my aunt and uncle greeted us all with apologies and hugs, which was nice. My uncle usually helps host the Easter egg hunts with the church and he brought our Easter baskets to give to us in case us kids weren't sticking around the for the weekend. I'm not sure why but seeing it made me tear up and feel stupid, because it was just a basket of candy but it meant a lot to me for some reason.
The pastor led us in a prayer and talked about forgiveness and such. He then asked us all to talk one at a time about how we're feeling and what we want the end result of today to be. No one was allowed to interrupt so everyone got to talk. It was nice. The consensus for the group was that most everyone wanted things to go back to "normal". The only ones who had any variance off this was my mom and step dad. They both wanted all us kids to move back to the area.
The pastor asked them why they wanted us back, and neither could give a good reason other than "because family", and the pastor asked us if we were thriving where we were. And we said we were. He asked if we were happy there. Which we were. He then asked my mom and step dad if they wanted us to give up our happiness to make them happy.
And Mom broke down and said no. We all had a good cry. The pastor then asked about the funeral and lies that led up to it and followed it and how it made us all feel and what we wished we'd done differently if we had the chance. It was all very emotional, but in a good way, you know? Everyone apologized and admitted they f-ed up and did a really crappy thing.
We all talked for a long, long time and the pastor was a great mediator. Eventually we all reached some sort of resolution and I think we're good now. Emotions are still high and a little raw in areas, but we stayed for Easter weekend and had a nice time. We're going to keep moving forward slowly and try to repair the relationship, but I believe we're well and truly out of the woods.
As for my brother, he's still staying with us, and mom will stop trying to guilt trip him back home. He's thinking about renting a small apartment in our area but we're not pushing him to make a decision. He knows he's welcome to stay as long as he wants. I think he wants to try dating (he's had a few girlfriends but never anything serious) and is embarrassed to bring any girls around our place, lol. He's been going to a few random classes/bookclubs at the local library for something free to do and hitting it off with all the little old ladies who attend, and they keep trying to hook him up with girls his age who they know. He has been on a few lunches/coffee dates with a couple girls, but I think he's too embarrassed by the attention to give it a real try at "dating" any of them. He's happy, though, which is all I could ask for.
I'm not sure if there will be any more updates, as I think it's all be resolved about as much as it can be at the moment. I wanted to thank you all for your words of advice and giving me a place to vent and scream into the void. Please be kind to one another and to yourselves. Thank you.
Relevant Comments
emjkr: What a nice and hopeful update, I’m really glad you stuck to your guns when everyone threw sanity out the window!
But, could your mother explain how she thought this would work out in her favour?

OOP: I don't think mom thought too far ahead. I believe she assumed it would all just magically work out the way she wanted it to. She said she wasn't sure what she was expecting to happen (which I think was a lie, but I wasn't going to push it).

mak_zaddy: This was a great update! But ummmmmm no stardew valley update? What gives? Has Sebastian been woo’ed? How’s Leah? What’s happening?

OOP: Sebastian has indeed been wooed (and whoohooed) There's kids and cows and chickens. The two are still having a wonderful time at the game. They're working on completing the community center but it's slow going as they aren't trying to speedrun and just doing things as they want. I believe they're thinking about going into the desert mines once they complete that bundle, but they're both super chicken shit about it!

-my-cabbages: I don't really understand what you had to apologize for ... but I'm glad you're happy and the situation seems to be settling down

OOP: There wasn't much of an apology on my end, as everyone agreed I had done nothing wrong. Mine was more of a "I'm sorry you didn't feel as though I would listen." Type apology, which I don't really believe is a proper apology because apologies like that push the blame back on another. I mostly expressed my feelings and the shock of it all, and how betrayed I felt.  

----NEW UPDATE----

Small, happy update: May 7, 2024 (1 month later)
Things as wonderful as the moment. Still doing baby steps with The Moms. We're texting and talking on the phones more, which is nice. Very civil.
Dad "accidentally" bought a bunch of hand crafted bird feeders at a craft fair. By accidentally, I mean: he had a little too much fun in the beer tent, went for a stroll while step mom wasn't looking, and stumbled upon a guy's booth and bought "one of each". He wouldn't tell me how MANY "one of each" was, but he cackled like a witch when I asked. Step mom said she's forcing him to give a few to me, so I'm expecting a delivery or a Dad-visit any day now.
My brother is officially "going steady" with a girl. We've met her a few times and she seems like a real sweetheart. She's our age and has a little boy (5-6 years old, I haven't asked) from a previous relationship (The dad's not in the picture from what I can gather). She's the granddaughter of one of his Book Club members, so the old ladies made good match makers in the end. The relationship is still very new and I'm routing for them.
No new Stardew Valley updates. Work has been a little crazy lately and I haven't been able to play much of anything, and brother has been distracted by his new lady friend. So, husband finally started Baldur's Gate 3, and fell for Gale's "magic trick" so now those two are a thing. I expect him to be sufficiently distracted from reality for the next few weeks.
 

DO NOT COMMENT IN LINKED POSTS OR MESSAGE OOPs – BoRU Rule #7

THIS IS A REPOST SUB - I AM NOT OOP

It is a man, old and scraggy. He wears a jacket that lays over the red plaid button shirt and blue jeans. He wears an old baseball cap and a pair of glasses. He yelled something to Dad, holding his hands up like he was pleading, although we couldn’t hear it over the truck engine. They talked, but we couldn’t hear what they were saying.
“Hey, what are they saying”, I asked, while petting Matt’s hair, calming him. The old man then put his hands down and came close to Dad in a cautious way. They seem to start having some kind of conversation.
“I don’t really know, hopefully, something good”, Mom answered. They talked for a little while, with daylight beginning to disappear, giving us a sense of dread, and making me more worried about what weird creature was going to show up. Eventually, the old man turned and pointed toward what I think is the northeast. They then shook hands and walked back to their respective vehicles. “What’s going on”, Mom asked as Dad got into the truck.
“Well, our new friend here invited us to dinner at his farm”, Dad replied.
“Does he have supplies?”
“Well, he says has supplies for us to make the journey.”
“Should we even trust him? We just met h-”
“Relax, he’s just an old man, living alone at his farm, feeding his cows. What could go wrong”, Dad countered. The old man then entered the truck that was running and drove slowly, expecting us to follow him.
“Alrighty then, but we have to be cautious”, Mom said, with her suspicions of the old man. We then followed the old truck along the dark, frozen road. It just feels like something is going to show up along the road, but nothing happened. Matt did eventually stop crying, but he is still upset about the Joe escape thing.
“Where are we going”, Matt lamented, with the prior series of events in mind.
“I guess somebody is offering us dinner”, I answered.
“Why can’t we just go home?”
“It’s only going to be a stop, like a hotel. After that, we go to our new home, I guess”, I said, taking another look at Matt and cradling to comfort him. “It’s going to be okay.” I stared out into the darkness. I looked to the sky from the window and I faintly saw something in the clear, dark sky, lit up by the waning moon. They were brilliant, green auroras that defy the bright moon, dancing across the sky like ribbons in the wind. The truck eventually took a right-hand turn into another road, with us following suit. I can see a bright, orange light emerging from a patch of tree. When we passed by, it seemed it was a house, at a farm, burning in a massive flame.
“I guess those people aren’t so, uh, lucky”, Dad said, taking a quick look at it before looking at the road. Passing by, we went on and continued to follow the old man’s truck. We passed onto another intersection until he turned into a driveway to what I believe to be his farm. Going into the driveway, I can see an old house, along with a dilapidated farm further away, barely visible by the headlights. The old man parked by the house, where there were a few other trucks there. We parked alongside the truck and we got out into the cold, near-silent night.
“Welcome to sanctuary, where all are welcome”, the old man bellowed. This is the first time I’ve heard his voice. Matt was the last to get out of the truck, slowly and clumsily climbing out of the truck.
“What’s your name”, my Mom politely asked the old man.
“Oh, I guess your husband didn’t tell ya. My name is Steven, but you can call me Steve”, the old man said, with some crackling in his voice. “I am very proud to host a dinner for you and your family”, he continued. “What’s your name, ma’am?”
“Oh, my name is Janice”, Mom replied, quite pleased at his politeness.
“Hello, Janice, and what are their names”, Steven asked, pointing to me and Matt.
“That’s my daughter Kate and my son Matt”, Dad said to Mom.
“Oh, what wonderful names for a couple of beautiful children you have”, Steve grinned. “Come, it is dangerous out here.” We followed him to the house, which looked like it had seen better days. He entered through the double-set door, the first a solid door and a screen door behind. Entering the house, it smelled like what you’d expect, old man. Looking onto the floor is made of glossy wood and walls with cracks, likely caused by the earthquake. It is dark in there, lit by candlelight from many candles, yet it’s fairly warm here. I don’t know why we went into the house, but Dad was right, Steve is just a lonely, old man. Matter of fact, there seems to be nothing wrong here, other than the cracks in the walls. “Sorry, the power went out. Had to resort to the candles. I knew my wife would come in handy”, Steve explained as he took his coat off. “Oh, supper will be ready right away. Had to use the fireplace to cook. Also, can you take your boots off?” We took our boots and set them aside. We went into what seemed to be a living room, with dusty old-style furniture.
“So, where do we sit”, Mom asked.
“Oh, well, follow me”, Steve commanded, leading us to the dining room, with a long, wooden table and six wooden chairs, along with their corresponding old-fashioned plates, glasses and cutlery, lit up in the candlelight. We noticed that everything on the table was covered in a thin veil of dust. “My apologies, the recent shocks dropped a bit of dust on the table”, he explained as he noticed us looking at the plates and moved into another room nearby. “Take your seats if you like.” We all settled onto the chairs, and blew off our plates of the dust settled there.
“When will we eat”, Matt impatiently said.
“Once Steve comes out with the food”, Mom answered. Matt sat there with a tired look on his face. Dad seemed to be in a better mood than before and it looked like he wanted to start a conversation.
“Hey, should we talk about something”, Dad asked. I then see Steve with a bowl and a silver plate.
“Here we go, may not be much, but at least it’ll fulfil the soul”, Steve said, smiling when he served us mashed potatoes and meatloaf. “So, shall we pray?” That came unexpectedly, as we are not too religious, but we were in his house and gave us shelter and food.
“Sure, we can do that”, Mom said and we all bowed our heads and put our hands together. Steve cleared his throat
“Thank you, Lord, for this good food to feed the soul in these hard times. I shall pray, in the name of the Lord and Jesus Christ, that these hard times shall be over, so we can get on with our lives. Amen.” We raised our heads and grabbed whatever food there was onto our plates. “Oh, there’s no gravy, so we have to deal with bare potaters and meatloaf.”
“Oh, not to worry. Thank you for the food”, Dad thanked Steve. We began to eat the food once we got it sorted.
“So, what brings you here”, Steve asked.
“Well, there is an evacuation order in effect for this area, so we had to go to Regina”, Dad explained, with Steve taking in every word. “So, we came from Strasbourg, we tried going south towards Regina, but we hit an obstacle in the way and we had to take another route, leading us here.”
“And we encountered a few odd things along the way”, Mom added.
“Huh, interesting. What do you guys think is going on”, Steve inquired.
“By the things we saw, we have no idea. Dinosaurs, devil dogs, hell pigs, the whole deal. I shouldn’t forget the earthquake. They told us a pipeline leak caused by the earthquake”, Dad clarified to Steve.
“Hmm… is that so”, Steve wondered. “Wonder what I think is happening? The Rapture is happening. Do you know how the Bible tells us of the end times? Good people sent to be with God and his kingdom, the rest here to suffer the Hell unleashed by Satan.” By this point, he was beginning to rant, but we couldn't stop it as we all began to feel tired and powerless. “So, the Devil will send his demons in the form of these illusions so that they can torment the sinners. It is happening, it is-” Steve manically continued as I drew towards blackness and his voice becoming less coherent. My vision is now all black.
I saw those same lights, but more rapidly than before. I then emerged onto the same clear sky, but something felt different. I can smell something in the air. I can smell what seems to be chemicals in the air. Looking down, I was terrified. Dark, grey rock in the shape of ropes and folds, similar to those I saw of lava flows on a volcano in pictures. This went on as far as the eye could see. I can see no tree this time, just the cooled lava everywhere. I then walked, feeling every bump and crag. I thought I walked forever until I heard a rumbling sound and woke up.
I am in total darkness. It is cold and it smells like cow manure. I tried to move my hand, but it seemed to be bonded behind my back by a rope. I tried to move my feet, but they were also bound by rope to the legs I tried to speak, only to realise my mouth was agape by a cloth in my mouth. I heard shuffling nearby but I could not see. It was then shone in light when Steve entered the door, holding a candle, revealing all of us in the same situation. I then can see what we are in. We are in that same wooden dilapidated barn we saw earlier and seems to be more damaged than the house, wood creaking can be heard.
“These sedatives are more effective than I thought. Maybe I should use them more often”, Steve smoothly explained, like he’s some kind of agent and began pacing. “Wonder why you are here? Well, I wondered the same thing to myself, why didn’t God take me to his heaven? When I first heard of the government telling us of those evacuation plans, I thought it was that, a leaking pipe. I began to notice things I couldn’t believe myself, at least at first. Earthquakes, weird creatures showing up, people disappearing, the whole spiel. I connected the dots. The Rapture is happening, for sure, but why me? Why was I the one left here on this Earth”, Steve calmly ranted, pacing around the barn, but it seemed to sound crazier and angrier the more he paced. “I thought I had lost my way. I’ve been unfaithful to God and his son. But, I realised that God always has a plan and he left me on this Earth to serve a purpose. I wondered what my purpose was until I had a moment.” He then stopped in place and calmed down. He turned to look at Mom with accusing yet crazed eyes.
“I’m supposed to keep the sinners here in line, to earn a place in God’s kingdom, or suffer in Hell. I know you are a sweet woman, Janice, but your treachery with Satan is over and I am going to do what’s right.” Mom then looked at all of us, with assuring eyes like that of an innocent yet caring mother we all know knew. I began crying and trying to speak through the cloth, but I was helpless to watch by. “Forgive me, Father, for what I am going to do.” He then pulled a knife from his pocket and plunged it into Mom’s neck with no mercy. I looked away once he did that, trembling, with tears pouring out and my vision glazed and I fell limp. I could see my brother tearing up, but he did not look away. I can hear Dad behind me, with his screams of agony and anger covered by the cloth. It felt like I was in slow motion, taking in every moment.
I then heard the chair, screeching as Steve dragged the chair containing Mom’s lifeless body towards the door, leaving behind a trail of blood. I couldn’t bear to see my mother like this. I shut my eyes very hard and hoped it would go away. The door then shut, leaving us alone with a candle, fearing what would come next. I stared at the candle, seeing it dance in the flames like a woman dancing in the darkness. Is this how it’ll end, I thought. End up dying to this sick man? My Mom was killed in front of me. I sobbed with that thought, then I began to think about the inevitable death of me. I hope there’s something after I die. Maybe I’ll see Mom again.
It was silent for a while, nearly no sound other than our moans. Dad seems to be fidgeting at the back of his chair, rocking it slowly. Looking past him, I shuddered at the glistening pool of blood, where Mom was last alive, could be my fate. I then see Dad release his arms from the back of the chair and remove the cloth from his mouth. He silently stood up and bent down to untie his legs from the chair legs. He then went to me and removed my cloth.
“H-h-how did you do that”, I silently wept, fearing that Steve would show up at the door and kill us all.
“My binding is loose. The old man probably took a liking to me”, Dad whispered. “I should remove your binds.” He untied them, releasing me, doing the same for Matt. “Now, we need to be quiet.” We then walked, quietly, along the painfully creaking wood in the near dark, following the blood trail, glistening in the candlelight. We cringed and dreaded each sound we made and watched the door in case it began to creak open. A few silent steps later, we made it to the door and we slowly opened it so as not to make any noise. What was revealed to us is nothing new, other than the blood trail continuing in the snow directing towards the back of the barn. “Okay, Kate, Matt, you guys run to the truck.”
“What about you”, I sobbed.
“Don’t worry about me”, Dad responded, giving me his keys and forcing them into my hand. “If I’m not back in a few minutes, leave. Don’t look back, take care of your brother, okay? I love you, no matter what happens.” He then kissed me on the head and ran to follow the blood trail. We quickly walked towards the black truck, stranded there for maybe hours. Getting closer, freedom is getting closer. When we got to a fair distance to the truck, I heard footsteps behind me and, the next thing I knew, I was knocked over to the ground into the hard snow on my face. A hand turned me over to give me a glimpse of a crazed Steve, his eyes wilder than before.
“Oh, yes, trying to escape”, he bragged. I looked at him, frozen in fear, like a deer in headlights and he caressed my face with his bloodied blade. “You do have a pretty face, but I’m afraid you are just one of Satan's creations, made to pull me to lust.” He then raised his knife in the air when a familiar side emerged, out of the blue.
Joe came and bit him in the arm that was holding the knife. Steve screamed in agony the moment he realised what happened. He shook Joe off and stood up to stand his ground. I stood up as Joe hissed and walked around the crazed being he wounded, not in fear but in aggressiveness. “Is this one of your pets, demon”, Steve screamed as Joe came in for another attack, but Steve countered that with a slash to the snout. Joe then ran away, whining, into the darkness. This sequence of events gave me the chance to enter the truck on the driver’s side. I had some trouble starting it, besides this is my first time driving a truck.
Steve menacelily walked towards the when Dad came barreling and tackled him to the ground. Dad was on top when he went limp. I finally put the keys in the engine turned it on and backed out, with memory serving me the instructions on such a vehicle. Steve pushed Dad’s body and stood up, but by that time, we left the farm.
“Turn back, we have to get Dad”, Matt cried, but I was very emotional, accepting what happened. I felt that, without my parents, I feel… useless.
“Dad’s dead”, I screamed at Matt and he began gagging uncontrollably in tears. I began to feel sorry for him. “Sorry, I, I don’t know.”
“It’s okay”, Matt sniffled. “I guess Mom and Dad are dead anyways.” It was silence for a few more minutes, tears welling in our eyes.
“Hey, our parents are in a better place”, I said, trying to make the situation positive.
“But we are stuck here, without them? Don’t we deserve to go to a better place?”
“Don’t say that”, I huffed and I paused for a bit. “I know we are in the, uh, right place now. Let me tell you something, once we get to Regina, I will take care of you, no matter what life throws at us.”
“What about Joe”, Matt asked.
“He’ll be fine. He probably found his girlfriend already.”
“Hey, don’t you have a boyfriend?”
“I, uh, I don’t have one. That I know of”, I spoke, bringing me back to Sam, remembering that she’s the only friend that I ever knew, and I left her. Without her, I felt alone, no one would ever relate. I began to tear up. “I don’t have any friends. I am alone,” I sobbed.
“What do you mean? I’m your brother!” I looked at Matt, and smiled, happy that he acknowledged that we were in this together.
“Thank you”, I thanked him. I slowly stopped on the road, just to hug Matt hard, crying my eyes out. We then heard what sounded like an elephant in front of us. We looked up to see a walking snow-covered brown fur wall with four pillar-like legs in front of us. Its curved tusks gleaned in the light and the eyes reflected in the light. The furry trunk waved around like a searching snake from a tree. We both knew what it was.
“Hey, look at that, a woolly mammoth”, Matt said, excitement running through him. At this point, we weren’t surprised.
“Yep, that is a woolly mammoth”, I added. The mammoth turned to us on the road, seemingly confused about where it was. It looked at our truck and seemed to growl, like an elephant. We are starting to realise this thing is becoming aggressive.
“Uh, should we move”, Matt asked. I remembered hearing something about standing your ground in case of an encounter with an elephant. I hoped it would work for a bigger, furrier version of one.
“No, we have to stand our ground.”
“But, it’ll attack u-”
“Trust me!” I then honked my horn and it backed up. It then rushed, then stopped, a mock charge. Eventually, it moved out of the road, disappearing into the darkness. We sighed in relief.
“That was close”, Matt sighed. I then continued to drive in the night, headlights leading the way. The road is bumpy, as noticed by every ditch and peak we hit, but surprisingly, Matt was fast asleep. I began to get comfortable driving and used to the road by that point. It was silent for a while until we hit a smaller intersection. That is when the truck shut down, completely and stopped. I tried the gas many times but with no effect. There is no light, nothing. It is near-darkness here, shone only by the moonlight.
“Shit”, I yelled, desperate to turn the truck on without much success. Matt woke up, confused.
“What happened”, he yawned.
“The truck turned itself off. I can’t get it back on”, I fretted and at that moment, Matt was just as panicked as I am.
“Why?”
“I-I don’t know. One moment, we were driving, another it just-”, I quavered, when I heard something rustle in the distance. We stood still, hoping whatever it was didn’t find us. I looked around, hoping to see something in the moonlight. I then see a long, walking animal. It looked like some sort of alligator at first, except for a dinosaur-like head. Once I strained my eyes to the darkness, my fear levels rose as I could see it walk on its hind limbs, with its forelimbs dangling nearly touching the ground.
It was wandering around on the road when I heard a near-crocodilian growl at Matt’s side of the truck. Another of those creatures appeared, seemingly looking into the window like a hungry bear, giving us a chance to see its scaly head. Its exposed alligator teeth gleaned in the light like knives, but more terrifying was the eye. Its serpentine pupil shone brilliantly in the light like eyes in the dark. It then ducked down, gave a hiss, and moved towards the other one. A few more showed up and formed a group.
“What should we do”, Matt asked. “Should we stay?” I looked around, hoping for another way to escape them without them noticing. I further strained my eyes and mentally mapped out the area. There is a cemetery on my right-hand side, a grain bin storage yard on my left and a series of trailers on the other side of the highway, which is ahead of us, from the storage area. There, I see a series of white, storage buildings, something we can go to and wait it out inside.
“Okay, so slowly open the door”, I instructed Matt. The click of the doors opening cringed us. We looked at the group, but there was no response from them. We then, as slowly as we could, opened the door and stepped out. Still no response. Matt then quietly ran to the other side, towards me. “Okay, we are going into the storage yard and go to the other entrance”, I said, pointing to the other right-hand corner. I wanted to get as far away from these things as possible before making a safe crossing. “Then, we cross the highway on the other side, run into the buildings and stay there for the night. Are you ready?”
“I guess”, he whispered, looking at me in fearful doubt.
“We are going to do this”, I whispered back. We then silently ran over, having to rely on our night-adapted eyes, to the corner, walking past the bins. We made it and nothing behind us so far. “We’re good so far.” We then crossed the road and noticed nothing. We noticed a tanker truck, leaking some sort of fluid across the road. I easily recognized it as fuel, based on its distinctive, sickly smell. I wouldn’t be worried about it if it weren’t for a collapsed light pole that is somehow still flickering with electricity near the area where the fuel would be flowing. We quickly avoided the fluid when I froze to see the group of the walking alligators, running towards us. “Run!” Matt tried to run, but one of those things appeared and clamped its jaws at the back of his neck. He yelped in pain and it took him down to the ground. “Matt”, I yelled, helplessly watching as the creature tore into him.
Matt reached out his arm before the others came to him, then a flash of fire came. At this point, I knew what happened, but I couldn’t even think before it exploded. It blew me towards the building, far away. I was knocked out for a few seconds before I regained consciousness, groaning in pain on the ice. I noticed something especially painful just below my chest. I reached towards the area with my hand. I pressed on it, more painful than ever and raised my hand, only to see blood, brightened by the fire. I realised I was wounded, maybe by shrapnel made by the explosion.
I looked toward where the truck was and all I saw was a blaze. Those things weren’t there, at least. I also noticed something else, too, there’s no Matt. I tried to look around for something, some sort of sign of my brother within the fire, but I saw none. I then wept, realising I had failed. I have failed to keep him safe. I have failed to give him a better life. I failed him as a sister. I could’ve done better. The thoughts poured in as tears glazed my eyes. At that moment, I failed to look around me.
I noticed a dark thing beside the blaze. I thought it was Matt, preparing to greet him back, even though I knew he couldn’t survive the explosion. The image became clearer and clearer as I noticed it was one of the walking crocs that, glazed by the fire, was coming towards me.
“Just kill me”, I screamed, preparing to painfully die to meet my maker. The creature was about to attack me when something large, silent as the wind, came charging and clamped down its massive jaws, filled with conical teeth on the hapless creature and raised it. The crocodile struggled before going limp with a crunch within its strong jaws. The big, dark and scaly monster that it is towered over me and is as long as a bus, possibly longer. Its large legs are a contradiction to its small arms that hide beneath its scarred, bulky body.
It turned to look at me with an oddly bird-like expression, revealing in the firelight numerous scars from battles I could never know and looked at me with its beady bird-like eyes, breathing out wisps from its nostrils like a dragon in the cool air. I recognized it as a creature I know too well, a T. Rex. I breathed heavily and sickly, looking at the thing, nearly expecting me to drop the body and go after me. Instead, it simply walked away, carrying its bloody prize with it, and steadily retreated into the darkness.
I then lay down in agonizing exhaustion on my back, thinking of the next step of action like I'm on a suicide mission I would never come back from. I looked in the direction of the graveyard and had one thought. I guess I am dying. a graveyard will do. I struggled to stand up, noticing my blood-soaked clothes and felt a broken left leg. I grasped my wound, limping step by step and enduring the sharp pain while shaking in the cold. Every step I took, I remembered all the memories, good or bad, that I had with my parents. My brother. My friends. My family. I eventually reached the cemetery and slouched at a tree.
“Guess I’m joining you, guys”, I said, speaking to the snow-covered gravestones, only to hear something. A familiar sound of chirping emerged and, lit by the blaze, it was a sight I can hope for. “Joe, what are you doing here”, I depressingly cheered as Joe went to me and curled up in my lap as if he were a cat. I noticed the new-found scar he had on his little snout, but I paid no mind as I petted him. “I guess you came back. Thank you so much for what you did”, I thanked him, not expecting such a loyal creature would be with me, comforting me, to the end, like what my mother used to do when I was a newborn. I heard another noise, this time a deep rumble.
I thought it was another earthquake coming, but it got louder the closer it got to me, becoming more animalistic only felt small vibrations I barely felt. Joe stayed put, oddly enough, as T. Rex, different from the first one, came. It walked towards us until it stopped short of us. It began to produce a low-pitched, bird-like purring, attracting Joe. I realised something, that this T. Rex is Joe’s parent. He joined the rest like him, whom they showed up and all chirped around.
The grown Rex then brought its snout closer to me, not to kill me, but to look at me. It did not reveal its teeth and was still purring. I put my hand out and its nose came close to it. It rubbed it against my hand and started to pet its cold, scaly skin as it breathed through its nose and put it on my chest. I rested my head on it before it pulled away. It gave out a hiss, but I knew it wasn’t that of a threat, but more of a thank you for bringing its small, sometimes immature, child home.
That gave me relief, as it felt like I at least did something for once. They walked away, along with Joe, towards the darkness amongst the gravestones in the cemetery. I glimpsed one last desperate look at Joe before walking beside his parent. I looked up at the sky and I could see all the stars, twinkling, and the dancing green auroras. I began to feel limp and felt the cold embrace of death coming over me, tears pouring out of my eyes. The sky then grew brighter and brighter, the stars faded into the light and I could see my family welcoming me to a new home. It then slowly went black, darker than a cave.
You would think this is the end of me. It wasn’t, or else I wouldn’t be writing this right now. I eventually woke up in a hospital in Regina. I was told I was rescued by a team that transported me while I was in a coma. The doctors said I was very lucky to be alive, as the shrapnel narrowly avoided my vital organs. After that, I was adopted into a new family, but I was only with them for a couple of years before finding a new job and moving out.
As for Sam, I don’t know what happened to her. I would like to think she is safe, somewhere else. As for my family, I think of them all the time. I was in a depressive period right after that. Eventually, over the years, I accepted that they were gone and went to a better place. For Joe, I would like to think he is all grown up, like his parents, and becoming the king of the jungle. I hope we meet again.
As for the evacuated area, it wasn’t some pipeline rupture that caused an evaluation, but an anomaly, with the exact reason not known. There are excuses for the claims of weird stuff going on in there, from disease to chemicals, to eventually a previously unknown geological event, but I saw through it all.
You may ask how, it's because I've been there. Take it or leave it, this is the story I have. As the decade came by, cover-ups were made to hide it, even walls were put around it. Since the incident, the exclusion zone grew from a mere 80 kilometers in diameter to 460 kilometers in diameter, emptying entire cities of the likes of Regina and Saskatoon. I had to move to North Battleford, by the recommendation from the same government covering it up, making me think that time will tell before the floodgates of truth open.
The anomaly didn’t have a name initially, however, over the years, everyone agreed on one name in particular: The Saskatchewan Anomaly.

Hi it’s Carl Weinberg from District 20 on the Stamford Board of Representatives. Today I’ll provide updates on several subjects of interest to D-20 residents and others, along with an update on a personal matter.
Bridge Projects: The number one question that I get asked is: When will the Cedar Heights Bridge project be completed? Unfortunately the report is not good. The contractor ran into problems over the winter with redirecting the river’s unusually high water flow. (I’m speculating that it was due to the excessive rainfall we experienced all winter.) This delayed several activities including demolition. Water flow has receded sufficiently now, and the contractor has resumed the delayed activities. At this point, the contractor anticipates completing the project by November, and possibly opening the bridge to traffic somewhat earlier.
I understand how frustrated we all are with these continued project delays, and I wish I could share better news. I’m also frustrated that the public generally doesn’t find out about these delays unless and until we ask for an update. (The City’s website still forecasts June 30th as the expected completion date.) I don’t doubt that this has turned out to be an unusually complex project, and I understand that sometimes a project runs into unexpected challenges. Nevertheless the public should expect periodic progress updates on a project that affects so many people. I will be looking for a way to implement a system for providing those updates.
Because of the Cedar Heights delay, the Wire Mill bridge project won’t begin until next year, probably in April 2025. Current expectation is to complete it in six or seven months, i.e., by November 2025 assuming an April 1st start date.
The Lakeside Road bridge project, which began on April 1st, remains on schedule with an expected completion by the end of November 2024.
Traffic and Road Safety: One of the danger spots in District 20 is Riding Stable Trail, which also serves as the entrance to Dorothy Heroy Park. It’s an old country lane that gets a lot of traffic during baseball and summer camp seasons. At the request of residents and myself, the Traffic Department is moving the existing stop sign, adding a second stop sign, and painting new “stop” lines, all of which should help to deter speeders. The Operations Department is also working on securing the Park at night. I hope to have more to report on park security there in a few weeks.
Anyone who drives south on High Ridge Road during high-traffic periods will notice a backup at the High Ridge / Interlaken traffic light, due to vehicles waiting to turn left onto Interlaken. Interlaken is the detour route during the Lakeside Bridge project, which has exacerbated the problem. I discussed the situation with the City’s Director of Traffic, who is now working with CT DOT to adjust the traffic light so it’s easier for vehicles to make that left-hand turn. (CT DOT owns the traffic light, hence their involvement.) I’m hoping that we see positive results over the next few weeks from this adjustment.
The Traffic Department has been very responsive in working to solve these traffic and road safety issues – thank you!
800 Long Ridge Road Proposal: On May 9th I attended the Zoning Board’s site visit at 800 Long Ridge Road, where the property owner has applied for a Special Permit to build a 354-unit apartment complex. The Zoning Board began to hold a public hearing on this proposal at its May 6th meeting. Because of the lateness of the hour, the ZB suspended the public hearing and will now continue at its June 10th meeting. The agenda for that meeting will contain Zoom and sign-up information, but it hasn’t become available yet. Once it’s available, I’ll notify the public.
Scofieldtown Dog Park: The Parks & Recreation Commission continues to work with its consultant on the design of a prospective dog park in Scofieldtown Park. At its May 15th meeting, one of the Commissioners will provide an update on the “evaluation and design regarding the size of the dog park.” The 6:30 PM meeting will be held on Zoom, and here’s the Zoom information:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87689487270 Meeting ID: 876 8948 7270 Passcode: 122464
NSA Annual Meeting: The North Stamford Association will hold its Annual Meeting on Sunday May 19th at the Long Ridge Fire House, 366 Old Long Ridge Road. Lunch is at 12 Noon, and the meeting will begin at 1 PM. You must be a member to attend, and you must pre-register. (You can join or renew your membership at the event.) Here’s the link for registration and additional information:
https://www.northstamfordassoc.org/2024-annual-meeting/
And now for an update on a personal matter. After three previous cancellations, the BoR will hold its Special Meeting at 8:30 PM on Wednesday May 15th to consider a resolution to censure me for “conduct which impairs the ability of the members to perform the duties of his or her office or substantially impairs public confidence in the Stamford Board of Representatives.” The censure includes a “recommendation of Representative Carl Weinberg to complete sensitivity training.”
The precipitating event was my op-ed in the February 11th Stamford Advocate. In the article, I criticized the practice of double-dipping (defined as serving on both the BoR and the Democratic City Committee), quoted double-dippers’ previous comments criticizing the practice, and compared their adoption of double-dipping after previously attacking it to the behavior of characters (the “ruling pigs”) in Animal Farm, the classic novel by George Orwell. As a result, I am accused of calling other BoR members “pigs.”
The meeting will take place in person at the Government Center and on Zoom. Here is a link with the in-person and Zoom information.
http://www.boardofreps.org/Data/Sites/43/userfiles/agendas/2024/240515.pdf
If you want to review the legislative record, you can click on “Resolution” and then click on each component of the legislative record, including (among other items) the proposed resolution, the op-ed, and emails and letters on the subject from residents.

Oh my God was this list hard to rank 😅 I took about I would say at least 15 hours of my time into this and all of that was just to rank them at a certain level without much to say. First off we have about 8 Tiers from F,D,C,B,A,S,SS, and Premium though I barely put much into their. Remember this is just an opinion so don't take too harshly if your favorite episode isn't high on my list. For some episodes I may not say much or anything since this was too long originally.
F Tier, these are my least favorite episodes and most likely I have a vendetta against them in some way that made it hard for me to like them

1. S2 Ep 8 Nebraska- I hate Lori and I think this episode expresses it, most definitely a vendetta. I didn't exactly like the stuff with Hershel and recovering though it was okay, but lori made some questionable decisions to go off on her own to look for Rick even though she should know he's fine seriously. She wrecks a car and then barely dies from a walker, mind you she is pregnant and shouldn't do these things easily my least favorite episode.
   
2. S10 Ep 21 Diverged- I honestly forget this episode so much since it has nothing truly interesting or important to the story
   
3. S7 Ep 6 Swear- this episode feels slow paced and dull due to oceanside being not seen well for me and I feel like Tara put on the best performance she could for it.
   
4. S8 Ep 2 The Damned- this episode to me was just a lot of action and in the walking dead I don't want that. We see a couple of characters die (including Francine 🪦 I absolutely loved her character and hate how she died here :[ mindless) Erics death started here, but it just wasn't impactful enough.
   
5. S3 Ep 11 I Ain't a Judas- Andrea is a boring character in the show and I hate her in this episode. The focus should've been on the prison honestly and maybe If she killed the Governor I would've understood her more.
   
6. S10 Ep 20 Splinter- if most of the episode was real I would've loved it, but they weren't...
   
7. S3 Ep 5 Say the Word- Andrea just isnt much good in this episode and Rick going crazy wasn't a fun idea to me.
   
8. S8 Ep 3 Monsters- aside from the one fight with Rick I really didn't care much for it again for the fighting and having Morales return and die felt out of place.
   
9. S2 Ep 2 Bloodletting- the group searching for Sophia was okay for a concept, but this episode was okay and went slow paced for me until the end.
   

D Tier, moving on these episodes were for me mostly just forgettable or boring so I won't say much except they weren't all bad

1. S1 Ep 3 Tell it to the frogs- first off S1 won't be all high because I'm ranking EVERY episode, but this one felt slow in pace more as well compared to the last two. Shane was a badass though.
   
2. S11 Ep 3 Hunted- Forgettable... Not much to say.
   
3. S5 Ep 11 The Distance- Forgot entirely this was an episode, after rewatch still don't like it except for Aaron.
   
4. S2 Ep 9 Trigger finger- It was a bit better than Nebraska, mostly cause of the Randel scenes.
   
5. S7 Ep 14 The Other Side- Sasha somewhat makes a noble decision.
   

163-162. S11 Episodes 22 following 21- 22 had the Warden being uninteresting as a villain and 21 was boring as can be which is why they sit besides each other.

1. S8 Ep 7 Time for After- I don't like the plans they have to deviate from Rick and him going to Jadis again feels like a horrible decision on his part.
   
2. S9 Ep 8 Evolution- The ambience is the best part, though I hated Jesus' s death as it felt like a bad sendoff.
   

C Tier, These are a bunch of boring and hard to follow episodes that have some highs that keep it out of former tiers.

1. S2 Ep 1 What lies Ahead- I liked the RV scene with Andrea, but what follows is dull.
   
2. S11 Ep 4- The pope is somewhat average.
   
3. S7 Ep 12 Say Yes- The carnival was a nice scenery for TWD, but they had too many fake outs with the walker "shooting" at them and the deer fake out.
   
4. S9 Ep 7 Stradivarius- The Search for Eugene feels tiring to follow what's happening and I ended up watching the episodes once and never again because of it.
   
5. S2 Ep 4 Cherokee Rose- Watching the episode is fun because of the well, though I feel like it was stupid as an idea as the group should have more common sense before doing something dumb.
   
6. S2 Ep 3 Save The Last One- Shane was horrifying, but the rest was dull.
   
7. S8 Ep 14 Still gotta mean something- Rick felt unnecessarly cold hearted in this episode killing off the Saviors that helped him which I didn't like, though Jared got a well deserved death.
   
8. S4 Ep 9 After -It was okay watching Carl try to scavenge while Rick was injured and I liked the scene with his shoe being lost.
   
9. S7 Ep 5 Go Getters- the episode itself wasn't bad yet I never really enjoyed it too much aside from Maggie being a badass and the ending was pretty good.
   
10. S4 Ep 10 Inamtes- Inmates was a pretty well rounded episodes showing off some of the group which I liked seeing Tyreese the most.
    
11. S8 Ep 6 The King, The Widow, and Rick- the episode was pretty lackluster for me and I didn't really appeal to seeing the garbage people much in this or everyone going to attack the saviors which was a dumb move to do. Ezekiel was probably the most fun of the episode.
    
12. S3 Ep 16 Welcome to the Tombs- the finale for season 3 has always been horrible as it barely gives tension between the Governor and Ricks group, it just felt unfitting for a finale.
    
13. S11 Ep 8 For blood- it was a okay Mid Season finale to say the least (sorry, 1/3 season finale). I did like some of the parts in it with Maggie which is why it sits higher than others.
    
14. S5 Ep 7 Crossed- I thoroughly enjoyed the chase scene between the three officers and Ricks group, but that was about it.
    
15. S4 Ep 13 Alone- I liked watching the parts of the group split up, except for Maggie, Bob, and Sasha as they felt very uneventful to me. What makes this episode better had to be the part about Daryl and Beth with the ending of the introduction to Joe's group.
    
16. S7 Ep 10 New Best Friends- a lot of these parts I forgot about in this episode when it came to the Kingdom though after rewatching it I enjoyed those parts more than the Garbage people. I just honestly think Jadis's group is uninteresting and makes for no substance.
    
17. S10 Ep 15 The Tower- I sometimes forget about this episode and it's premise with Beta, but I think it holds up enough for a weird one and The stuff with princess was okay.
    
18. S9 Ep 3 Warning signs- I think the episode was okay, I just didn't like Season 9 A that much...
    

B tier, now we get to the episodes I could watch again in the past 6 months or binge through without skipping

1. S11 Ep 2 Acheron Part 2- this was close to being put into C tier since I really hated some parts about it like how they left Gage to die and still had to fight off dozens of walking regardless. The group in the first two episodes seem to switch off and on from good to bad.
   
2. S7 Ep 4 Service- for some reason people hate this episode and I can't see why except for the fact it mainly deals with Negan at Alexandria; in my opinion it was him and a couple other characters who saved season 7 and 8 for me.
   
3. S10 Ep 3 Ghosts- I forget the episode...
   
4. S10 Ep 7 Open Your Eyes- I thought the episode was fine as I don't hate Siddiq and all, though I liked and hated the ending as I loved the twist of Dante and hated that Siddiq had to die so early on.
   
5. S6 Ep 7 Heads Up- I didn't like the twist of Glenn and all, but I liked the suspicion with Carol and Morgan as well as the Ending being dramatic.
   
6. S8 Ep 11 Dead or Alive- it's not good to know when you remember an episode due to bad things. Daryl has been making more off decisions for the character and Tara seems to be completely Reckless now making me hate her moving forward.
   
7. S4 Ep 4 Indifference- The Scenes with Carol and Rick we're amusing with crude Humour as well as some more tense scenes in my opinion and I hated/liked when Rick told Carol she couldn't come back.
   
8. S3 Ep 6 Hounded- honestly I would've rather put this episode a little bit higher due to Merle (probably my favorite charcater which contributes to a lot of episodes being higher) being a badass while fighting Michonne and pulling out puns as well. The reason it doesn't get higher is still due to Rick and the phone situation being uneventful.
   
9. S11 Ep 9 No Other Way- Alden dies in this episode which I should've seen coming that sucks. The ending feels misleading a bit though everything else in the middle is pretty great.
   
10. S11 Ep 5 Out of the Ashes- literally the only reason I put this here was due to Lance so deal with it!
    
11. S4 Ep 11 Claimed- Rick had a pretty solid pair of scenes with the Claimers and I liked watching Glenn and Tara (Surprisingly).
    
12. S10 Ep 13 What We Become- I thought the flashbacks/hallucinations we're pretty good, but aside from that this episode was just mediocre.
    
13. S9 Ep 4 The Obliged- I liked watching Daryl and Rick fight each other over different views on how everything should be and the ending I thought was pretty suspenseful as well as the saviors and oceanside.
    
14. S11 Ep 15 Trust- Lance feels exactly like the Governor in some of these episodes which is what I like about him, and from here I start to enjoy Princess maybe because Mercer is around more xd.
    
15. S10 Ep 17 Home Sweet Home- I thought Maggie was a good enough concept for an episode with the reapers, though it didn't hit that hard watching again. It still Is most definitely better than the other 3 episodes of S10 part C but enough for A Tier.
    

A Tier, after this point complaints may start to stop, but that doesn't mean entirely. These episodes I enjoy watching over and over again with some good tension and comedy as well.

1. S1 Ep 5 Wildfire- For the episodes Jim was in I liked him and learning his backstory as well so this was a pretty fun episode.
   
2. S4 Ep 15 Us- the stuff with Abraham and their group was pretty wholesome to me and I liked Joe for the time being in here seeing how he is pretty fair to be honest giving things where they are due and trust to Daryl.
   
3. S6 Ep 11 Knots Untie- I somewhat feel like the episode drags due to there being too much at hilltop, but it is a new community so I can't truly argue. I remember enjoyably when Rick stopped the assassination attempt.
   
4. S8 Ep 9 Honor- the beginning with Carl I thought was good to showcase the events that unfolded before the decimation and Carl's death hit hard.
   
5. S5 Ep 4 Slabtown- I personally don't mind the hospital arc too much, yet it won't get all of it's episodes too high of course. I liked watching Noah and Beth converse and I thought this was a new era for the walking dead.
   
6. 10 Ep 1 Lines we Cross- the part with the Satellite was amusing to watch as it was a big change to see and I like that about the walking dead on occasions.
   
7. S9 Ep 6 Who are you now?- I liked learning of Luke's Group (you heard me, Luke's Group) and what they have been like learning of some of their past.
   
8. S10 Ep 8 The World Before- I liked mostly just watching two scenes, the beginning with Dante and Gabriel and Dante. I loved the fact no one even considered a Whisperer living amongst them and how he did some much devious stuff was mind boggling and amazing to watch. When Gabriel talks about forgiveness to Dante and kills him shows me how Gabriel has changed the past seasons.
   
9. S7 Ep 9 Rock in the Road- Rick gives off a good speech to Ezekiel and I liked seeing him and Morgan reunite again. The stuff with Gabriel wasn't too bad either.
   
10. S3 Ep 9 The Suicide King- the Governor finally seems to be starting to let things of him slip which I love to see. I also enjoyed watching Merle with Daryl as well too.
    
11. S11 Ep 11 Rouge element- I thought that the twist of Steph was pretty good and I don't mind the episode being a bit long and tedious for it's reveal.
    
12. S11 Ep 23 Family- I loved the fact Lydia got bit just because it shows us that people can still get bit and survive. It shows to me that in the finale no one could be truly safe even though Luke gets bit and still dies.
    
13. S11 Ep 17 Lockdown- Saving Sebastian was okay ig.
    
14. S8 Ep 10 The Lost and The Plunderers- Simon's character I think was made perfectly as he is a hotheaded person who is all about power and showing that off. Killing most of the Garbage people was terrifying to watch and showed how Negan could be more merciful than others.
    
15. S1 Ep 1 Days Gone Bye- I think for the pilot it did it's job well and showed off enough of what the show could be. Of course this doesn't mean it was all good but as pilots go it was pretty solid.
    
16. S11 Ep 1 Acheron Part 1- The only reason I put it this high was for the interrogation scenes especially when it came down to Ezekiel. Him and Mercer are honestly a great pair and I love his ending to the show as it's fitting.
    
17. S5 Ep 10 Them- after losing most of the group it seems like a fitting episode of despair and plays it perfectly.
    
18. S5 Ep 12 Remember- the first shown scenes of Alexandria was pretty good and I liked the interviews scene too. We also saw a lot of new character introductions.
    
19. S11 Ep 6 On The Inside- The ferals was a nice touch of horror that I never knew I could need. Making the people with the ferals Virgil and Connie made the most perfect sense as well.
    
20. S6 Ep 13 Not Tomorrow Yet- this episode shows off how our group is seeming to be the bad guys starting to kill people in their sleep. I like how Glenn and Heath have their first kills and show how they are changing.
    
21. S7 Ep 1 The day will come when you won't be- I like the title as it references Doctor Jenner, but for the episode I liked Negan and that's mostly it. Seeing two people die was horrible to me, but necessary and since I don't rank episodes for being bad due to deaths I can still rank them high.
    
22. S6 Ep 16 Last Day on Earth- Simon has a good introduction and I like them trying to get from point A to B, but what stands out to me most is probably Abraham and Eugene with his speech about him
    
23. S7 Ep 15 Something they need- Sasha was probably the highlight of the episode for me and I liked them and Negan's interactions. It Is a good effort to show that they aren't all monsters and I like seeing Eugene as well.
    
24. S3 Ep 7 When the Dead come knocking- Glenn and his interrogation with Merle was amazing and I liked seeing Glenn's true will shine.
    
25. S8 Ep 12 The Key- I don't like this episode much honestly if it wasn't for Negan and Ricks Speech as well as Simon and his deviousness.
    
26. S8 Ep 1 Mercy- the beginning I had to move up due to some good portions of it like Rick and Negan. I also liked the ending a lot even though I watched the trailer a lot and knew of Gabriel and Negan's interactions.
    
27. S9 Ep 1 a New Beginning- wow two series beginnings next to each other... Yeah it's weird but they weren't exactly S Tier Material. The beginning with them trying to get a horse accessory was great tension to watch and I already love Ricks Beard.
    
28. S10 Ep 18 Find me- okay so maybe I exaggerated My feeling towards Season 10 C a bit since I like some of the episodes a bit and others worse. The reason I put this here is mostly good plot lines and that was it.
    

Around here I wanted to say the reason for some episodes ranking higher is due to the fact the others are horrible and some of these have redeeming qualities. It's hard to put over 150 episodes ranked from horrible to greatness and know the points of interest.

1. S3 Ep 3 Walk With Me- Merle brings joy to me seeing him again and I love him from here on out. I like how the Governor seems to be innocent enough until the big reveal with the militia which is amazingly put.
   
2. S10 Ep 9 Squeeze- I hate Squeeze... There i said it. The cave sucks honestly and Id rather not watch it again because of that, but Negan is the only saving grace for this episode and if it wasn't for him I would never watch this episode again.
   
3. S8 Ep 13 Do Not Send Us Astray- Simon attacking the Hilltop was the most great action of this season that I never minded and it felt terrifying after Tobin's fate was sealed.
   
4. S3 Ep 12 Clear- I had to move it from S Tier, but nevertheless a great episode. Morgan's return was done perfectly and I felt like his character did a full 180 after this. Michonne and Carl's side story was also good.
   
5. S2 Ep 12 Better Anglels- Shane and Ricks final confrontation was amazingly executed and loved the difference from the Comics with Rick killing shane and Carl shooting his reanimated self; Shane and Randel was also good too.
   
6. S4 Ep 12 Still- Daryl and Beth make sense to pair together and I like seeing how we get a bit more back story to his character. They feel like the most perfect example to put for a mismatched pair.
   
7. S6 Ep Thank You- The journey with Glenn's group trying to get back was amusing to see even though the dumpster ending wasnt really the best, still horrible to see.
   
8. S10 Ep 4 Silence the Whisperers- Negan and Lydia have a good bond and I like how Negan defends her even though I hate how no one believes Lydia that Negan protected her.
   
9. S8 Ep 4 Some Guy- I still love watching Ezekiel and the Kingdom so I enjoy this episode and how he feels defeated the whole time. Jerry is the best bodyguard in my opinion as well as it is shown and Shivas death is heartbreaking.
   
10. S5 Ep 8 Coda- The reason I put this soo high was due to Rick and Bob. I did like the ending a bit even though I feel like Beth's death could've been avoided.
    
11. S3 Ep 14 Prey- originally this episode was C Tier for me, but I re-watched it and put it this high due to the Governor being a literal psycho and I love this side of him.
    
12. S11 Ep 20 What's been Lost- Lance felt underutilized as soon as he died, I really wished they could've made a difference with his exit on the show.
    
13. S8 Ep 8 How it's gotta be- Forgot about Natanias death.
    
14. S11 Ep 7 Promises Broken- Negan and Maggie had a good talk together about before.
    
15. S10 Ep 6 Bonds- Okay.. XD.
    
16. S6 Ep 10 The Next world- I thought the stuff with Rick, Daryl, and Jesus was goofy, but great.
    
17. S11 Ep 19 Varient- I do like the idea of evolving walkers though I feel like it was a bit late in the show.
    
18. S3 Ep 13 Arrow on the Doorstep- the meeting was just terrific to watch as the Governor is so sinister inside it with Milton and Hershel having a good talk as well with Martinez and Daryl having a good show off time. Merle and Glenn have some good times too.
    
19. S9 Ep 2 The Bridge- The log scene was amazing and Aaron had a good scene with the amputation.
    

S Tier, These episodes are some of my favorite to watch with a good glass of Tea and some snacks.

1. S7 Ep 7 Sing me a song- Negan and Carl were fun to watch as well as some more insight on the sanctuary as Daryl breaks free. Negan and Carl also Bond.
   
2. S10 Ep 10 Stalker- Daryl VS Alpha!!!
   
3. S11 Ep 16 Acts of God- Lance is very horrifying as to what his next move is and Leah's stuff was good.
   
4. S3 Ep 8 Made to suffer- it was a great Mid season finale as I enjoyed the fight with the Governor and Rick as well as the ending with Merle and Daryl.
   
5. S2 Ep 6 Secrets- Glenn has to deal with hiding multiple people's secrets and I feel like the comedy is pure gold here.
   
6. S1 Ep 2 Guts- The rooftops scenes were great as well as the parts where they wear guys to avoid the walkers, it always felt like a sense of panic in this episode.
   
7. S9 Ep 9 Adaptation- the introduction to Alpha was simple enough and I feel like it's a good episode.
   
8. S11 Ep 10 New Haunts
   
9. S11 Ep 12 The Lucky Ones- Carol finally feels a little bit like she's back to her old self in this community with Lance and their deals.
   
10. S4 Ep 1 30 days without and Accident- probably my second favorite of the beginning episodes as it demonstrates exactly how the group has got along since the recent events. Has a good story with the shopping market and the roof caving in was awesome.
    
11. S3 Ep 10 Home- this episode shows how Merle and Daryl are far apart which I can still keep watching Merle and be entertained as well as the fight scene at the end with the Governor being cocky as can be.
    
12. S9 Ep 16 The Storm- snow is a new but simple thing that I like along with Negan Earning trust with Michonne.
    
13. S10 Ep 2 We are the End of the World- Gamma saving Alpha is one of my favorite scenes of how it shows Alphas power towards the group and influence on it's people.
    
14. S6 Ep 8 Start to Finish- The walls coming down had an interesting story as well as many like the Wolf getting loose and Diana having a badass/amazing exit.
    
15. S9 Ep 11 Bounty- The Movie Theatre scene was pretty good as well as Alpha with and Lydia.
    
16. S5 Ep 2 Strangers- The uneasy feeling of Gabriel is pretty good to show the groups trust and I like how the ending is played out with the reveals.
    
17. S11 Ep 13 Warlords- The Complex is a pretty good place to see and I like seeing the evolution of Negan and Aaron.
    
18. S9 Ep 15 The Calm Before- The highlight is the end with the pikes though it made sense for the lesser characters. I hated seeing Henry and Enid die (Not with Tara).
    
19. S10 Ep 11 Morning Star- The start of the battle is ingenius with the tree sap fire scene and it makes for a suspenseful ending to the episode to come.
    
20. S9 Ep 5 What come After- The episode is meant to be a sendoff for Rick so I'll rank it about everything else instead. I did enjoy some of the sequences with Hershel and I loved seeing Shane again. He really puts perspective on some episodes like Season 5 which makes me enjoy watching those episodes more as well as Shane. Ricks exit was also done is a pretty good way.
    
21. S7 Ep 13 Bury me Here- I liked watching Morgan slowing go back into insanity which I believe is due to PTSD of some sort. The episode feels really well done and I like the ending to it with Richard Dying and Carol being told everything.
    
22. S9 Ep 12 Guardians- Alpha is great to watch in this episode and the way she kills the two whispering who challenge them is great!
    
23. S8 Ep 5 The Big scary U- the main focus is Negan and Gabriel which is an amazing talk between then two before settling their differences. I also like the unease at the sanctuary through betrayal.
    
24. S11 Ep 14 The Rotten core- the whole episode is one of If not my personal favorite to watch for the complex alone being a nice setting. I enjoy every bit of this episode as well as the side deal with Sebastian and how Mercer is revealed to be a pretty nice guy.
    
25. S5 Ep 15 Try- The whole episode feels like a decent into madness for Rick seeing everyone against him. I like how he goes into protective cop mode and try to defend the ones he lives as well as his speech at the end.
    
26. S11 Ep 18 A New Deal- The whole episode is average, but the ending just feels amazing to rewatch.
    
27. S2 Ep 11 Judge, Jury, Executioner- I personally like Dale a lot so I love this episode. It really shows how the group is starting to turn as they believe to do what is best for the group and not morals. Dales death is also very heartfelt to watch and showed off the walkers dangerousness.
    
28. S10 Ep 14 Look At The Flowers- Negan and Daryl make a good pair to watch though I enjoyed watching Beta and him struggling to get back on track after Alphas death and I love him so much more for this episode.
    
29. S5 Ep 5 Self Help- Daryl and Carol at the moments have some good episodes together so it's not surprise I'd love this episode. With Noah in the episode as well it feels like a amazing show of how the characters (Carol and Daryl) have changed morally.
    
30. S6 Ep 13 The Same Boat- Carol has been shown to be ruthless, but this episode shows her true colors as how she doesn't want this to be her life anymore.
    
31. S5 Ep 13 Forget- the episode itself has many great minisodes it felt like which was fantastic.
    

50 and 49. S4 Ep 6 Live Bait and 7 Dead Weight- I put these both here due to the fact of me loving the equally. The 6th episode feels like a showcase of how the Governor gets broken entirely and starts to get built back up positively showing what could have been and for a time it feels beautiful to me. The 7th though shows how some things can mess with his mind and make him go back to being a psychopath that kills everyone he sees.

1. S8 Ep 16 Wraith- The ending to season 8 was pretty eventful for the battles begin as Eugene saved everyone's asses from a cool trick with the bullets. I am happy that Rick decided to save Negan and I love the episode except for the ending being off-putting with Maggie.
   
2. S6 Ep 9 No way Out- The Wolf has a pretty interesting end that I enjoyed to see and aside from the the entire eoisode is the best part. You never feel that sense of boring to it as the action is nonstop great.
   
3. S5 Ep 5 Now- I liked small bits and pieces of this episode mostly revolving around Diana and her role starting to change. If she survived I don't doubt I would've loved to see her go through more of an arc.
   
4. S7 Ep 11 Hostiles and Calamities- I can see the hate for this episode, though I love it myself. Eugene in my opinion is at his best here and I love watching him here with Negan and their interactions. It was also great how Dwight had framed the doctor.
   
5. S5 Ep 6 Consumed- Abraham was one of my favorite characters not just for jokes but for this episode. His backstory is heartbreaking to learn about and relatable. When he falls down after beating Eugene in defeat I can feel his pain with him.
   
6. S9 Ep 13 Chokepoint- Daryl VS Beta!!!
   

SS Tier, after this point there is no bad things that the episodes could have drag it's down. These ones are my person favorites.
Around this time I also realized that it seems my numbers on the side aren't matching so I'm fixing it from here so skip 42- 38. Idk what happened but I messed up somewhere and went to fix it but couldn't find the problem.

1. S2 Ep 13 Besides the Dying Fire- The walkers attacking the farm was a great scene just as much as the Democracy speech was from Rick, though Lori is horrible to Rick in this episode. Also Rick tells the group "we're all infected"
   
2. S4 Ep 2 Infected- I love the scene where Patrick reanimates and the morning fight they have in the prison. So much stuff happens at once. The ending was Great with Tyreese and. The pig scene was sad to watch.
   
3. S6 Ep 6 Always Accountable- One time when I like Sasha is this episode with Abraham. Where to begin; The Rocket launcher scene was great, Abraham is great with quips, Daryl with Dwight is a good scene and I love the ending as well.
   
4. S6 Ep 14 Twice as Far- The Denise speech wasnt too bad and the death was great. I enjoyed Abraham and Eugene; I think my favorite scenes was with Abraham and Eugene with another one of his speechs towards him which was funny and heartfelt.
   
5. S4 Ep 16 A- The best part is when Joe's group comes along and how Rick bites out his throat signifying that he and Shane are now alike. I also like when Rick and Daryl talk as well as Rick figuring out this olace kidnaps people.
   
6. S2 Ep 7 Pretty Much dead Already- Shane is what I love about this episode, he and Dale had a really funny encounter and I feel like Shane makes me laugh and be serious at the same time with each scenes. I also like how Rick is more accepting towards Hershel.
   
7. S10 Ep 16 A Certain Doom- Beta was good in this episode and had some great parts, but the fights wee great especially the scene with the Music. Betas death felt odd, but that doesn't lower the episode.
   
8. S4 Ep 14 The Grove- I mean do I really have to explain? Carol is a savage here and I love when they finally talk about Karen and Davids death here. Nothing in this episode is a low note.
   
9. S2 Ep 5 Chupacabra- I love everything about Daryl's scenes in this that show how he is a badass and capable of holding his own. Also love his Hallucinations.
   
10. S11 Ep 24 Rest In Peace- certainly wasn't the best finale, but I felt like it did well enough for the episode. It tied up most loose ends for the show given its runtime and I feel like it is fitting enough.
    
11. S2 Ep 10 18 Miles Out- my favorite of Season 2 has Shane and Rick have the best battle I have seen even more than The Governor and Rick or Negan and Rick. This battle utilizes both of their strengths and weaknesses with some things that have never been done in the show much more like using your blood to attract walkers to other places. It was an amazing episode all in all.
    
12. S1 Ep 6 TS-19- idk what it is but I love watching this episode over and over again and I love it the more I watch it. It is probably because I like Doctor Jenner a bit more in each watching of his tragic backstory with his wife.
    
13. S9 Ep 14 Scars- The flahsback was an amazing one that told us something vital to the story about how they don't trust people coming in anymore. What Daryl and especially Michonne went through is tragic.
    
14. S5 Ep 3 Four Walls a roof- this episode is perfect for a number of reasons like Bob and his antics or Savage Rick, this was a turning point for the walking dead and this is where Rick gets some of his roots.
    
15. S1 Ep 4 Vatos- even though I love TS-19 I love Vatos more. This is unique to some episodes where you see a group just like Ricks that is trying to survive and this is where we realize the world is bigger than we thought still.
    
16. S7 Ep 16 The first day of the rest of your Life- The battle was amazing and I feel like this was the best it was going to get for the coming seasons, but season 9 and 10 surprised me.
    
17. S10 Ep 5 What it always Is- Negan with the Kid is the highlight I think, I could've honestly seen this going farther, if it wasn't for the former savior. I feel like this was fitting for an entire episode of, but we diverged a bit.
    
18. S4 Ep 3 Isolation- Hershel and Tyreese are the highlights for me with Tyreese going berserk and Hershel being a kind soul. This is a staple episode for why Season 4 is amazing and why Hershel is what made season 4 great.
    
19. S6 Ep 4 Here's not Here- I love learning about Eastman and Morgan in this one off. I love how it is somewhat told in the first person narrative to the Wolf and how Morgan changed back to who he was. Eastman shows how he and Morgan are pretty similar and why he should be like him.
    
20. S5 Ep 14 Spend- aside from Francine being here to be used as eye candy for me I loved how some of Alexandria like and dislike rick's group here. I do hate Noah dying as I feel like he could've been so much more.
    
21. S10 19 One More- I love havng the episode based on Aaron and Gabriel as they have came a long way since their beginnings. When they have few an encounter with Mays I felt like this was a testimony to who they are as people. We see how they care for each other and how Mays fails to make a point of who they are until Gabriel Kills him showing he has gone farther away from the light.
    
22. S7 Ep 3 Cell- Daryl is locked up and he is now being treated like shit. This episode feels great cause of how it feels like he is trying to break Daryl. Dwight also has a great mission on how he mercy kills a savior and shows he isn't as bad as you may think.
    
23. S6 Ep 1 First time again- I do enjoy the setting of the episode how we see the diverge in Alexandria and who listens or hears Rick out. The episode is a great example for staring episodes... But not the best at it.
    
24. S5 Ep 9 What Happened and what's going On- I loved Tyreese's character so to see him die was horrible for me. His episodes I feel like was a good send off since it is a test to who he is as a person who is confounded about the world around him.
    
25. S3 Ep 4 Killer Within- this episode was played perfectly and I feel like is a good sendoff for other characters as well like how I hate Lori. She is made just a bit better from her sacrifice and thought T-Dog went out in a good way as well. The prisoners also had a good show for their trust.
    
26. S4 Ep 5 Interment- this is where Hershel's best episode is as he is the best Samaritan Alive in the apocalypse. At the end where Rick and Carl fend off the walkers inside the gates in a great bond and I love the whole episode.
    
27. S6 Ep 3 JSS- it is well rounded and has good action as well as a lot of tension and suspense with Carol showing off her capabilities and Morgan with his philosophy.
    

Finally we cracked the top ten and into Premium Episodes. If you've made it this far you are are persistent as me... Well probably less since this took a long ass time but still. These are the episodes whee I cherish them and can watch more than once a month.

1. S8 Ep 15 Worth- Worth has what I want in an episode; good characters and story/plot. Eugene's parts are made more important seeing how he needed to stay at the sanctuary to save Alexandria and the other communities. I loved even more Dwight's part where I have without doubt the most suspense with him and Negan. Simon also had the most best arc death as it felt complete.
   
2. S5 Ep 16 Conquer- the episode has a lot of action and the ending was the pivet. I love the speech he has and how Diana let's Rick be in charge now was a sort of cliffhanging ending that signify's perfection.
   
3. S5 Ep 1 No sanctuary- both Season 5's beginning and finale are amazing and the way Rick and his group take down Terminus in one episode is amazing as they fight there way out and the scene with Judith was great. Morgan was just a sprinkle of wholesomeness to see.
   
4. S10 Ep 12 Walk With Us- The Episode had just enough action, good deaths and character interactions to make it here. First of the battle at hilltop was amazing. The second best thing was Earl and I feel very sad every time I watch this episode at his part. Then the best thing is the end with Alpha and Negan.
   
5. S3 Ep 1 Seed- The best beginning to a season it shows how the group has changed since Rick and the prison is a great example. The tombs are a great scenery and the ending was perfect for a cliffhanger as well as Conquer.
   
6. S3 Ep 2 Sick- the prisoner episode was pretty good to watch as a group of prisoners try to take on walkers. While some are good others would rather be assertive. Rick has definitely changed since season 2 and the group is played great here and much more human like.
   
7. S7 Ep 2 Well- what helps this episode is the last episode before it having a dark tone. This instead has a more uplifting one with the king and with Carol and Morgan being a great pair. The Kingdom seems to be a good community and seeing how Carol tries to smooth talk the king and how he tells whays her bullshit is an amazing scene.
   
8. S10 Ep 22 Heres Negan- We realize he was a kinda lousy husband that wasn't really too good to becoming a really supportive husband who cares deeply for his wife Lucille. The story before showed a lot of Negan and how he is and I love Lucille as a character from this episode trying to do whats best for Negan.
   
9. S4 Ep 8 Too Far gone- Honestly this IS the best episode, but I am bias so I had to put my own personal favorite above it not to say this isn't right behind it easily. Too far gone is what feels like a season finale but isn't. The Governors first encounter should've been this and I'm glad we got to see it unfold great. Rick has a great speech in it about not being too far gone yet and the Governor killing Hershel to start the best battle of the series. The Governors death feels fitting and the ending was sad and amazing.
   

Before I get to this last one I wanted to say a thank you in advance to whomever reads this as I really had a hard time making this and spending a lot of time to do this isn't easy. And remember this last episode is my very own person opinion entirely and in no way is it the best of the series definitively, without any furthermore, lets end this.

1. Season 3 Episode 15 This Sorrowful Life- Now what makes this episode so great to me? Well I'm totally biased towards the actor and the character in the show Merle Dixon. I could watch Merle all day which is what they episode feels like with the perfect duo of Michonne and Merle on their way to the governor. It has some of the most perfect comedy in the episode as well as having the best sacrifice redemption arc and ending. This episode made me laugh, smile, cry and more. There will never be a time when I ever change my opinion about this episode in existence.

Again another huge thanks to everyone and I hope this will satisfy everyones needs... Now I'ma go watch S3 Ep 15 Legit.

Hi everyone - hope I am not breaking rules with this post, but I was wondering if I could get some advice. I've been playing FS2019 for a bit now after picking it up on Steam. I did a few maps as "trial maps" and just played around to understand controls and basics.
I'm in my first "real" attempt at a farm and I am having a blast, but had a question about something:
I've really been getting into forestry, but I am having a hard time figuring out the best way to actually transport the logs. So currently, I am using a Ponsse Buffalo and a chainsaw and my route goes something like this:

1. Chop down the tree with the chainsaw and trim all the fluff/branches.
2. Pull up to it with the Ponsse
3. Use the claw to grab the full tree
4. Pull the full size tree to the back of the loading bin and enage the straps.
5. Release the tree and then re-grip the tree with the Ponsse claw.
6. Hop out of the truck, use my chainsaw and chop the tree where the truck bed ends.
7. Hop back in the truck, pull the next log until it's flush and rinse repeat steps 4-7 until I've got it chopped up.

Now, I've played around with the Ponsse ScorpionKing, and I really like it. I love how it can cut everything to the same exact length and it makes short work of the trees. The question is... when I'm done I have this giant pile of logs everywhere and I can't figure out the best way to transport the logs to the lumbermill/sawmill.
What do you guys recommend? I've tried some loaders and even tried a few mods that have bigger "offroad" trucks that have claws, but it seems so much slower than just doing it 1 tree at a time manually with the Ponsse Buffalo.

I’ll start with the job posting, I guess. I spotted it on Indeed while making my daily check for anything and everything that would hire someone with my biology degree, and it seemed on the up and up. Their website looked decent, the guy on the phone sounded nice, and I was looking for anything even slightly related to working with wildlife. Being a nightshift guard at a zoo was fine, especially when I took the incredibly generous rate of $25/hr. into account. That’s eleven bucks more than my dad makes at the local grocer, and he’s been working there for thirteen years. Then again, from the P.S. on the posting, I thought there might be good reason for the rate.
It said at the end, almost as an afterthought, ‘Zoo is haunted.’
When it comes to ghosts, they’ve never made much sense to me. Considering how badly our brains function from just getting jostled around on a football field, I’m not sure how ghosts could exist without a brain at all. I’d be excited as the next person to find proof, but YouTube videos are always fishy and the people on TV are essentially actors who only focus on the entertainment factor for their ratings. So, since I’d never seen anything that vaguely resembled a ghost, I’d say binge-watching Supernatural on Netflix last year was the extent of my experience in that department.
It seemed that the zoo hadn’t been here for long since it wasn’t even on Google Maps yet. There was a bit of a commute, it was half an hour away, but since I’d worked local jobs while I attended college online for the past four years, I’d saved up the money to buy a car. It wasn’t anything fancy, just an old Nissan sedan that I’d bought from someone in the next town over, with faded red paint and a mismatched back right door painted blue. It accomplished the job of transportation, though, which let me search the job market further away, a good thing considering how small a town I lived in. I really didn’t want to leave home yet, so moving for a job in a city or another state wasn’t an appealing option.
The website said very little. It had yet to fill in drop down menus that would excitedly describe their attractions. So far it only had some small sections about conservation and education, though that was intriguing because it mentioned that all the animals they had were endangered. I read that notation and wondered what the animals were. Mammals were always favorites of mine, which I know is a bit of a cliché, loving the furry ones. But when it comes down to it, I’ll take any animal over a person.
The employee entrance to the zoo was a door in the large steel gate that surrounded the property, a few yards down from the sliding gate that presumably opened to let visitors in. I pressed the button on a panel beside it, glancing up at the camera, and I was buzzed in. There was a short path that led to the building near the front and I knocked politely before going inside.
The interviewer, a plain metal nameplate on his desk describing him as Director of Security for the zoo, welcomed me in and sat on the other side of his desk, lounging back in his desk chair. His name was Andrew Higgs, and he had a British accent, which I thought was cool. I sat in one of the two loveseats in front of the desk.
Andrew was dressed business casual, with a blue Polo shirt, a thin black jacket, and I saw he was wearing slacks when he stood up to shake my hand. He was black, with dreadlocks that stopped just short of his shoulders, and a closely trimmed mustache. There was a tattoo, an artistic rendition of a hippo, on the right side of his neck, which bode well in my opinion. So many places hiring these days were overly uptight about their employees’ appearance, but it seemed that wouldn’t be the case here.
We went over the basics before he picked up the piece of paper off his desk, my resume, which he’d printed out. “Well, I spoke to all three of your references,” Andrew noted. “They had some good things to say. You were a great employee on the farm you worked last summer, your boss said. Punctual, hard-working, took instructions well…”
That was nice to hear. I’d spent this past summer working at a dairy farm, mostly assigned to the goats and cows they kept for milk. Aside from the staggering muscle pain that tapered from agony to merely miserable by the end of the summer, it wasn’t a bad job. I did have an old shoulder injury that I always had to work around, but it was my left shoulder and I was a righty, so it wasn’t that difficult to manage.
If anything, the muscle pain in my back and legs from being on my feet all day distracted from the typical issue I dealt with. My standard exercising day-to-day was typically either riding my bike or yoga, although yoga is mind-numbingly boring, so I need to listen to a podcast to pass the time. So, in fact, through the job, I was sort of grateful that my brain was focusing on a different area of my body that was in pain. Yeah, chronic pain is weird.
“He also said you don’t work well with others,” Andrew added, glancing up to me. “You kept submitting complaints about incompetent coworkers?”
I pursed my lips and let out a long breath through my nose, considering the most delicate way I was capable of replying to that before saying, “I dislike stupid people.”
Andrew gave me a half-smile and sighed, replying, “Well, I must confess I’m not fond of them either.” He looked back down to the paper. “This job will be a great fit for you.”
The job interview seemed like a formality, and I don’t know why. I was twenty-three and the ink had barely dried on my degree from the online college I’d attended. I’d been applying to jobs for months and had been thrilled when I’d gotten a call for an interview for this one, but also surprised. Call me a cynic, but I expected more invasive questions about any past work I’d done for a job in security, since I was a woman.
It's not like I was petite. Actually, the most common word I’d heard to describe me is ‘built’, and I fall short of being labeled overweight only because of muscle mass. One comment I recall from high school was being teased for being shaped like a rectangle. Even so, there was no good reason to look a gift horse in the mouth, but of course, me being me, that meant I examined its teeth closely.
“So, you’re hiring me? Just like that? Why?”
Andrew, chuckled. “Look, you’ve got BA in wildlife biology, and specializing in animal behavior is just the cherry on the sundae. That tells me you know animals are not people, and even if you feel like you know them, they can still be unpredictable. They can hurt you. But also, it makes me know you care.”
I suppose that did make sense, and it was true, so I’m glad he knew that. Most of my job on the night shift would be watching cameras and then walking around the place to make sure all the animals were as they should be, but it was more than that. Working at a zoo meant knowing where the line was, and sometimes it wasn’t exactly at the fence, but sometimes just putting a single finger through that fence meant losing that finger. As a whole, humans are generally idiots. Looking at you, anyone who really, honestly thinks that a bobcat would sense your boundless love enough to let you pat it.
“The website didn’t have much about the animals,” I said. “I know this place is new, so you might not have info on them up on the site yet. Do you have a map for me?”
“Oh, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Andrew said with a wave of his hand. At that point, it had seemed to be a reasonable thing for him to say, but I will tell you, the reason was not what I thought. “Just to confirm, you’re not an early bird, Miss Mason? This schedule isn’t a concern?”
I shook my head. “Nah, I’m pretty talented at sleeping in, actually. I never really got past that teenage talent of staying up until five and sleeping in until three. And you can just call me Ripley.”
That made him smile. “Good. Then I won’t worry about you falling asleep on the job, Ripley.”
“Oh, no way.”
“All right. So. You saw the note at the end of the job posting?”
He just stared at me and I was forced to answer, “That the zoo is haunted.”
“Right. What are your thoughts on that?”
There was no easy answer to that question, especially depending on how seriously he took it. “Do you know the best word the Brits gave to us?”
“What’s that?”
“Bollocks.”
Andrew slowly smiled and pointed at me with the end of the pen in his hand. “I think I’m going to like you,” he remarked. “Look…this is the part of the interview where we switch gears. If this was a regular zoo, you’d be a shoo-in for the job. But we’ve got other boxes to check. This outfit is…basically a preservation society. As you saw on the site, all the species are endangered, but what it didn’t say online is that the only people who came to visit are private parties.”
“So, that means…what?” I asked. “You bring in super-rich people who feel special when they get to see the animals you’re rehabilitating and taking care of? Then they donate oodles of money so they can brag to their rich friends about their charity contributions and having seen the animals here?”
Andrew raised his eyebrows. “Pretty much got it in one. It’s just more preservation and less rehabilitation. And a lot of our patrons really do care about the animals, or else they would just donate and not visit. You’ll see tourists a couple times a week, but we decided not to have anyone until we’re settled in here, and that means a person who’s on during the night shift that I can count on. And I don’t know if I can count on you yet.”
“Wait, I’ll see the tourists?” I asked. “They visit at night?”
“Everything we have is nocturnal,” he told me. That struck me as odd, but he continued before I could question it. “Listen up, and I’ll start with the basics. Have you ever seen anything weird? Possibly supernatural?”
“Nope,” I said with a shrug.
The fact is, I got along with my classmates, but I never did have any close friends. So, I thought maybe that’s why I missed out on all those reckless teen moments that started every horror movie. Maybe it left me without a bunch of exciting stories to tell. But hey, at least I didn’t break my leg falling through the floor of an abandoned building in eleventh grade.
Yes, that happened. It was a classmate of mine by the name of Brent. And yes, he’s just as much of a moron as you would imagine.
“If you see the ghost here,” he said, his tone emphatic, “will you freak out?”
I paused. “You’ve seen the ghost?”
“All the time,” Andrew told me. “It’s a young woman in a blue shirt and tan slacks, looks like she just walked out of a lake.”
“Do you have a picture?”
“No, and absolutely no photos or video are to be taken of her,” he said, his tone abruptly turning stern. “It’s cause for immediate dismissal. We have video cameras for security, but they all record off-site in a secure location, and Suzanne Cooper, the owner, manages it herself. Firstly, the ghost deserves privacy rather than exploitation, she’s not to be displayed like one of our animals, but secondly, people believe in ghosts. One leaked photo of her connecting it to us means we get overrun by ghost hunters, and if we trace it back to you, you’re done.”
Andrew seemed next-level serious about that, so I nodded. “Understood. That makes sense.”
The animals were the priority after all, I knew. I preferred them over people anyway, and that included dead people. Even if I could get a video of this ghost doing cartwheels back and forth through a wall, I would never post it and spread word of where I’d taken it. Andrew was right; the zoo would never get the paranormally-obsessed to stay away and would definitely have to relocate.
He continued, “If you’re curious, she’s never so much as tried to hurt anyone. But the zoo has moved before, and she moved with us.”
“She moved with you?” I asked, my eyebrows rising. “Is it like one of those stories where she’s attached to something in the zoo rather than a place?”
“More complicated than that,” he said. Then he grimaced. “She died because she was too ambitious with one of our animals. It never should have happened, but she… She was foolish, you’d say. Attempted to interact with one of the animals, got too close, and honestly, she should have known better. I thought she did.”
“Holy shit,” I whispered. “What killed her?”
He stared at his hands and shook his head. “It was before my time.”
It was clear Andrew was a true believer, but I still really wasn’t sure at that point. How was I supposed to react, though? Zoos have fences and tall barriers for a good reason. Not just to keep the animals away from us, but also the other way around, and ‘death by stupidity’ is not uncommon amongst humans. So, the story wasn’t outrageous, but still, I’d never so much as experienced something unexplainable. But if I saw a ghost, I suppose that’d be that.
“I just need to know, plain and simple, if you’re the kind of person who can handle things that are terrifying,” Andrew told me, splaying his hands. “Our last night shift bloke there was with us for years and years, but we spent months going through other employees. There were six we tried before we found him.”
“Six?” I exclaimed.
He snorted. “Yes, six. Let’s see…” Andrew counted off each one on his fingers. “The first two, the first night they saw the ghost, they lost it. One called me in a panic, babbling, and I had to get out of bed and drive to the zoo to send him home, and the second quit, although at least she made it to the next morning and didn’t drag me out here,” he said, his voice thoughtful. “They just thought I was blowing smoke up their bums with the whole thing.”
He shrugged. “Then, the third one was a bloke who was asleep when I got there in the morning, so I had to fire him. Then another ghost freak-out. The fifth bloke was someone who couldn’t deal with the animals, and then the sixth was so scared of the ghost that when I got here, he was already outside the zoo, pacing, waiting for my car. Apparently he’d said some stuff, rude or mean or whatnot, to try to get her to leave him alone and she had followed him back into the security room, so he fled. I need the opposite of those folks. Alright?”
At this point, I was starting to take it more seriously. Sure, this could just be Andrew’s thing, that he believed in ghosts and then made up these sightings to ensure I believed him. But if I saw her? What would I do?
Well, this would be my job, so I would have to take it seriously. Maybe that was why the pay was so good, to make employees think twice before ditching it. From Andrew’s perspective, if it really was haunted, he was the one who had to deal with applicant after applicant quitting as soon as they laid eyes on the guest who would never leave.
“So…honestly, I can’t say I won’t freak out, considering how next level this is,” I told him, feeling compelled to go with honesty, “but yeah. I think I can handle it, mostly because it’s important for someone to look after this place, look after the animals, so I’d do my best to work around anything that freaks me out. I mean, I have to say that I’ll believe it when I see it. But if ghosts really exist, as long as it isn’t some serial killer who stuck around to keep gutting people, I’ve always thought it’d be cool to find out we can exist after we die.”
The thing is, I think I did believe him. I thought there might really be a ghost there, because otherwise, why take it so seriously? It could’ve been that Andrew had only glimpsed her out of the corner of his eye a few times and could ascribe it to lack of sleep, but he was literally worried about word getting out. I thought that being halfway to believing him would give me the mental preparation I needed if I saw her. At least, I’d hoped so.
It turned out that most of my time would be spent at the security desk in the main building, near the entrance. Real-time footage played through thirty-five cameras around the zoo, all on a large screen that was five cameras across and seven cameras top to bottom. The cameras were impressive. I would mention the resolution, say something about them being 4K, but Andrew explained some stuff about how it’s actually the lens that is the biggest selling point. Looking at these cameras on the giant screen, I could see practically every corner of the place, and if I brought up one camera in particular to encompass 2/3 of the screen, I could zoom in so far that it felt like I could use it to check if one of the animals had fleas.
The zoo was well lit, not surprising considering nighttime was apparently the zoo’s business hours, and all of the tall lamps had red bulbs. For those of you who know why, A+ to you. For those who don’t, fun fact, it’s because red is closest to the dark and your eyes don’t need to strain to adjust to it. That meant I didn’t need my flashlight all that often, and even that was red, a solid name-brand one that had been on my desk when I arrived. I kept the white lights on back in the security room, though, because I didn’t want to make my brain think it was time to get tired.
When I headed out for my first sweep on that first night, I had the folded map in my pocket, but I already knew my way around. The layout of the zoo wasn’t that difficult to memorize, since there were only eleven expansive enclosures, and after the interview I walked around for half an hour to start training my memory. I’ll admit, working in a dark environment was creepier than I thought it would be.
I do want to mention the high quality of the zoo. The size of each enclosure was considerable, and the greenery was natural, hinting that they’d hired a pricey professional just to do landscaping toward the front of the enclosures after buying the land. The backs of the enclosures backed up into forestry, and from the estimate I got from Andrew, it seemed each of the animals had plenty of roaming space, including the small lake at the northwest corner and a manmade lake for one of the animals in particular. When I considered all of that, the thought passed through my head about how horrible it would be if word got out about the zoo having a ghost and needing to relocate, because it’d be devastatingly expensive.
My orders were to walk the zoo once every hour. This was my first security gig, so I’m not sure if that’s more or less than typical, but I had my comfy hiking boots on, the ones I’d saved up for and invested in a couple years earlier and were perfect for a job where I had to do laps around an area. This job was one that I didn’t have to worry about my shoulder pain worsening, since it was mostly about being on my feet. I take one or two Vicodin a day, depending on how bad my pain is. It came in handy in high school, actually. With a flexible ‘take as needed’ prescription, I occasionally sold pills for extra cash.
There wasn’t much to step in and there weren’t even any dips in the concrete sidewalks that I followed around in a route that easily led me back and forth until I made my way back to the office. The first three nights were actually boring. I would have thought Andrew had been pranking me about the ghost, but like I said, it hadn’t felt like that. And he hadn’t been specific about when she showed up for new people, or even for him.
To keep myself busy, I’d brought my e-reader with me, and I got into a cycle of looking over each of the cameras every time I hit the end of a chapter. I’m a pretty fast reader, so it was a good system. Also, every once in a while, I looked up if something moving caught my eye, like an owl flying close enough for the camera to catch it, but that’s about it.
Then, every hour on the hour, I did a walk through. The fourth night, I was passing by the small lake at the back left corner of the property when I saw her.
People say that you can tell if someone’s staring at you, that there’s some sixth sense humans have. It’s not true; they’ve done experiments. But the thing is, all those experiments were of someone human looking at them. After this last shift, I would guess that the sixth sense that sends goosebumps down your arms, the one that makes you feel an intangible pressure, that slides your body toward fight or flight mode, might be true of…other things.
Slowly coming to a stop at the disturbing feeling, I hesitantly looked around, through the trees. Then my heart skipped a beat and my breath hitched. It was startling because she wasn’t moving. Just standing among the trees, staring at me. I broke out in a cold sweat as I stared back at her, unsure what to do. I didn’t run. I didn’t try to talk to her. I just stood there. So, there’s my answer to Andrew: I didn’t freak out. I just froze.
The woman was Latina, her skin tone pallid from death, and was dressed as he’d described her, in slacks and a silky blue blouse. And she was soaked, as if she’d just walked out of the lake. Beyond that, her shirt was drenched in blood from what looked like claw marks across her abdomen. Her eyes were dark and penetrating, boring holes into me, as if she were able to get any and all knowledge that she wanted about me simply by glaring. The fabric of her shirtsleeves clung to her skin and was dripping, as was her long black hair. Speaking of her hair, it appeared to have seaweed woven into it, or maybe she also grew seaweed along with hair. Not my area of expertise.
The look on her face was indescribable. There was something deep in her eyes, behind her closed-off expression, that made my heart beat rapidly. Maybe I would’ve projected some emotion into her face if I’d had any idea of what she was capable of, whether she could move objects, or possess me, or if all she did was hang around. As things stood, I was left just projecting my fears, which gave me the impression that she was cross with me simply for being present. It felt like I was trespassing, even though I was a dozen feet back from the fence that encircled the enclosure. And also, this was my job so I was explicitly allowed to be here.
She was disturbingly close, and remained unnaturally still. If she had attacked me, I wasn’t sure what I would’ve done. Ran, probably, but considering ghosts probably don’t follow the laws of physics, maybe she could’ve chased me at Usain Bolt speed. For all I knew, she could teleport.
After an amount of time that felt awkwardly long, I finally spoke up.
“Hi,” I croaked.
The woman slowly tilted her head but didn’t otherwise move. I’d forgotten to ask Andrew for her name, I realized, but he had mentioned her death had been before his time, so maybe he didn’t know.
Swallowing hard, I tried to take a slow, deep breath, even though it felt like there was a cinder block on my chest. “So, I, uh…I work here now,” I said slowly. “I’m night shift security.” Pausing, I kept trying to gather information from her demeanor but failed. “Is that okay?”
At that, I saw a hint of curiosity flash across her face. “Why would it not be?” Her voice sounded completely normal, which was an off-putting contrast to her appearance.
Good question. Hell if I know the answer. “I don’t know. I mean…you were here first. I don’t know if you feel like I’m…intruding…or something.”
“You’re just doing your job,” she said, her tone softening a smidge.
I waited to see if she wanted to say anything else before saying, “Right.” Can I get you anything? A towel? Some bandages? “I’ll be going now.”
The woman made no movement to come after me as I gradually took one step, then another, keeping her in my sights as I walked off. I finally had to turn to face forward, unable or unwilling to be seen by her foolishly walking away backwards. Instead of continuing my sweep, I took the path that would lead me back to the security room. I kept looking behind me and felt her eyes on me all the way back, though I didn’t see her following me. At that point, even if she hadn’t moved an inch, my brain was on red alert when it came to self-preservation and figured I would continue to feel like a wet hand might grab me from behind at any moment.
Finally, I returned to the security room, swiping my card across the panel at the back door with a beep. Opening the door, darting inside, and slamming it behind me, I walked to the far side of the room and turned around, putting my back to the wall. Until I’d gotten back, I hadn’t noticed how fast I’d been walking, how quickly I’d been gasping for air. Leaning back against the wall, my legs turned to jelly and I slowly slid to the floor.
And that was it. My first sighting of the ghost. I’d thought that if I had seen her, there would be some part of me that was skeptical, that would reason my way out of it, convinced it was a prank. But I knew. She wasn’t a person. At least, not anymore.
​
/storiesbykaren

Nyrland is an ongoing modded RP server that is hosted weekly on Sundays at 2PM EST-8PM EST. The server has an emphasis on jobs as well as an economy.
The current basic requirements to join are :

• Be 18+
• Have a mic as we're be using a positional audio mod.
• Don't be a jerk.

Freeport / Town A has the following professions :

1. Blacksmith (Filled) - You hit the hot piece of metal against a cold piece of metal with yet another piece of metal.
2. Builder (Filled) - Builds.
3. Farmer (Filled) - Farms.
4. Fisherman (Filled) - Fishes.
5. Guard (1 Available) - Keeps the citizenry safe as well as a few other side-jobs.
6. Adventurer (ExploreHunter) - Will be responsible for hunting down animals, berries, ruins etc. (Filled)
7. Miner (1 Available) - Self explanatory
8. Potter (Filled) - Self explanatory
9. Tailor (1 Available) - Will be responsible for making backpacks, tanning and oiling hides & bandages.
10. Woodworker (1 available) - Harvests wood, plants trees and makes charcoal.
11. Tavern Keep (1 Available) - Makes food, booze and small talk.
12. Oddjobbers (Part-timers) - No limit - For those who wish to play on the server without committing to a single role or for the full length, they are permitted to work for any of the guilds but are not required to work for any singular one.

Dwarf Town / Town B has the following professions :

• Adventurer : Filled
• Blacksmith : Filled
• Builder : 1 Available
• Farmer : 1 Available
• Guard : 1 Available
• Mayor : Filled
• Miner : Filled
• Tavern Keeper : Filled
• Oddjobbers : No Limit.

(Each job has numerous Pros/Cons (restrictions e.g. you aren't going to be mining if you're a lumberjack.))
If you'd like to see some of what goes on the server, you can check out the following archives of previous streams/sessions:

• Zflocco (Zolgrim) - The Mayor of Freeport / Admin
• Duerag (Rock) - Freeport Guard

If you'd like to check things out or join in, you can join our Discord
F.A.Q.

• Q: "Do I have to attend every session fully"
  • A: No, partial attendance is fine, if you think you'll be missing a fair few or won't be able to attend half the session at least frequently, you should probably go "Odd-Jobber" (You're still able to do the job you want)
• Q: "What version of the game are you on?"
  • A: 1.19.7
• Q: "If I don't want to keep doing 'job' can I swap to another?"
  • A: Yes.
• Q: "Am I required to speak / Have a microphone?"
  • Ideally yes.
• Q: "What time is the session?"
  • A: 2-8PM EDT on Sundays.
• Q: "Do I have to do my job for the full duration / Can I do other jobs aside from my main one?"
  • A: No you don't / Yes, everyone is permitted at least some freedom; E.G. If you're a smith and there's no work to be done, you can talk to another guild to pitch in there.
• Q: "The job of (job here) , is listed as full, does that mean I can't do that?"
  • A: "If you do oddjobber, you'll generally be able to pitch into a job if you talk to the guild leaders.
• Q: "Are the jobs only restricted to what is on the list?"
  • A: "No, there's more jobs unlisted and if you have an idea of something you can bring it up."

As always I shall try to keep this list updated at least once every four weeks until the post is again automatically locked after six months, preventing further edits.
In order to request any of these items you must go to the appropriate link for the Xbox Series X/S, Windows, PS5 or Steam. If you are playing on an older system it is simple to reach its page from one of these direct links. I am sure it goes without saying your player account must have sufficient Atoms available to pay for the item/s you choose. As part of the process Bethesda Support will respond to your request by ticket and email with the total cost of whatever you order.
This page from the Wikia entry for Fallout76 may help with working out some of the bundles' contents. I cannot swear for the accuracy of the data however as with all wikis it is community-created support material.
I have had quite a few comments asking how long you can expect to wait. The answer is that it varies. In my own experience I have had items redeemed for my character within two hours. I have also had to wait for more than a month. Much of the process seems to be automated now and I would say the average time these days seems between two to four days.
This list is up-to-date as of 12.05.2024:

1. Ace Full Assault Power Armor Paint
2. Alien Plushie
3. Alien Technology Bundle
4. Aluminum Trees
5. Amateur Inventor's Laser Gun Paint
6. American Flag Set
7. Angry Fist Shake
8. Animatronic Cat
9. Appalachian Thunder Pipe Gatling Gun Paint
10. Armored Raider Skull Gas Mask
11. Armory Weapon Paint Bundle
12. Army Issue Plasma Caster Paint
13. Astroturf
14. Atomic Blast Lamp
15. Barbed Chained Tire Set
16. Beer Barrel Fridge
17. Big Game Hunter
18. Big Red Button Icon
19. Black Bear Mascot
20. Black Cat Bundle
21. Black Knight Paint
22. Black Pip-Boy Paint
23. Black Rider Power Armor
24. Blood Eagle Bow Skin
25. Blood Eagle Bundle
26. Blood Eagle Power Armor Paint
27. Blood Eagle Totem
28. Bloody Arktos Refrigerator
29. Bombs Away Mobile
30. Bone and Felt Antler Headband Set
31. Bone Gas Mask
32. Bonnet
33. BOS Backpack
34. BOS Scouting Tower
35. Bottle Icon
36. Boxing Ring
37. Brambles
38. Brew-haha Bundle
39. Brotherhood Armory
40. Brotherhood Bundle
41. Brotherhood High Tech Stash
42. Brotherhood of Steel Digital Deluxe Bundle
43. Bubble Blower Machine
44. Bucking Brahmin Bundle
45. Bucking Brahmin Mask
46. Bucking Brahmin Ride
47. Bunker Bundle
48. Burgundy Modular Sofa Set
49. C.A.M.P. Structure Starter Bundle
50. Cactus Set
51. Camden Park Mega Bundle
52. Camo Secret Service Armor Paint
53. Camo Secret Service Underarmor
54. Camo Utility Cap
55. Cappy's Nuka-Cola Train Bundle
56. Captain Cosmos Outfit
57. Captain Cosmos Power Armor
58. Captain Cosmos Power Armor Bundle
59. Caravan Trader Outfit
60. Carnivorous Plant
61. Cash Register Vending Machine
62. Castle Bed
63. Cat Topiary
64. Cement Tire Set
65. Chalk Letter Kit
66. Charleston Fire Station
67. Charleston Fire Station Bundle
68. Christmas Sitting Room Bundle
69. Cinder Blocks Wallpaper
70. Clandestine Gauss Weapons Bundle
71. Clandestine Service Gauss Shotgun Paint
72. Clandestine Service Minigun Paint
73. Classic Jukebox
74. Classic Performance Stage
75. Classic Western Bundle
76. Classical Column
77. Classy Girl Player Icon
78. Clean Bathroom Bundle
79. Clean Billboard
80. Clean Boxing Ring
81. Clean Chally Outfit
82. Clean Mannequin Set
83. Clean Shower
84. Clean Sink
85. Clean Small Generator
86. Clean Toilet
87. Clean Water Purifier
88. Clean White Picket Fences
89. Coal Duster Excavator Power Armor Paint
90. Coffin Backpack
91. Coffin Decoration
92. Coffin Stash Box
93. Collectron Bundle
94. Colored Oval Lights
95. Comforts of Home Bundle
96. Comin' to Town Bundle
97. Communal Firepit
98. Communist Bunker
99. Communist Collectron Station
100. Communist Fence
101. Communist Handmade Gun Skin
102. Communist Militant Outfit
103. Communist Military Safe Stash Box
104. Communist Officer's Gas Mask
105. Communist Salute Emote
106. Communist Spy Bundle
107. Communist Spy Outfit
108. Contemporary C.A.M.P. Bundle
109. Cowboy Hat
110. Cowhide Outfit
111. Creepy Mothman Player Icon
112. Crypt Crook Backpack
113. Cuddles Outfit
114. Cultist Dungeon Bundle
115. Dark Harlequin Face Paint
116. Dark Matter Combat Rifle Paint
117. Dark Wood Laminate
118. Dart Board
119. Dead Man's Hand Posters
120. Death Awaits Skull Totem
121. Death Ray Bug Zapper
122. Decorative Room Divider
123. Deep Cave Bundle
124. Deep Cave Hunter Outfit
125. Diamond Eyes Face Paint
126. Down Home Comfort Bundle
127. Down Home Dweller Bundle
128. Down Home Wallpaper Set
129. Duster
130. Easter Bundle
131. Easter Rabbit Plushie
132. Electro 2000 Fireplace
133. Elm Tree Set
134. Encampment Bridge
135. Encampment Fences
136. Encampment Fortress Bundle
137. Enclave Backpack
138. Enclave Bundle
139. Enclave C.A.M.P. Bundle
140. Enclave Power Armor Paint
141. Enclave Turret Set
142. Equalizer Power Armor Paint
143. Eye Patch Bundle
144. F.E.T.C.H. Collectron Station
145. Fancy Thanksgiving Display Case
146. Farm Life C.A.M.P. Bundle
147. Fasnacht Bundle
148. Fasnacht C.A.M.P. Bundle
149. Fasnacht Collectron Station
150. Fasnacht Mask Bundle
151. Fasnacht Mask Display
152. Fasnacht Mystical Mask Bundle
153. Fat Man Aviator Paint
154. Feral Ghoul Bundle
155. Feral Ghoul Costume
156. Fez
157. Fire Chief Bundle
158. Fire Hazard Backpack
159. Firewatch Tower
160. Firing Range Posters
161. Fish Lamp
162. Floor Walker Outfit
163. Flower Cart
164. Fluorescent Light Set
165. Flyboy Bundle
166. Flyboy Icon
167. Flyboy Outfit
168. Four Poster Bed
169. Free States Scout Armor Paint
170. Freedom Stars Neon Sign
171. Freight Wagon
172. Fringed Dress
173. Future-Tec Bundle
174. Gag Glasses Bundle
175. Gala Dress
176. Gala Tuxedo
177. Gatling Plasma Copperhead Paint
178. Ghillie Netting Bundle
179. Ghoul Icon
180. Giant Neon Letters
181. Gladiator Outfit
182. Glow-in-the-Dark Map
183. Gold 50 Cal Machine Gun Paint
184. Gold Mr. Fuzzy Kiddie Ride
185. Gold Mr. Rocket Kiddie Ride
186. Golden Years Set
187. Good Fortunes Bundle
188. Grafton Monster Mascot Outfit
189. Grahm Plushie
190. Grahm's Green Bundle
191. Green Thumb Bundle
192. Greenhouse Kit
193. Greenhouse Kit Bundle
194. Grognak Battlecry
195. Grognak Hero Bundle
196. Grognak Plushie
197. Gurney Bed Set
198. H.A.R.E. Power Armor Skin
199. Halberd
200. Halloween C.A.M.P. Bundle
201. Halo and Horns Set
202. Hammock
203. Hanging Planters
204. Haunted House C.A.M.P. Bundle
205. Haunted House Floor
206. Haunted House Porch Set
207. Haunted House Staircase
208. Hay Bales
209. Heart Balloons
210. Hellcat Outfit Bundle
211. Hellfire Regulator Power Armor Paint
212. Hero Statue Set
213. High-Powered Weapon Racks
214. High-Tech Stash
215. Holiday Nuclear Tree
216. Holiday Tree
217. Holidays Emote Bundle
218. Hot Tub
219. Hubris Comics Magazine Rack
220. Hubris Comics Wallpaper
221. Hunting Lodge Bundle
222. I Survived!
223. Imposter Assaultron Head
224. Inflatable Snowman
225. Inner Tube Deck Chair
226. Jail Walls
227. Junk Fences
228. Junkyard C.A.M.P. Bundle
229. Junkyard Dog Collectron Station
230. Junkyard Power Armor Paint
231. Kill, Laugh, Love Neon Sign
232. Landscape Painting
233. Large Nuka-Cola Bottle
234. Large Succulent Set
235. Laser Grid Door
236. Laundered Blue Dress
237. Laundered Cream Dress
238. Laundered Rose Dress
239. Leper'chaun Outfit
240. Leprechaun Bundle
241. Leprechaun Outfit
242. Liberator Bot Lamp
243. Liberty Prime Power Armor Skin Set
244. Light Bulb Letters Set
245. Light Wood Laminate
246. Lion Dancer Outfit
247. Log Cabin Kit
248. Log Cabin Porch Set
249. Lover Girl Icon
250. Lucille's Lullaby
251. Lumberjack Bundle
252. Lumberjack Outfit
253. Makeshift Mega Mansion
254. Mascot Head
255. Matte Black Equalizer Power Armor Paint
256. Matte Black Handmade Paint
257. Mausoleum Bundle
258. Meat Cooler Backpack
259. Medical Scrubs
260. Medical Smile Mask
261. Medieval C.A.M.P. Bundle
262. Megaton Hairstyle
263. Military Beret Bundle
264. Mini Deathclaw Statue
265. Mini Nuke Planter
266. Mini Power Armor Statue
267. Minigun Chrome Paint
268. Missile Silo Shelter
269. Missile Silo Shelter Bundle
270. Mob Boss Bundle
271. Modern Ceiling Fan
272. Modern Fireplace
273. Modular Mainframe Set
274. Mole Rat Generator Suite
275. Mole Rat Icon
276. Mole Rats Painting
277. Monocle
278. Montani Semper Liberi
279. Moonshine Mama Mask
280. Mosaic Tiles
281. Mothman Bed
282. Mothman Cultist C.A.M.P. Bundle
283. Mothman Cultist Goat Totem
284. Mothman Cultist Icon
285. Mothman Cultist Torches
286. Mothman Curtain Door
287. Mothman Frame
288. Mothman Furniture Set
289. Mothman Gas Mask
290. Mothman Hunter Bundle
291. Mothman Hunter Outfit
292. Mothman Jetpack
293. Mothman Neon Billboards
294. Mothman Outfit Bundle
295. Mothman Pip-Boy Paint
296. Mothman Plushie Backpack
297. Mothman Poster
298. Mothman Power Armor Paints and Lamp
299. Mothman Sleeping Bag
300. Mothman Statue
301. Mothman Traveler Bundle
302. Mothman Wallpaper Bundle
303. Mothman Worship Emote
304. Mountaineer Outfit
305. Mounted Fish Set
306. Mounted Radhog Head
307. Movie Poster Set
308. Mr. Claus Player Icon
309. Mr. Claus' Suit
310. Mr. Fuzzy Backpack
311. Mr. Fuzzy Balloon Animal
312. Mr. Fuzzy Cowboy Plushie
313. Mr. Fuzzy Halloween Plushie
314. Mr. Fuzzy Kiddie Ride
315. Mr. Fuzzy New Year's Plushie
316. Mr. Fuzzy Player Icon
317. Mr. Fuzzy Power Armor Helmet
318. Mr. Fuzzy Tinker's Workbench
319. Mr. Fuzzy Valentine's Day Plushie
320. Mr. Pebbles Lamp
321. Mr. Pebbles Plushie
322. Mr. Pebbles Space Explorer Backpack
323. Mr. Rocket Kiddie Ride
324. Mrs. Claus' Dress
325. Mrs. Claus Player Icon
326. Mudflap Hat Set
327. Mummy Dearest Icon
328. Mushroom Lamp
329. Mutant Dummy
330. Nautical Anchor Tattoo
331. Neighborhood Square Shelter
332. Neon Palm Reader Sign
333. Neon Sign Set
334. New Year's Banner
335. New Year's Eve Bundle
336. New Year's Icon
337. New Year's Tuxedos Bundle
338. Night Eyes Icon
339. Night Terror Gauss Rifle Paint
340. No Thank You Emote
341. No Way Emote
342. Northern Lights Paint T-51 Power Armor Paint
343. Nuclear Winter Poster Set
344. Nuka-Cola Bottle Display Rack
345. Nuka-Cola Bundle
346. Nuka-Cola Cask Stool
347. Nuka-Cola Cooler
348. Nuka-Cola Cooler Backpack
349. Nuka-Cola Curtain Door
350. Nuka-Cola Dark Power Armor Paints
351. Nuka-Cola Delivery Bundle
352. Nuka-Cola Jumpsuit Set
353. Nuka-Cola Neon Sign
354. Nuka-Cola Projection Lamp
355. Nuka-Cola Quantum Bottle Lamp
356. Nuka-Cola Quantum Bundle
357. Nuka-Cola Quantum Sign
358. Nuka-Cola Secret Door Bundle
359. Nuka-Cola Stained Glass Lamps
360. Nuka-Cola Vending Machine
361. Nuka-Cola Wallpaper Set
362. Nuka-Girl Rocketsuit
363. Old Man Summer Mask
364. Old Possum Bar Sign
365. Old West Bar Set
366. Ole Timey Diner Bundle
367. Outhouse
368. Pack Rat Backpack
369. Pajamas
370. Pale Rider Photoframe
371. Pale Rider Power Armor
372. Pallet Wood Floor
373. Pallet Wood Wallpaper
374. Parachute Backpack
375. Park Ranger Bundle
376. Park Ranger Power Armor Skin
377. Patriotic The Fixer Paint
378. Pickaxe Pilsner Bar Sign
379. Pink Neon Heart Sign
380. Pipe Organ
381. Pitt Scaffold Kit
382. Plague Doctor Mask
383. Plain Curtain Door
384. Plasma Ball Set
385. Plotting Table
386. Plushie C.A.M.P. Bundle
387. Poodle Skirt
388. Portrait Secret Door
389. Potted Succulents
390. Pristine Moe the Mole Outfit
391. Pumpkin Vault Girl Head
392. Raider Collectron Station
393. Raider Culinarian Outfit
394. Raider Pathfinder Outfit
395. Raider Salute
396. Raider Skinner Outfit
397. Raider Skull Gas Mask
398. Raider Vending Machine
399. Raider Warlord Outfit
400. Raider Waster Bundle
401. Rain Water Collector
402. Raven Perch
403. Red Enamel Stove
404. Red Menace Backpack
405. Red Menace Bundle
406. Red Modular Mainframe
407. Red Rocket Diner Set
408. Red Rocket Door
409. Red Rocket Garage
410. Red Rocket Mega Furniture Bundle
411. Red Rocket Power Connectors
412. Red Rocket Ranger Power Armor Bundle
413. Red Rocket Stash Box
414. Red Scare Power Armor Skin
415. Red Shift Backpack
416. Red Shift Floor
417. Red Shift Power Armor Skin
418. Responder Power Armor Paint
419. Responders Bundle
420. Rest in Pieces C.A.M.P. Bundle
421. Revolutionary Bundle
422. Revolutionary Outfit
423. Roadtripper Outfit
424. Robber Halloween Bundle
425. RobCo Snow Machine
426. Robot Steins Display Case
427. Rocket Ceiling Fan
428. Round Deck Table
429. RR Ranger Power Armor Paint
430. Rusted Chain link Fence
431. Rusted Junkyard Power Armor Paint
432. Rustic Fountain
433. Rustic Greenhouse Bundle
434. Rustic Greenhouse Kit
435. Rustic Room Divider
436. Rustic Sink
437. Rusty Raider Skull Gas Mask
438. Samurai Outfit
439. Santa Bag Backpack
440. Santa Statue
441. Santa's Slay Power Armor Bundle
442. Santatron Collectron Station
443. Satellite Dish
444. Scavenger Collectron Station
445. Screaming Eagle Handmade Gun Skin
446. Screaming Eagle Wood Skin
447. Secret Service Backpack
448. Secret Service Bobblehead Stand
449. Secret Service Camo Bundle
450. Secret Stash Bookcase
451. Seedy Shed
452. Sequin Dress
453. Shadow Prime Power Armor Skin
454. Share the Love Bundle
455. Sheepsquatch Plushie
456. Shelter Catwalk Bundle
457. Shelters Mainframe Bundle
458. Shogatsu Bundle
459. Silver Shroud Costume
460. Silver Shroud Plushie
461. Six Pack Loot Bag
462. Skull Lord War Suit
463. Skull Mask
464. Skull Totem Set
465. Slocum's Joe C.A.M.P. Bundle
466. Slocum's Joe Coffee Machine
467. Snow Globe Lamp
468. Snowglobe
469. Solid Color Wallpaper Set
470. Space Suit
471. Spiked Barricade
472. Spikehawk Hairstyle
473. Spring Bundle
474. Square Rug Bundle
475. Stainless Steel Refrigerator
476. Stalker Outfit
477. Standing Lamp
478. Stanley
479. Stocking Set
480. Street Lamps
481. Stuffed Radstag
482. Summer Shorts
483. Sun Hat
484. Super Angry
485. Survivalist Outfit
486. Thanksgiving Bundle
487. Thanksgiving Kitchen Bundle
488. The Nighthawk Skin
489. The Quack Outfit
490. Theremin
491. Top Secret Door
492. Trailblazer Bundle
493. Turkey Mascot Outfit
494. Untarnished Alien Blaster Paint
495. Valentine's Backpack
496. Vampire Costume
497. Vault Boy/Girl Power Armor Helmet Set
498. Vault Girl Mascot Head
499. Vault Girl Scribble Head
500. Vault-Tec Grandfather Clock
501. Vault-Tec Laser Gun Paint
502. Vault-Tec Locker Bay
503. Vault-Tec Refrigerator
504. Vault-Tec Spa
505. Vault-Tec Starter Bundle
506. Vendor Sign Set
507. Vintage Linen Coat
508. Wall Weapon Racks
509. War Rider Power Armor
510. Warband Face Paint
511. Waste Barrel Planter
512. Wasteland Trapper Outfit
513. Wasteland Werewolf Outfit
514. Watchpost
515. Waterbed
516. Wavy Willard's Letters
517. Wavy Willard's Park Bundle
518. Wavy Willard's Swimsuit Bundle
519. Wavy Willard's Wipeout Slide Bundle
520. Welcome Friends Sign
521. Welcome Home Neon Sign
522. Welcome to Helvetia Bundle
523. West Virginia Table Set
524. Western Bar Bundle
525. White Wallpaper
526. Whitesprings C.A.M.P. Bundle
527. Whitesprings Wallpaper Set
528. Wildman Rags
529. Wildwood Den Bundle
530. Wildwood Tavern
531. Wildwood Tavern Bundle
532. Willard Plushie
533. Wolf Howl Emote
534. Worm Farm
535. Wrought Iron Fence
536. Zoltan Fortune Teller

Welcome to the March new chargers report, fellow Chadoomers!
Almost all of you are my fellow Leaf owners, hoping for just one new chargepoint on your favorite route, before the great dwarven CHAdeMO forges beneath the earth go cold for all time. Here's an update.
Here are all of the new US and Canadian CHAdeMO (Leaf fast-charging) stations that rolled out in April, according to the Alternative Fuels Data Center. You can fetch the data yourself here. Feel free to report inaccuracies to the AFDC.
For comparison's sake: in the US, there were 200 "new" (or updated) CHAdeMO stations added in March, with at least 200 chargepoints. To put it in perspective, there were 102 new or updated US stations in April of 2023. This month's report is surprisingly strong, given how late we are in CHAdeMO's lifecycle. It is unclear if this is due to a large number of refreshed stations, or a large rollout of new stations that happen to include at least one CHAdeMO chargepoint, but it may be the latter thanks to Inflation Reduction Act funding. In any case, it is good news for those of us with legacy vehicles.
Keep in mind that even EVGo has started to roll out stations where only some of the bays support CHAdeMO. This makes sense given that only Nissan still sells a CHAdeMO pure-battery-electric car in the US, and the newer Nissan Ariya model is CCS. The Mitsubishi Plug-In Hybrid Outlander PHEV also supports CHAdeMO.
Some of these chargepoints will be "refreshes," e.g. the provider replaced them with faster chargers etc. Some may be incorrect. This report is only as good as the Alternative Fuels Data Center data.
If you'd like to know about new chargers along your routes right away, or reading these monthly reports is just frustrating in your state, I've set up a free service that provides email notifications only when new stations actually open. You can sign up at evpov.com. I built it to help EV owners like myself (especially my fellow Leaf owners). You can pick other plug types as well.
To streamline this post, multi-chargepoint locations are listed with the number of chargepoints first. Some stations may actually have more CHAdeMO chargepoints than reported here, but most won't, because even EVGo has started to reduce the number of CHAdeMO chargepoints per station. So in the case of CHAdeMO I make a pessimistic assumption to avoid creating unrealistic expectations.
Even so, for actual trip planning I recommend using PlugShare. This report is mainly useful to understand trends.
If you get a chance, do check out reported new stations near you and add PlugShare reviews, which helps everyone.

➡ AB (1) MD SMOKY RIVER DCFC STATION 1 701 Main St SW Falher, AB T0H 1M0 ➡ AR (1) Evt 1425 ohlendorf rd Osceola, AR 72370 ➡ AZ (1) HYUNDAI PEORIA PUBLIC LEVEL 3 8425 W Bell Rd Peoria, AZ 85382 ➡ BC (1) 7Charge - Abbotsford 1915 McCallum Rd Abbotsford, BC V2S 3N1 (1) Honda Burnaby - DC 5723 Marine Way Burnaby, BC V5J 0A6 (1) Bill Howich Chrysler - Smart DC 2777 North Island Highway Campbell River, BC V9W 2H4 (1) Honda Surrey - Smart DC 15291 Fraser Highway Surrey, BC V3R 3P3 (1) QUADREAL CA STALL 128 658 Homer St Vancouver, BC V6B 2R4 (3) QUADREAL CA STALL 110 658 Homer Street Vancouver, BC V6B 2R4 ➡ CA (2) WC ACURA CPE250-2 8375 E La Palma Ave Anaheim, CA 92807 (1) Tony's Pizza 10701 CA-178 Bakersfield, CA 93306 (1) Banning Farm's House Restaurant 6261 Joshua, E Palmer Dr Banning, CA 92220 (1) Solar Express 2434 San Pablo ave Berkeley, CA 94707 (3) LOVES CA BORON DCFC 1 27201 Boron Frontage Rd N Boron, CA 93516 (1) Flitway - Gordon Ranch Marketplace 2545 Chino Hills Pkwy Chino Hills, CA 91709 (1) 99 Ranch Chino Hills 2959 Chino Ave Chino Hills, CA 91709 (1) Flitway - East Lake Village Center 2220 Otay Lakes Rd Chula Vista, CA 91915 (1) Hilton Concord 1970 Diamond Blvd Concord, CA 94520 (1) Flitway - Inter-Community Hospital 212 W San Bernardino Rd Covina, CA 91723 (1) CULVER HONDA CPE250 BL 9055 Washington Blvd Culver City, CA 90232 (1) Delhi Unified School District 16491 Schendel Avenue Delhi, CA 95315 (2) DOWNEYHYUNDAI CPE250 2 7550 Firestone Boulevard Downey, CA 90241 (1) Chevron Elk Grove Gas Station 9299 Bond Road Elk Grove, CA 95624 (1) Sierra Plaza 815 Kern St Fresno, CA 93706 (1) Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce - 1600 Fulton 1600 Fulton Street Fresno, CA 93721 (1) Wyndham Garden Fresno Airport 5090 East Clinton Way Fresno, CA 93727 (1) Ridgemark Gold Club & Resort 3800 Airline Hwy Hollister, CA 95023 (1) Flitway - Trabuco Community Center 5701 Trabuco Rd Irvine, CA 92620 (1) The Elysian 1115 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90012 (1) Motel 6 North Hills 15711 Roscoe Blvd North Hills, CA 91343 (1) Pacoima Van Nuys Blvd 13520 Van Nuys Blvd Pacoima, CA 91331 (1) Palmdale City Hall 38250 Sierra Hwy. Palmdale, CA 90245 (1) Foodsco Northgate #355 3625 Northgate Blvd Sacramento, CA 95834 (4) LOVES CA CA SALINAS DC 4 1264 De la Torre St Salinas, CA 93905 (1) Sunny Plaza 529 E Valley Blvd San Gabriel, CA 91776 (1) Seven Trees Shopping Center 4060 Monterey Hwy San Jose, CA 95111 (1) FREEWAY HONDA DC FAST 01 1505 Auto Mall Dr Santa Ana, CA 92705 (1) SJCHA Sierra Vista Phase 1 1520 Eleventh Street Stockton, CA 95206 (1) SJCHA Sierra Vista Phase 2 2439 Volney Street Stockton, CA 95206 (1) HACSJ Tracy Homes 340 W 4th St Tracy, CA 95376 (1) Sheraton Universal Hotel DC 333 Universal Hollywood Dr Universal City, CA 91608 (1) Brian Allen 128 E Chestnut Ct Visalia, CA 93277 (1) City of Los Angeles Lot 696 835 N Avalon Blvd Wilmington, CA 90744 ➡ CO (1) SCVHISTSOC PIONEER TOWN 1 388 S Grand Mesa Dr Cedaredge, CO 81413 ➡ CT (2) 365 E MAIN ST CPE250 2 365 East Main Street Branford, CT 06405 (1) GURUKRUPA GI LLC EV-1 85a Hemingway Ave East Haven, CT 06512 (1) Pomfret Town Hall - SmartDC 5 Haven Rd Pomfret Center, CT 06259 ➡ FL (1) Orange County Health Department 12050 E Colonial Dr Orlando, FL 32826 (1) Evermore Orlando Resort 1570 Evermore Way Orlando, FL 32836 (1) Evermore - EVA 3 2420 North Beach Lane/Flats Orlando, FL 32836 (2) BMW SARASOTA FAST CHARGE 2 5151 Clark rd Sarasota, FL 34233 (2) C-HYUNDAI CPE1 3810 W Hillsborough Ave Tampa, FL 33614 (1) Hammock Landing 4311 Norfolk Pkwy West Melbourne, FL 32904 ➡ GA (2) GEORGIA POWER AMERICUS DC1 202b U.S. Hwy 19 Americus, GA 31719 (1) ABM Electrification Center 2715 Ronald Reagan Blvd Cumming, GA 30041 (2) GENESIS CUMMING STE1 750 Peachtree Parkway Cumming, GA 30041 (2) GEORGIA POWER DONALSON DC2 209 Cherry St Donalsonville, GA 39845 (2) GEORGIA POWER GEORGE DC1 1 Main St Georgetown, GA 39854 (2) GEORGIA POWER RICHLAND DC 2 26 Stewart St Richland, GA 31825 ➡ HI (1) Kapolei Commons provided by Hawaiian Electric Company 4470 Kapolei Parkway Kapolei, HI 96707 ➡ IA (1) Indian Creek Nature Center 5300 Otis Rd SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 (1) Storm Lake 1250 N Lake Ave Ste 2 Storm Lake, IA 50588 ➡ ID (1) BRONCO HYUNDAI FV L3 #2 9250 Fairview Ave Boise, ID 83704 (1) BRONCO HYUNDAI FV L3 #1 9250 Fairview Avenue Boise, ID 83704 ➡ IL (1) Jo-Carroll Energy - Elizabeth 311 East Myrtle Street Elizabeth, IL 61028 ➡ IN (2) ANDY MOHR HYUND SERVICE 1441 Liberty Dr Bloomington, IN 47403 (1) Madison 590 Ivy Tech Dr Madison, IN 47250 (1) STOOPSEV 480V EV CHARGER 4055 W Clara Ln Muncie, IN 47304 ➡ KS (1) EVERGY @PRSONCITY-437A 1600 Main St Parsons, KS 67357 ➡ MA (1) 400 SUMMER ST 400 SUMMEP1-1 4 W Service Rd Boston, MA 02210 (6) 400 SUMMER ST 400 SUMMERP2-3 400 Summer St Boston, MA 02210 (1) 400 SUMMER ST 400 SUMMEP2-2 410 Summer St Boston, MA 02210 (2) CAPE_ASSOCIATES MONOMOY 782 Main Street Chatham, MA 02633 (1) ALDEN BUICK GMC ALDEN LV3 #1 6 Whalers Way Fairhaven, MA 02719 (1) WFSU SCIENCE STATION 577 Western Avenue Westfield, MA 01085 ➡ MD (1) BGE - CCBC Essex 7201 Rossville Blvd Baltimore, MD 21237 (1) Skipjack Art Studios 329 Cannon Street Chestertown, MD 21620 ➡ MN (1) Cannon Falls 650 Main Street West Cannon Falls, MN 55009 (1) Chisholm 201 West Lake Street Chisholm, MN 55719 (1) City Of Crosby Library 101 1st Street Southeast Crosby, MN 56441 (1) WASC 425 Winnebago Avenue Fairmont, MN 56031 (1) City of Faribault 17 3rd Street Northeast Faribault, MN 55021 (1) Service Foods 321 West Lincoln Avenue Fergus Falls, MN 56537 (1) City of Fosston 220 1st Street East Fosston, MN 56542 (1) Burger King 2200 10th Street East Glencoe, MN 55336 (1) Grand Marais Public Utilities City Hall Parking Lot - South Side 15 Broadway Grand Marais, MN 55604 (1) City Of Little Falls NaN null Dewey Parkway Little Falls, MN 56345 (1) Mankato Area Foundation 115 South 2nd Street Mankato, MN 56001 (1) Schmelz Countryside Volkswagen 1180 Minnesota 36 Maplewood, MN 55109 (1) 36Lyn Refuel Station 3551 Lyndale Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55408 (2) Nelson Auto World 1625 Como Avenue Southeast Minneapolis, MN 55414 (1) Noodles & Company 922 Holiday Drive Moorhead, MN 56560 (1) Motley Motel 165 Riverfront Lane Motley, MN 56466 (1) City of New Ulm 541 2nd Street North New Ulm, MN 56073 (1) City Of Owatonna 215 Walnut Avenue South Owatonna, MN 55060 (1) Fresh Thyme Farmer's Market 1615 1st Street Southwest Rochester, MN 55901 (1) City Of Saint Peter 114 West Nassau Street Saint Peter, MN 56082 (1) Saint Peter Food Cooperative 228 West Mulberry Street Saint Peter, MN 56082 (1) City Of Springfield 601 East Rock Street Springfield, MN 56087 (1) City Of Saint Cloud 501 1st Street North St. Cloud, MN 56303 (1) Doc's Sports Bar and Grill 88801 Warbler Lane Sturgeon Lake, MN 55783 (1) Northern Lights Casino - Walker 6800 Y Frontage Road Northwest Walker, MN 56484 (1) Waseca Utilities NaN null 19th Avenue Northwest Waseca, MN 56093 (1) White Bear Lake Superstore 3880 U.S. 61 White Bear Lake, MN 55110 (1) WSU - Integrated Wellness Complex 118 West Mark Street Winona, MN 55987 ➡ MS (2) NECDC STATION 2 (R) 101 Dempsey Rd. Byhalia, MS 38611 (2) CLW 5TH ST 1 (L) 301 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701 ➡ NB (1) St. Hubert Express 890 Saint Anne St Bathurst, NB E2A 6X2 (1) Irving 1735 Hanwell Rd Hanwell, NB E3C 2B8 (1) Tesla - 13995 - Miramichi 2485 King George Hwy Miramichi, NB E1V 6W7 (1) Gateway Plaza 2 Gateway Dr Oromocto, NB E2V 4S3 (1) Visitor Info Centre 34 Mallard Dr Sackville, NB E4L 4C3 ➡ NC (1) City of Asheboro Library 201 Worth St Ashboro, NC 27203 (1) Parkside Town Commons 7129 O’Kelly Chapel Road Cary, NC 27519 (1) Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 946 Tsalagi Rd. Cherokee, NC 28719 (1) Town of Franklin 95 E Main 95 E Main St. Franklin, NC 28734 (1) DEP Pierce and Co 4229 Sam Potts Hwy Hallsboro, NC 28442 (1) Richmond Community College 1042 W Hamlet Ave Hamlet, NC 28345 (1) City of Hickory-DCFC 306 MAIN AV NW Hickory, NC 28601 (1) Pilot Travel Center 683 1800 Princeton-Kenly Road Kenly, NC 27542 (1) dba Piggly Wiggly 61 2715 Hwy 11/55 Kinston, NC 28504 (1) City of Lowell 519 Park Cir Lowell, NC 28098 (1) Catawba Vale Collaborative LLC 96 Commerce St. Old Fort, NC 28762 (1) Triangle Stop - Saluda 1484 Ozone Dr Saluda, NC 28773 (1) City of Sanford - 101 East Humber st 101 E Humber St. Sanford, NC 27330 (1) Haywood CC West Waynesville An 23 Hendrix St Waynesville, NC 28786 (1) 402 S Bridge St 402 S Bridge St Wilkesboro, NC 28697 (1) Blacks Tire Service 1407 Castle Hayne Rd A Wilmington, NC 28401 (1) Quality Oil Company 1980 Pecan Ln Winston Salem, NC 27284 (1) City of Clinton 110 Loop St clinton, NC 28328 (1) Quality Mart 62 - 1736 NC 67 1736 NC 67 jonesville, NC 28642 ➡ ND (1) Simonson Station Store Minot 1310 South Broadway Minot, ND 58701 ➡ NJ (2) LIBERTY TOYOTA STATION 2 4397 U.S. 130 Burlington, NJ 08016 (2) BOARDWALK HONDA CPE250 1 6807 Tilton Rd Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 (2) WALDWICK PUBLIC DCFC #2 15 E Prospect St Waldwick, NJ 07463 (1) QUICKCHEK CP- QC186-2 3483 U.S. 22 Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889 (1) QUICKCHEK CP-QC186-1 3483 U.S. 22 Whitehouse station, NJ 08889 ➡ NM (1) COLUMBUS EV PARK 1 216 Broadway Deming, NM 88030 (2) AVANYU AVANYU LEFT 618 N Riverside Dr Española, NM 87532 ➡ NY (1) NYC FLEET DPRWFMARNA_1_L3 1 Marina Road Queens, NY 11369 (4) KENNETH DR Q KENNETH DR 1 375 Kenneth Drive Rochester, NY 14623 ➡ ON (1) Crowe’s Car Wash 8461 County Road 45 Alderville, ON K0K 2X0 (1) CenterLine Corporate - DC 415 Morton Drive LaSalle, ON N9J 3T8 (1) OXFORD DODGE DODGE L3 S1 1249 Hyde Park Road London, ON N6H 5K6 (1) IDEAL HONDA FAST CHARGER 1700 Toyo Cir Mississauga, ON L4W 0E7 (1) Myers Barrhaven Subaru - Fast Charger 4151 Strandherd Drive Ottawa, ON 45.2653 (4) IKEA EV FLEET 2 1475 The Queensway Toronto, ON M8Z 1T3 (1) Winash Limited Partnership - SmartDC 5550 Baldwin Street South Whitby, ON L1M 0M5 ➡ OR (1) WCEH Banks 660 Main Street Banks, OR 97106 (1) WCEH Detroit 220 D St Detroit, OR 97342 (1) WCEH McMinnville 499 NE Davis St McMinnville, OR 97128 (1) ARCO - Market Street NE, Salem 2979 Market St NE Salem, OR 97301 (1) WCEH Woodburn 2900 Tom Tennant Dr Woodburn, OR 97071 ➡ PA (2) BENNETT HYUNDAI SALES 2101 Cumberland St Lebanon, PA 17042 ➡ QC (1) Canadian Tire - Jonquière 2290 Blvd René Lévesque Jonquière, QC G7S 5Y5 (1) DION CHEV EV CPE250C-625-CCS 2200 Rue Sherbrooke Magog, QC J1X 4Z6 (1) RECHARGECO ST-LEONARD 01 7150 Boul Langelier Montréal, QC H1S 2X6 (2) HARDY RINGUETTE #4 1842 3e Avenue Val-d'Or, QC J9P 7A9 ➡ SD (1) Northwestern 117 Mitchell Boulevard Mitchell, SD 57301 ➡ TN (2) SPRFLD ELECTRIC STATION 1 (L) 401 N Main St. Springfield, TN 37172 (2) MLEC STATION 2 (R) W 210 West Main St Waverly, TN 37185 ➡ TX (1) AZTEC EV AZTEC CHEVROLET 772 U.S. 181 Beeville, TX 78102 (1) GROUP1AUTO CPE250 2 10155 Southwest Fwy Houston, TX 77074 (1) GROUP1AUTO CPE250 ALONE-3 10455 Southwest Fwy Houston, TX 77074 (1) Gigahub - Katy Fwy, Westlake 14401 Katy Fwy Houston, TX 77079 (2) WHOUSTON 250 GENESIS 2 16803 Katy Fwy Houston, TX 77094 (1) KV MAIN CAMPUS KV RETAIL DC 2 145 Avery Rd Kerrville, TX 78028 (1) HONDAOFCLEARLAK EXPP PUBLIC 1 2205 Gulf Fwy S League City, TX 77573 (2) MESSER HYUNDAI CPE250-PAIR2 4025 West Loop 289 Access Road Lubbock, TX 79407 (1) WORLD AUTO CHEVYPECOS 181 South Interstate 20 Frontage Road Pecos, TX 79772 (1) Target San Antonio #T0771 2810 Southwest Military Drive San Antonio, TX 78224 ➡ UT (1) DAVIS COUNTY UT DCG EAST 61 South Main Street Farmington, UT 84025 ➡ VA (1) LYNX VENTURES STATION 14 DC 0 E 4th St Richmond, VA 23224 ➡ VT (1) Grace Cottage Hospital 185 Grafton Road Townsend, VT 05353 ➡ WA (1) KIA OF EVERETT KIA OF EVERETT 229 Southwest Everett Mall Way Everett, WA 98204 (1) WCEH City of Pateros 203 Pateros Mall Pateros, WA 98846 (1) ARCO 7091 - 104th Drive NW, Stanwood 26930 104th Drive NW Stanwood, WA 98292 (1) Sumner Cannery Way 13608 Cannery Wy Sumner, WA 98390 ➡ WI (1) TOB CHARGEPOINT SHOWROOM LOT 20655 W Capitol Dr Brookfield, WI 53045 (1) Cadott River Country Plaza 641 Wisconsin 27 Cadott, WI 54727 (1) City of Eau Claire 122 East Madison Street Eau Claire, WI 54703 (1) 29 Pines 5872 33rd Avenue Eau Claire, WI 54703 (1) Hampton Inn And Suites 2610 Pearson Drive Hudson, WI 54016 (1) HEISER TOYOTA 1 CPE250 11301 W Metro Auto Mall Milwaukee, WI 53224 (1) Prime Bar Family Dining null N7294 Service Road Trego, WI 54888 (1) Kwik Trip 1760 Temte Street Helmen, WI 54636 

Here are all (*) of the new US and Canadian CCS (Level 3 fast-charging) stations that rolled out in April 2024, according to the Department of Energy. You can get the data yourself here.
These chargers are suitable for most new EVs on the market, except for:

1. Tesla drivers who haven't bought the official CCS adapter yet. Certain older Teslas need additional work done to accept the adapter.
2. Leaf owners like me, owners of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and some owners of older cars that also use CHAdeMO. If you drive such a car, see my matching post in leaf.

Some of these chargepoints will be "refreshes," e.g. the provider replaced them with faster chargers etc. Some may be incorrect. This report is only as good as the Alternative Fuels Data Center data.
There were 330 CCS charging stations with a total of 682 chargepoints added or refreshed in April 2024, which is a major uptick in both stations and chargepoints. There were only 166 new CCS charging stations in April 2023, with only 267 chargepoints. Things are trending dramatically upwards.
Some part of this is due to Tesla Magic Dock stations. Previously Tesla didn't report these to the AFDC as CCS, but now they do. And that makes sense because all CCS drivers can use them.
NOTE: most Tesla Superchargers do NOT have magic dock as of this writing (all those shown in this report should have it). I recommend using PlugShare to locate compatible stations for your vehicle.
(*) "What about other Tesla Superchargers? Can't everybody charge with NACS now?"
It's coming for many makes and models, and for newer Ford models as well as a few other manufacturers charging at v3 and v4 Superchargers is already an option with a free adapter from the automakers. GM should release their adapter in the coming weeks. But since they are not open to all CCS vehicles, this report is not the place for them. Tesla's app provides the best guide to their locations, including locations that work with non-Tesla vehicles.
Other Notes
To streamline this post, multi-chargepoint locations are listed with the number of chargepoints first.
For serious trip planning, I recommend PlugShare. But by all means check out these reported new locations and submit reviews on PlugShare, which makes things better for everyone.
If you'd like to know about new chargers along your routes right away, or just prefer not to check this list monthly when new openings are rare in your area, I've set up a free service that provides email notifications as soon as they open. You can sign up at evpov.com. Or not! I don't really have a business plan here, I built it to help EV owners like myself. PlugShare has a similar feature.

➡ AB (1) MD SMOKY RIVER DCFC STATION 1 701 Main St SW Falher, AB T0H 1M0 ➡ AR (3) Evt 1425 ohlendorf rd Osceola, AR 72370 ➡ AZ (1) HYUNDAI PEORIA PUBLIC LEVEL 3 8425 W Bell Rd Peoria, AZ 85382 (1) Coulter Cadillac Tempe 7780 SOUTH AUTOPLEX LOOP BUILDING 200 TEMPE, AZ 85284 ➡ BC (4) 7Charge - Abbotsford 1915 McCallum Rd Abbotsford, BC V2S 3N1 (1) Honda Burnaby - DC 5723 Marine Way Burnaby, BC V5J 0A6 (1) Bill Howich Chrysler - Smart DC 2777 North Island Highway Campbell River, BC V9W 2H4 (1) Honda Surrey - Smart DC 15291 Fraser Highway Surrey, BC V3R 3P3 (1) QUADREAL CA STALL 128 658 Homer St Vancouver, BC V6B 2R4 (3) QUADREAL CA STALL 110 658 Homer Street Vancouver, BC V6B 2R4 ➡ CA (2) WC ACURA CPE250-2 8375 E La Palma Ave Anaheim, CA 92807 (2) Tony's Pizza 10701 CA-178 Bakersfield, CA 93306 (1) Banning Farm's House Restaurant 6261 Joshua, E Palmer Dr Banning, CA 92220 (2) Solar Express 2434 San Pablo ave Berkeley, CA 94707 (3) LOVES CA BORON DCFC 1 27201 Boron Frontage Rd N Boron, CA 93516 (2) Flitway - Gordon Ranch Marketplace 2545 Chino Hills Pkwy Chino Hills, CA 91709 (6) 99 Ranch Chino Hills 2959 Chino Ave Chino Hills, CA 91709 (4) Flitway - East Lake Village Center 2220 Otay Lakes Rd Chula Vista, CA 91915 (6) Lowe's of Concord 1935 Arnold Industrial Way Concord, CA 94520 (2) Hilton Concord 1970 Diamond Blvd Concord, CA 94520 (4) Flitway - Inter-Community Hospital 212 W San Bernardino Rd Covina, CA 91723 (1) CULVER HONDA CPE250 BL 9055 Washington Blvd Culver City, CA 90232 (2) Delhi Unified School District 16491 Schendel Avenue Delhi, CA 95315 (2) DOWNEYHYUNDAI CPE250 2 7550 Firestone Boulevard Downey, CA 90241 (4) Chevron Elk Grove Gas Station 9299 Bond Road Elk Grove, CA 95624 (8) 46365 West Panoche Road (US-NF8-DC8-4B) 46365 West Panoche Road Firebaugh, CA 93622 (2) Sierra Plaza 815 Kern St Fresno, CA 93706 (8) Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce - 1600 Fulton 1600 Fulton Street Fresno, CA 93721 (8) Wyndham Garden Fresno Airport 5090 East Clinton Way Fresno, CA 93727 (2) Ridgemark Gold Club & Resort 3800 Airline Hwy Hollister, CA 95023 (4) Flitway - Trabuco Community Center 5701 Trabuco Rd Irvine, CA 92620 (3) Rolls-Royce Motorcars San Diego 7440 La Jolla Blvd La Jolla, CA 92037 (4) The Elysian 1115 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90012 (1) DRIVE 1 SATILLITE STORE 11074 Sepulveda Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 91345 (8) Motel 6 North Hills 15711 Roscoe Blvd North Hills, CA 91343 (1) Chawanakee Unified School District 26065 Outback Industrial Way O'Neals, CA 93645 (1) Pacoima Van Nuys Blvd 13520 Van Nuys Blvd Pacoima, CA 91331 (2) Palmdale City Hall 38250 Sierra Hwy. Palmdale, CA 90245 (4) Foodsco Northgate #355 3625 Northgate Blvd Sacramento, CA 95834 (4) LOVES CA CA SALINAS DC 4 1264 De la Torre St Salinas, CA 93905 (3) Sunny Plaza 529 E Valley Blvd San Gabriel, CA 91776 (6) Seven Trees Shopping Center 4060 Monterey Hwy San Jose, CA 95111 (6) Almaden Plaza 4950 Almaden Expy San Jose, CA 95118 (1) FREEWAY HONDA DC FAST 01 1505 Auto Mall Dr Santa Ana, CA 92705 (2) SJCHA Sierra Vista Phase 1 1520 Eleventh Street Stockton, CA 95206 (2) SJCHA Sierra Vista Phase 2 2439 Volney Street Stockton, CA 95206 (2) HACSJ Tracy Homes 340 W 4th St Tracy, CA 95376 (2) Sheraton Universal Hotel DC 333 Universal Hollywood Dr Universal City, CA 91608 (2) Brian Allen 128 E Chestnut Ct Visalia, CA 93277 (4) City of Los Angeles Lot 696 835 N Avalon Blvd Wilmington, CA 90744 ➡ CO (1) SCVHISTSOC PIONEER TOWN 1 388 S Grand Mesa Dr Cedaredge, CO 81413 (2) San Isabel DCFC 8900 Interstate 25 Rye, CO 81069 ➡ CT (2) 365 E MAIN ST CPE250 2 365 East Main Street Branford, CT 06405 (1) GURUKRUPA GI LLC EV-1 85a Hemingway Ave East Haven, CT 06512 (2) New Country Motor Cars Group = Porsche Greenwich 241 West Putnam Ave Greenwich, CT 06830 (2) Pomfret Town Hall - 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South Side 15 Broadway Grand Marais, MN 55604 (2) City Of Little Falls NaN null Dewey Parkway Little Falls, MN 56345 (2) Mankato Area Foundation 115 South 2nd Street Mankato, MN 56001 (2) Schmelz Countryside Volkswagen 1180 Minnesota 36 Maplewood, MN 55109 (2) 36Lyn Refuel Station 3551 Lyndale Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55408 (4) Nelson Auto World 1625 Como Avenue Southeast Minneapolis, MN 55414 (2) Noodles & Company 922 Holiday Drive Moorhead, MN 56560 (2) Motley Motel 165 Riverfront Lane Motley, MN 56466 (2) City of New Ulm 541 2nd Street North New Ulm, MN 56073 (2) City Of Owatonna 215 Walnut Avenue South Owatonna, MN 55060 (1) Superior Ford-Plymouth-Series 9700 56th Ave N Plymouth, MN 55442 (2) Fresh Thyme Farmer's Market 1615 1st Street Southwest Rochester, MN 55901 (2) City Of Saint Peter 114 West Nassau Street Saint Peter, MN 56082 (2) Saint Peter Food Cooperative 228 West Mulberry Street Saint Peter, MN 56082 (2) City Of Springfield 601 East Rock Street Springfield, MN 56087 (2) City Of Saint Cloud 501 1st Street North St. Cloud, MN 56303 (2) Doc's Sports Bar and Grill 88801 Warbler Lane Sturgeon Lake, MN 55783 (2) Northern Lights Casino - Walker 6800 Y Frontage Road Northwest Walker, MN 56484 (2) Waseca Utilities NaN null 19th Avenue Northwest Waseca, MN 56093 (2) White Bear Lake Superstore 3880 U.S. 61 White Bear Lake, MN 55110 (2) WSU - Integrated Wellness Complex 118 West Mark Street Winona, MN 55987 ➡ MO (1) Pinegar Chevrolet Buick GMC 163 Adair Road Branson, MO 65616 (3) Lou Fusz Ford - DCFC 2 Caprice Drive Chesterfield, MO 63005 (2) AMI AM CHEVY - DC 1901 W Business U.S. 60 Dexter, MO 63841 (4) 14897 MO-38 14897 MO-38 Marshfield, MO 65706 (2) LIBERTY EMPIRE NEOSHOSVCCTR FW 1501 Industrial Dr Neosho, MO 64850 (1) Bommarito Cadillac 4190 N SERVICE RD ST PETERS, MO 63376 ➡ MS (2) NECDC STATION 2 (R) 101 Dempsey Rd. Byhalia, MS 38611 (2) CLW 5TH ST 1 (L) 301 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701 (2) Turan Foley Chevrolet Cadillac Buick 11123 HWY 49N GULFPORT, MS 39503 ➡ MT (2) Corwin Motors Of Kalispell 2565 Hwy 93 North Kalispell, MT 59901 ➡ NB (2) St. Hubert Express 890 Saint Anne St Bathurst, NB E2A 6X2 (3) Irving 1735 Hanwell Rd Hanwell, NB E3C 2B8 (2) Tesla - 13995 - Miramichi 2485 King George Hwy Miramichi, NB E1V 6W7 (3) Gateway Plaza 2 Gateway Dr Oromocto, NB E2V 4S3 (2) Visitor Info Centre 34 Mallard Dr Sackville, NB E4L 4C3 ➡ NC (2) City of Asheboro Library 201 Worth St Ashboro, NC 27203 (5) Parkside Town Commons 7129 O’Kelly Chapel Road Cary, NC 27519 (2) Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 946 Tsalagi Rd. Cherokee, NC 28719 (1) Town of Franklin 95 E Main 95 E Main St. Franklin, NC 28734 (2) DEP Pierce and Co 4229 Sam Potts Hwy Hallsboro, NC 28442 (2) Richmond Community College 1042 W Hamlet Ave Hamlet, NC 28345 (2) City of Hickory-DCFC 306 MAIN AV NW Hickory, NC 28601 (4) Sun Valley 6461 Old Monroe Rd Indian Trail, NC 28079 (5) Pilot Travel Center 683 1800 Princeton-Kenly Road Kenly, NC 27542 (2) dba Piggly Wiggly 61 2715 Hwy 11/55 Kinston, NC 28504 (2) City of Lowell 519 Park Cir Lowell, NC 28098 (2) Catawba Vale Collaborative LLC 96 Commerce St. Old Fort, NC 28762 (2) Triangle Stop - Saluda 1484 Ozone Dr Saluda, NC 28773 (2) City of Sanford - 101 East Humber st 101 E Humber St. Sanford, NC 27330 (1) Haywood CC West Waynesville An 23 Hendrix St Waynesville, NC 28786 (4) 402 S Bridge St 402 S Bridge St Wilkesboro, NC 28697 (2) Blacks Tire Service 1407 Castle Hayne Rd A Wilmington, NC 28401 (2) Capital Ford Wilmington 4222 Oleander Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 (2) Quality Oil Company 1980 Pecan Ln Winston Salem, NC 27284 (2) GM - Modern Chevrolet 5955 University Parkway Winston-Salem, NC 27105 (2) City of Clinton 110 Loop St clinton, NC 28328 (2) Quality Mart 62 - 1736 NC 67 1736 NC 67 jonesville, NC 28642 ➡ ND (2) Simonson Station Store Minot 1310 South Broadway Minot, ND 58701 ➡ NH (1) Grappone Hyundai 514 Route 3A Bow, NH 03304 (6) 10 Benning St (US-M4C-8KT-2C) 10 Benning St West Lebanon, NH 03784 ➡ NJ (2) LIBERTY TOYOTA STATION 2 4397 U.S. 130 Burlington, NJ 08016 (1) NIELSEN CHEVROLET 1 Route 46 W Dover, NJ 07801 (2) Open Road Acura of East Brunswick 1041 Rt 18 East Brunswick, NJ 08816 (2) BOARDWALK HONDA CPE250 1 6807 Tilton Rd Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 (1) BMER, LLC dba Flemington BMW 216 Rt 202 & 31 N Flemington, NJ 08822 (1) Manahawkin CDJR 188 New jersey 72 Manahawkin, NJ 08050 (1) Park Ave Acura Service 247 West Passaic St Maywood, NJ 07435 (1) Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Philadelphia 100 Route 73 Palmyra, NJ 08065 (2) WALDWICK PUBLIC DCFC #2 15 E Prospect St Waldwick, NJ 07463 (2) Open Road Acura of Wayne 1425 Route 23 South Wayne, NJ 07470 (2) Open Road Acura of Wayne 1425 rt 23 s Wayne, NJ 07470 (1) QUICKCHEK CP- QC186-2 3483 U.S. 22 Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889 (1) QUICKCHEK CP-QC186-1 3483 U.S. 22 Whitehouse station, NJ 08889 ➡ NM (1) COLUMBUS EV PARK 1 216 Broadway Deming, NM 88030 (2) AVANYU AVANYU LEFT 618 N Riverside Dr Española, NM 87532 ➡ NY (1) Shults Hyundai 181 E. Fairmount Avenue Lakewood, NY 14750 (1) ABM Tradeshow Units One Liberty Plaza, 7th Floor New York, NY 10006 (1) NYC FLEET DPRWFMARNA_1_L3 1 Marina Road Queens, NY 11369 (4) KENNETH DR Q KENNETH DR 1 375 Kenneth Drive Rochester, NY 14623 (1) Paragon Acura 56-02 Northern Blvd Woodside, NY 11377 (4) NEW test by jimmy 23 E 91st Street ny, NY 10128 ➡ OH (2) KERRY FORD, INC FORD ISLAND #3 155 West Kemper Road Cincinnati, OH 45246 (2) KINGS FORD, INC FORD L3 PUBLIC1 9555 Kings Automall Drive Cincinnati, OH 45249 (3) Byers Ford DCFC's 1101 Columbus Pike Delaware, OH 43015 (3) Elyria OH 905 LORAIN BLVD ELYRIA, OH 44035 (2) Bob Boyd Ford DCFCs 2840 North Columbus Street Lancaster, OH 43130 (3) Coughlin Ford Pataskala DCFC's 9800 Worthington Road Pataskala, OH 43062 (1) Wooster Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram 2626 Cleveland Road Wooster, OH 44691 ➡ ON (2) Crowe’s Car Wash 8461 County Road 45 Alderville, ON K0K 2X0 (1) CenterLine Corporate - DC 415 Morton Drive LaSalle, ON N9J 3T8 (1) OXFORD DODGE DODGE L3 S1 1249 Hyde Park Road London, ON N6H 5K6 (1) IDEAL HONDA FAST CHARGER 1700 Toyo Cir Mississauga, ON L4W 0E7 (1) Myers Barrhaven Subaru - Fast Charger 4151 Strandherd Drive Ottawa, ON 45.2653 (1) Hal Wright Chevrolet Cadillac GMC Buick 202423 Hwy 6&21 Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N7 (4) IKEA EV FLEET 2 1475 The Queensway Toronto, ON M8Z 1T3 (1) Winash Limited Partnership - SmartDC 5550 Baldwin Street South Whitby, ON L1M 0M5 ➡ OR (3) WCEH Banks 660 Main Street Banks, OR 97106 (1) WCEH Detroit 220 D St Detroit, OR 97342 (1) WCEH McMinnville 499 NE Davis St McMinnville, OR 97128 (6) ARCO - Market Street NE, Salem 2979 Market St NE Salem, OR 97301 (4) WCEH Woodburn 2900 Tom Tennant Dr Woodburn, OR 97071 ➡ PA (2) 93 AdvancedPower 93 Sharon Road Greenville, PA 16125 (2) BENNETT HYUNDAI SALES 2101 Cumberland St Lebanon, PA 17042 (1) Sylvester Chevrolet Inc 1609 Main St Peckville, PA 18452 (1) Faulkner Cadillac 4447 E STREET RD TREVOSE, PA 19053 ➡ QC (4) BRCC - Boucherville - Parc Pierre-Laporte 510, Chemin du Lac Boucherville, QC J4B 6X6 (4) Canadian Tire - Jonquière 2290 Blvd René Lévesque Jonquière, QC G7S 5Y5 (1) DION CHEV EV CPE250C-625-CCS 2200 Rue Sherbrooke Magog, QC J1X 4Z6 (2) BRCC - Mont-Saint-Michel - Parc du village 95 rue Gravel Mont-Saint-Michel, QC J0W 1P0 (1) RECHARGECO ST-LEONARD 01 7150 Boul Langelier Montréal, QC H1S 2X6 (8) HARDY RINGUETTE #1 1842 3e Avenue Val-d'Or, QC J9P 7A9 ➡ SC (2) Beach Buick GMC 922 Frontage Rd E Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 (2) GPM Southeast, LLC/Scotchman 3894 2454 Mounty Holly Rd Rock Hill, SC 29730 ➡ SD (2) Northwestern 117 Mitchell Boulevard Mitchell, SD 57301 ➡ TN (2) MB COLLIERVILLE MBC EXPP PL 4651 South Houston Levee Road Collierville, TN 38017 (2) Rusty Wallace Ford 134 Sharon Drive Dandridge, TN 37725 (2) SPRFLD ELECTRIC STATION 1 (L) 401 N Main St. Springfield, TN 37172 (2) MLEC STATION 2 (R) W 210 West Main St Waverly, TN 37185 ➡ TX (1) AZTEC EV AZTEC CHEVROLET 772 U.S. 181 Beeville, TX 78102 (1) Rolls Royce Dallas Service 2425 W Northwest Hwy Dallas, TX 75220 (1) Bert Ogden Cadillac Edinburg 4801 S I-69C Edinburg, TX 78539 (4) Enel X - ZIP IN ZIP OUT Truck Stop 1414 Palacios St El Campo, TX 77437 (1) ABM test site 1 for Yoka N Glenbrook Dr Garland, TX 75040 (2) Grubbs Volvo Cars Central Houston 7620 Washington Ave Houston, TX 77007 (2) AM Premier Test Site 11311 N Gessner Dr Houston, TX 77064 (1) GROUP1AUTO CPE250 2 10155 Southwest Fwy Houston, TX 77074 (1) GROUP1AUTO CPE250 ALONE-3 10455 Southwest Fwy Houston, TX 77074 (24) Gigahub - Katy Fwy, Westlake 14401 Katy Fwy Houston, TX 77079 (2) WHOUSTON 250 GENESIS 2 16803 Katy Fwy Houston, TX 77094 (1) KV MAIN CAMPUS KV RETAIL DC 2 145 Avery Rd Kerrville, TX 78028 (1) HONDAOFCLEARLAK EXPP PUBLIC 1 2205 Gulf Fwy S League City, TX 77573 (2) MESSER HYUNDAI CPE250-PAIR2 4025 West Loop 289 Access Road Lubbock, TX 79407 (2) Gene Messer Chevrolet 1303 S Loop 289 Lubbock, TX 79412 (1) WORLD AUTO CHEVYPECOS 181 South Interstate 20 Frontage Road Pecos, TX 79772 (6) Target San Antonio #T0771 2810 Southwest Military Drive San Antonio, TX 78224 (2) RM FORD WEST MFW L3 SERVICE 7111 Northwest Loop 410 Serving Parking San Antonio, TX 78238 (2) RM FORD WEST MFW L3 AUX BLDG 7121 Northwest Loop 410 Auxilary Bldg San Antonio, TX 78238 (2) RM FORD RMF L3 EVB 8333 West Interstate 10 EV Building San Antonio, TX 78257 (2) RM FORD RMF L3 SHOWRM 8333 West Interstate 10 Showroom San Antonio, TX 78257 (1) Silsbee Ford - public 1211 U.S. 96 Silsbee, TX 77656 ➡ UT (1) DAVIS COUNTY UT DCG EAST 61 South Main Street Farmington, UT 84025 ➡ VA (4) Swift Creek 13501 Hull Street Rd Midlothian, VA 23112 (1) LYNX VENTURES STATION 14 DC 0 E 4th St Richmond, VA 23224 ➡ VT (4) Norwich EV - Bradford Charging Center 22 N Main St Bradford, VT 05033 (8) Manchester Center 4993 Main St Manchester, VT 05255 (2) Grace Cottage Hospital 185 Grafton Road Townsend, VT 05353 ➡ WA (2) Yoke's Fresh Market - Deer Park 810 S Main St Deer Park, WA 99006 (1) KIA OF EVERETT KIA OF EVERETT 229 Southwest Everett Mall Way Everett, WA 98204 (1) WCEH City of Pateros 203 Pateros Mall Pateros, WA 98846 (6) ARCO 7091 - 104th Drive NW, Stanwood 26930 104th Drive NW Stanwood, WA 98292 (4) Sumner Cannery Way 13608 Cannery Wy Sumner, WA 98390 (1) RAG - Honda of Sumner 16302 Auto Lane Sumner, WA 98390 ➡ WI (1) TOB CHARGEPOINT SHOWROOM LOT 20655 W Capitol Dr Brookfield, WI 53045 (2) Cadott River Country Plaza 641 Wisconsin 27 Cadott, WI 54727 (2) City of Eau Claire 122 East Madison Street Eau Claire, WI 54703 (2) 29 Pines 5872 33rd Avenue Eau Claire, WI 54703 (2) Hampton Inn And Suites 2610 Pearson Drive Hudson, WI 54016 (1) HEISER TOYOTA 1 CPE250 11301 W Metro Auto Mall Milwaukee, WI 53224 (2) Prime Bar Family Dining null N7294 Service Road Trego, WI 54888 

​

Order, Order!
Our second item of business today is a vote on a bill in the name of the Scottish Green Party. The question is that the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill, as amended with one SPAG.

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about the prohibition of hunting wild mammals using dogs; to make provision about the prohibition of trail hunting; and for connected purposes.

PART 1

HUNTING A WILD MAMMAL USING A DOG

Offences
1 Offence of hunting a wild mammal using a dog
(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a) they hunt a wild mammal using a dog, and
(b) none of the exceptions in sections 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 apply.

(2) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding £40,000, or level 5 on the standard scale, whichever would be higher for the person, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or a fine (or both).

(3) In this Act—

“hunting” includes, in particular, searching for and coursing (and related expressions are to be construed accordingly),
“wild mammal” means any mammal (other than a human)—

(a) which—

(i) is living in a wild state,
(ii) is of a species recognised as living in a wild state in the British Islands (as defined in schedule 1 of the Interpretation Act 1978), or
(iii) has been deliberately released from temporary or permanent human control, and
(b) which is not—
(i) a rat,
(ii) a mouse, or
(iii) living under temporary or permanent human control.

(4) In this Part, a person is “using a dog” when the hunting of a wild mammal by the person involves the use of a dog, even if the dog is not under that person’s control or direction (and related expressions are to be construed accordingly).
2 Offences of knowingly causing or permitting another person to hunt using a dog
(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a) they—

(i) are an owner or occupier of land, and
(ii) knowingly cause or permit another person to hunt a wild mammal using a dog on that land, and

(b) none of the exceptions in sections 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 apply to the hunting.

(2) A person commits an offence if—

(a) they—

(i) own or are responsible for a dog, and
(ii) knowingly cause or permit another person to hunt a wild mammal using that dog, and

(b) none of the exceptions in sections 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 apply to the hunting.

(3) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction, to—

(a) imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months,
(b) a fine not exceeding £40,000, or level 5 on the standard scale, whichever would be higher for the person, or
(c) both of the penalties under paragraphs (a) and (b).

(4) In this Part, an “owner” of land includes a person who—

(a) manages or controls that land, or
(b) is authorised to give permission for that land to be used for hunting.

(5) In this Act, a person “is responsible for” a dog where the person—

(a) is responsible for the dog on a temporary or permanent basis,
(b) is in charge of the dog, or
(c) has actual care and control of a person under the age of 16 years who is responsible for the dog under paragraph (a) or (b).

Exceptions to the offences
3 Exception: management of wild mammals above ground
(1) This section applies if—

(a) a person is using a dog above ground to—

(i) search for, stalk or flush from cover a wild mammal, with the intention of killing it for one or more of the purposes set out in subsection (2),
(ii) search for and retrieve a wild mammal which has been killed as a result of the activity mentioned in sub-paragraph (i), and

(b) the conditions set out in subsection (3) are met.

(2) The purposes referred to in subsection (1)(a)(i) are—

(a) preventing serious damage to livestock, woodland or crops,
(b) preventing the spread of disease,
(c) protecting human health.

(3) The conditions referred to in subsection (1)(b) are that—

(a) either—

(i) the activity mentioned in subsection (1)(a) does not involve the use of more than two dogs, or
(ii) the activity is carried out in accordance with a licence granted under section 4,

(b) any dog used in the activity is under control,
(c) unless paragraph (a)(ii) applies, reasonable steps are taken to ensure that any dog used in the activity does not join with others to form a pack of more than two dogs,
(d) permission for the activity has been given by the owner of the land on which the activity takes place,
(e) the wild mammal which is being searched for, stalked or flushed is shot dead, or killed by a bird of prey, as soon as reasonably possible,
(f) if an attempt to kill the wild mammal, as mentioned in paragraph (e), results in it being injured but not killed, reasonable steps are taken to kill it in a way (other than by using a dog) that causes it the minimum possible suffering.

4 Licence for use of more than two dogs in connection with section 3
(1) A person may apply for a licence permitting the use of more than two dogs for the activity mentioned in section 3(1)(a).
(2) An application for a licence under subsection (1) must be made to the relevant authority.
(3) A licence under subsection (1)—

(a) may be granted to a particular person or to a category of persons,
(b) must relate to a particular species of wild mammal,
(c) must not be granted unless the relevant authority is satisfied that there is no other solution which would be effective in achieving the purpose set out in section 3(2) in relation to which the application for a licence is being made,
(d) may only permit the use of the minimum number of dogs which the relevant authority is satisfied would be effective in achieving the purpose set out in section 3(2) in relation to which the application for a licence is being made,
(e) must require the deployment of the minimum number of guns which the relevant authority is satisfied would be effective for compliance with the conditions set out in section 3(3)(e) and (f) in relation to the activity for which the application for a licence is being made,
(f) may be subject to compliance with such conditions as the relevant authority considers appropriate, which may include, in particular, reporting requirements in relation to activities carried out under the licence,
(g) may be granted for a maximum period of 14 days, which must fall within a period of 6 consecutive months,
(h) may be modified or revoked by the relevant authority at any time.

(5) A licence under this section must specify—

(a) the person or category of persons to whom it is granted,
(b) the species of wild mammal to which it relates,
(c) the area within which the searching for, stalking or flushing of that species of wild mammal may take place under the licence,
(d) the maximum number of dogs which are permitted to be used,
(e) the minimum number of guns (if any) which are required to be deployed,
(f) any conditions to which the licence is subject.

5 Exception: management of foxes below ground
(1) This section applies if—

(a) a person is using a dog to—

(i) search for a fox below ground, or
(ii) flush a fox from below ground,

with the intention of killing it for one or more of the purposes set out in subsection (2), and
(b) the conditions set out in subsection (3) are met.

(2) The purposes referred to in subsection (1)(a) are—

(a) preventing serious damage to livestock, woodland or crops,
(b) preventing the spread of disease,
(c) protecting human health,
(d) relieving the suffering of an injured or dependent fox.

(3) The conditions referred to in subsection (1)(b) are that—

(a) the activity mentioned in subsection (1)(a) does not involve the use of more than one dog,
(b) the dog used in the activity is—

(i) under control,
(ii) fitted with a device to allow tracking of the position of the dog below ground,

(c) reasonable steps are taken—

(i) to prevent the dog becoming trapped below ground, and
(ii) if the dog becomes trapped below ground, to ensure that it is rescued as soon as reasonably possible,
(d) permission for the activity has been given by the owner of the land on which the activity takes place,

(e) no steps are taken to prevent the fox from being flushed or emerging from below ground,
(f) if the fox which is being searched for or flushed is found or emerges from below ground, it is shot dead, or killed by a bird of prey, as soon as reasonably possible,
(g) if an attempt to kill the fox, as mentioned in paragraph (f), results in it being injured but not killed, reasonable steps are taken to kill it in a way (other than by using a dog) that causes it the minimum possible suffering.

(4) In this section, “dependent” means that the mother of a fox is dead and it is too young to survive on its own.
6 Exception: falconry, game shooting and deer stalking
(1) This section applies if—

(a) a person is using a dog above ground to—

(i) search for, stalk or flush from cover a wild mammal, with the intention of providing quarry for falconry, game shooting or deer stalking,
(ii) search for and retrieve a wild mammal which has been killed as a result of the activity mentioned in sub-paragraph (i), and

(b) the conditions set out in subsection (2) are met.

(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1)(b) are that—

(a) the activity mentioned in subsection (1)(a) does not involve the use of more than two dogs,
(b) any dog used in the activity is under control,
(c) reasonable steps are taken to ensure that any dog used in the activity does not join with others to form a pack of more than two dogs,
(d) permission for the activity has been given by the owner of the land on which the activity takes place,
(e) the wild mammal which is being searched for, stalked or flushed is shot dead, or killed by a bird of prey, as soon as reasonably possible,
(f) if an attempt to kill the wild mammal, as mentioned in paragraph (e), results in it being injured but not killed, reasonable steps are taken to kill it in a way (other than by using a dog) that causes it the minimum possible suffering.

(3) In this section—

“deer stalking” means the stealthy approach of a deer in order to shoot it for sport,
“falconry” means the use of a bird of prey to hunt for sport,
“game shooting” means shooting wild mammals for sport,
“quarry” means the wild mammal intended to be killed by a bird of prey or shot.

7 Exception: relieving the suffering of injured wild mammals
(1) This section applies if—

(a) a person is using a dog above ground to search for, stalk or flush from cover a wild mammal which the person has reasonable grounds for believing is injured, with the intention of treating, capturing or killing it for the purpose of relieving its suffering,
(b) the wild mammal was not deliberately injured for the purpose of allowing the activity mentioned in paragraph (a) to take place, and
(c) the conditions set out in subsection (2) are met.

(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1)(c) are that—

(a) the activity mentioned in subsection (1)(a) does not involve the use of more than two dogs,
(b) any dog used in the activity is under control,
(c) reasonable steps are taken to ensure that any dog used in the activity does not join with others to form a pack of more than two dogs,
(d) either—

(i) permission for the activity has been given by the owner of the land on which the activity takes place,
(ii) the person carrying out the activity is a constable exercising a power of entry,
(iii) the person carrying out the activity is exercising a power of entry under section 14M or 14N of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, or
(iv) the person carrying out the activity is exercising a power of entry under section 15 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996,

(e) the wild mammal which is being searched for, stalked or flushed is, as soon as reasonably possible, either—

(i) given treatment to reduce or alleviate its pain or discomfort before being allowed to escape without being pursued or killed,
(ii) captured for the purpose of being given treatment to reduce or alleviate its pain or discomfort (whether at that place or at another place),
(iii) shot dead, or
(iv) observed and allowed to escape without being pursued or killed,

(f) if an attempt to kill the wild mammal, as mentioned in paragraph (e)(iii), results in it being injured but not killed, reasonable steps are taken to kill it in a way (other than by using a dog) that causes it the minimum possible suffering.

8 Exception: searching for dead wild mammals
(1) This section applies if—

(a) a person is using a dog above ground to search for and retrieve a dead wild mammal, and
(b) the conditions set out in subsection (2) are met.

(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1)(b) are that—

(a) the activity mentioned in subsection (1)(a) does not involve the use of more than two dogs,
(b) any dog used in the activity is under control,
(c) reasonable steps are taken to ensure that any dog used in the activity does not join with others to form a pack of more than two dogs,
(d) either—

(i) permission for the activity has been given by the owner of the land on which the activity takes place,
(ii) the person carrying out the activity is a constable exercising a power of entry,
(iii) the person carrying out the activity is exercising a power of entry under section 14M or 14N of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, or
(iv) the person carrying out the activity is exercising a power of entry under section 15 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996,

(e) reasonable steps are taken to ensure that no wild mammal is pursued, injured or killed.

9 Exception: environmental benefit
(1) This section applies if—

(a) the person is using a dog above ground to—

(i) search for, stalk or flush from cover a wild mammal, with the intention of killing, capturing or observing it as part of a scheme or plan for one or more of the purposes set out in subsection (2),
(ii) search for and retrieve a wild mammal which has been killed as a result of the activity referred to in sub-paragraph (i), and

(b) the conditions set out in subsection (3) are met.

(2) The purposes referred to in subsection (1)(a)(i) are—

(a) preserving, protecting or restoring a particular species (which may include controlling the number of a species for its welfare) for environmental benefit,
(b) preserving, protecting or restoring the diversity of animal or plant life,
(c) eradicating an invasive non-native species of wild mammal from an area.

(3) The conditions referred to in subsection (1)(b) are that—

(a) either—

(i) the activity mentioned in subsection (1)(a) does not involve the use of more than two dogs, or
(ii) the activity is carried out in accordance with a licence granted under section 10,

(b) any dog used in the activity is under control,
(c) unless paragraph (a)(ii) applies, reasonable steps are taken to ensure that any dog used in the activity does not join with others to form a pack of more than two dogs,
(d) either—

(i) permission for the activity has been given by the owner of the land on which the activity takes place,
(ii) the person carrying out the activity is exercising a power of entry under section 14M or 14N of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, or
(iii) the person carrying out the activity is exercising a power of entry under section 15 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996,

(e) the wild mammal which is being searched for, stalked or flushed is either—

(i) captured (whether or not with the intention of subsequently releasing or relocating it) as soon as reasonably possible,
(ii) shot dead, or killed by a bird of prey, as soon as reasonably possible, or
(iii) observed and allowed to escape without being pursued, injured or killed,

(f) if an attempt to kill the wild mammal, as mentioned in paragraph (e)(ii), results in it being injured but not killed, reasonable steps are taken to kill it in a way (other than by using a dog) that causes it the minimum possible suffering.

(4) In this section—

“invasive non-native species” means a species—

(a) which is included on the Scottish list of species of special concern, or
(b) which is—

(i) not native to the area in which the activity mentioned in subsection (1)(a) takes place, and
(ii) having or likely to have a significant adverse impact on biodiversity, the environment, social or economic interests or human or animal health,

“Scottish list of species of special concern” means the list of species in the Annex to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 adopting a list of invasive alien species of Union concern pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as amended from time to time.

10 Licence for use of more than two dogs in connection with section 9
(1) A person may apply for a licence permitting the use of more than two dogs for the activity mentioned in section 9(1)(a).
(2) An application for a licence under subsection (1) must be made to the relevant authority.
(3) A licence under subsection (1)—

(a) may be granted to a particular person or to a category of persons,
(b) must relate to a particular species of wild mammal,
(c) must not be granted unless the relevant authority is satisfied—

(i) that killing, capturing or observing the wild mammal will contribute towards a significant or long-term environmental benefit, and
(ii) that there is no other solution which would be effective in achieving the purpose set out in section 9(2) in relation to which the application for a licence is being made,

(d) may only permit the use of the minimum number of dogs which the relevant authority is satisfied would be effective in achieving the purpose set out in section 9(2) in relation to which the application for a licence is being made,
(e) must require the deployment of the minimum number of guns which the relevant authority is satisfied would be effective for compliance with the conditions set out in section 9(3)(e) and (f) in relation to the activity for which the application for a licence is being made,
(f) may be subject to compliance with such conditions as the relevant authority considers appropriate, which may include, in particular, reporting requirements in relation to activities carried out under the licence,
(g) may be granted for a maximum period of two years, which must fall within a period of two consecutive years,
(h) may be modified or revoked by the relevant authority at any time.

(5) A licence under this section must specify—

(a) the person or category of persons to whom it is granted,
(b) the species of wild mammal to which it relates,
(c) the area within which the searching for, stalking or flushing of that species of wild mammal may take place under the licence,
(d) the maximum number of dogs which are permitted to be used,
(e) the minimum number of guns (if any) which are required to be deployed,
(f) any conditions to which the licence is subject.

11 Regulations: licences
(1) The Scottish Ministers may, by regulations—

(a) make provision for—

(i) the form of applications for licences under subsection (1) of sections 4 and 10,
(ii) a reasonable fee to be paid to the relevant authority for the application of licences under sections 4 and 10,

(b) appoint the relevant authority under sections 4 and 10 or
(c) make such other provision as they see fit in relation to licences under this section and section 10

(2) Regulations—

(a) when made under paragraphs (1)(a) and (1)(b), are subject to the negative procedure,
(b) when made under paragraph (1)(c), are subject to the affirmative procedure.

(3) Regulations under paragraphs (1)(a) and (1)(b) may not amend the text of any Act.
(4) Until and unless the Scottish Ministers appoint a relevant authority under paragraph (1)(b), the Scottish Ministers shall be the relevant authority.
(5) For greater clarity, nothing in this section prevents the Scottish Ministers appointing themselves as the relevant authority.

PART 2

TRAIL HUNTING

Offences
12 Offences relating to trail hunting
(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a) the person engages or participates in trail hunting, and
(b) the exception in section 13 does not apply.

(2) In this Part—

“trail hunting” is the activity in which a dog is directed to find and follow an animal-based scent which has been laid for that purpose,
“animal-based scent” means—

(a) a scent which is derived from a wild mammal, or
(b) a scent which mimics, replicates or resembles the scent of a wild mammal (or which is designed to do so), whether or not that scent is derived wholly or in part from artificial ingredients.

(3) A person commits an offence if—

(a) the person—

(i) is an owner or occupier of land, and
(ii) knowingly causes or permits another person to engage or participate in trail hunting on that land, and

(b) the exception in section 13 does not apply to the trail hunting.

(4) A person commits an offence if—

(a) the person—

(i) owns or is responsible for a dog, and
(ii) knowingly causes or permits another person to use the dog for trail hunting, and

(b) the exception in section 13 does not apply to the trail hunting.

(5) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1), (3) or (4) is liable on summary conviction to—

(a) imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months,
(b) a fine not exceeding £40,000, or level 5 on the standard scale, whichever would be higher for the person, or
(c) both of the penalties under paragraphs (a) and (b).

(6) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (3) or (4) to show that the person reasonably believed that the exception in section 13 applied to the trail hunting.
(7) In this Part, an “owner” of land includes, in particular, a person who—

(a) manages or controls that land, or
(b) is authorised to give permission for that land to be used for trail hunting.

Exception to the offences
13 Exception: training dogs to follow an animal-based scent
(1) This section applies if—

(a) a person—

(i) directs a dog to find and follow an animal-based scent which has been laid for that purpose, or
(ii) lays an animal-based scent for a dog to find and follow,

in order to train a dog for a lawful purpose, and
(b) all of the conditions set out in subsection (2) are met.

(2) The conditions are that—

(a) the activity mentioned in subsection (1)(a) does not involve more than two dogs,
(b) any dog involved in the activity is under control,
(c) reasonable steps are taken to ensure that any dog involved in the activity does not join with others to form a pack of more than two dogs,
(d) permission for the activity has been given by the owner of the land on which the activity takes place,
(e) reasonable steps are taken to ensure that no wild mammal is pursued, injured or killed.

PART 3

GENERAL PROVISIONS

14 Ancillary provision
(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make any incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision they consider appropriate for the purposes of, in connection with or for giving full effect to this Act.
(2) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make such provision as they see fit regarding the enforcement of this Act.
(3) Regulations under this section may—

(a) make different provision for different purposes,
(b) modify any enactment (including this Act).

(4) Regulations under this section—

(a) are subject to the affirmative procedure if they—

(i) add to, replace or omit any part of the text of this or any other Act; or
(ii) are made under subsection (2);

(b) otherwise, are subject to the negative procedure.

(5) Before making regulations under subsection (2), the Scottish Ministers must consult such people as they see fit.
15 Interpretation
In this Act—

“animal” means a vertebrate (other than a human) or an invertebrate,
“constable” has the meaning given by section 99(1) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012,
“cover” means a place above ground in which a wild mammal may be concealed from sight, but does not include an enclosed place from which a wild mammal could not be flushed,
“hunting” is to be construed in accordance with section 1(3),
“livestock” means cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses, camelids, ratites, farmed deer, enclosed game birds or poultry, and for the purposes of this definition—

(a) “cattle” means bulls, cows, oxen, buffalo, heifers or calves,
(b) “horses” includes donkeys and mules,
(c) “farmed deer” means deer of any species which are on agricultural land enclosed by a deer-proof barrier and kept by way of business for the primary purpose of meat production,
(d) “enclosed game birds” means any pheasant, partridge, grouse (or moor game), black (or heath) game or ptarmigan that are being kept enclosed prior to their release for sporting purposes,
(e) “poultry” means domestic fowls, turkeys, geese or ducks,

“relevant authority” is to be construed in accordance with sections 4, 10, and 11,
“responsible for”, in relation to a dog, is to be construed in accordance with section 2(6),
“under control”, in relation to a dog, means that a person who is responsible for the dog is able to direct the dog’s activity by physical contact or verbal or audible command,
“wild mammal” has the meaning given by section 1(3),
“woodland” means land on which trees are grown, whether or not commercially, and includes any such trees and any vegetation planted or growing naturally among such trees on that land.

15 Repeal of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002
The Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 is repealed.
16 Crown application: criminal offences
(1) Nothing in this Act makes the Crown criminally liable.
(2) The Court of Session may, on an application by the Lord Advocate, declare unlawful any act or omission for which the Crown would be criminally liable if it were not for subsection (1).
(3) Subsection (1) does not affect the criminal liability of persons in the service of the Crown.
17 Commencement
This Act comes into force 6 months after Royal Assent.
18 Short title
ThIs Act may be cited as the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2024.
Enactments cited:

• Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30)
  
• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c.69)
  
• Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 (c. 58)
  
• Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8)
  
• Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 6)
  
• Commission Implementing Regulation adopting a list of invasive alien species of Union concern (EU 2016/1141)
  
• Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (EU No 1143/2014)
  

This Act was written by the Most Honourable model-avtron, Marchioness Hebrides LT OM CT PC MP MSP MS, Leader of the Opposition and the Scottish Green Party, on behalf of the Scottish Green Party.
This Act draws heavily from the IRL Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023.

Opening Speech

Oifigear-riaghlaidh,
Hunting with dogs is a unique killer. The numbers aren't precise, but about one fifth of foxes disturbed by hunts are killed by dogs, despite the fact that a large majority of hunts go on without dogs.
This bill bans this killer. It bans hunting with dogs. This will save the lives of mammals like foxes.
Now, there are some legitimate uses for hunting with dogs, I don't dispute that. For example, to relieve the suffering of dying mammals. This bill ensures that farmers and rural communities can continue to hunt for legitimate reasons.
This bill will reduce suffering for mammals and will make it easier to convict people for unlawfully using dogs in hunting. I commend this bill to the Pàrlamaid.
Oifigear-riaghlaidh, I move,
That the Pàrlamaid agrees to the general principles of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill.
Voting on this bill will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 12th of May 2024.

The video starts as it always does with Spifflemonks usual intro. but there is no normal intro, instead, it opens with Spiffle staring close into the camera with the goofiest, happiest smile on his face you would ever see.
"LOOK!!!!"
Spiffle excitedly bellows into the camera and tabs into the game. He's finally playing a train game, specifically, Railroads Online, and is on the map Lake Valley, with a startup train called The Montezuma.
"TRAINS!!!!"
Spiffle excitedly bellows to the audience as he settles into his usual setup. He can barely contain his excitement as he stammers out his greeting.
"GREAT DAYs and HA Glorious VictorEEE!!! Its a TRAIN game! Hehe! My name is Spifflemonk AND I AM EXCITED! I have been waiting for this since I got killed by my first train in Factorio!"
Spiffle hops off the platform at the Depot and excitedly explores his new surroundings, especially the Montezuma.
"I was given this game after the time I played Project Zomboid! I do however have specific instructions with this game and I have to follow them. Sorry... Obligations! I have been looking forward to figuring out how these things work! Oh the secrets of human industry are about to unravel!"
Spiff goes into the train and is completely stumped for a bit as he sees what's there. A pile of wood and an oven.
"Wh-where are the fusion engines?!"
Spiffle Walks around the train several times in confusion.
"Is the nuclear reactor inside this tube thing? Nuclear reactors can't possibly be that small!"
He carefully examines every part and component, slowly piecing together how it works.
"So the fuel... gets into the big tube thing. Then it gets pumped into these pistons connected to the wheels. Then because of the force, the pistons move in a circular pattern, then the wheels move, moving the train. What is the fuel though?"
Spiffle carefully looks over the train again, trying to discern what it is. He follows the game's control prompts and tutorials until he hops into the control cabin. With apprehension, he opens the boiler fuel port and sees what's inside. The viewer can actually see the gears in his head turning.
"Okay... I have to do something. Please hold..."
Spiff tabs out and a funny little in-between-sequence plays. The sequence is a short fifteen second long fan made animation - with credit to the animator on the top right of the screen - of Spiffle gaining access to his first Flamethrower in Deep Rock Galactic. The screen tabs back and the viewer is a bit scared at the sight of Spiffles signature death glare straight into the camera, full screen.
"Steam? WATER AND WOOD! YOU DID THIS WITH WATER AND WOOD!!!???"
Spiffle grabs the camera and angrily rants at it incoherently for a few minutes. He finally stops his angry rant and just resolves himself to play the game.
"Okay... Okay... Let's... not think about how stupid we are for not getting this earlier and just go for it. Now... I have some specific stipulations I have to do for this first. The individual who bought this game for me came with some... very specific things for me to do while playing it."
Spiffle gets a notepad out of a drawer nearby and double checks his request.
"I am to first, do the basics and put a rail network down so I can connect at least three points, primarily the Logging camp, Sawmill and Depot. I can do more If I want. Okay then. M for map... Let's see..."
Spiff opens the map and a bit of color drains from his face as he sees the sheer size of the world in front of him. It's a four mile journey from logging to mill, then back to the depot in all. He has to lay all the tracks along the way.
"Oh gods... What have I got myself into? It can't be that bad can it? Okay that's... doable I suppose. Now I have to... simply play the game and make money, but I have to... listen to a special series of mixtapes? What the hell is a mixtape? I have those links bookmarked, they are on GalaTube apparently. Let me just do that then..."
The playlists that Spiff brings up are strange and seem disconnected, but there's three of them. A Synthwave Cyberpunk mixtape, volume 3 Specifically made by the Legendary Mister Suicide Sheep. An Epic Country/blues mix made by Jenni Music, and a Retrowave mix made by a smaller, obscure channel.
"I'm starting to wonder if humans are alright in the head. My subscribers specifically. You buy games for me, which by the way this one was NOT cheap, then the only stipulations you have are for me to record it and listen to music? I find that so... Strange. So very strange. Then again, zombies, Cthulhu demons, Child slave labor to make Human Leather Hats, Mia The rat... Poor Mia. The existence of Sheep... I really shouldn't be surprised at this point should i?"
Spiffle resumes playing the game at this point, and goes through the painstaking process of laying the track down. He fumbles with the controls until he figures out the degree and gradient system then figures out how to couple the cars.
"Just how many of these things can I have on one train? I am not stupid so I guess it's how powerful the train's engine is. I'm going to get... two more of these small ones here and start with the Logging Camp."
Spiffle starts the process of railing cars and buying two more small logging cars. After rerailing them and putting them on the right track, in this case the left track closes to the depot, he starts laying track down for real. Tentatively, he places small tracks here and there, just fiddling with the system to figure out how it works.
"Okay so... This button and that button are to increase gradient. Gradient is the angle of the slope down or up. So presumably... Downhill gradients will increase speed with lower engine power, and I will need high power to go uphill. Right?"
Spiff looks at the camera with a raised brow as if expecting an answer. He shakes his head and resumes playtesting.
"Okay so just like with motor vehicles, I'm guessing that if they turn too fast or too tightly, they flip? I think that's how it works here too, so let's see. No too tight turns I guess? What's a good... uhh... baseline, I believe is the word used. Baseline. Maybe... 100 degree turns at most?"
Spiff tries out the turning system, eventually coming to the conclusion that tight turns for trains are a bad thing, and goes for a varying degree of 80 to 120 degree turn angles for his tracks, setting an absolute minimum of 60 degree turns.
"Right... That's sorted. I'd say that's very reasonable. I shall hold the music till later... I have more pressing concerns right now, I need to concentrate."
Spiffle starts laying track towards the Wheat Farm at first, just to see what happens and what he needs to do. He encounters his first real obstacle: Hills, dips and bumps.
"Gods above this is very bloody fiddly isnt it! Now maybe a 1% gradient... no. dammit that's too little. How about a 2%? No! dammit now it goes back up over here! Hmmm... This is going to be very very bloody fiddly!"
Spiffle struggles to do his thing, using various track segments to make necessary changes, sometimes making some very silly mistakes such as failing to notice that certain gradients are dips or bumps, and failing to either go around them or simply bridge across, creating a somewhat bumpy roller coaster type ride. He spends the next hour or so, simply laying track to the Logging camp for the moment. This was one of the easiest maps to play and one of the least complex.
Spiffle continues, eventually connecting things together. He buys a handcar to use to test the track, then once satisfied, uses the handcar. He does however forget you are supposed to do some forestry to clear the way of the track and derails the handcar.
"Blast it! I'm supposed to cut trees down aren't I?"
Spiffle blinks, smacks himself in the face and stares at the camera.
"Well of course you blue colored idiot! TREES AREN'T GHOSTS YOU CAN'T PHASE THROUGH THEM. Of course I need to cut the trees down and remove the rocks!"
Spiffle re-rails the handcar and sets it to low speed so he can see the track. Every time he comes across a tree too close to the track, he stops, cuts it down, then returns to the car. It isn't long before this becomes tedious and he quickly learns trees can be cut remotely.
"Gods if only it were this easy in reality huh?"
He smiles with a certain grin of satisfaction as he stands in one spot and cuts a half a forest down. He clicks and a tree goes down. He goes weird again, his eyes getting a bit of that scary spark in them, and he starts to chuckle sadistically as he deforests the entire area around his track. A loud yell can be heard in the background, interrupting his disturbing chuckling. It appears to be a family member yelling at him to calm the hell down or they call the funny police again. Spiffle apologizes in Eridani and blushes, making himself very small and remembers this short moment of embarrassment.
"Okay uhm... I think I cleared the track now..."
He smiles sheepishly as he surveys the landscape, now barren of trees, and returns to the depot. He moves the Montezuma and its tender together and couples them after faffing about with how it works for about five minutes. Finally he starts preparing the cars, buying four log cars, the big ones. After preparing them, he lets out an exasperated sigh and has to wait for the steam pressure inside the train to build before he can carry on. Soon after, he finally gets going, coupling the cars, putting everything together, then chugging away to the logging camp.
"How long have I been playing so far-THREE HOURS!?"
Spiffle shakes his head and just carries on to the logging camp. He stops the train precisely, aligns the cars and loads up the four of them, taking a little while to do it. The motions of the cranes moving around, picking up a log then the games jank taking care of the log into the car, loading each one with six logs. Spiff sighs, then returns to the cabin and starts the train up again.
"Lets see... check fuel... put firewood. Release brake and set at forty percent throttle. Then slow to twenty five percent at the crossroad."
Spiff follows the instructions he set himself on and gets used to it. With nothing but the empty rail, no trees around and the simple chug of the train, Spiff notices a sudden lack of things.
"Why does this feel so... empty? Is it because I cut all the trees down? I mean... I feel fine. I feel... nice. It's so.... peaceful. Why does this feel empty?"
Spiffle finds the whistle and gives it a tug, the train responding with a loud, sharp whistle making him chuckle inanely like a kid in a sweet shop. He returns to the depot and offloads the cars, making back some of the money he spent on the cars. He takes a deep, long breath and plays his channel outro.
TOP COMMENT: "Good to see you're taking some time, Spiff. And also, seriously? You don't have trains? You seriously need to tell us how your logistics network worked back in the day. We can't imagine life without our trains."
_________________________________________
"Great days and glorious victory! My name is Spifflemonk and welcome back to Railroads Online! I have... erm... taken some time away from doing... things... and laid down some more tracks to more things."
Spiffle sheepishly smiles at the playtime he has - fourteen hours - and tries to distract the viewer with a silly screen transition, returning to the cabin of the montezuma. He opens his map and starts to point out where the track he laid is, with telegram boxes pointing out major intersections, main locations and essentially fast travel to every major point on the map.
"Now, I have the main depot here. There's a line to the logging camp down this way, then back up the main line towards the sawmill. Then a switchback here behind the sawmill to the planks and beams, then back to the depot on a separate line here. Simple, quick, easy. I did some more basic lines up this way towards the other spots, first of all the iron mine. That was... bloody annoying! But I managed it. The Montezuma can barely handle it but, today we shall be saving up money to buy a better train!"
Spiffle starts up the train, waits patiently and does everything he can, readying himself.
"I was informed that I was not doing as asked, and have cleared any schedules I have for the day, besides some alarms... loud ones, that I have set so I know I still exist outside the gamespace."
The first thing Spiffle does is start up the Mixtape from Mr Suicide Sheep. He starts it, puts his headphones on and starts working. At first he goes into his usual drone of explaining things. Then something in his demeanor changes. He gets lost in the music and simply for lack of a better term, begins to 'vibe'.
It starts simply at first, he just talks. Then after about fifteen minutes and two loads of resources, he stops. Just looking at the screen, simply carrying on as normal. Another fifteen minutes pass and a particular song comes on, matching with the tempo of the train. Spiffle stops moving around in his seat as he loads up another bundle of logs to the sawmill. After offloading, he returns to the depot.
"Hmm.. hmm.. mm...hu-hu-oh-bop..."
Spiffle hum-sings along with the music in his head and returns to the depot, switching out for new cars that will hold planks and beams. He returns to the sawmill, collecting several loads of his hard work then heads back to the depot, the entire time he is simply vibing to the moment.
The playlist gets to a nice song with a good beat, and Spiff begins bopping along to the music, his head bobbing back and forth. He continues doing in silence for another half an hour, getting to Level 3 and acquiring around $3000 dollars in currency. He ignores this and seemingly under some kind of spell, carries on with the gameplay loop for the entire duration of the playlist. When the music finally stopped, he took his headphones off, took a deep breath and looked at the clock.
"TWO HOURS!? THAT WAS TWO HOURS!? It… It felt like barely ten minutes!"
Spiffle seemed genuinely shocked that much time had passed. He double checks a few alarms he set and true to form, just under two hours worth of time passed.
"I... I have never felt so... calm. So... at peace! All I was doing was hauling wood in a chuggy train! What kind of magic is this!"
Spiffle stood up out of his chair for a bit, seemingly genuinely distressed. He paces around the room and returns to his seat.
"OH I am so glad these are being recorded! When I show this to The Council they will send it to the scientists and they WILL find out what kind of magic you creatures are up to!"
Spiff returns to the game, starting up the next playlist as requested and starting a new run, this time transporting logs to the sawmill, then beams and planks to the iron mine and depot. The run is simple, but the next playlist, a form of old Country music remixed with Hybrid instrumentation, Rock, Pop and other things, seems to affect Spiff in an entirely different way.
"What is this music... I can't say that I don't like it but It's... strange. I find it disturbing that I can be this level of calm for so long."
Spiff continues his run and gets into the rhythm. He becomes affected by the music again, getting into the vibe. He becomes more reckless, more aggressive in driving, accelerating faster and braking harder than usual. He seems more focused, stronger and more prone to mistakes but faster to recover from them. The music continues going, as does Spiffle, his body seeming to tense up and strengthen, as if the songs are making his muscles have a workout.
"What is going on... What's in the blue blazes is happening!? What are blue blazes!?! Why did I say that!?"
Spiffle seems in a trance as he continues, finally finishing the playlist after two hours. The entire time he is in relative silence, his expression in a grimace of determination and strength. By this point he has, in his strange music induced trance, acquired a further $3500 dollars and ascended to level 6. He finally notices, checks the time and has another short freakout. This time he stands up and is covered in his species’ version of sweat. His muscles are visibly pulsing as if the music has him hyped as all hell.
"WHAT IS THIS MAGIC!? Why do I feel so... tired but... excited! This is just supposed to be a game about TRAINS!!! Why does it feel like I have just dragged a Trunket up a hill!? WHAT IS THIS!?"
Spiffle grabs the camera and rants into it for a few moments. A female Eridani appears in the room with an angry expression on her face and stares at the sweaty blue alien, very clearly one can see from various adornments that it's Spiffle’s wife. A combination of Spiffles reflexing muscles, his heavy breathing, sweaty form and the pheromone now coming from him drives his lovely wife insane. Her expression instantly switches from anger to lust and with a sinister smile she pounces on the poor bastard.
"NO, MY LOVE! STOP! I'M STILL RECORDING!!! GARY! I'M SO SORRY! PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD EDIT THIS OUT!"
The editor graciously skips this bit and displays a message on the screen.
"What I had to remove here will haunt me for the remainder of my eternity, both in this life and the next. Fuck you Spiff. Lock your damn door and soundproof your office."
TOP COMMENT: "Well Spiff I think we found your species equivalent of an aphrodisiac... Maybe it would be an idea for you to NOT get that pumped up in future. Try Chillwave next time. It's more... your speed I think."
_____________________________________________
"Great days and glorious victory! My name is Spifflemonk and welcome back to Railroads Online! I was eaten by a Ghost Leviathan a few minutes ago, and I am still shaking, so I shall now play with trains!"
Spiffle displays what is clearly a shaky hand and a very fake smile, and begins the next playlist, this time going through the motions of buying a new train. He has a new playlist, a Chillwave 80's version only an hour or so long.
"Well during my... erm... human magic induced musical hypnosis, I apparently got a LOT done in very short order. So I not only have new things to buy, I have more than enough money to buy them. Lets see hmmm... What should I get?"
Spiffle works a bit and looks through the list of locomotives and cars for a while, before eventually settling on a Tier 6 train called the D&RG Class 70.
"OOoooh I like the design on this one! It's very pretty! Tractive Effort and weight cla-I don't care, LOOK PRETTY! Mine now."
Spiffle spends the $5600 dollars on it, unaware he has the option of customization when it comes to trains, including Workshop Skins and paint jobs, or custom character models. Through this entire process one can clearly see him still shaking from his encounter in Subnautica, and he carefully sets up the new train.
"OOOOHHH my god that is pretty! What's the fuel though? Oh good. Wood. Don't need to go for the coal mine too much then except for deliveries. So... the planned route today is Logging camp, the Sawmill, then the Iron mine. After that, pick up iron ore and get it to the smelter. This is a very... Involved process. Humans had trains to cope I guess."
Spiffle gets on the train and sets everything up, this time going the smart way and installing a third party extension, RailRoads Online Extended, which shows a map. He tabs out, giving everyone a look at the spaghetti maze that his track has become with three different lines of rail leading to different places and each one converging at a central location near the depot and sawmill.
"Disgusting isnt it? And yes I do remember. A subscriber once asked me how we coped as a civilization without trains or these kinds of mass transit. We did not, really but we developed a form of biofuel and used that in large cargo carriers like your big rig trucks. We built them specialized roadways and tunnel networks so they wouldn't be in the same traffic as yours is though, so the flow of our civilisations blood kept going. As air travel became more prevalent, we started to develop better and faster engines, eventually phasing out those trucks entirely shortly before we entered space."
Spiffle explains all this while heading to the logging camp, now towing 4 log cars, 2 flatcars for beams, two flatcars for rails, two hoppers for ore, two cars for rails, two for cordwood and one car for oil, with three more cars for later.
"Right, off we go!"
Spiff emits a childish giggle as he lets the whistle sing, then starts moving the train. The train is strongly built and powerful, and Spiff makes short work of the journey to the logging camp. Spiff loads up all the logs, heads to the sawmill and miscalculates. He takes a relatively tight corner far too fast and the train derails, locomotive and tender plus all eighteen cars come off the track and are strewn about. Spiffle himself is cursed by the game's physics engine, and gets yeeted into the stratosphere.
"What the hell ha-OH BY ALL THE GODS WHAT THE HELL!! WHY AM I FLYING!!!"
Spiff panics and tries to do anything, but his fate is sealed and he is unable to stop himself being thrown from the sawmill to the Iron Ore Mine. His character bounces off a tree and lands harmlessly, albeit very far away. He checks the third party app and displays all the cars he has strewn rudely about that general area.
"Okay then... Okay... How the hell did I end up here!? It's okay, I can just fast travel. Thank God I put those telegraph offices everywhere. Right, off we go. I hope the load I was carrying doesn't also get lost. But noted for the future, I shall need to moderate my speed."
Spiff travels and finds himself at the scene of the crime and laments at the damage. He painstakingly goes through to each one, remembering what order it was put then rerailing it on the track. Some forms of the game’s engine do not allow him to do it the way he wants, forcing him to make empty lines of track to store cars on the side as he slowly reassembles the train.
"Gods this is so messy. Yeuch."
He laments at the task and spends a good twenty minutes whining before restoring the train to its former glory, getting panicky at the last part when the jankiness sends his character flying again but thankfully not derailing the train. He carries on where he left off and tries better to moderate his speed.
"Right so obviously, that was too fast. What did I have it on... Throttle at 55% i think? I thought I would need more power for this kind of load so I pushed it a bit too far. Train may be more powerful than I thought. So... Throttle 25% and ready the brakes when needed. I can fiddle with those to be better aware of my speed."
Spiff carries on his run and settles in, changing his style up a bit to make the deliveries faster. The power and torque lets him effortlessly navigate the spaghetti maze of rails he had to build to climb the mountain and deliver the beams and wood to the ore mine, then collect a load of ore. By this point, he has started the playlist he was given and has settled into a mellow groove, bopping along to the song.
He is grinning inanely and suddenly stops. He gets out of his chair and starts to dance to the groove of 80s Chillwave as he drives the train. It isn't much but he is very clearly enjoying himself, as goofy as it is. He is very much in the groove, so into it he is able to sense when the train needs to slow or speed that his dance moves fit seamlessly, reaching over to pump the brakes or hit the throttle.
With the level of concentration and Spiff's goofy dancing, he finishes the task in short order and before the playlist ends, is filling barrels of oil. He continues to dance and delivers a barrel of oil to the depot. There, he stops, sits down again and looks at the camera.
"Why do i like this... so much? Why is this so... relaxing? I sent that playlist to the Council. There is no magic, it's just music. Just... music. I will be doing this again. It seems Subnautica will terrify me a bit more. Maybe there are other relaxing games like this..."
Spiffle slowly gains a genuine, warm smile as his channel outro plays.
TOP COMMENT: "Powerwash Simulator. Lawn Mower Simulator. Those games are nothing but pure catharsis without the psychotic destruction you seem so fond of with Teardown :) lol"
SPIFFLES RESPONSE: What the hell is a Power wash? Or a lawn mower for that matter? Why do you keep making me so confused!?"
COMMENTER: “TRUST US SPIFF :) :) If you have any need to relax, those two are your definite go-to’s. DO IT. WE ARE THYNE AUDIENCE. WE DEMAND IT.”

Context: This is the sixty-seventh of many posts where I share the stories of my travels with those interested and for my future self to read back. This one in particular details my time travelling the Garden Route and further on to the largest city in the Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth.
Over time, I've realized that my country count... is somewhat inaccurate. Initially, I boasted a total of 19, swept up in the excitement of revealing the big “197 Project.” However, I had made the mistake of including layovers where I didn’t even leave the airport! I must admit that my initial count was inflated. In truth, the number stood at 12.
Among them are obvious destinations like Canada and the USA, and others like Hungary and Scotland, where I had direct family ties in both. Additionally, there are countries like Austria and Spain, where I ventured to visit family friends while in Hungary. We took a family vacation in Cuba once, and more recently, there was another stop in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic, back in November 2021, right before this whole project began. That was a work opportunity that stemmed from my first time in LA. The final four would be Iceland, Greece, Italy, and The Vatican. The first of those four was a mere brief but worthwhile stopover in Reykjavik on the way home from Budapest. The other three were during a holiday in March of 2018 that ended up costing me more money than I initially expected, naively falling for the tourist trap restaurants and shops.
Although it’s long been debated on what actually constitutes a legitimate visit to a nation, a simple airport layover doesn't qualify...no matter who you ask. Over time, I've been able to correct myself as I eventually visit those miscounted countries yet, at that point in time I had no interest in the simple solution of lowering my count. It was easier said than done, as odd as that sounds. I suppose this serves as a good example of my headspace at the time. So close yet, so far.
Anyway, shifting to the primary topic of this blog, my journey along the iconic stretch of highway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Spanning about 750 kilometres, this route divides the two major cities, showcasing numerous small towns, beaches, forests, and attractions worth exploring.
My initial destination was the town of Hermanus, where I enjoyed watching whales from the rocky coastline or sending up my drone to have a view from above. Moving forward, I journeyed to Swellendam, one of the oldest established towns in South Africa. It was there, through various sites and museums set up for heritage conservation that I learned more about Afrikaner history, Voortrekkers and The Great Trek. It was fascinating to learn about.
While I could easily dedicate this entire journal entry to talking about the intricate history, the conflicts, and the evolution of the various Republics, this would surely lead me down a rabbit hole of archives and YouTube videos that I don’t have the time to research right now.
Continuing my travels, I arrived at Wilderness, a peaceful seaside town. En route, I chatted with the Xhosa driver, who told me about the Transkei region where he was from. Besides urging me to explore “The Wild Coast,” he also revealed some interesting aspects of his community and shared his ideas on how they could progress.
The man spoke about the perpetual cycle of cultural influence and explained how many people prefer instant gratification over the possibility of long-term progress. He mentioned that the government's grant of roughly 300 SAR (perhaps even more) per month per child exacerbates the community's struggles.
Often, parents will have as many children as they can to receive enough monetary benefit to survive. Consequently, despite free education, many families won’t be able to afford uniforms, further burdened by the expectation that children financially support both parents and siblings. Without education, they struggle to find work and often end up on paths leading to drug abuse or incarceration. As they grow older and slip further from stability, they are almost incentivized to repeat the cycle, bear children, and collect compensation.
I found it interesting to hear about his upbringing and his plans to take a different approach by working hard to provide for his two children, whom he planned to support and nurture over time. While he acknowledges apartheid inflicted major setbacks, he emphasised the need for resilience. “Look at the Jews in Europe!” He exclaimed. “They were the victims of mass genocide but now, even after all that happened, they seem to be doing just fine, don’t they?” I laughed and nodded my head.
In Wilderness, I stayed at a beachside hostel that sat up on the cliff edge, overlooking the coast below. It was incredible. The weather was still on the cold side but we made the most of the ocean by our periodic plunges. During load shedding we’d all gather around the candles and play card games or go for a walk along the abandoned train tracks. Speaking of trains, the downfall of the railway systems throughout the country is an interesting topic in itself but again, I don’t want to wander too far off track…haha.
Along the path to Victoria Bay that can be reached via the abandoned rail line and an old sketchy bridge, we passed by a noteworthy dwelling. It was an odd cave, home to 14 people! One interesting guy in particular was on track to break the record (27 years) for the longest time spent living in a cave. To say the least, it was definitely the most creative living space I’ve ever toured.
Next was Knysna, which was nice but nothing special. Once I felt as though I had seen enough, I moved on to the more appealing town of Plettenberg Bay. With a Swiss girl I had gotten to know back in Wilderness and a German girl she had met the night before, we spent a day taking our time along the Roberg nature trail. I enjoyed that hike, spotting sharks from atop the cliffs and soaking in the sun after a couple days of rain.
During my second full day in town I mainly used it as a day of admin. First, I made a trip to stock up on essentials: rice, olive oil, salt, and cayenne pepper. Then I got some laundry done, booked my next stay, and worked on another journal blog post by the ocean.
The next stop was Nature’s Valley, a coastal village surrounded by hills and forests. The backpackers' hostel I stayed at, however, was inland, enveloped by trees, and my accommodation was a shared cabin. I enjoyed the group dinners, campfires and starlit nights.
The following couple of days were primarily spent hiking the surrounding area and visiting a nearby farm store to enjoy coffee and edit during rainy periods. On my last day before departing, a few of us went to explore Stormsriver before I had to leave later that evening to meet up with Martin, a Czech guy I had met back in Wilderness, who had something interesting planned and suggested I tag along.
He didn’t provide me with many details but simply instructed me to meet him in Jeffery’s Bay so we could begin the drive northwest to a little town called Uniondale, for a golf tournament! The morning after I arrived at the meeting spot, we began our journey right away, our first stop being a small shop in the surf village where he planned to buy a new board. I enjoyed observing how certain boards were shaped. We then embarked on our drive northwest, chatting and enjoying the incredible scenery that unfolded before us—mountains, valleys and irregular shaped rocks.
Upon arriving at the golf course, notorious for its poor condition, we met up with Martin's friends who would make up the other half of our team of four. As we gathered, I introduced myself, all the while trying to piece together an outfit from the random items I had packed away that would be appropriate enough for golf but also not too hot.
Initially, as we walked towards the clubhouse I was puzzled by a small group of poor “coloured” (not a derogatory word, that’s just how they describe the mixed race) kids, until I realized they were caddies! To say the least, it was interesting, and I guess I can respect the honest hustle, but it definitely felt abnormal.
My attire for the day was a mash-up of brown boots, dark green pants, a red and orange funky collared shirt from West Africa, topped off with a Links Golf course bucket hat gifted to me by one of the brothers—quite a sight, I must say. Alongside our caddie named Keaton, we prepared for the first hole, with the aroma of spit lamb wafting in the background, promising a feast after the game.
The golf course was mostly occupied by Afrikaans folks, with their awesome old-school Toyota Hilux trucks parked along the gravel behind the clubhouse. We were each given a 6 iron and a small patch of grass for particularly rough spots, which, in truth, felt like the entire course. The weather was perfect, despite the earlier threat of rain, and I was ready to play despite only completing two and a half rounds of golf in my life.
Well, the game itself proved to be the longest 18 holes of my life, primarily due to my own lack of skills. There were definitely moments of mishap, including one where I swung too hard and accidentally smashed and then launched the driver head directly at poor Keaton who was already sick of attempting to watch where all the missed balls had flown. My shirt, which was already too tight for golf, only added to the challenge.
After the incident, I was relegated to playing with just the 6 iron, but to my surprise, it seemed to work in my favour. With each swing, I found my rhythm improving, and soon I was catching up to the other players, making some impressive shots…well, at least for my standards I suppose.
Our enthusiasm for the game resulted in a minor traffic jam behind us, but we were laughing too much to notice. By the end of the round, we were all eager to finish and despite our poor performance on the course, we were told that our team had undoubtedly had the most fun.
As the day drew to a close, I spent the evening chatting with the Afrikaans locals, sharing stories over a rugby match on TV. Our discussions ranged from farming, their history as a people and their views on South Africa’s future. We even talked about hunting, with some of them offering to take me along if only the season was right.
Finally, I got to taste that beautiful spit lamb I had been eyeing the entire day...I still think about it sometimes. Once we were full to the brim, we made our way along the backroads to the nearby farm where we were offered to stay the night.
Upon arrival, we were met by a welcoming group of younger kids (around my age) who despite barely speaking English, were overly curious as to why or how I was travelling and what I was doing in Uniondale of all places. They reminded me of my friends back home and I found it easy to get along.
As morning broke, I eased myself out of bed, eager to soak in the daylight and venture out to explore the beautiful property. It felt like I was visiting the South African version of the Yellowstone Ranch, absolutely incredible. A place like that was exactly what I always envisioned building after I finished travelling. When people inquire about my plans after visiting every country, they expect more adventures or challenges. “Maybe you will climb Mount Everest?” they’d ask. I'd then respond, “I just want some land near the mountains – a place to build a ranch or some kind of self-sustaining farm.”
Once I had sent my drone soaring to capture some photos for the generous family who had welcomed us, we headed into town for breakfast. It was like Western America met with Dutch architecture…I liked it.
Post-breakfast, we journeyed down to George, where the boys lived, to enjoy a day in town, concluding with watching the Springboks take on France. It was arguably one of the greatest sports matches I’d ever watched.
Martin and I opted to spend the night just outside George at the same hostel in Wilderness where we had met. Although it was nice to see familiar faces, our visit was brief. The next morning, we resumed our trek eastward along the same route I had taken before, this time with the plan of bungee jumping from the Bloukrans Bridge, which served as the boundary between the Western and Eastern Cape! It was a wild experience for a fairly low price compared to most sites around the world.
Having stayed overnight at the same forested hostel near Nature’s Valley, I set off mid-day for Port Elizabeth (nowadays known as Gqeberha). I managed to find a reliable hostel and opted to take things slow after a hectic week of constant movement. I established a bit of a routine; cooking meals, hitting the gym, and paying a daily visit to the old rusted lifeguard stand that I’d hang my clothes on while I took a dip in the ocean.
Understandably, the prices here were much lower than in Cape Town, and it was the most significant representation of a middle class I had seen yet. Being the largest city in the Eastern Cape (and the birthplace of Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi), I wasn’t surprised to find that the majority of residents were Xhosa and I found it as a good opportunity to learn more about their culture and ask for advice on backpacking the Transkei region. This also led to an incredible experience when I was invited to a bar by a man who worked at the hostel during the South Africa semi-finals match against England.
The atmosphere brought back memories of my time in Sierra Leone with the afro-beats and flashy fashion. My favourite part – aside from the Springboks winning – was the harmonious singing of chants and songs like “Shosholoza”, echoing through the bar.
My time in PE was also broken up by a week spent volunteering at a nearby wildlife reserve. It turned out to be an overall okay experience, although not entirely what I had expected. Nevertheless, it provided a great opportunity to get up close to almost all of the Big 5, with the exception of the Leopard!
There were plenty of things I enjoyed about my time there, such as the physical work clearing bushes, cutting invasive cacti, or feeding animals. I also enjoyed the game drives, learning about what it takes to run the reserve, and spending time with the younger crowd of volunteers (mostly European).
However, eventually, I began to feel as though I had become too complacent. The environment was comfortable, but I still felt the desire to venture deeper and further into South Africa to continue talking to and learning about South Africans and the South African nation as a whole, rather than spending my time in a place solely catered to and surrounded by foreigners. One week had been enough there and I was ready to move on.
When I had returned to PE from the reserve, the first pair of travellers I met were actually headed towards the Transkei region and asked if I wanted to join them! This was my chance and the perfect opportunity to visit another region of the country, one that had been recommended to me multiple times!
Later that evening, we watched as the streets of PE lit up until the early morning, with everyone celebrating the narrow but incredible victory over the All Blacks to lift the cup. I was having a great time out and about until I spotted an American who had just been robbed nearby, and that was the end of that.
I dedicated the following day – or what remained of it once I woke up – to tying up any loose ends of work. With an early start the next morning, the three of us – Josie from the UK, James from Australia, and I – headed downtown to the station and then embarked on our eight-hour bus ride east, bound for Mthatha and eager to explore… The Wild Coast.