CAPTIVE IN COVENTRY
Reports from behind the lines in the Coventry 'Green-Zone'
Day 1 - Wednesday
Day 2 - Thursday
Day 3 - Friday
Greetings from behind the lines.
SATURDAY MORNING AUG 14:
The Bridge Saturday Morning 6:20 AM
The Situation So Far
It has finally stopped raining. The flood watch has been called off.
Patches of blue sky are evident as cars are rolling across the
bridge this morning.
There is talk that they are building a new parking space up at
the site. Channel 3 news last night at 11PM showed people walking
in mud 6 to 8 inches deep. Vendors and staff were having problems
getting into the site via Pine Hill Rd yesterday where a water
truck managed to get turned over on it's side creating more delays.
Traffic on the Interstate is backed up 30 miles down to St. Johnsbury.
Phishheads know how to use maps because they are getting off the
Interstate way below St. J and filtering up through the smaller
roads. I haven't talked to a single person who has come up all the
way on 91. They are working their way over to Rt. 14 where there
is only a 4 mile backup.
They have even discovered Back Coventry Rd. from Irasburg.
Lisa says there is a line of cars backed up through Coventry
Village proper.
I'm still trying to decide what to do with my ticket.
It's either today or tomorrow. Otherwise it becomes just
another piece of memorabillia.
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
SATURDAY 9:03 AMSgt. Bruce Melendy of the Vermont State Police just announced
on the radio that there is not enough parking space for everyone
and they are telling people that they will be turned away from
the site
They haven't cancelled the show, but it sounds like anyone who
hasn't gotten off the Interstate is screwed. They won't let anyone
else off the Interstate towards the site.
People are already coming up the driveway asking if they
can park here in the field. Karen and I have got to make a decision.
Bummer Man
When the announcement first came over the radio I was surprised
at my reaction. I really felt terrible, like somehow Coventry
had failed everyone who had tried so hard to get here. Even
Emma was upset saying it was just horrible.
We made some calls to the State Police and they basically said
do what ever you want, you're on your own. So we decided to go
with "Park and Walk". I whipped up a quick sign and was down on
the driveway by 9:45. The deal was you could park here as long
as you promised to vote against Bush in the November election
and you made a small monetary contribution to help defray the
cost of all the purple paint we are using up.
But it turns out that Phishheads are a determined bunch.
They figure they've gotten this far, so they might as well go the
whole way. For the rest of the day only one other guy decided to
park. And he was a registered voter who was already committed
against Bush. "This is too easy" said he.
So Emma and Olivia set up the Lemonade Stand again with the added
attraction of bagels and cream cheese this morning and we spent
the whole day watching the "Phishhead Parade", (as Rosa calls it)
listening to and commiserating with their trials and tribulations
as they make their ever winding way towards nirvana at the airport.
Saturday All Day