Hello,
I bought and read your book (“How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It”) and have read several sections of your blog, but I’m having a lot of trouble finding an item you mentioned several times – “defensive road cables”. I have Googled this exact term and all I get is your article quoted over and over. Can you please send me a link or two or three where I can buy these or other info that will help me find them. Thanks. – M.B.V.
JWR Replies: To block vehicle traffic from roads, I was referring to 1/2″ to 5/8″ diameter steel cable and cable clamps to fit the same. These are available at any logging or machinery supply company. They are set 18″ to 24″ above the ground, and locked with large padlocks. If large trees are not already growing in suitable locations for attachment, then you should set stout steel posts in concrete. Used lengths of standard gauge railroad track work well. You can use a cutting torch to punch holes through the thin (side) sections, to thread through the cable. After the cable clamps are positioned and tightened, you should braze or weld a blob on each bolt and nut end, to prevent the nuts from being loosened.
An important proviso: As previously mentioned in my blog and per widely-accepted military doctrine, any obstacle that is not within line of sight (and line of fire) of your retreat’s defenders will only serve as a brief delay—not a true obstacle to advance.