Yup, central valley. When I worked in Los Angeles I always worked graveyard shift, so we could drive fast. Drove '69 Dodge 440 magnums, a four door rocket ship...

Yep, that's the biggest danger in the scenario I've drawn, because a river only goes one way and you have to follow the river. Any potential stalker knows where you will be in the future, and so can set up a perfect ambush. The smaller the river, the worse the danger from onshore, because not only is he more likely to hit you, but he feels more confident of recovering your gear and so has a stronger incentive to attack.

On a big river like the Mississippi you can get some protection from an ambush by staying near the middle, but then that exposes you more to pirates who have bigger boats, more people and bigger guns than your party.

I love this part:

If "worst come to worst" you would be more worried about military action.
The airforces of the world have a nasty habit of strafing roads and of sinking anything the see on the water too.

Being a landlubber, I have to ask those of you who are more into the water, is there a lugnut rule on the water???

The 7 MVA's, are a good start. Part of my bugout plan involves a boat (IF NEEDED)[b][/b] and I feel water is still safer than the roads!
That reminds me, I need a bigger deck gun on the bow!

What's the lugnut rule?

He who has the most lug nuts, wins (in a collision).

Based on the pattern that used to exist where bigger vehicles had more lug nuts per wheel. Nowadays, there are many exceptions to the rule.

Most or biggest, either way is good...

Never less than 8. Son#1 just had to have 4. If I remove the 5th wheel hitch and tool box/tank it ALMOST fits in the bed of my truck.