Overview of November 17:
Another day of walking the empty desert brings the journeymen to a small, apperantly abandoned asphalt plant late in the day. Here the group splits up, some going into Palmyra with Robin, for what is supposed to be a short visit with his wife, Nancy; the others go back to camp. The first group ends up staying in Palmyra for the night.
Back in camp, still near T-2, a deluge of rain falls on the journeymen. For much of the night the journeymen rigg and re-rigg protection for the electronic equipment of the tech-crew as the rain soaks through the canvas tents. And then they rigg and re-rigg protection for themselves, grumbling all the while about those staying warm and dry in Palmyra.