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For two weeks of my month chasing storms in the Plains in the spring of 1998, I was with Cloud 9 Tours. Charles Edwards, Jim Leonard, Casey Crosbie and R.J. Evans acted as guides. Other folks on the tour were Becky Bartley, John Guyton, Peter Harris, George Kourounis, Bob Le Mons, Dave Lewison, Jeffrey Rowley, Steve Smithson, Tom Warner and Barbara Zettlemoyer. Our shadows were a National Geographic Television crew, with producer John Bredar, videographer Dave Linstrom, sound maven Stacy Hruby, and Andy Mitchell. Here are some snapshots from the road.

Stacy buttonholes Charles with a microphone.	Kenny of "South Park" is held hostage on the back of one of the two vans.

Jim and Casey scan the skies for potential storms.	(From left) George, RJ and Dave Lewison try a more unconventional method of calling up storms -- making squeaky noises with grass blades. (Taken from video.)

Becky, from Ohio, and Steve, from England, kindly pose for a picture.	National Geographic's John B. allows RJ to be his hands while Bob (left) translates, in sign language, John's description of how to shoot endless drive-bys of chase vehicles. (From video.)

Charles climbs a tree to better survey tornado damage in Lamont, Oklahoma. Next time, he'll have film in his camera.	It's not a DilloCam, but it sure is a 'dillo, and it's the right color. Paint by Becky.

Tremendous excitement greets another sunny day. From left: John G., George, Becky, Peter, Jeffrey and Steve.	On a bust day in Wichita Falls, Texas, chasers -- er, rather, storm connoisseurs -- Al Pietrycha and Matt Biddle spar in another funny witfest.

Bob shows off his inimitable fashion sense.	Masters of the grill: Jim Leonard and John G.