From: BAIN STEVENM
Subject: Hey there
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Rob- I just found your stuff on-line. I'm the guy who gave you a beer in
line outside the RH tour opener in Boulder. You told me to check out your
home page, and I finally did. Pretty cool. Take care, -Steve.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 97 12:08:15 -0700
From: "C. Towner"
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Subject: (no subject)
hello brother
not a bad coincidence....my name is
also bob and i have done a fair amount of
thumbing. my only advice is...DONT STOP!
the veiw from a window is no substitute for the
open road. i read some of your stuff and it brought
back some memories i had forgotten.
good luck and safe travel.
bob
(long rifle)
From pat@escher-fitz.com
Fri, 2 May 1997 15:42:33 -0500
From: Al McSparrin (Admarke)
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Legendary,
Sorry it took so long to get to your stuff here. I kinda figured you were an
expert. Also absolutely insane. The reporter on 20/20 who hitched across the
country seemed to think it was safe, too, but I'm a chicken shit. Plus I
absolutely Love my truck, and like to travel with my dogs. I'd apologize for
the KC cops, but I ain't responsible for 'em. I'm going back to read more of
your stuff. I'll talk at ya on dead.net and AT SANDSTONE!!! You love it.
Pat McSparin
Beeeeautiful Kansas City, MO
pat@escher-fitz.com
Date: Wed, 07 May 1997 22:04:25 +0200
From: ttracy@epix.net
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
hey there,
ran into you on I-84 in PA. gave you a lift to Milford. i'm pretty sure you
said you were a rockies fan. i am surprised to be saying that the giants may
actually give them a run for their money. hope you travel safely. enjoy the
warm weather and all it affords...
thom
Date: Wed, 07 May 1997 22:09:13 +0200
From: ttracy@epix.net
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Subject: found it
hey,
me again. the guy who picked you up on I-84 in PA and took you to Milford.
My last message might have gotten lost in cyberspace so i'm resending to
say that i found your site. it's definitely cool. enjoy summer weather and go
SF Giants.
Thom
Date: Thu, 8 May 1997 03:14:56 -0400 (EDT)
From: SaiLeeC@aol.com
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Subject: read your account of connecticut
Sorry you had such a painful time in the state i've called home for the past
20 years or so. Next time through, get in touch - e-mail, thru DNC, or
telepathy (the other 2 methods will probably be more effective, but less fun)
Each of those cities you mention have some decent fun tucked away. Hope you
have time to revise your opinion some day.
Chris L (Twirlin in the nutmeg state)
From adam@inhouse.ca
Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 02:05:22 -0400
From: Adam Shiffman
To:vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Subject: your site is kewl
Just wanted to say, I found your site somehow, and it's really cool...
I toured w/ the GD and now with Phish and some of your tips are great
:)
Thanks!
Adam - adam@inhouse.ca
Toronto, Ontario
btw I'd buy you lunch next time yer in Ontario ;)
Date: Tue, 01 Jul 1997 11:28:20 -0400 (EDT)
From: SCHMIT2_@bentley.edu
Subject: travel offer
Sender: ERIC SCHMITT
Hey Rob. I've been reading your site, and it's some really good stuff.
I live in Natick, MA (my place is about a mile from exit 13 on Pike).
I'm heading to Springfield for Furthur on Friday a.m. If you can
get to Natick, you're welcome to crash/get a lift with me to Spfld.
(508) 653-4976
122 West Central Street (Route 135)
Next to lake
cheers,
eric (schmitt)
From: aucher celine
From: aucher celine
From: "Fred L"
Date: Tue, 01 Jul 1997 11:28:20 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Bimba, Charles (PAC8FL)"
note he doesn't DISAGREE w/ my assessment of FLA , tho?-lr
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
From: pearl204@vermontel.com
From jester@snet.net Thu Aug 7 19:27:33 1997
From: "Damon Thomas"
From jridge@wvu.edu Tue Jul 22 20:41:41 1997
From evelyn.capassakis@us.coopers.com Wed Jul 23 06:26:07 1997
From peace@wedgemountain.com Sat Aug 9 09:38:09 1997
From: Bret Smith
From: "radiant radiant"
From: "Morgan & Jennifer Lee"
From: "Mr. Matthew W. Sutherland"
From: "stacey mitchell"
From dconav@gte.net Sun Nov 2 08:58:32 1997
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 80 06:02:27 UT
From: "cindy anderson"
From jeff_gillespie@vnet.ibm.com Wed Nov 12 08:51:19 1997
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 1997 15:05:19 -0800 (PST)
Oregon:
S.D.:
AZ:
Maine:
Just some thoughts from a fellow hitch hiker/traveler. Thanks for the
i was enjoying your updated info on your
homepage. very accurate from what i've seen with my own eyes.
from: funkyfreaky@hotmail.com
Rob,
I voted for ya, glad your sticking around. I live in Oklahoma City
From: "don miller"
im not sure if im sending this to the right person. i found a site about
hitching and someone named legendary rob was the man in charge. since im on
a public terminal i couldnt connect to his email. so i went looking on site
and found the recuring, to vending mach...,.
so thats about it. many more details but in rush. hope you enjoyed tale.
later, miller
Write to Legendary Rob.
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Okay!
Here's that email address: fredfrank@hotmail.com
Lemme know about the hitch info.
I like what you said before about hitching and no dough. That's the
whole point. Riders are a different story. Rob, why did you choose the
moniker "Legendary?" I don't mind either way; it comes off a little bit
strong. People can sometimes misunderstand that. Guess that's not new
news to you.
Peace.
Subject: hitcher's guide
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 19:08:59 PDT
LROB,
I've looked at the notes in your homepage. The goings-on happen to be
very interesting. Sign me up as a subscriber to your hitchikers guide.
chinese place next to SF library. Sounds tasty.
Thanks, LROB!
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Subject: the net & info- etc....
Good evening.
I read your postings (and the others) on Dead Net. I'm interested in
that website on hitching. Unfortunately, the site was unreachable from
here. The squiggle " ~ " looks a little different on my screen than the
one you list in the address. I dunno.
Anyway, I'd post a message, but I can't bring myself to post 'cause
it's
way too embarassing. I feel naked in the environment and well... only
my
girlfriend - if you know what I mean. I'll have to email you with a
return email address. Sorry none avail yet. Thanks.
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 1997 16:26:39 PDT
Thanks for having reponded. I have hitched at times as well. Non-tour
hitching can be scary. Anyway, I noticed you have responded to email
and
posted on the dnc... while you're on tour? How do you do it?
You seem to know what's going on, so I chose to email you for info. If
this is nothing more than a pester from a stranger, then I offer you an
apology.
I found the Further folder, yet I see little about the details of the
shows and cities. In fact, tidbits are strewn all over the dnc. There
has got to be something better (I hope) ! I understand that there is a
cyber-tent on tour. Is it connected to the dnc? If not, how does one
connect (website) ? Thanks, LROB.
From: SCHMIT2_@bentley.edu
Subject: travel offer
Sender: ERIC SCHMITT
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com, eschmitt@mediaone.net
Hey Rob. I've been reading your site, and it's some really good stuff.
I live in Natick, MA (my place is about a mile from exit 13 on Pike).
I'm heading to Springfield for Furthur on Friday a.m. If you can
get to Natick, you're welcome to crash/get a lift with me to Spfld.
(next to lake
cheers,
eric (schmitt)
To: thelegendary rob
Subject: HIHOWAREYOU!
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 1997 13:41:18 -0400
Well that how they say it in New England at least!! Hope you made it
to
Scranton O.K., hope your getting further!!! See you in Columbus,
Nathan
say's hello!
Later on, Chuck!
From: thelegendary rob[SMTP:vendingmachine@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 1997 3:25 PM
To: Bimba, Charles (PAC8FL); cbimba@erols.com
Subject: RE: Ride to Va Beach!
rite-e-on 202
see in some places other area codes are metro exchanges (not lds) nYC
comes to mind..
'swhy i asked
guess i'll go to the vienna metro station & play it by ear..
later-lrob
From: "Bimba, Charles (PAC8FL)"
To: thelegendary rob
Subject: RE: Ride to Va Beach!
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 14:18:54 -0400
202 is DC area code
----------
From: thelegendary rob[SMTP:vendingmachine@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 1997 1:31 PM
To: Bimba, Charles (PAC8FL); cbimba@erols.com
Subject: RE: Ride to Va Beach!
received message have written down phone# (thank god metro RU$sh
ends
at
8pm (is 202 ld from VA?)-lr
From: "Bimba, Charles (PAC8FL)"
To: thelegendary rob
Subject: RE: Ride to Va Beach!
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 13:14:23 -0400
Come again? If you get this call 202-237-5493 after 8:00pm wed 25
June
From: thelegendary rob[SMTP:vendingmachine@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 1997 12:54 PM
To: Bimba, Charles (PAC8FL); cbimba@erols.com
Subject: Re: Ride to Va Beach!
currently in fairfax, va....
e-mail not as accesible as s.spring....
To: "'vendingmachine@hotmail.com'"
Subject: Ride to Va Beach!
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 12:43:11 -0400
Hang on to yer hat LR.
I need to make a final arraingment with another bro (a pilot who
is
trying to juggle his schedule to get free.) Once I know, I'll
likely
leave tonight, camp at a state park. Or...I'll leave tomarrow
early.
I'm at work now, I'll be back home around 8:00 pm tonight. My
email
at
home is cbimba@erols.com, let me know how I can reach you, I'm in
NW
DC,
so it will be easy to get to you.
Later, Chuck!
Subject: gay bashing, florida bashing, and hate in general
legendary rob:
you are supposed to be family. i thought peace,LOVE, and harmony were
important. reading your impression of florida made me sick. how could
you belittle and be so hateful to other types of people. they may not
believe in the same things deadheads do, but that's even more reason to
try to understand them and not sink to their level. you dissappoint me
and are a dissappointment to the entire family!!!!!!!!
brian
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Subject: hitchiking
rob, just came across your page, its laid out real nice, easy to
read.my
hitchiking days are over. but i'm trying to collect hitchiking stories.
would you be interested in putting a link to my page on yours?
http://www.vermontel.com/~pearl204/thumb.html take care jeff
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 1997 22:28:30 -0400
To: freaks@ax.com
From: jester
Subject: Re: jj, pittsburgh lodging ankle bells & hitchiking
Cc: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Rob!
Heh heh heh! Man, no matter what anyone says, I'm standing by you man!
That was indeed me who spotted you at the Pok gig for your trip... hope more
Freaks helped out... I think it's a tad "obsessive," but if you're a great
fan, and have waited -- damn, the road is open before you! :) What you're
doing is freedom man, and trust me, as much as some of us might say amongst
ourselves, "gee, that dude is freakin' weird," it's partially out of
envy --
as we're mostly all anchored into jobs and families, and you're out
living a
dream. Trust me, under different circumstances, I'd be out there on
the
road with ya, my friend! Keep truckin' ;)
Hey, and good luck getting to the rest of the gigs -- especially those
west
coasters! Man, if you make every gig -- you truly will be a legend! :)
Cheers,
JJ (toking up at home where it's safe... ;)
At 12:34 PM 08/07/1997 -0700, you wrote:
hi,
i'm 'anklebell-boy'
and i just want to communiacate a few thoughts:
1 (i believe jj spotted me 5$ to see the dc gig so he's not uncool)
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 09 Aug 1997 07:41:56 PDT
hey lr, I was reading your web page today and noticed you had come
through fort follins not too long ago, shit man if I'd a know you were
comin to town I could have hooked you up, E-mail me next time you come
through these here parts. -damon
Date: Tue, 22 Jul 1997 23:38:19 -0400
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
From: Jenny Ridge
Subject: just passing thru
I hope you made it to the Fish show. I took your advise and took a
look
at the Grateful Dead page. I wanted to take a look at your
book, you mentioned it was on this page, but I only found the under
construction sign. In case you have no clue who could be sending
you this message, I droppped you off in Rockville on Saturday. I hope
you
got to the next stop on your schedule.
Stay warm,
Jenny Ridge
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Mime-Version: 1.0
From: "Evelyn Capassakis"
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 97 09:22:44 PDT
DQo9PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT 09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09DQpFdmVs
eW4gQ2FwYXNzYWtpcywgQ29vcGVycyAmIE x5YnJhbmQgTC5MLlAuIChVUykNClRlbDogKDIx
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IEhvdyBkbyBJIGdldCB0aGVyZSBmcm9tIH Rvd24/ICBBbSBJIGJldHRlciBvZmYganVzdCBy
ZW50aW5nIGEgY2FyPyAgVGhhbmtzIGZvci B5b3VyIGhlbHAuICBFdmVseW4=
Date: Sat, 09 Aug 1997 09:39:19 -0700
From: peace
the legendary rob
Subject: On the Road with The Furthur Festival
Folks it's hard to put into words the feeling of gratitude and love
felt
throughout the tour shows we attended the last few weeks.I want to
thank
you for watching us fumble our way across this wonderful country of
ours.The tour had everything...stress,thunderstorms,LOTS of Love and
understanding.Kindness,some typical hatred toward hippies(I hate to use
that word but I must)from "straights"..bizarre happenings,happy
happenings,.And MOST of all YOUR kind support.......
Lets show the Furthur folks that we support them in their endevours in
the future by sending them eMail in support of Furthur in ANY form!!
Thank-You from the bottom of my heart!!!
Peace be with you always!
Peace,Love,Happiness
Peace...
aka Claude McDaniel
P.S. when the going gets tough we twirl!!!
CHOW brothers and sisters....Till next year
From: "blondie stargaze"
...why are you so cranky when you are so smart at the same
time?
hi rob,
who put the buzz in your barley?
i really loved your pages...hmmmm.
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Subject: thumbs up on the page, man
X-URL: http://www.pcpros.net/~gator/OTR13.html
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Nothing really, saw yer posts on Dead Net Central and clicked your
page. No time to read now, but you're now a bookmark!
Lemme know when SE Mich hits your airwaves again,
ann Arbor can be
fun. Happy trails, bro.
BP
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: hitchinLR
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 19:44:22 PDT
LR,
Hey, your site is really great. practical, and a very entertaining
read.
i hope to use it sometime in the near future. keep it up.
radiant
To:
Subject: Hitchhiking page
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 1997 16:13:45 -0000
LRob--
Just had to tell you that I wandered over to your hitchhiking across
America page & read your entry on Florida. I am so sorry to tell you
just
how right you are. We've lived here for a little more than 2 years
and
the only thing redeeming it is the climate in the winter time. But
even
that's getting old. White trash state indeed!! I have never met more
stupid people at one time in my entire life!!! I think it may have
something to do with the sun killing brain cells....
See you around...
-Jennifer Lee
To:
Subject: Mexico
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 1997 01:19:02 -0400
Re:"anybody been to mexico"
been there, went in at nogalis, got a ride, breakfast and fifty U.S.
dollars on first try.
don`t ask for directions, it`s allways down two blocks and take a
right!
The further i got from the border, the friendlier the people got.
The best part was everyone wanted to help, the pay aint great but I
could
make five dollars last two days.
If you can, try to go to purto escandito or further. You`ll learn to
crack
coconutz but not how to get banana stains out of clothes. Oh, bring
your
own hammack, hide yer cash, bring a spare liver, pack lite ( don`t be a
tourest), and have fun.
ps. the cops can be bought but I wouldn`t try it with a federali,
(unless he asked).
Cheers................ Uncle Travelin` Matt
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 16:00:51 PDT
Rob,
I stumbled onto your webpage with glee. I just did my first big
tripp...a bus to Va and hike/'chike to rockymount. I brought dried
fruit, a tent a sleeping bag and some odds and ends. I gave half my
rations to a homeless man without regret and partied with strangers.
One
guy let me wash my clothes, sleep on his couch, and bathe out of pure
kindness. (I'll admitt I was hesitant at first to accept his
offer...but
the next night was cold and rainy.) I left him a care package of five
dallors (with a kind note) and left in the morning. I walked for many
miles. I kept telling my story and people gave $10 on a regular
basis...
finally I got a ride with a trucker for 100 miles. We talked
alot...played with the cb. Every morning I awoke to the birds and sun
and trees I was more content than I had ever been, but resolved to take
a friend for company next time. It all took under two weeks It was My
personal survival test. I also spent a month homeless in pa. Me and my
sister both...then I got my first apartment and jobs to support it.
THAT
was more miserable than homelessness, which wasn't....
CrOwScAw (Stacey)
From: Chris
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Subject: Howdy Head!!
Howdy Head ...!!
Chris from California here i dont know if i have met ya afore.
but i like to make it a habbit pick up the nomadic wanderer...usually
when i was on tour followin the Dead..(Missin Jerry)...and ill always
pick up a head in a tie-die even if i dont have enough room to make the
trip humane ...but when its 3:30 am on Hwy 9 in Santa cruz in the
middle
of winter a ride in a sardeen can would be welcome!!.dont get me wrong
id pick up a guy in a suit if he wanted a lift..but ya dont see much of
that..:-)..gotta run...i like your page and will link your page to mine
if you dont mind...well have a Grateful day.
Bye now!!
Subject: ripping on Idaho
I just wanted to write and tell you that if that was your impression on
Idaho
when you traveled through it I am deeply sorry. I have traveled to many
states
and have yet to find one that is more beautiful or laid back and
peaceful than
any other state in the country. Not everybody is mormon and I don't
think
after living here for more than 19 years have ever met a white
supremacist,
but I have met the nicest people here, unlike people from the east
coast and
calif., and personaly I an glad that we don't have mass transit, all
you need
is a bike and a pair of legs, because people around here are
environmentaly
aware.
courtesy of: jeff_gillespie@vnet.IBM.COM
Venues.
Variety Playhouse in Little 5 Pts. great place to see a band. Old movie
theatre converted into a bandhall. Get your Juju Beans annd Rolling
Rock
at the Munchie Counter before heading to the dancefloor. Great sound
small, does not hold tons of people. good bnads play there fairly
often,
and you can go to the Euclid St Yacht Club afterwards for a purple haze
on tap, and some interesting conversations.
MARTA
Lately marta has been really scary. 4 shootings 5 beatings and even
more
robberies in the last week and a half. They have "stepped" up the
security supposedly. But from riding marta lately all the security is
in the buckhead/Intown/Midtown area and not the surrounding areas. You
mentioned College Park. well that is where on of the murders have taken
place, and is now rated as #2 as the least safe marta stop.
Oh and fro the hitchhiker looking fro great grub for under $5.50 go to
EATS on Ponce De Leon right across from the Old City Hall. Best Jerk
Chicken in town, and great pasta and you can get a half a chik black
beans and rice and a drink for sid amount. good grubs!
Hey you dont mind the info. Hope it helps somewhat.
GJG
From: Steven Ockerbloom
Subject: Some hitch hiking thoughts
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Read your hitch hiking page and really enjoyed looking through some
of the state descriptions. Some added thoughts about states which you
can add/disregard, do with as you will.
Although I-5 is the fastest, I'd suggest taking Rt. 101 by the coast.
You get all the tourists (usually Californians) who are going a long
distance so a lot of times you can get ride through the whole state.
Plus the view's nice. Then just get off at Rt.6 in Tillamook for a
straight shot to Portland and on up. (I wouldn't suggest going any
further north on Rt. 101 as it doesn't go much of anywhere else except
to the fairy to Victoria (about $6.50 one way) and a lot of times your
tourists stop traveling at that point.
You're right there really is nothing. As I've kidded with other
people: forget cruise control, try steering control. You could fall
asleep for a two hour nap and when you wake up you'd still be on the
same side of the road. In any event, one addition I'd make is Wall
Drug in the town of Wall. Wall Drug is not a drug store, it's your
grandma's attic gone commercial. They have (as they like to brag) all
the unusual thing you can imagine: 20 ft. Jackalope, 25 cent puppet
bands, free coffee to Newlyweds, you know the usual. Best part is that
after 9 PM you can sneak in easy at the back of the complex for a good
sleep (just make sure you get up at sunrise)
If you're going to hitchhike from Southern CO to Flagstaff via norther
Arizona, NEVER accept a ride part way. The towns that the map say
exist, don't. Most of the time it's an abandoned shack. If the town
does exist, it's so dirt poor that no one goes anywhere anyway. You're
much safer to wait out in a place that has people and some shelter
rather than die of heat (or cold) and get robbed.
Best truck stop in Maine is in Bangor Maine (just ask any local where
it is and they'll all know where to go) Convinient for many reasons.
First of all, ALL trucks stop there and it's great for catching rides
either straight through to Boston or sneaking in to NB Canada. (Hey my
ex-girlfirend went to the truckstop right after the prom, so you know
it's the only god damn place in town)
homepage again
Steve
sockerbl@mail.yahoo.com
that's
really something else. take care brother.
I was in Mexico. Spent a couple weeks in Baja. Took the ferry to
Mazatlan. Spent a couple weeks in San Blas, south of Mazatlan. Prices are sickly cheap. For $8 a day you can live like a phat king. Eat lots of fish. Huge sea fish and shrimp with all the fixings and a beer for $3.
I'd love to tell you more.
E-mail:
Telliot@luc.edu
your review of it is interesting for a local to read. You have obviously been thru here a few times , your observations are pretty much right on. Do you like lakes ? Lake Murray and Lake of the Arbuckles are right off of I-35 near Ardmore. And when in Norman check out Jungle Jims on campus corner. Head owned and operated.
Tony.
To: vendingmachine@hotmail.com
Subject: is this rob?
Date: Thu, 05 Aug 1999 13:57:55 PDT
point is, if this is rob then i got a response to question on folks going
to mex recent.
i'd been awol from army about a couple weeks and was just siting around my
moms house drinking w/friends waiting for my perfunctatory "con on the lam"
time to expire before turning myself in to authorities and getting out of
army official. so i decided to go to mex.
a friend of my moms grew up in san diego and has friends there still. so
moms made me promise to stop in on 'em while i was out there. she was
worried about my safety i imagine. i wasnt going to but by the time i got
to cali, a day and a half later than i was supposed to due to inumerable
problems with the big grey dog and snowstorms in north texas!, i went
anyway. four days on the bus is taxing. i had taken it outta cincinnati,
where i'd hitched to from waverly ohio a mere 100 miles away. have friend
there to see for a day or so.
but im finally in san diego and clean and fresh from sleep on couch when i
head into tijuana to jump off my backpaking trip thru baja. my couch
benefactor drives me across the border and shows me all the dentists, body
shops, bars, liqour outlets, street whores and pharmacias lining round
revolucion. he tells me how to order a beer, "une serveca" (or some shit
like that) and leves me in that filthy border town. now, for any who may
read this dont use it to look down on our neighbors to the south. many
border towns of many nations have similar problems. in a world og unnatural
borders and unhappy people on either side, you find many undesirables
lining these areas.
i decide, after finding a room for the night as i waited for a bus to
rosarito in morning, ($14 for room, couldve done better but was not yet
haggle friendly. near everything in mex is haggle-able.) to buy bottle of
tequilla, drink some alone and then head out to meet the night all the
while saving money on beer in bars. figured i'd have a few after that and
go back to room for few hours sleep. well, i drank more than i thought i
did and later awoke in the gutter, literally. dark, wet and dirty were
things that tijuana night and i shared. i started walking back to motel but
found i couldnt find it. up and down revolucion i went to no avail. i'd
forgotten that i'd gotten a room just off the main strip. after about and
hour of walking i noticed my feet were cold, i looked down and realized i
was no longer wearing my hiking boots. i've been pretty fucked up before
and came to in some odd circumstances in some even odder places, but never
before then had i lost footwear. thats a manually demanding job, removing
tightly laced boots. i decided to figure it out in the morning when things
would most assuredly be clearer. finally i found my room. when i reached to
top of the stairs and went for my key, guess what, it was gone too. i did a
quick check. no jewerly, no wallet, no pocket money, no knife, and as i've
said no key or boots. shit! the only things i owned were on the other side
of that door and i knew no one there. whats worse, i had no way of paying
the clerk for his lost key. he would assureadly keep my possesions. i did
the only thing i could think of, i kicked the door in. after peeling off my
filthy and torn socks i placed the t.v. (which had been damaged when i
kicked on door. fallen off stand and busted, small rooms. very small.),
nightstand and backpack against door in hopes that if anyone came checking
i'd atleast hear them coming. i slept, for how long im unsure but not long.
survival mode woke me when it was still dark. surveying the damage i saw
the shattered t.v., the whole in plaster where door locking mechanism had
flown across room and imbeded itself into, large splinter on floor i had
pulled out of foot right after i kicked in door, trash from previous night
and my socks.
i had sandals in my bag and put those on quickly. after i could find no
other exit from the motel labyrinth, and it was just that--for good reason
it seems, i quickly strode out the entrance/exit. small mexican man comes
running and shouting after me, "senior, senior! uhh... key! key!", "on
t.v.!" he turned and scurried back into motel, i turned and ran, heavy ass
ruck and all. after many twists and turns of the streets so as to avoid
capture, i found myself hopelessly lost in the mirk and mire of pre-dawn
tijuana. after many failed attepmts to converse with the locals on the
street, i spoke no spanish and it would seem that fewer of them spoke
english than i was lead to believe, i found a man who agreed to show me the
way to the border, he was going there himself. he damn near ran all the way
and in my state i was not in a manner to easily follow. but we finally got
to the border. in line at customs, less than 24 hours before entering the
country begining my grande mexican odyssey, i was going back to u.s., where
things made sense and my shoes didnt vanish w/o a trace. and american who
lives in rosarito (the town i was supposed to be kicking off journey in)
and works in san diego was just behind me. while telling him of my tales he
was first one to put to me possibility that i'd been mugged. what joy! shit
was starting to make sense. after he purchased me a trolley ticket back
into san diego, ood thing as it was the only time that trolley cops asked
me for one the whole 3 weeks i was there and using it and also the only
time i wouldve been without one if asked, we talked a little more and fell
silent. (((running short of time so have to cover last of story quick)))
found many bruises and cuts on body. hurt for days. hade money wired from
mom as she feared for safety and well being hitching home broke. after
postal $-order arrived i was going thru bag and what do i find? wallet! i
rememered, i had put it there for safe keeping before heading out. most of
my money was still there. if i'd known i wouldve kept going. but was
commited to returning to ohio to satisfy moms worries. bought bus ticket
for couple weeks later and blew the rest on books and whatnot while there.