So rob goes to the Vince show on Mardi Gras (which empties out around 2 am), thoroughly enjoys himself, then faces the dilemma of having to be awake by 5 am to catch the Amtrak Thruway bus out of S.F. to Tahoe at 6am.

Walking in S.F. at 3 am is a weird scene, man.

Now remember, rob's got a ticket good for TWO people but he can't find anyone who wants to go.

Anyway, Thruway bus across the bridge: TOTAL LUX!

Not as many seats as a Greyhound and, more importantly, NO GREYHOUND PEOPLE!

Transfer to the *BRAND NEW* Amtrak California capitol line to SAC - (it's only 11.00 +1.50 if you jump in SAC and go tothe corner of Auburn / Whyte & I-80 on SAC rt (citibus) BTW).

5 car train maybe 100 people *QUIET* !!!!! big ++++++++++++++ !!!!!!!!

then Thruway BUS TO South Lake Tahoe which is 30 mile SOUTH of where Merl's playin' BUT the driver drops me off in Tahoe City anyway!

I don't get it: how come a RAILROAD can run a bus system better than a bus company?

Amtrak ONE OF 2 or 3 federal programs that are actually worth the $$

THE BAD: while I'm in Tahoe City a midsize black dog darts across the street and gets hit by a red Jeep Cherokee (which DID NOT STOP *SHAME*).

rob sees the dog isn't hurt too bad but to make sure calls the dogs vet on a nearby payphone (cuz the motel won't let you use theirs - even for a hurt puppydog...)
Long story short - while I'm doin' that somebody steals my sleepin' bag!

So I blow off the Merl shows...

Lows in the 20's predicted...

I get to truckee and get a new one gifted from a benefactor.

P.S. the LONG's drug store chain, a CALIFORNIA CHAIN, gave rob a discount on new one when they heard what had happened so thanx are due to Long's Drugs / and the people of 'Truckee' California...
(I should mention that the CA89 I-80 exit there is a good Reno bound hitchin' exit - it also has a 7-11, a laundrymat, and you can still get the SAC paper for 50 cents (it's 60 in Reno)
(it's STILL a better paper than Reno's)).

As we truck thru Nevada rob sets a record - he spends a grand total of 25 cents on video poker at the Winner's Corner convenience store at exit 19
(the least he's EVER spent on the games in NV). He WON too - a whole 40 cents ;)
Shouldn't a went for that 4 of a kind when I had a full house waiting...

On EXIT 19 (in Sparks - rob is on the ramp - it''s pitch dark and sonuva gun he gets aride!)

BUT some guy who doesn't have the WIT to hitch w/sleeping bag has walked halfway up the ramp behind rob's back and juumps in the MAZDA pickup...

Homey ALSO smokes while we're pumping GAS... oy vey...

See, etiquette dictates if you see somebody else on the ramp - you ask if you may join them. If they say yes OK, if not, STAY OFF THE RAMP 'TIL THEY SPLIT!

People like the above give hitchin' a bad name...

Generally tho most other hitchikers have LINEAR thought processes and can grasp these simple concepts.

THE REST OF THE STORY: feet touched the ground at the Wolf Mtn exit for 20 minutes (not counting sleep).

ID check on city streets of RAWLINS (well we check EVERYBODY - unless of course you DRIVE).

Reason given 'people w/warrants usually hitchike cuz they can't get jobs' huh? You can't hold down a job w/a warrant? News to me!!!!!

Translation: "if you don't drive we don't want you here" and why didn't you take some form of public transport?

Because greyhound is SLOW, FILTHY, EXPENSIVE, and doesn't go thru Wyoming in the first place!

And FLY into DIA? It costs less to ride the space shuttle!

Oh yeah, thanx to 'Logger' in 'Wamsutter' Wyoming who asked me why I was going to Denver and I said to 'vend newspapers' while I wait on the rh tour...(I was telling the truth - wait a minute).

'Logger' let me crash his pad
and mentioned something of interest for those who are qualified:

drilling rigs in the Wamsutter, Wyoming area need hands desperately.

It pays roughly a grand a week to qualified people. You work 7 days on & 7 days off, IT IS DANGEROUS but it pays well...
it's ALSO COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLD & windy & wet...

Wamsutter is on I-80 between Rock Springs & Rawlins...

So anyhoo, I catch a ride from Rawlins STRAIGHT TO DENVER!

I get dropped off on Saturday at approximately 4:56 pm (this is important) by exit 278 on I-70 (near the SAPP BROS truckstop - expensive but they have (get this: INTERNET ACCESS! 5.00 buy-in).

Anyhoo while I'm walkin' down the ramp there is a stack of early Sunday Denver Posts there - people see me and keep asking me for them so I figure what the hell, I'll just give the money to the truck driver for the guy who should be there when he gets here.
Well rob talks to the rt pickup guy and winds up sellin' papers Sunday afternoon!

Here's the way the DENVER POST does it: WEEKENDS ONLY 50 cents per paper vendor commission + 10 dollar bonus for staying til pickup (the NEWS picks up at 2pm - the Post at 3-4:30.
SUNDAY ROCKY MTN NEWS VENDORS also get 50 cents commission but NO BONUS - the news sells more copies though...

Here's the way the NEWS does it on weekdays: vendor receives 25 cents commission + 10 dollars bonus for staying 'til 8:45.

A couple of marshaling points: (there are others - call the paper you wish to work for's single copy sales dept. and inquire as to the neighborhood of interest)...

DENVER POST Sat & Sun early Sunday / Sunday edition: Colfax & Pennsylvannia Mcdonald's "RESTARAUNT" 7-7:30 am (if you establish a corner you can arrange drop and get up a lil later).

rocky mtn news: m-f 16th and curtis 5:30 am (the ticket bus on 16th st pedestrian mall) both of the above marshaling points are seved by the #15 bus
BTW it's hard to catch a bus to downtown denver by 5:30 am but a #65 makes the connection from the 'stapleton transfer station in the old airport) you can also successfully make it from the southmoor park & ride at 'hampden & i-25'or the bradway/i-25 light rail stn...

So rob made it to Denver in time for tonights Dave Matthews show...
Hmmm robs never seen Dave Matthew LIVE before...!

A bETTER CHEAPER TRUCK STOP IN DENVER: PILOT @ I-70 & YORK RD

(#24 bus) it's THE place to buy good Cobra CBs...

Trip coolness: 100-2 for the sleeping bag thing - but it may have been a favor as this one is better anyhoo...

On rob's journey he found out that the washoe county (reno, NV) internet browser is only accessible from homes - this is somewhat akin to going to the library and only being allowed to read books you already own...

more later...