Day 66 - Here comes the rain...

This is the first day on this trip where I've tried to hitchhike in the rain. It's likely going to be the last, based on my experience.

I started a bit later than originally intended. Not very excited by the idea of standing in the rain. Two miles of walking got me to the freeway, then I caught a quick ride with an older couple out to the nearest truckstop, 7 miles west of town. Opposite direction from where I wanted to go, but probably the best place to hitch from within 50 miles or more.

With the constant drizzle, I made a decision: either I would get a ride of a hundred miles or more, or I'd stay put, head back to Ann Arbor in the morning, and catch a ride with Jeff back down to Toledo in the evening. It's cold out already, I'm not going to risk a cold and a wet night outdoors if I don't have any reason to. With that in mind, I set out a sign that said 'Boston,' and spent the next 6 hours trying for a ride that didn't come.

I'm not very surprised by that, though. I feel that I get rides primarily because people look at me and feel like I'm a safe individual. They feel that way because of the way I dress and the expressions on my face. Because of the rain I wore a poncho that covered most of my clothes, a beanie and hood that covered most of my head, and gloves on hands that were normally under the  rain gear anyways. I wasn't giving out any more information than where I was headed, and that I was wet as a dog who'd jumped in a lake. I was not the model of someone you'd invite into your car.

Come six, it was obvious I wasn't going anywhere. New sign for Ann Arbor, a break in the rain that let me take off the poncho, and 10 minutes of waiting and I was off with a 17 yo guy and his mother. Awesome people who were going to drop me off at the McDonalds and head home, and then we started talking about couchsurfing. An hour, a meal, a facebook invite, and a great conversation later, we parted ways. Then it was back to Jeff and Kirsten's apartment, and time for a wonderful, warm evening full of food, cats, and quadsuits.

Trip Stats:
Distance Traveled:
Total Time: 10 hours
Google Time:
# of Rides: 3
Total Cost: $1.80

Day 60 - The benefits of anonymity

Because of the fact that I'm a hitchhiker, and people know that they will likely never see me again, and I'll never see them either, I'm told many things that would generally not come up when two people first meet. Examples include sexual preference, prison time, legal status, and more. Today, it was the drug trade.

This isn't the first time I've been in close contact with drug dealers on this trip (I've met more than a few people who traffic in illegal drugs, either on a regular basis or from time to time). It was, however, the first time I've (presumably, as I saw nothing) been in very close proximity to a  number of illicit drugs. It was also the first time I've been able to have an extended conversation about them, how they're acquired, how they're sold, and what sort of income can be made through them. Without detailing the answers in this blog post, I'll just say that in two runs per month, this person has a higher annual income than I'm likely to have for years, more than what I hope to someday raise a family on.

I also find it interesting that a number of the people I've met who trade in drugs don't use them in their own lives. The drug business is a shady thing, I do believe. For most drugs, the only purpose is to make money. It's a sad, sad thing.

Trip Stats:
Total Distance:
Total Time: 7 hours
Google Estimate:
# of Rides: 2
Total Cost: $9.90

Day 58 - Situation Normal

Different cities have different draws. Sometimes it's a building, sometimes it's a feeling, sometimes it's just because it's there. For others, a chance to connect with a friend. Bloomington / Normal, Illinois was for exactly that. But, as usual, there was more to find and discover.

 

I came here to visit with Allie, a friend from my time at HKU. I also had the chance to see two university campuses, an old one room school house, and do some geocaching. Overall, a day well spent.

Day 55 - Gateway to the West

...or in my case, Gateway to the East.

A two hitch day, and an excellent one. My first ride came from Chris, a retired firefighter turned commercial truck driver. A fall through a staircase while on the job cost him his mobility in one arm, but it doesn't see to have done much to dampen his spirits or his faith. He was positive, friendly, and when he found out that the recipient of his delivery was going to be a bit delayed, he took a detour to show me the access point to a caving attraction. He mentioned that he'd seen me the day before at the Flying J, but had to hurry to make a delivery and wasn't able to give me a lift. Today there wasn't nearly the constraint, and I'm glad for it. It's fun running into people a second time, even if I had no idea :)

My second ride was with an awesome Ukrainian family. Not only did they get me from the outskirts into town, but they took me right into Forest Park, home of free museums, the St. Louis Zoo, and the Muny (America's oldest and largest outdoor musical theater). Their families had each moved to St. Louis from Ukraine years ago, where they later met. Now they have three children, all of whom are very friendly, especially the one who shares my name!

St. Louis itself is also proving to be a blast. I had three hours, and only made it through the art museum, and that a rather quick pace. It's much more than what I would generally expect from something that you don't have to pay to enter. It's supported primarily by city funds, adding to the yearly taxes of those in the area. But, as my couchsurfing host said, the amount that is paid per person is so small, and the use and pleasure that is received by virtually all of the city is so great, that even if people only go once a year it's very easy to justify the cost. Imagine if every city thought that way. I've been impressed with the amount of public art that I've seen in some locations, and I can only imagine that it would be even better with more.

Can't say too much more about the city just yet, but more to come! I'm hoping for some time at the zoo tomorrow, which is ranked #1 on in the Midwest and #3 in the nation. And to think...it won't cost me, or anyone else who enters, so much as a penny to see it.






Trip Stats:
Total Distance: 213 miles
Total Time: 6 hours
Google Estimated Time: 3:39 hours
# of Rides: 2
Total Cost: $0.00

Day 52 - Not All Highways Are Helpful

I generally like smaller two lane highways, because people often go slow and pick you up quick. Today was not that sort of day. I spent about 7 hours going roughly 60 miles. Every ride but the first and last required a nearly two hour wait time. Yet I still got where I wanted to go.

My first ride came from Danny, a retired psychiatric nurse and Navy vet who enjoys fishing. His preferred fish to catch is catfish, and he's caught a 76 pound catfish with 10 lb line and an ultralight rod. It took a few hours to wear it out, apparently. Not like in the olden days, when he and his grandfather would use dynamite or an old crank telephone. The phone trick I'd never heard of: apparently these old phones had a crank generator on them, and if you stuck the two lines into the water it would stun the fish long enough for them to float to the top and then be caught. Didn't kill them, though.

Second ride was with Jimmy, who along with his dog Christie was heading out to the lake to let her play in the water. He said it was too bad that his wife had decided to stay home that day, if she was there they'd probably have decided to just drive the whole way to Tulsa just for kicks :)

Brian got me as far as Beto Junction, where the highway connects to the interstate. Then he was off on his way and I was on the road again. Fred picked me up next, a former Marine who'd served three tours in Iraq and had worked for the National Guard as an instructor. He told me that when he returned from his last tour in Iraq, he took his motorcycle and spent eight and half months touring around North America, his self-treatment for PTSD. It was just what he needed, and it gave him the chance to see everything he'd ever wanted to.

C------ got me through to Burlington, a city that Fred had warned me I should avoid because of an upper class snootiness and distrust of hitchhikers and anyone outside of the status quo. He was on his way to an addiction recovery center, one of several that he attends as he tries to get himself off of a number of earlier addictions. 18 days clean and counting, so congratulations to him! He was a great guy, and I hope he's able to get himself to where he wants to be.

Ted had stopped by on his way north, letting me know that he could take me a ways down the road when he was headed back home, and I was welcome to have dinner and spend the evening if I'd like. He ended up meeting me in Burlington, just a bit south of where we'd met. We headed to his house first to refresh on water and so I could check out the building (which was quite cute, and only cost $27,000!). Since there was an hour left in the day, though, I decided that I'd try thumbing it a bit longer, though I'd only take a ride if they were going all the way into Oklahoma. 

I'm glad I did. Joe was a very friendly truck driver who already had one hitchhiker, David, in the car. They were on their way to Texas, and would be going straight through Tulsa. And so, less than 20 minutes after starting out, I had the last 2/3 of my route covered. Those two were a riot, it was great to sit ion the bed in the back of the cabin and listen to them banter back and forth. We also managed a good bit of food sharing: Joe's cookies, David's cinnamon rolls, and my carrots. 

And so, 10 hours after I started, I made it to Darren's house in Tulsa. Too late for the amazing home cooked dinner that he'd hoped to make for me, there was still some leftover Israeli couscous with pesto and Parmesan that he could offer, and it was delicious.

Trip Stats:

Total Distance: 226 miles

Total Time: 10 hours

Google Estimated: 4:07 hours

# of Rides: 6

Total Cost: $0.00

Day 51 - Surprises of the Midwest

The Midwest: A massed region that is thought to be full of hicks and more conservative people with dull, boring accents. These are bigotted, narrow-minded people from other regions who say this.  --Urban Dictionary


You know, when I first headed out into the midwestern states, I wasn't expecting much at all. My expectations weren't quite as low as above, but...well, I expected that I'd leave feeling one day had been enough. Virtually every place I've visited has proved to deserve more time than I could give it, and Omaha, NE is no exception. This city is amazing.


First, the architecture. The number of turn of the century buildings is incredible, if understandable. That so many of them have been renovated and continue forward, be it in their original purpose or otherwise, is wonderful. The Omaha Building, an example of the Italian Renaissance style, was beautiful. My favorite, however, was the Old Market Passageway. A three story alley that's been repurposed into a beautiful atrium space for galleries, wine tasting, and design-oriented firms, it's incredibly well done, comfortable, and inviting. The Old Market area in general is very well done, obviously targeted at tourists but in a very welcome way. Oh, and the more modern buildings like the Union Pacific Center are worth a peek as well. It might not be as flashy as Gehry's work, but very well done nonetheless. 


Second, the art. Walking through the Gene Leahy Mall (think National Mall, not Mall of America) was a treat. Lots of modern art and sculpture, a landscape that makes use of water in a number of clever ways, and what appears to be a bridge that turns out to be a giant slide. The galleries in the Old Market were full of wonderful works by local artists. Sculpture could also be found around the more modern buildings. 


I'm also told that the music scene is incredibly good, though I can't speak to it myself. The Omaha Zoo is said to be well worth a visit, as is the Joslyn Art Museum. I hear that having a steak out here isn't a bad idea, either. Whatever way you look at it, though, Omaha is a place to come back to.


Hitch Notes


Only one ride today, but what a great one! The dean of the music department of Kansas University took me all the way to the Brown vs. Board of Education Museum in Topeka, Kansas. A Texan who has also lived in Utah and is familiar with Pocatello, Idaho, he was a friendly and very knowledgeable driver. I have a small set of notes of people and places to research courtesy of him, and perhaps an architect to meet in Louisiana. 


Trip Stats:
Total Distance: 144 miles
Total Time: ~3 hours
Google Estimate: 2:42 hours
Total Spent: $1.23

Day 50 - Why I Avoid Cities

Goodbye Iowa!

Now, don't misunderstand that title. I love cities. They have tall buildings, lots of culture, and are generally awesome. However, they're pretty miserable if you need to hitchhike through them.

Today's hitching began a little before noon, up in Ames, IA. Darian dropped me off near the interstate, within 20 minutes I had a ride, and I was off to Des Moines. I told my first driver, a union ironworker who's looking into working on a set of wind turbines a few hours east of Ames, and who had worked on the construction of the tallest building in Iowa, that a truckstop might be a good place for me. He knew of one on the east side of town, so he dropped me off there. The locations wasn't bad. Flow pattern wasn't ideal, but overall pretty good. Only trouble was, it was too close to the city. Two hours, and no rides.

Monarch on the road?

Finally, a guy who just got off work from Pizza Hut stopped and picked me up. He was an MP in the Army Reserve, and is studying Criminal Justice at the local university, with the hope to eventually make it up to the position of K9 handler. He was able to drive me to the next truckstop, partway through the city. It looked decent, but was still taking forever!

The next ride I got only took me one exit, to the third and final truckstop of Des Moines. I can't say too much about him, except that he was about my age, had a somewhat messy car, and was a very friendly guy. Quite happy for his help.

I found a park with all of the trees lit from beneath in Omaha.
Pretty...

I waited again, getting a ride from a guy who had also studied Criminal Justice (though he hasn't finished his degree) who was able to take me to the edge of town. Still, a bit of a slow spot. I walked along the freeway for the next mile or two until I got to a rest stop, where I finally caught a ride to Omaha with a man moving from Chicago to Santa Fe with his dog.

The time between getting dropped off in Des Moines and getting my ride out of the city was nearly six hours. If you're wondering why this happened, I can give two reasons: first, the original place I set up had a branching freeway in front of it, meaning passersby were not that likely to be heading to my destination, even when there was a high flow of traffic. Second, people inside of cities are generally only going as far as the next exit, and assume that hitchhikers don't want such a short ride (and often, I don't.) Sadly, these combine to produce long days such as this. Such is the life.

Trip Stats:
Total Distance: 177 miles
Total Time: +9 hrs
Google Estimated Time: 2:59 hrs
# of Rides: 5
Money Spent: $0.00