NEVER TRAIN HOP WITHOUT A WARM SLEEPING BAG

I know. It's been awhile. Still getting through the troubles back home and decided to bomb out of there for a week to clear the air. Caught a freight train out of LaGrande headed south, hoping to get on down to some warmer weather. There is still six inches of snow in the meadow. You'll have to read Moonlight Chronicles 64 to get all the details but just so you know, never count on a destination when riding the rails. In Pocatello Idaho the train took a turn eastwards in the middle of the night and started bombing though super cold high elevation country (7000ft), into Wyoming at about 50 mph. Soon i had all my clothes on, hats, gloves and was even wrapped up in my  15 year old down bag sitting on the little camp pad, and still was getting alarmingly chilled to the bones. Talk about getting your attention! I just talked my way though it and in the morning started checking out automobile license plates, realizing i was'nt seeing Ogden, Utah anywhere. That's how it goes when you ride. You never really know where you might end up. Which can be an interesting way to travel if you have some time on your hands. So now i am in the Rock Springs library and have purchased a bus ticket home. Damn. Just too cold for rail hopping right now. Sure makes me want to do a trip for several weeks and see where it might go. Promise i will do that soon. Will be a great story. In the meantime remember. Like the Boy Scouts, always be prepared. Could have been the end of this old hobo I'm tellin ya. You see, when the train gets going that fast, there's no way you can get off it no matter what. You are sort of stuck with dealing with whatever is happening as it comes at you.   HOBO

Comments

[Pete]

I wonder if train hopping is possible in the U.K. Do you know?
Glad you didn't freeze to death!

[mhunnicutt]

dan-
I second that-glad you're okay, not a hobo popsicle!

[Duncan Platten]

Hi Dan
Just to say how much i envy and admire all of the thigs that you are doing.I enjoy taking time out and spending a week or so in the woods up in yorkshire,england.If you get time in your busy life, me and my family wold love to hear from you
Hope this finds you in good health
Duncan
duncanplatten@yahoo.co.uk

[deborah]

brrrrr makes me cold just reading about it, train hoppin' sounds more like a fair weather sport....hope things have settled down on the homefront...happy trails...
deb