Alive and very well: Part Two

After my weird hobo meal I wandered the city more. I figured it would be a bit better once it was dark and traffic had died down. I started dumpster diving, but after three hours of it I never found a damn thing. I did meet a poor fellow whose Grandmother had just died. She was apparently very important to him, and this was hard for him to handle. His father had also died recently and he had really bad health. Not a good spot to be in I reckon. I also made a very strange discovery. I'm not sure if it was a city ordinance, a county law, or a state law but every restaurant that made greasy foods had a special grease dumpster. I got good and curious and I opened the ones behind McDonald's and Wendy's. The McDonald's grease hold which was about five feet in length, three feet in width, and three feet in depth was about two thirds full and the odor was repulsive. I wish I had snapped a photo of it. The Wendy's dumpster was the exact same dimensions but was about a third full. I had made a weak pledge after seeing "Supersize me" never to eat at McDonalds except under unusual circumstances. It is now a much more solid pledge.

I found an abandon car near the interstate far behind a Quiznos and a convention center. I sat in it a while then I remembered a story about cars police rig and leave places for people to get caught stealing and whatnot so I vacated it immediately. I setup my pad and bag under an old oak tree that showered me lovingly with acorns all night long.

When I woke up Allen was sitting on the old hotel sign about fifteen feet from me. He said he didn't see me but I find this hard to believe he was probably just lonely. We talked and drank from ten till two. He was quite a character. We parted ways and I walked to the on ramp and flew my sign. I was there for a little while but I got impatient in the heat so I went to the TA. I asked around for a long time and got turned down nonstop. I gave up and walked to the Flying J. Same problem, no rides north, and the few that were couldn't take riders. So I went inside the J and rested a while. The old clerk lady stared at me viscously so I bought the cheapest thing I could find. Limited Edition Shrek Peanut butter M&M's priced at a piddly .33 cents. This seemed to ease her up a bit. Why I'll never know. I'm gonna consume at least that much in water while I'm there and squares get skittish around travelers so I'm driving away customers. I suppose she's just old fashioned. I sat for a long while and then I got a nervous feeling packed up and left.

I stepped outside and headed for the fuel line. The fuel line is the name for the line of pumps where the truckers park and fuel up. I was there for maybe ten minutes and Tony gave me a ride to Bloomington, Illinois. Much to my dismay he got in about four cellphone fights and then bitched about his second wife endlessly. I ended up feeling more sorry for his first wife then him though. He said he had a great first wife who he loved and who loved him, so naturally he cheated on her with the nut who is now his second wife. As far as I'm concerned he earned and deserved his marriage problems, but that sucks for his nine year old son.
Bloomington was intimidating at first. It was nearly all black and very poor but I was pretty dirty and my clothes weren't great so I figured if it was actually bad I wouldn't be a big target. I was really beat from trying to get a ride all day so I hiked far into the downtown area to find cheap food. I eventually found a little burrito shop and it was pretty good. I bedded down behind the Pilot in some trees and started journaling.

Just as I had finished another traveler found me. I was pretty nervous about this at first, then I got even more nervous when he said I couldn't trust anyone so I packed up my things and built a cage of branches around my pack in the roots of a tree. One of the main branches was leveled above my head so that if it was disturbed greatly it would strike me and wake me, I hoped. This was my best attempt at a rudimentary alarm system. It must have worked because I woke up with all my stuff still with me but my sleeping mat was punctured. I had a very long day ahead of me and I didn't know it yet. I made it to the back of the Pilot and a trucker asked me where I was going, he said if he got dispatched North he would take me with him. He gave me five dollars and a shower pass. I tried to refuse it but he insisted, like I said I am not opposed to charity. He said he had to go to the yard but he would be back shortly. So I said thanks and goodbye and enjoyed a wonderful shower and shave. I must have spent too much time in the shower because he never showed up. I figured that or maybe he got a new dispatch.

I asked for hours at the Pilot and at the TA, and sometime around five I got a ride from Newkid to Mokena, Illinois. I was actually amazed that I got a ride from a black guy. I've heard they never give rides. I've given it some thought and I think I know why. Racism is still strong in this country its just not as pronounced, or vocalized. So they fear for their livelihood, most companies forbid giving rides without express permission and usually fees. This I am sure applies even more to black drivers. Newkid said he never gives rides so I was lucky as hell! He made for a good ride at the time because he wasn't interested in talking and I needed some sleep.

I got to Mokena and I was happy to be there! Oh what a relief it was to be out of Bloomington. Especially because I got kicked out of the TA and the folks at the Pilot were starting to eye me suspiciously. When I got to Mokena, I asked a guy if there was a bus or rail stop nearby and what my luck there was! A mere two blocks away no less! So I hiked to the stop and caught a train to Midloathian for $3.10, Andy and his Wife Nancy picked me up there and bought me dinner. Andy is awesome. He is so generous, he is letting me stay in his place even after a really, really bad experience with a friend that stayed last week and caused a lot of trouble for him. I ended up setting up my stuff on one of his three balconies, its almost like a room. Except I'm eighteen stories above the ground in open air and I can see for miles.