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James Sims IV
24 minutes ago
3 min read
Boulder to Seaside, a journey to enlightenment.
Boulder to Seaside.
Boulder to Seaside
Summer in Boulder has been an experience that I will not forget. But Autumn is approaching fast. Time to think about a winter destination. I have known where I want to spend the winter for a while. Seaside Oregon is a place that I have wanted to return to. Went there once as a 12-year-old boy and stayed a week and fell for the place.
My buddy Gypsy said he is ready to move on. I wasn’t expecting a road dog, but I can use some company on the road. So we were going to get a little work for traveling cash and leave. Turns out we didn’t have to work for the money, Gypsy has talents I was unaware of. The day after making plans to find some work, I come to the mall Gypsy was. always at. If he wasn’t there, it was bedtime. He saw me, jumped up, and said let's go. Now I looked dumbfounded, I’m sure because it was unexpected. I got 245.00 dollars he says. I said cool let's go.
We gathered what few belongings and headed out to Interstate 25 north. We were getting a late start, but a start it was. Fort Collins, Colorado was how far we made it that day. There is a shelter there with beds. We put up there for the night and I was going to fly a sign the next day for some work for a bit more money. I made my sign “will work for food” simple and effective. On a downtown sidewalk I stood out of the flow of traffic, but visible. They were a fine-looking family walking down the sidewalk, dressed in formal wear. Dad looked at me said to his wife hold a minute babe, came and handed me a business card with a note on the back. Go to this store and give anyone there this card and they will put you to work. I said thank you, planned to meet Gypsy later, and went to the store. A furniture store. Worked there for the day and made enough to get us through a couple of days.
It was the weekend, and we stayed for another night. Found a dirt cheap motel at 12.95 a night. WOW, I said, I have never seen a motel that cheap. Worked out well. There was a little convenience store across the road for food and beer. The French Open finals were on the tv and the beds were comfortable. A much-needed rest in comfort and a drunken stupor before the big trip in front of us.
The morning is delightful, and I am well rested and ready to go. Gypsy was chomping at the bits to get moved to. We walked for what seemed like 30 miles; it was only 4. I saw a good place for a pullout for cars, told Gypsy this was as far as I walk. I had my backpack for a chair. About,30 minutes and we get a ride. A jeep pulls over and it is an older gentleman with a beer in his lap and a straight-laced look. We get in the jeep and he asks where too? Salt lake city I said. He nodded and started driving. After about an hour our host stops and we are thinking this is our stop. He says no I am just out of beer; You want anything? Gypsy says a half pint of Vodka and I’m good with beer. I get to wondering just how far off a ride dude is giving, and about that time he pulls into a motel. Again, we think it’s our time to get out. Wrong again. I rented the room for 3, though we might watch the football game. Monday night Football, yes.
We are in Utah. The next day he says I am on vacation and was out looking for something to do when I picked you guys up. Off we go. He drove us all the way to Salt Lake Downtown. We left him with profound thank you’s and started walking. It was getting dark fast. We did not know of Salt Lake, so we just walked toward the place we were going to need to hitchhike from. I remember seeing pictures of the Morman Tabernacle, and now I am getting close up look at it because they were walking right by it. Just then this teenage kid comes up to me and asks, hey man, you get high? A big smile appeared on my face and he says come here and walk right in the Tabernacle, I followed thinking are you nut? No, it turns out it was the safest place for him to give me a big ole bud. Outstanding, thank you. Pay it forward was all he said.
To be continued. Sincerely James Sims.
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