A Hobo Journey with Josh

Last night I was escorted to the showers at the YMCA by Paul as they were going to close before I could get there. Paul kindly zipped ahead so that I didn’t get lost and then had them hold the door and let me in just 3 mins before they were done. A quick shower, as to not to hold up the staff, in my rush I left behind my biking shorts. I decided that I could pick them up on our way out of town the next morning. I immediately went to the Y and asked to check the lost and found. The young lady working and I couldn’t find it. We then searched the women’s locker room and maintenance closet. Nothing. I insisted that they had to be here as I was the last one there last night and no ladies had been in that morning. The girl said she would call the girl who was working nights at home so that she could find out. As I was waiting, Ed and Bert came in for their showers and asked what was going on-I told them. The girl came back and said that the night girl had said that she had seen them on the counter and left them as she was sure that I would be back. We checked the locker room again. The girl then said she would call the cleaning lady. Yes the cleaning lady had seen them but since they were wet she had thrown them out. SERIOUS! NOT KIDDING! As I stood there in disbelief, Ed and Bert came out and asked what was going on. When I told them, Ed was shocked “Where were they thrown?” In the dumpster. So we found the dumpster and with Ed and Bert we were able to find the shorts!
Heading out on the road, Josh N

-joined the tour in Denver- caught up with me and we started riding together. We stopped in the small town of Brit, IA. While at the grocery store stocking up on Coke and treats, we were told that the annual Hobo convention was starting for the next 4 days. What was that? Well Hobos from around the country gathered in the park by the rail lines every year in an informal convention in a tent city call the Hobo Jungle.

We had to check that out. We were guided by locals to the park and we rode in and set our bike down. Immediately, a lady came up to welcome us and make us feel at home. She complimented us on our safety vests and asked if we had tents to set up or if we needed to sleep in a box car.

She thought we were hobos coming to the convention. We explained what we were doing and asked if we could be shown around. She took us to the dining area called a Frisco Circle.

Everyone who came, put everything they had- money and food- into the common pot and everyone ate together. We gave a donation to the group as we were about to leave. They were extremely grateful! And then offered us food for the road so we didn’t go hungry. I wonder if we would be so open of a community that if 2 hobos showed up at our camp, would we feed and house them with such grace?
Josh and I continued on our ride. Josh and I had talked a lot about my movie reviews since he had arrive as he too is a movie buff but today we started talking about our TV fetish. We enjoy a lot of the same shows including LOST. As we were changing topics, Josh piped up” So, if you like this much TV do you enjoy movies too?” I glance at him with a sly smile and waited. “Oh man.” He said,” I can’t believe I just asked that!”
It was a lovely ride and Josh is great company. I had to SAG for 35 kms to avoid the sun but was proud of my ride and the day.
The best news- Jen came up to me and let me know she had received a call from the church at Sergeant Bluffs. They had found my camera and were shipping it to Madison to meet me. God is good!