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Start
Graduated college and I have decided to take an adventure around the country. I didn't tell mom and dad because we don't have a good relationship and i don;t want them to know where i am. My goal is to travel with as little as possible and try to survive with the bare minimum. But i will take this journal and write down some of my adventures so I can look back and remember them. -
Jan Burres
I was picking berries on the side of the road when I met Jan Burres and her boyfriend Bob. I was pretty hungry when they stopped and saw me. They offered me a ride. I told them about how I'd been tramping around the country and of my big adventures. I ended up staying with them for a week. I didn't even plan on staying with them at all but they were people I grew to care about. I don't think they expect to hear from me once I leave them but I'm going to make it a point to stay in touch with them -
Wayne Westerberg
Im in Montana now. While I was wandering around I met a man named Wayne Westerberg. He offered me a place to stay for the night and I took him up on the offer and ended up staying with him for 3 days. At the end of my time with him he told me to look him up if I ever needed a job. -
Carthage. South Dakota
I went back to Carthage to work for Wayne Westerberg. I went to work on the grain elevator and Im staying in Westerberg's home with a couple other employees. I started to get close to Westerberg and the other guys. After about 2 weeks Weserberg was sent to jail and I had no place left in the grain elevator. -
Bullhead City
For some reason I like Bullhead City. I wrote in a letter to Westerberg that I could actually see myself staying here forever and giving up my tramping life. I sent Jan a letter telling her where I am and around Christmas she sent a letter back saying she wanted to come visit me. It was nice to be thought of around the holidays. After i got the letter i decided to pack up and go visit them instead. -
Franz
I went to get food and water and I met Ronald Franz. He's an army veteran. he picked me up to ride me back to my camp and I talked to him for a bit. After a while he started trying to convince me to leave my lifestyle behind because it was a bad influence. but I told him not to worry because I was a college graduate. I spent a lot of time with Franz over the next couple weeks. After about a month with Franz I decided to leave so he drove me to San Diego. I could tell it was very hard for him. -
Grand Junction
I called Franz to see if he could pick me up And he insisted on driving me all they way to Grand Junction Colorado. While we were driving he asked me if he could adopt me because he has no other children. I didn't want to be adopted so I told him we would see when I got back -
Carthage
I am back in Carthage because I needed to earn some more money before Alaska. I originally planed to stay for a month but decided to leave early for Alaska -
JIm Gallien
I was walking down the high way and I was picked up by Jim Gallien. He was a truck driver headed to anchorage 3 hours away. He said he would take me to the Stampede Trail. While driving Gallien tried to talk me out out my adventure saying I didnt have the right equipment for the job but it never worked. -
The bus
Magic Bus Day. I found a an old bus by the river and I have decided to stay in it a while. It is not the most comfortable but it is better then nothing. -
Extremely Weak
EXTREMELY WEAK, FAULT OF POT. SEED. MUCH TROUBLE JUST TO STAND UP. STARVING. GREAT JEOPARDY. -
100 days
DAY 100! MADE IT! BUT IN WEAKEST CONDITION OF LIFE. DEATH LOOMS AS SERIOUS THREAT. -
End
I have lost hope of being found. As I lay in the bus all I can do is think about the adventures I have just been on. I started to think of my parents and how they never created a good family in my life. But then I started to read back the letters to myself and I realize the connections I have made with people. I made a family for myself because I found people who truly care.