TijuanaHobo

(#2201)

my water is never cold. you ever ride through the desert in july? haha!!!

**Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums -** 07-14-2011, 01:06 AM

A wrestler from the 90's?

I jumped off a train outside Chatanooga because it was heading into the TVA power plant. Hiking up the tracks, an engineer threw me and my buddy a bottle of water. I've probably had better water but I'll be damned if I can remember when. That was just this side of freezing and, well, god bless that crew for looking out. About 3 miles up the tracks, a train stopped for no damned reason that I can figure. I like to think they stopped so we could jump on. Probably had a legit reason but I choose to think different.

Otherwise, hot water has to do.

KaBar2 · (

I've had train crews help me out quite a few times, throw us blue plastic bottles of water, stuff like that. Once in Beaumont, TX a NS crew gave us a ride on a grainer up to where our train was waiting, up the tracks a ways. The train crew said "100 cars up." It was more like three-quarters of a mile. The ride up was maybe ten minutes or less, a taxi service practically. Graincar and I rode, but Stretch was feeling ornery and decided to walk it. Then George and I were like "Where the hell is he?" We were worried the train was going to pull and we'd have to get off if Stretch didn't show up in time. He finally arrived all out of breath, but we made the bell.

Another time, up in Mason City, Iowa, after a National Hobo Convention a UP pusher gave me his gloves. I was helping the crumb boss cook that year. I had loaned my gloves to a tramp who seemed to be around all the time, so he could handle hot pots in the field kitchen, and then the fucker disappeared with my gloves! I appreciated the UP hogger's gift, because I was heading back to Texas and I didn't want to do it without any gloves. Nice guy. They get them for free anyway. There's a free vending machine in the yard shack with stuff they might need--earplugs, safety goggles, batteries, etc.

That guy who kiped my gloves kept calling me "Bro." You guys know what "bro" stands for doncha? "Bend Right Over." That's the last time I loaned anybody any of my gear. No gloves? Tough shit. Better you than me.

As far as chow goes, get the biggest metal Thermos you can find. Put a cup or a cup-and-a-half of dried beans, like pintos or red beans or white Navy beans, in the Thermos and fill it about 4/5 full of boiling water. Add salt, maybe some Tabasco, then screw on the cap good and stash it in your pack. Eight hours later you got cooked beans in broth. Hot, too.

shimlajaku · (

anybody tryin to ride some trains soon?..im in baltimore about to do this medical study and then im headin south...messageme if sooooo

showin_naked_ass · (#2206)

Texas tea cooked me tacos on a 48 one time. Dem shits was good.

(#2208)

They had a reason, trust me.

(#2209)

texas is the reason.
Ride Hard.

(#2210)

I talked to Stretch yesterday. He was up at Mason City, Iowa waiting to hitch into Britt for the 2011 National Hobo Convention.

They have already had one death. A tramp named "Railroad Randy" was somehow killed while riding a bicycle. They didn't explain if it was a traffic accident or what.

It's HOT up there this year. Real hot.

There will be at least three burials this year: Road Hog U.S.A., Fry Pan Jack and Iowa Blackie. King Tuck is pouring concrete headstones.

I can't go--looking for work again, and I think I've got a good job on the line.

K-Bar, sweating in Houston

(#2211)

Here's a picture of Randy. He was killed while riding his bicycle, hit by a car. His family will have him buried at the Hobo Cemetary in Britt.

Railroad Randy R.I.P.

(#2213)

good luck on the job

Michael Grant · (#2214)

whats up guys

just rode the rails toronto to kamaloops (in vancouver now) took 3 days i was with my buddy and he had a scanner he told me they were hella expensive (he paid $200) for his) its rare that i have money and im curious if theres a cheaper alternative or something else that i can use to pick up their frequencies

fuck i had a BUNCH of questions to ask you guys then as soon as i sit down at the library i get writers block

THANKS IN ADVANCE

KaBar2 · (#2215)

Email from Connecticut Shorty from the library in Britt, Monday, 8 AUG 2011:

All is going well in Britt. About 20 or so are in so far including Redbird, C'Mon Pat, Slim Tim, Harpin' Don and Diane Grubb, Hawk, Lady Hawk, Hobo Spike, Grandpa and M.A.D. Mary, Stretch, Oops, Medicine Man, Daisy Sue, Fast Freddy, Texas Hobo Mike (new this year), Wing Nut plus others.

Looks like good weather for the week, warm days and cool nights.

Good luck!

Shorty

KaBar2 · (#2216)

Michael Grant--

You don't want to buy a scanner that has less than 100 channels. I have one with 20 channels, but the problem is that there are 97 open-access railroad channels plus a bunch that are scrambled that we can't listen to easily.

Most bigger scanners (more frequencies, not physical size) start at 200 channels and have an automatic roaming feature. This is what you want. Program all 97 freaks into the scanner and set it on "auto scan." This way, anytime anybody within range keys up on any of the 97 channels you'll hear it. You don't need to know what freq the local dispatcher, yard goat, bull shack, etc. use. If they use any of the 97 easy-access channels, you'll know it because you'll hear their transmissions.

So if you roll into a yard and you want to know what's going on, just turn on your scanner and put the earpiece in your ear. It's not a good idea to listen to the scanner with it's external speaker on, because you can hear radio squawk and chatter a long way away. Spend the money for a headset or an earbud.

I carried my scanner in the front bib pocket of my dashboards when I was using a scanner a lot. I don't use one as much now as I used to.

Don't forget extra batteries, and DO NOT EVER LOAN A SCANNER TO ANYBODY ELSE.

A scanner is an expensive piece of gear. It is sad but true that some people riding the rails will act friendly, ask you for a loan or some help, but then rip you off. Listening to a scanner with strangers (unless you are one big tough guy) is tantamount to flashing $200 cash around like an idiot.

Him: "Hey, nice scanner. Can I see it for a minute?"

You, later: "Can I get my scanner back?"

Him: "What scanner? You mean my scanner?"

He's counting on you thinking that a $200 scanner is not worth fighting over. And in my case, he'd be right. A $200 scanner is not worth fighting about. However, not letting some arrogant motherfucker try to hog me is worth killing his ass.

Keep your money in your shoes, and your knife in your pocket.

Michael Grant · (#2217)

Thanks

KaBar2 · (#2218)

Message from Annette Nelson of The FOCUS group in Minneapolis, about Railroad Randy.

I'm not sure who is running this years Hobo Convention, but I am hoping that this information can get to the right people.

It would be great if this story was in some way shared at the convention. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to let this story be heard.

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Yesterday I learned the very sad news that one of our regular guests at the Sunday FOCUS meals, known to us as Railroad Randy, was killed by a car while riding his bike. Randy was on his way from the Twin Cities, by bicycle, to attend the Hobo Convention in Britt Iowa (http://www.brittiow a.com/hobo/ events.htm). Randy lived the life of a bona fide hobo for many years and for months shared with us his plans to go to the upcoming event and run for Hobo King. On July 24th, his last dinner with us, we talked and he told me he was leaving that Tuesday morning to allow him enough time to get to Iowa, set up camp and begin campaigning before the convention commenced on August 12th. He was very excited that the time was finally here to make the trip and he had a fierce desire to be elected Hobo King, a title he would hold for the coming year.

This past winter Randy was especially proud of a photo display he was invited to mount at the Walker Public Library on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, chronicling a brief history, really Randy's history, of life as a hobo for the past 30 years. I asked him if he would bring the display to the center for all to see and he agreed, though he was very protective of it and had to pick a good clear day as he rode over to the center with the display strapped to his bike. He was quite the character, with his long white beard and taste for bad jokes and silly puns. He rarely missed a Sunday with us because I think he was drawn to the fellowship and the connection he felt to our little village on Lake Street. I asked if I could take his picture the last time I saw him and he was happy to oblige.

The following link is to the news item in the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper (http://www.twinciti es.com/ci_ 18594973? IADID=Search- www.twincities. com-www.twinciti es.com). A later news item reports he was hit by a drunk driver which is especially sad and ironic - Randy was an alcoholic for 30 years but was clean and sober now for another 15+. The newspaper lists his age as 60 though he told me he was 67. It doesn't matter. He was killed just north of Britt Iowa - he almost made it.

May his memory be eternal.

Thanks for listening to the story, in the event that it has not already gotten to you.

Annette Nelson

rememberusername · (#2219)

Thats what I dont like about these graff forums... way too many pages... I cant seriously read through 90 pages of stuff.

Kabar, its Rememberusername from STP/EoT, whats up dude.
I read your first post for this thread. I can agree with you for the most part.

Do you paint too?

EXECUTIVE_FINGERBLAST · (#2220)

me and a buddy are catching out sometime in the near future. were both getting to the point were if we dont do it now, we'll be caught up with careers and such. and it'll be to late.

neither one of us have any experience. just planning on learning as we go.

my only question is, has anyone on this thread ever done so without being under someone's wing.

a few key points, besides common sense, would be much appreciated.

xen · (#2221)

Quote:

Originally Posted by EXECUTIVE_FINGERBLAST (View Original Post)

me and a buddy are catching out sometime in the near future. were both getting to the point were if we dont do it now, we'll be caught up with careers and such. and it'll be to late.

neither one of us have any experience. just planning on learning as we go.

my only question is, has anyone on this thread ever done so without being under someone's wing.

a few key points, besides common sense, would be much appreciated.

Yes. Me and a buddy were stuck in Nashville and hated that town like none I have ever been in. We tried like hell to get a hobo to take us on with zero success so we just said fuck it.

We studied the yard, already knowing how it worked for painting etc. but not really how they came and went, posted up by the tracks and thought we knew what the hell was going on. We were wrong.

What eventually happened was we hiked up and down many lines trying to figure out where the fuck to get on. We even considered trying to catch out at full speed ( Kabar's advice and my own common sense talked my idiot buddy out of it) but after pacing it out we sat down. Fuck it all I just wanted to roll out our sack and sleep but my guy is all like "come here" That was the first of many times I just wanted to punch him in the neck but I went to where he was and a kind hobo had streaked a map of sorts that said Birmingham was this way and atlanta was that way followed by "loiterin' is good". I wrote under it "but knowledge is power.

A CSX coal train passed us and we figured what the hell. About a quarter mile up the tracks, it stopped and we ran like the motherfucker was hellbound without us. We climbed up in it and a few hops later, we were where we wanted to be. A wise man once said"If you want to ride a train, fuck it ride a train"

KaBar2 · (#2222)

From Emilie Nelson, for The Global Gazette.com :

2011 Hobo King--Uncle Freddy (old timer from Arizona Combat Railfans)
2011 Hobo Queen--Minneapolis Jewell

BRITT — Minneapolis Jewel is no stranger to the National Hobo Convention.
For 32 years, she has made the annual trek to Britt from her home in Minneapolis, Minn., to attend the festivities and has become a familiar face in the hobo community.
In 1986 she was elected Hobo Queen, and again in 1991 and 1996, which she used as two of her top 10 reasons why she should be crowned again in 2011.
“I haven’t been queen in this century,” she said as her No. 7 reason why she should be queen.
Among her other reasons included feeding the hobos who come to her home, putting her heart into keeping the hobo history alive, riding the rails with Iowa Blackie, corresponding the “old-fashion way” by writing letters, trying every day to live by the hobo philosophy, her famous “hobo parties,” seeing the goodness in other people and the fact that she is married to Tuck, another staple in the hobo family.
As she read them off, a roar of applause from the audience and fellow hobos indicated she would be pretty tough act for the remaining three candidates, Sunflower, M.A.D. Mary and Cookin’ Mama, to follow, and in the end, she was as she took her fourth crown as the National Hobo Queen.
Only two men entered the king contest this year, Uncle Freddie and Wingnut, and both received equal applause which determines the outcome, from the crowd. After a little consideration from the judges, Uncle Freddie of Rochester, Pa., was named 2011 king.
Each candidate was given two minutes to give a campaign speech, and each also had guidelines to follow in order to be eligible for the crown.
“They have to be real hobos,” said Amy Boekelman of the Hobo Days Committee and Britt Betterment Committee, who emceed the coronation ceremony. “They have to have ridden the rails and looked for work. Today more emphasis is placed on how they were able to find and maintain work more than if they ride rails.”
Both Minneapolis Jewel and Uncle Freddie have spent time as active riders.
“I ran away from home at 14,” Freddie said. “After time in the service I decided to hit the road again.”
Eventually, he would take time off from hopping steam trains to get married, raise a family and start his own painting business. He later started riding diesel trains but just as a “recreational hobo.”
“I’ll probably speak at a few veterans homes and retirement homes,” he said.
For Minneapolis Jewel, her fascination with hobos and hobo life stemmed from an article she read on the National Hobo Convention.
“After I read that, I was going to go,” she said. “That was in 1979. I hopped a train but ended up in Wisconsin, so I didn’t quite make it to Britt that year.”
Her biggest goal as queen is to be a hobo ambassador and bring in a new generation of hobos.
“As queen I want to promote Britt and the hobo history,” she said. “I want to bring new people and young people in. I want them to be aware of the history of the American hobo and the history of Britt. Once our old-timers are gone, there has to be someone to keep it up.”

<

(#2223)

LexDiamonds Join Date: May 2009

Location: TheMotherFuckingSunshineState

08-24-2011, 04:07 AM I carry a sleeping bag rolled up inside of a 6x8 tarp. It keeps my bag dry if it's on my pack and it rains, and I can rig it as a rain fly or shade. I'm not against tents, necessarily. I've used them in the past, but trainhopping is very hard on your gear, and I've had a couple of tents get trashed dropping my ruck off of moving trains.

They were both "pop-up" dome-style tents that had elastic bands inside of hollow fibreglas tent poles that form a criss-cross over the tent body. In both cases, the fibreglas poles sustained damage and I had to repair them back at home. Meanwhile, I had to hump a tent that I couldn't use and didn't want to throw away.

Stretch carries a tent in the winter (along with a ton of other shit) and I can understand it because he sometimes winters over up north. (No thanks, not me--north in the summer, south in the winter.)

If you're travelling with a buddy, and you both carry the same size tarp and plenty of 550 paracord, you can combine them to make a really good-sized shelter. I used to do the same thing with my girlfriend back in the late 1960's--we both carried USGI military ponchos, which will snap together. They make lousy raincoats, but a fair shelter tarp.

A buddy of mine back in the late '60s used a thing called a "tube tent." It was basically a tube of vinyl plastic with some loops to tie paracord to to suspend it from bushes. He liked it, but I thought it sucked. Too hard to get into and out of, and no place for your gear.

When I was a Boy Scout in the early 1960's, we carried WWII USGI military shelter halves. Each kid carried one shelter half, three poles that fit together, a tent rope and six aluminum military tent stakes. When you button the shelter halves together, stake down one side of the tent, then you each fit together the poles and erect the tent, then stake each end with the tent ropes and a tent stake, then stake down the remaining side of the tent. Only thing is, shelter halves are heavy. They're made out of a lighter weight cotton canvas.

We used a more modern version of this same USGI shelter half design when I was in the Marine Corps in the 1980's.

The bad thing about tents is that you can't see out of them worth a shit. Being in a jungle or somewhere that's kind of hinky while you're inside of a zipped-up tent kind of gives me the creeps. I'd rather just throw down some cardboard and roll up my tarp folded in half with my unzipped sleeping bag inside, sort of like a taco. If I gotta come out of there fighting, I don't want to be zipped inside of some freakin' tent.

So I guess the answer is I'm a blanket-and-tarp guy, except I use a sleeping bag. Unzipped, unless it's really cold ass weather.

TijuanaHobo

Friday 26 September 2014

Human Violence is Unnatural. Perpetual War is Not Inevitable.

Thursday 19 June 2014

Police Sweep San Diego Riverbed For=20 Squatters

Homeless Offered Housing, Treatment=20 Options

Thursday 27 March 2014

HOBOS, Trampz HOMELESS Bums

	(#2201)
	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 07-13-2011, 07:52 AM my water is never cold. you ever ride through the desert in july? haha!!! http://www2.b3ta.com/sleepy-kittens/ dont question it.

	(
KaBar2 Senior Member Punk Faggot Liar Police Snitch Enemy of Freedom Friend of Child Molesters	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 07-15-2011, 05:59 AM I've had train crews help me out quite a few times, throw us blue plastic bottles of water, stuff like that. Once in Beaumont, TX a NS crew gave us a ride on a grainer up to where our train was waiting, up the tracks a ways. The train crew said "100 cars up." It was more like three-quarters of a mile. The ride up was maybe ten minutes or less, a taxi service practically. Graincar and I rode, but Stretch was feeling ornery and decided to walk it. Then George and I were like "Where the hell is he?" We were worried the train was going to pull and we'd have to get off if Stretch didn't show up in time. He finally arrived all out of breath, but we made the bell. Another time, up in Mason City, Iowa, after a National Hobo Convention a UP pusher gave me his gloves. I was helping the crumb boss cook that year. I had loaned my gloves to a tramp who seemed to be around all the time, so he could handle hot pots in the field kitchen, and then the fucker disappeared with my gloves! I appreciated the UP hogger's gift, because I was heading back to Texas and I didn't want to do it without any gloves. Nice guy. They get them for free anyway. There's a free vending machine in the yard shack with stuff they might need--earplugs, safety goggles, batteries, etc. That guy who kiped my gloves kept calling me "Bro." You guys know what "bro" stands for doncha? "Bend Right Over." That's the last time I loaned anybody any of my gear. No gloves? Tough shit. Better you than me. As far as chow goes, get the biggest metal Thermos you can find. Put a cup or a cup-and-a-half of dried beans, like pintos or red beans or white Navy beans, in the Thermos and fill it about 4/5 full of boiling water. Add salt, maybe some Tabasco, then screw on the cap good and stash it in your pack. Eight hours later you got cooked beans in broth. Hot, too. \"I\'d rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than any city on earth\" Steve McQueen Last edited by KaBar2 : 07-15-2011 at 06:26 AM.

	(
shimlajaku Newbie Posts: 7 Join Date: Nov 2008 Status: Offline	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 07-19-2011, 11:56 PM anybody tryin to ride some trains soon?..im in baltimore about to do this medical study and then im headin south...messageme if sooooo

	(#2206)
showin_naked_ass Junior Member Posts: 245 Join Date: Jan 2008 Status: Offline	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 07-20-2011, 03:13 AM Texas tea cooked me tacos on a 48 one time. Dem shits was good.

	(#2208)
	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 07-24-2011, 04:46 AM They had a reason, trust me. Im here for you.

	(#2209)
	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 07-24-2011, 10:25 AM texas is the reason. Ride Hard. http://www2.b3ta.com/sleepy-kittens/ dont question it.

	(#2210)
	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 07-31-2011, 05:34 AM I talked to Stretch yesterday. He was up at Mason City, Iowa waiting to hitch into Britt for the 2011 National Hobo Convention. They have already had one death. A tramp named "Railroad Randy" was somehow killed while riding a bicycle. They didn't explain if it was a traffic accident or what. It's HOT up there this year. Real hot. There will be at least three burials this year: Road Hog U.S.A., Fry Pan Jack and Iowa Blackie. King Tuck is pouring concrete headstones. I can't go--looking for work again, and I think I've got a good job on the line. K-Bar, sweating in Houston \"I\'d rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than any city on earth\" Steve McQueen Last edited by KaBar2 : 07-31-2011 at 05:38 AM.

	(#2211)
	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 07-31-2011, 06:20 PM Here's a picture of Randy. He was killed while riding his bicycle, hit by a car. His family will have him buried at the Hobo Cemetary in Britt. Railroad Randy R.I.P. \"I\'d rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than any city on earth\" Steve McQueen

	(#2213)
	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 08-07-2011, 07:16 PM good luck on the job ..................... fucking ive been out for 24 hours painting let me sit down and enjoy 12oz for 20 minutes!....ich

	(#2214)
Michael Grant Junior Member	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 08-07-2011, 07:50 PM whats up guys just rode the rails toronto to kamaloops (in vancouver now) took 3 days i was with my buddy and he had a scanner he told me they were hella expensive (he paid $200) for his) its rare that i have money and im curious if theres a cheaper alternative or something else that i can use to pick up their frequencies fuck i had a BUNCH of questions to ask you guys then as soon as i sit down at the library i get writers block THANKS IN ADVANCE

	(#2202)

	(#2212)

	(#2215)
KaBar2 Senior Member Posts: 2,025 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Houston Status: Offline	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 08-08-2011, 04:49 PM Email from Connecticut Shorty from the library in Britt, Monday, 8 AUG 2011: All is going well in Britt. About 20 or so are in so far including Redbird, C'Mon Pat, Slim Tim, Harpin' Don and Diane Grubb, Hawk, Lady Hawk, Hobo Spike, Grandpa and M.A.D. Mary, Stretch, Oops, Medicine Man, Daisy Sue, Fast Freddy, Texas Hobo Mike (new this year), Wing Nut plus others. Looks like good weather for the week, warm days and cool nights. Good luck! Shorty \"I\'d rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than any city on earth\" Steve McQueen

	(#2216)
KaBar2 Senior Member Posts: 2,025 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Houston Status: Offline	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 08-08-2011, 05:08 PM Michael Grant-- You don't want to buy a scanner that has less than 100 channels. I have one with 20 channels, but the problem is that there are 97 open-access railroad channels plus a bunch that are scrambled that we can't listen to easily. Most bigger scanners (more frequencies, not physical size) start at 200 channels and have an automatic roaming feature. This is what you want. Program all 97 freaks into the scanner and set it on "auto scan." This way, anytime anybody within range keys up on any of the 97 channels you'll hear it. You don't need to know what freq the local dispatcher, yard goat, bull shack, etc. use. If they use any of the 97 easy-access channels, you'll know it because you'll hear their transmissions. So if you roll into a yard and you want to know what's going on, just turn on your scanner and put the earpiece in your ear. It's not a good idea to listen to the scanner with it's external speaker on, because you can hear radio squawk and chatter a long way away. Spend the money for a headset or an earbud. I carried my scanner in the front bib pocket of my dashboards when I was using a scanner a lot. I don't use one as much now as I used to. Don't forget extra batteries, and DO NOT EVER LOAN A SCANNER TO ANYBODY ELSE. A scanner is an expensive piece of gear. It is sad but true that some people riding the rails will act friendly, ask you for a loan or some help, but then rip you off. Listening to a scanner with strangers (unless you are one big tough guy) is tantamount to flashing $200 cash around like an idiot. Him: "Hey, nice scanner. Can I see it for a minute?" You, later: "Can I get my scanner back?" Him: "What scanner? You mean my scanner?" He's counting on you thinking that a $200 scanner is not worth fighting over. And in my case, he'd be right. A $200 scanner is not worth fighting about. However, not letting some arrogant motherfucker try to hog me is worth killing his ass. Keep your money in your shoes, and your knife in your pocket. \"I\'d rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than any city on earth\" Steve McQueen Last edited by KaBar2 : 08-08-2011 at 05:25 PM.

	(#2217)
Michael Grant Junior Member Posts: 276 Join Date: Mar 2009 Status: Offline	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 08-08-2011, 05:19 PM Thanks

	(#2218)
KaBar2 Senior Member Posts: 2,025 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Houston Status: Offline	Re: More on Railroad Randy - 08-10-2011, 03:47 PM Message from Annette Nelson of The FOCUS group in Minneapolis, about Railroad Randy. I'm not sure who is running this years Hobo Convention, but I am hoping that this information can get to the right people. It would be great if this story was in some way shared at the convention. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to let this story be heard. Dear Friends and Supporters, Yesterday I learned the very sad news that one of our regular guests at the Sunday FOCUS meals, known to us as Railroad Randy, was killed by a car while riding his bike. Randy was on his way from the Twin Cities, by bicycle, to attend the Hobo Convention in Britt Iowa (http://www.brittiow a.com/hobo/ events.htm). Randy lived the life of a bona fide hobo for many years and for months shared with us his plans to go to the upcoming event and run for Hobo King. On July 24th, his last dinner with us, we talked and he told me he was leaving that Tuesday morning to allow him enough time to get to Iowa, set up camp and begin campaigning before the convention commenced on August 12th. He was very excited that the time was finally here to make the trip and he had a fierce desire to be elected Hobo King, a title he would hold for the coming year. This past winter Randy was especially proud of a photo display he was invited to mount at the Walker Public Library on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, chronicling a brief history, really Randy's history, of life as a hobo for the past 30 years. I asked him if he would bring the display to the center for all to see and he agreed, though he was very protective of it and had to pick a good clear day as he rode over to the center with the display strapped to his bike. He was quite the character, with his long white beard and taste for bad jokes and silly puns. He rarely missed a Sunday with us because I think he was drawn to the fellowship and the connection he felt to our little village on Lake Street. I asked if I could take his picture the last time I saw him and he was happy to oblige. The following link is to the news item in the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper (http://www.twinciti es.com/ci_ 18594973? IADID=Search- www.twincities. com-www.twinciti es.com). A later news item reports he was hit by a drunk driver which is especially sad and ironic - Randy was an alcoholic for 30 years but was clean and sober now for another 15+. The newspaper lists his age as 60 though he told me he was 67. It doesn't matter. He was killed just north of Britt Iowa - he almost made it. May his memory be eternal. Thanks for listening to the story, in the event that it has not already gotten to you. Annette Nelson \"I\'d rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than any city on earth\" Steve McQueen Last edited by KaBar2 : 08-10-2011 at 03:56 PM.

	(#2219)
rememberusername Newbie Posts: 1 Join Date: May 2011 Status: Offline	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 08-11-2011, 11:39 PM Thats what I dont like about these graff forums... way too many pages... I cant seriously read through 90 pages of stuff. Kabar, its Rememberusername from STP/EoT, whats up dude. I read your first post for this thread. I can agree with you for the most part. Do you paint too?

	(#2220)
EXECUTIVE_FINGERBLAST Member Posts: 704 Join Date: Jun 2011 Status: Offline	Re: Hobos, Tramps and Homeless Bums - 08-12-2011, 04:07 AM me and a buddy are catching out sometime in the near future. were both getting to the point were if we dont do it now, we'll be caught up with careers and such. and it'll be to late. neither one of us have any experience. just planning on learning as we go. my only question is, has anyone on this thread ever done so without being under someone's wing. a few key points, besides common sense, would be much appreciated.