Darren Scout
Member
I left on my bicycle the day after I graduated high school. I had saved money from working for two years. Times were different back then (3.35 per hour) huge sleeping bags and 10 speeds. No fancy camping gear or panniers, at least that I knew of then. I used the old heavy gear from military surplus.
I pedaled to the Rocky Mountains because I had never seen a mountain except on tv, growing up in Kansas. I was so naïve. I had read the book My side of the Mountain and always dreamed of living that way. I was too stupid to know that real life isn't as easy as a fiction book. I made it into the mountains and set up a camp by a stream about a mile from the road. I think I caught one fish during my time there. I camped for about a month before my food and money was running out.
Ended up broke and hungry in Denver and winter was coming fast. I will confess my crimes now and admit to stealing from grocery stores. I was caught and arrested and jailed. The judge called my parents and my father was waiting outside when I was released. I still cringe when I think about the 12 hour drive home.
A few years later, I had to scratch the itch, I left again, now in my rolling hunk of crap van. I hiked part of the AT and went to D.C. to see the sites, just drifted around for a few years. Working when I needed cash and then moving on. Jobs were so much easier to get back then, just walk in and get hired, start tomorrow. I ended up down in Fort Pierce/ Port St. Lucie Florida. I spent about five brutal years off and on installing screens over swimming pools and porches. Battling the summer heat and bugs living in the van. Everything was going ok except for a bad habit I developed.
During that time in Florida the cocaine was flowing and I was partying all night and working during the day, until I couldn't burn the candle at both ends anymore. I ended up working at a strip club, cooking the cheese burgers and fries. Once my shift was over the bartender would give me a pitcher of beer and I would sit around drinking and bullshitting. Before long I was doing lines in the dressing rooms with the girls. One night my favorite girl ask me for a bump but I didn't have any. She kept calling her dealer but he was busy and wouldn't deliver. She ask the dealer if the burger flipper from the club could pick up for her. Soon after I was moving 8balls, but not for long.
I was arrested for drunk driving when I hit a bridge abutment beside the road. The judge was told that I lived in the van and said even though no drugs were found he knew I was a doper. I served a 6 month sentence and was released . The dealer was looking for me because I owed him money, the totaled van was gone along with all my worldly possessions including the cash. I knew I needed to get out of town fast.
This is what happened in about 10 to 12 years of time. I will finish in another post.
I pedaled to the Rocky Mountains because I had never seen a mountain except on tv, growing up in Kansas. I was so naïve. I had read the book My side of the Mountain and always dreamed of living that way. I was too stupid to know that real life isn't as easy as a fiction book. I made it into the mountains and set up a camp by a stream about a mile from the road. I think I caught one fish during my time there. I camped for about a month before my food and money was running out.
Ended up broke and hungry in Denver and winter was coming fast. I will confess my crimes now and admit to stealing from grocery stores. I was caught and arrested and jailed. The judge called my parents and my father was waiting outside when I was released. I still cringe when I think about the 12 hour drive home.
A few years later, I had to scratch the itch, I left again, now in my rolling hunk of crap van. I hiked part of the AT and went to D.C. to see the sites, just drifted around for a few years. Working when I needed cash and then moving on. Jobs were so much easier to get back then, just walk in and get hired, start tomorrow. I ended up down in Fort Pierce/ Port St. Lucie Florida. I spent about five brutal years off and on installing screens over swimming pools and porches. Battling the summer heat and bugs living in the van. Everything was going ok except for a bad habit I developed.
During that time in Florida the cocaine was flowing and I was partying all night and working during the day, until I couldn't burn the candle at both ends anymore. I ended up working at a strip club, cooking the cheese burgers and fries. Once my shift was over the bartender would give me a pitcher of beer and I would sit around drinking and bullshitting. Before long I was doing lines in the dressing rooms with the girls. One night my favorite girl ask me for a bump but I didn't have any. She kept calling her dealer but he was busy and wouldn't deliver. She ask the dealer if the burger flipper from the club could pick up for her. Soon after I was moving 8balls, but not for long.
I was arrested for drunk driving when I hit a bridge abutment beside the road. The judge was told that I lived in the van and said even though no drugs were found he knew I was a doper. I served a 6 month sentence and was released . The dealer was looking for me because I owed him money, the totaled van was gone along with all my worldly possessions including the cash. I knew I needed to get out of town fast.
This is what happened in about 10 to 12 years of time. I will finish in another post.