catven7

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I'm Cat, chick in my early 30s, in recovery from a bad alcohol and meth addiction (drugs in general) who has always had a travel bug.

Years on and off the streets I've met plenty of hobos and dirty kids riding through and have been offered how to ride the rails, only took the opportunity once but didn't make it far. I've hitchhiked or taken greyhounds here and there but for the most part have been stuck in between cities in the Midwest. I try to work normal jobs, done about whatever minimum wage job would hire me, but I get restless and bored easily. Times on the streets have taught me a lot of resourceful such as sleath camping, busking my art, dumpster diving and doing a lot of bartering and trading. If it wasn't for the desperation of being an addict, I probably would've never stopped living that way, I was strangely at peace with it all in those days. However I got some priorities I gotta pay off and a cat who I've had for many years who needs a roof over her head. I don't drive so I bike everywhere and bike touring is probably the mode of travel that has piqued my interest the most since I bike upwards 10-30 miles a day when I get the opportunity. Also love the idea of riding the rails, I've spent a lot of time down at the tracks looking at the trains and inspecting them to see how I could do it. Don't know if I could boat but the thought has always crossed my mind when I've lived by the Missouri river. I'm aware of the danger of it all, but I'll never forgive myself if I don't listen to the little voice in my heart that says to take a shot at it. Anyways, thanks for reading, hope sooner than later I can figure out the best way for me to go about it.
 
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ali

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Hey, good job getting off the gear. Some parts of your story overlap with mine like dealing with addiction and mostly working regular jobs, but on the other hand i was lucky enough to never have to spend time on the streets. What you learned from those times sleeping rough likely does set you up well for unconventional travel, since one of the biggest differences with housed up lifestyle is that you need to get used to being tired, dirty and uncomfortable.

I also lived in a town with a crew change and watched the trains go by imagining one day i'd just catch out and leave it all behind. But then i decided to head out on my bike instead, in part because of my fear of getting in trouble with the law, jeopardizing my immigration status and/or possibly falling (back) in with a bad crowd. Turned out bike touring was great because i got all those feelings of being free and on the road while at the same time living a healthy and mostly legit lifestyle. I think people you meet tend to treat you more nicely than they treat the dirty kids passing through too. Not saying don't live your dream if you have your heart set on the rails, but don't sleep on bike touring, especially if you enjoy riding bikes anyway. It's a lot of fun and you can head out to all kinds of beautiful areas and still watch the trains and hang out with hobos.
 

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