Pasadena Hotels
|
  | |  |
Pasadena, CA
Entry 3 of 33 | show all | print this entry |
This morning I caught a ride in the shiniest semi-truck in California, I couldn't believe that it wasn't brand new, and it was 7 years old at that. "I usually drive 6 days a week and spend the other day cleaning and polishing. In 7 years Tony had put 765,000 miles on it. He said that his wife pulled out some old timecards and that for a period of 15 years he averaged 75 hours a week of driving. Over dinner he mentioned that he was ready to not have to wake up in a goddamn truck anymore. Tony, an honest workaholic, could not imagine being 23 and having the ability to go on an adventure like I am embarking on. "Although... I did have two kids and one more on the way when I was 23," something that I could never imagine doing at my age.
Headin' southbound on I-5, I learned to spot a bear and let 'em know with a 10-4, c'mon. That's trucker talk for giving a heads up to the other trucks over the CB radio that a cop is nearby. And that's about all I understood all day, but only because I caught on after the twentieth time. I thought, how am I going to understand Spanish if I can't even understand these guys.
At one point Tony wondered when my mom would track down his cell phone number to say that I can't go on traveling any further. Then he said that if my mom ever sounds worried, to tell her that "the worst day in Mexico is better than the best day in Iraq." Pretty good, I think I'll use that one!
Tony graciously dropped me off alongside the freeway, 10 miles shy of his final destination, and I began hoofing it guided by the streetlights of Pasadena. Erin, who I contacted last minute on couchsurfing.com, invited me without hesitation into her home to stay the night pro bono. I arrived at 11 pm and she escorted me with a smile into the back guest house, where she had prepared a guest bed, fresh filtered water, a towel for a shower in the morning, and of course, did not forget to mention the CD player for my listening pleasure, the swamp cooler controls, and that she will fix breakfast for me in the morning. Ah.. what a great way to start a trip. What will tomorrow bring?
|
|
If you like this entry, search for other entries from California, United States or try a new search. |
| |
Back to Entry - Back to Home
|
