Thumb To The Needle

Jack/Keyport/NJ The Continuing Story of a 20yo musician thumbing his way from NJ to Seattle, WA Follow me on this journey!

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Nebraska is kind of like Iowa, but different. There is still a lot of nothing, but there are more patches with something. Tammy, Hector, and I are staying at a Pilot Truck Stop in Grand Island, NE for the night, then heading straight to Denver in the morning. Much needed rest. I plan on spending the day and possibly a night in Denver and checking out several historic sites that Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassidy traversed back in the 40s. Also, looking forward to all the gorgeous sites Tammy keeps telling me about.

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Meet Hector! He's my traveling companion on our way from his mom, Tammy. His favorite truck stops are Pilot's and Flying J's. He also loves long drives across the country and Garth Brooks. Tammy picked me up in Iowa at a rest stop outside Davenport and she's taking me all the way to Denver, CO. This is one lucky break, for sure. I'm so thankful for this ride...even if we're going through the longest, flattest stretches of farmland in the US.

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IOWA: we have corn, cows, and farms. p.s. that's a tornado warning tower for those who have never seen one.

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I nevah have been west of the Mississippi... Oh wait, now I have!

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This is the lovely Miss Carla, she and her brother Charles got me out of Ohio and into Genoa, IL. I'll miss her southern charm and Mississippi drawl. They were both very kind and hospitable through and through.

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Passing this sign marked the furthest west I've ever hitched, making this my longest journey so far.

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And so, my worst fears came true… I got stuck in Ohio.

Eddy got a call on our way to Chicago to pick up a shipment in Columbus that’s going to South Carolina, so he had to drop me right outside of Toledo. This brings back exhausting memories of former hitching trips, getting stuck in this Podunk state. I’ve found myself repeating that easy-to-say mantra “F**k Ohio…F**k Ohio…”

I’ve been here for 3.5 hours trying all different spots, and suddenly, a truck driver named Charles offered to squeez me in his cab with his sister on their way to Iowa. Why the hell do I wanna go towards Iowa?! Because it’s NOT Ohio.

F**k. Ohio.

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Sometimes, this is what I feel I look like...

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Caught a ride with Eddy! He's headed to Nebraska and stopping in Chi-town. He's from the Congo and a total life saver! To those who don't hitchhike, getting stuck in PA is unfortunate, but getting stuck in Ohio is hell. Luckily, Eddy is taking me through both... And further west than I've ever been!

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An older gent named Jeffrey dropped me off in Altoona, PA... This license plate says it all... Bringing rural culture into the mainstream was such a clever move by capitalists. What a mockery.

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James & Jim from the South Mountain Welcome Center in Maryland. They were extremely helpful and friendly. They gave me a few maps too! I'll be marking my stops along the way.

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So I woke up in Baltimore, MD and got a ride from Charlie to Fredrick, MD which gets me on to 70W. This sign shows you how far it takes ya. Currently at a Sheetz, busking and thumbing for a ride to the ol' west. Most people here are locals.

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Forgot to post the intro...

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Been stuck at this TA Truck stop in Bloomsbury for 3 hours now... I met a trucker named Martin who gave me some food, a marker, some money, and a blanket. He was an old soul, who has inspired my youthful spirit. He had served in Vietnam, got out in 1969, and did his fair share of hitchin' back in the 70s. I'm now waiting on a truck ride from this cat named Marvin. We're heading to Baltimore, MD where I hope to catch a ride up I-70W... We'll see!

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First ride from a veteran and a surfer, named Bill. Wheels to Philipsburg, PA.

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Ian is dropping me off!

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Goin' Solo!

Okay, so Tim couldn't come, as things came up, but that's not stopping me from making the trek out west. I'll be going solo, but still be logging my trip and posting it. Keep me company and send me cool shizz. Right now I'm at the NJ Parkway rest stop trying to get my first ride. Wish me luck and follow this crazy ride!