05:45 - 28 August 2004
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back in my drinkin/stinkin daze, 1983 i decided to hitch-hike to ALASKA! at this point, i never been to alaska, and wanted to go up there, just because.
i took a bus to vancouver, b.c.{b.c.=bring cash} back then ya had to have on ya at least 75 bucks a day for each day ya plan to be in canada, and a round trip ticket, cause the canadians dont want ya moochin off their welfare system{what a NOVEL CONCEPT! hint, hint}
so, havin a coupla hundred on me, and ticket from seattle i told the canada customs i was just goin to vancouver to sight-see and will return in the evening. once in vancouver, i got a map, and realised that there was no road going straight north! the rockies were in the way, so i had to go east for a while then north. after trying for a couple of days getting out of vancouver, i discovered that taking a city bus as far east as they go did the trick. soon, i found myself in hope, b.c. and was pointed north.
for the next couple of weeks, i made my way up north. people would pick me up and they were only going short distances, and this was significally more challenging than thumbing in the u.s.in fact, thumbing in north central b.c. is like thumbing on a country road, lots of walking, no rides for a long time. there is lots of jade rocks along the road, and they were very pretty to see, i had a few of them in my pocket. people who did give me a ride always gave me money, even though i did not ask them. i usta have a knack for that.
soon, a truck driver gave me a ride, and next thing i knew, i was up on the alaska hiway. there was a resturant right there on the b.c. yukon border, and we went in for breakfast. the driver said, order up! so, we got menus and my heart hit the floor! MY GOD! LOOK AT THE PRICES! 9 bucks for bacon and eggs! 2 bucks for coffee! mind you this was 1983, and i was used to 2.99 and 50c.! the driver laughed, and explained to me why the prices were so high, cause they have to ship everything from the lower 48, as they call us. so. having parted ways on the trans alaska hiway, i was off on my own again.
now, there is very little traffic on the road, a few cars every coupla hours. after a while, i met a guy thumbing, he was from england, and he was goin to alaska too. so we paired up, and soon we were in watson lake, yukon territory. this guy had everything! tent, sleeping bags, the whole nine yards! once were got to watson lake, we looked around for a place to pitch the tent, as it was getting dark, and you aint thumbing in the dark up here! then out of the blue, this brit sez the magic words: lets get some beer! we got a case {24 bottles} and settled in. after some conversation in the tent, this guy was down for the count after just a coupla beers.
now, i must have drunk 12-14 bottles, and this guy was out after a couple of beers. i had a hair brained scheme to go thru his stuff to see what he had. i found his passport, plane ticket from anchorage to london, and hit the motherlode, UNSIGNED TRAVELLERS CHECKS!
woo-hoo! pay dirt! i thought! also, as an after thought, i found a 5 pound british note, that i stuck in my wallet. so, after getting this stuff, off i went, not thinking cause i was trashed, as to what lay ahead.
i was able to cash some checks to cash, and rented a room. after crashing for a couple hours, i asked about a greyhound to anchorage, and was told it will be here on tuesday! TUESDAY! OH SHIT! this was FRIDAY! here we go, off and down the road i went.
soon the sun started to come up, and i was sobering up...about that time, a car came by! woo-hoo! here comes a ride! im outta here! YAY! or so i thought. guess who it was? yep the RCMP and this brit. well, some quick thinking was in order. the guy yelled, thats the bloody bloke! he's the one! i sez to the cop, ?? huh?? i never saw this guy before in my life!!! o ya sez the cop, well then ya dont mind if i search ya, eh? i sez go ahead! so he searched me and found the cash, and the travellers checks, which i claimed to be mine, and he was about to let me go when he found the 5 pound british note! the cop sez ha! if ya never seen this guy before, where did ya get this?? holding the note up in the air... so at this point, defeated, i sez ok, ya got me, fair and square. well all in all, i got 7 days in jail and deported. never to return to canada(LEGALLY)forevermore.
SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YA DRINK???
well, that is the end of this story, except for after a coupla weeks, i called this guy in england, and i apoligised to him and his family, and all was forgiven.
dont forget to scroll down and click on the ELVIS song links to hear clips of songs, and there are game links below that! have fun, keep good thoughts and dont argue with your family! have a happy saturday!!!! and most of all, STAY SOBER! its a wonderful feeling!
