The Hitchhiker. Part 2.
Where did we leave off? Ahh, yes. Life isn't about the destination, it's about the journey. At least, that is one lesson I learned on my adventures with Jacques, the adolescent French hitchhiker whom I had been traveling with. After discovering Meredith, CO for myself, Jacques and I got back on the road towards Aspen. The sun was setting and we were listening to our bellies growl with hunger. We stopped at the only restaurant still serving food, and luckily just before it closed. While the mexican rice, beans, and tacos were delicious, even a cold hot dog would have been divine as long as it quenched the growling of my belly.
With night closing in fast, we decided to find a camping spot to rest off the busy day. Had we planned ahead, we wouldn't have chosen the side of a road to set up camp. The ideal spot would have been the lush park in the city square to rest our eyes, but it just so happened to be overflowing with the locals who were enjoying the sounds of acoustic guitar and indie rock as they danced the night away. We had considered dropping by, but our eyes were barely able to open enough to focus on the road. The music was anything but quiet and so we were forced to the outskirts of town on a dark bend of the road. Jacques was able to put his tent together quickly outside, while I simply unrolled my sleeping bag across the back seat of my car. I locked the doors. Afterall, I had just barely met Jacques.
The rising sun warmed my face and stirred my slumber. Still unsure of what the day had in store, I used my map to devise a roundabout route towards Salida, where I would be meeting a few friends later in the evening. While I prefer rising with the sun, Jacques does not. My coaxing barely caused him to stir as I stood outside his tent. By the time he unzipped his tent, my teeth were already brushed and smiling as I patiently waited for him to gather his belongings. We stopped at a gas station on the way out of town, where I was able to teach him a few tricks of the trade of life on the road. First, a public restroom is the perfect spot to wash your face and teeth and keep yourself fresh, clean, and healthy. Second, whether you prefer your caffeine to be tea or coffee, most hot water is available free of charge with only a small investment in a reusable mug. Last but not least, fast food is not as sustainable as it smells. Don't let your nose deceive your body. Take time to stop at a local grocery store for a fresh food alternative. There are plenty of healthy recipes that don't require a kitchen. It saves money and your health.
With our hot tea in hand, we were off on the road again for another adventure. The caffeine didn't have as much of an effect on Jacques while he returned to his slumber in the passenger seat. The coke ovens in Redstone, CO became our first stop.
We jumped back on the road for another adventure. It wasn't until a few horses caught our attention that we decided to stop. I had never met anyone allergic to horses before Jacques. He kept his distance, while I was able to feel their noses with my palms and feed them a few strands of grass. Their shiny coats were a vibrant triad, contrasting and complementing eachother. They patiently ate as I attempted to capture their beauty. They spoke to eachother without words and posed for each flash.
This was not Jacques' first trip to the United States. He had visited once before to New York with his father and brother. The intrigue of American culture lured him back. Truck stops and tales of greasy food filled many of his adventures across America until now. This was the vision he had imagined when he set off on his journey; escaping the highways to surround himself with mountains.
While many French considered heavy metal a genre undeserving of respect, Jacques listened to it in the privacy of his own company so no one else would be there to notice. Tinkering with electronics was his hobby. Circuitry was his specialty. Confidence seeped through his pores while speaking of his future endeavors as though they already came to fruition.
