Bad to Worse to ................ AWESOME!

A new day and a new start. But the night wasn't quite over yet.  No sooner as I lay my head down a knock on the van.  It was another state trooper.  He had been informed that there was a van parked here and came to check it out.  I explained everything to him a bit more quickly than I had to the other officers and he was on his way quite quickly.  Still like the others I had to produce my drivers license and my ownership papers and my insurance.  Bit of a ball ache!  So off to sleep again. 

Just as I drifted off into a deep very needed sleep, the same happened again another knock.  This time it was some scatty guy offering me a tow.  I was a bit dazed having just woken up and he was very quick and darted around trying to sort stuff out.  I was just coming to when we discovered neither of us had a tow rope.  So he left me and back to sleep I went.  Then as I drifted off again yet another knock.  Yet again it was a state trooper!  He had been informed by control that there was a van parked up here and he went to go check it out also.  I hurriedly told him my story as by now I was pretty pissed off at being woken up constantly.  I then made him make sure he had radioed it in and everyone knew what this van was doing.  Fucking nothing!

I went back to sleep.  I feel asleep very quickly now but joy of joys another knock.  It was ANOTHER state trooper.  Who in the name of Zeus' buttonhole is running this show.  This happened not once, not twice, not thrice but an incredible 6 police state troopers came to disturb my sleep that night.  And as my luck would have it they decided to come at quite regular initials.  Leaving a good hour gap each time for me to get back into a deep sleep!  The last one arrived at 7 am.  I had had enough they clearly were all ignorant idiots.  I don't know how it was not know through out the whole police force by now.  Who was keeping track of this?  Anyway I decided to get up and start standing out there with my sign again.  And what do you know 5 hours passed and not one police car drove pass.  Shocking!  It was a dull time and most of it was spent analyzing the various actions of drivers.  Like when they changed lanes to move further away from me, when the hooted at me, things like that.  My mood would go up and down quite frequently, sometimes feeling very positive and excited about what was coming next, hopefully.  And then it would plummet down and I would think of a horrible dick of a tow truck man coming to take my van away to the impound and leaving me stranded there with all my belongings.  It was inevitable that the van was going to be taken to the police impound sooner or later.  At my cost as well!  And if you can't afford to pay them they keep the auto mobile.  I was in that category!  One of the state troopers, possibly one I had slept through had left a towing notice on the window which stated it was going to be towed in 24 hours from the date of the notice.  No time on the notice though so I had till 23.59 on the 3rd as far as I could see.

  So I continued to wait.  Longer and longer getting cross and upset.  Then the right song would come on and I would be well up for anything again.  I updated my sign from.  "please tow me" to "please tow me, ANYWHERE!"  Its hard not to get cross with all the people who just pass you by standing there needing help.  But you have to think about what they are thinking.  You are about a 30 second event in their drive and at most a passing thought to the majority of drivers.  They don't know your mood.  They can't tell by your face if you have been there for 2 minutes or 2 days!  I was of course the latter. 

Also I was asking quite a lot.  Not just a lift, but for them to stop and tow my huge van somewhere.  It was a lot to ask I realize so I didn't get too disheartened but I couldn't help feeling pretty awful sometimes.  It wasn't long holding the new sign however that a couple stopped.  They were a really nice couple if a little awkward.  I could tell this wasn't something they did often but they were really pleasant and seemed that they really wanted to help.  I couldn't quite put my finger on why, but that didn't really matter to me at this desperate point in time.  Usually when I can't figure out people's motive for doing things like this they turn out to be christian, but I made a few religious references and it offered no response.  Thrilled to have the help of this lovely couple but all the while wondering why the were being so nice.  They couldn't tow me but they were going to use one of their 4 free tows from the AAA to tow me where I needed to get.  It was perfect.  We had a while to wait for the tow truck was now on its way so we chatted more.  I like to learn lots about the people that help me out.  It often tells the story of why they do this kind of thing.  They were a recently married couple, the guy, Joel was a programer and the woman, was a scientist.  They were very friendly and we had quite a bit to talk about.  It became slightly awkward at times but nothing to uncomfortable.  They were just genuinely a really wonderful couple who had seen me and made a judgement call that I was the right kinda guy to help and then they stopped and just did everything they possibly could!  It was so wonderful and they were so down to earth and just generally a nice happy couple to be around.

 Then guess what.  A fucking nother state trooper arrived.  This time a woman.  She was lovely though, but very by the book.  She took me off separately to ask me questions about the situation and the van, she then took them off separately,  I later learned that this was to check if they still wanted to help me out.  As people can stop to help and then change their mind and feel too trapped to just leave.  It was a really nice thing to do I think.  But they still wanted to help.  So that was a turn up for the books.  The trooper said she would leave us but she was going to put out flares in the road to warn drivers.  She was astounded we hadn't been hit yet.  

Off she went and 2 mins later the tow truck arrived.  It was quite exciting.  I watched my van get hoisted up and on the back of the truck. 

Then I rode up front while the couple said they would follow. The couple had said the Vernonia was the nearest town to the west so They could drop me off there.  I thought that was good.  I wanted to get west as far as possible and I needed some where with internet and stuff like that so I was happy with that.  As we drove I talked to the tow lady who was very nice.  She had her daughter in the back of the truck bless her.  She explained the Vernonia was not a good idea as it had maybe got a grocery store!  She couldn't remember.  Also she had to drop me at a home address or a mechanic shop by law so she said a place called hillsboro was the best place.  She turned around and the couple decided not to follow.  We headed in land, closer to Portland.  Not what I was hoping for but internet and civilization was certainly more important that being 15 miles closer to the seaside!  She dropped me off at a mechanics called Z's.  She said he was a lovely guy, she had know him for 25 years and he wouldn't mind if I parked my van and slept in it for a few days while I figured out what I was going to do with it.  Feeling quite a lot better about everything I headed into town which was only a 3 minute walk and found a Starbucks and treated my self to a white chocolate hot chocolate with mint syrup.  I deserved it.  Then I got on the interweb and started figuring what I was going to do?  I had to sell the van somehow, And what was I going to do once I managed that! 

One thing I had forgotten was if the trolly wasn't returned to the super market the police officer was going to put a warrant out for my arrest!  And I have left the trolley on the side of the freeway.  Fuck it.  They knew where it was and they said they were going to go and collect it.  Not my problem if they didn't.  Lets just hope it still there when they go to collect it other wise a warrant out for my arrest certainly can't be good! 

So after a lot of catching up on the old Facebook and emails etc, making sure everyone that had gone in to panic mode (i.e) the mother was neutralized, I set about looking for people who wanted to pay me for my scrap van, and shipping stuff to the U.K for cheap.  I had thought about selling my stuff, as someone mentioned on the blog not long ago.  However the stuff is not really stuff I can sell.  It consists mainly of my clothes and most have quite a lot of sentimental value and would not fetch a price that I was willing to part with them for.  2 Snowboards which I don't want to sell because 1 is my girlfriends and the other is mine which I want to keep all my snowboards in the view to make something out of them in the future.  This trip is not worth parting with them.  And especially given the time of year and place I would not get much at all for them.  Enough to sleep in a motel for a couple nights.  And snowboard boots.  Again not willing to sell.  1 pair is again my girls and the others are awesome boots!  I love them!  So that is that option out the window.  But as far as I can see there is no way of shipping them home for cheap.  It doesn't look good in that area!  On the bright side I had 3 legitimate offers for the van!  It was easy.  1 for 300 and free pick up. 1 for 325 and free pick up and 1 for 400 free pick up.  So that was looking good.  If I got 400 U.S for it I would have actually made a profit!  Awesome!  But lets not get ahead of my self too quickly.   But with no way of getting my stuff home it was all a bit useless really.  I cant cart it round and I don't want to sell it.  So even with 400 bucks it was not looking good.  Never the less having those 3 offers put me in a wicked mood and I decided it was time……… Yes finally I was cracking.  I had the money in the bank from donators to the Get Benji to Cali fund.  I went to a nice American looking place and sat down and ordered a beer, some mozzarella sticks to start followed by a Morning Burger.  This consisted of: A patty, swiss cheese, another patty, cheddar cheese, an egg, bacon, ham and mozzarella cheese.  With home made chips on the side! 

It all came so fast and it was better than I could have dreamed.  My stomach had obviously shrunk a lot on this trip.  On previous occasions half a tin of tuna had filled me up or half a can of soup.  But I sat there and got the whole lot down me!  It was wonderful!  My body had forgotten what to do with protein! 

I chilled for a bit then as it was getting kind of late I decided to go to the van and watch a movie.  Even though I was painfully full I decided to get some snacks for the movie.  When I got in the shop everything was so American!  The way I chose my chocolate was by if I had seen it in a movie or on t.v or whatever.  So I got a 3 musketeers bar, because Joey gets Ross to get one in an emergency in f.r.i.e.n.d.s. And a Baby Ruth bar.  Because in Four brothers one of the brothers gives a box of them to some fat kid.  The baby Ruth was well good.  Bit like a boost bar I would say.  A lot of sugar.  Maybe a bit much for me but a good bar to have around if you need an energy boost.  I haven't yet tried the 3 musters bar.  I will let you know when it happens.  I had a chilled evening in at home, watching "the usual suspects" and munching out. 

I became very painfully full and thought it best to try sleep it off now.  It had been a good day.  As I drifted off I thought about the offers for the van and thought what could I do with 400 if I managed to get that?  Then I thought having got the van for 400 Canadian maybe I could get another for 400 U.S!  It can't be that hard. 400 was a lot to offer for a scrap van.  But I would have to sort out registration again and insurance.  But then I could just take my old number plate off my van and stick it on what ever new auto mobile I get.  And it couldn't be that hard to transfer over insurance.  It wasn't like UK insurance it was far easier and more laid back.  I then had trouble sleeping as I was filled with hope and excitement.  I thought I could ask the 3 people who had offered me cash for the van.   They were auto recycling companies.  They must have there fair share of old cheap vans that still run.  Or that they have made running again.  Surely it must be better for them to part with one of these than all that cash?  We shall see.  Very excited again now.  There is hope, light is at the end of the tunnel, it ain't over till the fat lady sings, and all those cheesy phrases!  And just thought I would add.  If you guys have any bright ideas or gems of wisdom to impart to me don't hesitate to comment, Facebook, or email me.  Always up for an outsiders perspective on things.

Kilometers Traveled Today: 82 in the wrong direction!
Kilometers Traveled Total: 1732
Funds:$53 U.S
Petrol: I'm going to stop doing this one till it's relevant again. Maybe I will replace it?