The homeless and the Stoned
I had just seen Jim, Ravina and the kids in Brisbane, it was a coincidence that we were going to be in Fiji at the same time. When I got back from my trip around the Island I dropped into the Sheraton to see them, just a couple of High Felling boys living the life, a long way from Geordieland. I headed back to my little place up the road, I was having a beer, watching the sun go down when I heard the purist Geordie accent I had heard in a long time, where ever you go you’re sure to see a Geordie. So I met Michelle a young lady who had embarked on a journey of discovery herself after a tough few years. Gan canny hinny with a heart as big as yours anything is possible.
It was time for the USA and I have to say, I wasn’t that excited about getting there, Route 66 was waiting though and it’s always been a dream to cruise the highways and byways of the US. Jack Kerouac, Easy Rider, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendricks, The Wild One, Haight Ashbury, If your going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair and on and on and on. The influences are many and I just knew, one day I would have to go and see for myself. More recent, mostly political US influences though, put a more negative slant on the trip, so I will have to try to ignore that.
Arriving at L.A,X 11 hours before leaving Fiji had me in a bit of a spin, got the shuttle into town and changed buses to Venice Beach. The change in buses saw a change in passengers which gave me some idea about the place I was about to be living in. When I got to the hostel, it was like arriving into the third world. The hostel was more like a doss house compared to what I’d been used to in OZ but that was OK I’ve been in a lot worse in my time. There was a guest list of regulars more my age rather than young backpackers, the backpackers that did turn up there, tended to stay for one night and move on. Walking out the front door, the first thing you saw were three homeless guys that had taken up residence in an alcove, they slept there at night and during the day they would sit holding up a bit of cardboard with the message…To Ugly to Prostitute, To Stupid to Steal. They were three of many homeless people all around Venice, Santa Monica, in fact every where I went, what with them and everyone who gave you a smile expecting a hand out I was beginning to wonder about the land of the free, the home of the brave. It was going to be difficult to ignore the negatives! I went for a walk along the boardwalk, lots of activity, street theatre, skaters, more beggers, the smell of dope everywhere. There are little shops all along the boardwalk where for 40 dollars you can fill out a form, get a card and buy from that same shop up to an ounce of Marijuana. Medical Marijuana, the Drug stores take care of the heavier drugs, and if they’re not good enough for you, there is always Crystal Meth from the street dealers. Just keep the poor people stoned and everything will be alright, if they start giving you trouble, lock them up. I had a couple of beers at one of the restaurant/bars along the way and I was ready to collapse.
I am….THE LONESOME TRAVELLER….travelling east….BE HAPPY!