Iowa Blackie was the first person I met Thursday
morning - I saw he was a rider/traveler too, that he
had quite a load on his Sportster and being a
Sidehack advocate approached to talk motorbikes with
him. Within minutes we were sitting on the curb,
feet in the dust and gravel of the gutter talking.
What incredible luck my first encounter was with
REAL HOBO and not just any old hobo but with the
1993 KING of HOBOs and so we talked and he tried to
sell me one of his books ,Which I eventually did
buy. After 45 minutes or so a graying, slender
gentleman pulled up the curb and joined us. AHa, I
thought, my lucky day, not one but TWO hobos to talk
to. Much to my dismay, I shortly learned that
although a "Hobo at heart", he was a Philosophy
Professor at an Illinois University, had been
attending the Hobo Convention since the 1990's and
written /edited several books about hobo life and
poetry, ergo not REAL Rail Riding Hobo. After
awhile, Oats, as that was his name, excused himself,
Blackie looked at his watch and I followed him to
the town library - wondering what next.
There I
nest met St. Cloud Frank and Britt Jerry, both now
from St. Cloud with Jerry hailing Britt as his town
of childhood. Both also Professors of Education at
St. Cloud who had attended the Convention for a
number of years and were embarking upon a plan to
develop and collect Hobo reminisces and poetry.
Hobos and Britt towns people alike were to come in
and tell their stories - and Blackie had stories to
tell. At this point in the story I must say that it
boggled an easily boggled mind to discover that of
the first four people I met at the 09 National Hobo
Convention, one was a REAL HOBO and three were
Professors.
Blackie, another rail rider and a towns person being
interviewed by Frank and Jerry.
So an hour or so was spent settin and listening to
hobo stories, train engineer stories and even
learning to try my hand at writing Hobo poetry.
As a
matter of fact, he says with some pride, I did (with
assistance) get something written and even read it
before a Hobo poetry gathering the next day.
From here in I spent a fair amount of time with
Blackie as he sold books, told stories to the public
and fellow 'Bos stopped by to renew - a great
experience.
A bindlestiff on back??
Holding forth.
Indiana Bob and Iowa Blackie
Sellin, books
An entranced audience.
Easily (?) mistaken for a "hobo rig ?"
Packing up
Lets look at things from a different perspective.
Looking at things from a different perspective
.
A bindlestiff on back??
Rick aka "Iowa Blackie" has contact information and
occasionally makes it to train "festivals" in
Spooner and Duluth. Perhaps he will stop by for a
shower, laundry, home cooking and an over night or
two in his future travels - I'd like that. Actually
we met, like two trains passing in the night, a
couple of years ago. I visited the Spooner Rodeo
Days to ride the train and Blackie was a settin on the
platform selling his books. I didn't talk to him
much than, didn't buy a book, but for $10 extra fare got
to sit in the cab with the engineer and tootle the
horn. Simple things for simple people.
1993 King of The Hobos
I have absolutely enjoyed what I have read of Ricks
writings so far. IMHO I think anyone who tis
planning a future working with children, especially
with, as Rick says, "Peculiar Children" would find a
similar enjoyment and benefit.
