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by Denae D’Arcy
For centuries, people have relied on of the kind of guy Clay is on the inside, can reach outlandish goals. Before even
public transport to get them from point I checked out his Facebook photos and setting out on his 6 day journey, Clay’s
A to point B. From red, double-decker all of them show Clay in his element of friends asked him not to do the trip. They
buses in London, to long, wooden outdoor adventure. He is shown hiking thought he’d be kidnapped, robbed or
gondolas on the canals of Venice, men in the snow, camping on the mountain even killed. He didn’t mention his daring
and women need a way to get around, top, flipping off boulders into a deep, travel to his family until he crossed the
especially when driving a car is not dark creek and smiling a huge smile in all Canadian border back into the United
an option. While public transport is of them. He fuels his mind on pressing States. “I didn’t want to worry them.
essential, cost can be a road block. The the limit and discovering which new They were supportive but I know they
idea of taking a train from one country challenges he can survive and even weren’t happy about what I was doing.”
to another is striking for travelers who master. After listening to Clay talk about the
have the extra cash but what about I wouldn’t have known about his beginning of his travels, I realized this
those ambitious wanderers who have recent adventure except through our adventure was well thought-out. Clay
no money? I met once such fellow in mutual friend, Karl. After meeting Clay, prepared for his journey as a sportsman
a bar in Eugene, Oregon. His traveling Karl proudly said, while rolling his eyes, would prepare for an important match.
route was no different from others but “Yeah. He just got here from Alaska. He decided on a uniform of clothes that
the cost to make a 6 day journey was He hitch-hiked the entire way.” Always was clean-cut: nothing torn, ripped or
almost nothing. I’m going to tell you a sucker for a good story, I pulled up a dirty. He also avoided jeans at times.
how he went from Alaska to Oregon by chair and listened. Clay’s 60 pound pack was huge but he
spending only $75 and WHY he chose needed enough room for a tent just
his unconventional mode of transport.
The advenTure
in case he didn’t have a place to stay
“I wanted to get from Alaska to Eugene.
overnight. Our traveler also shaved
The man
I don’t have a car and there’s nothing
every day, telling me people are more
Clay Roberts is the type of guy you wrong with hitch-hiking. More people
likely to pick up a hitch-hiker who is
would offer to help out if he needed it: should try it.” In disbelief, I checked to
clean shaven. When I pressed him about
early 20s, tall, easy smile and nice curly make sure this guy wasn’t chatting me
appearance, he admitted he cut his hair
brown hair. It is his boyish charm that up with a story about bravery. “You
short for the journey and wanted to
helped him to get free rides this past mean to tell me you stood on the side of
look as “clean” as possible to appeal to
spring from one end of the West Coast in the highway, hopping rides all the way
more potential rides. “You have to sell
the United States to the other. He hitched from Alaska to Oregon?” “Yes, I didn’t
yourself and make people want to pick
28 rides meeting 40 strangers to get to use a sign or anything but just stood
you up. You only have five seconds to
Eugene, Oregon, where I ran into him. there with my thumb sticking out. It took
prove to someone you should be picked
This hitch-hiker is from Anchorage, me 6 and a half days and it wasn’t that
up so you have to make a good first
Alaska and is a semi-outdoorsman. hard.” This guy was serious. Possibly a
impression.”
He is not afraid to answer the call of little bit crazy but certainly filled with the
Wow. I leaned back in my chair and
the wild in between his various jobs in need to wander, explore and discover.
thought, this guy is for real. He must
construction and he’s also got his eye While talking with him, I got the sense
be young. I asked him, “Clay, you’re
on his college degree. To get a snapshot that Clay is driven by a need to prove he
pretty brave. You must be young. What
avantoure
|
adrenaline rainbow
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