by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer –
MASON CITY – They missed Hobo Days in Britt, but hobo life goes on for Nomad, Bridge and Jace. Monday afternoon the hobos made a stop in Mason City, near Wal-Mart, on their journey to New Orleans.
Nomad (from South Carolina), Bridge (from New York state) and Jace (from Florida) met up about a month or two ago on the road and have been traveling together ever since.
“We stopped off here to get some canned goods for the road,” said Nomad. “We’re on our way to Little Rock, Arkansas.”
Bridge, who was named that because that’s her favorite place to sleep, said, “It’s warmer there and we’re hoping to see some friends.”
“We would like to make it to New Orleans by Halloween. They have work there around that time,” said Jace. “If we get there too early, the police mess with us.”
They we’re hoping there was a cheap enough motel in town for them to stay, “To catch a shower and sleep in a bed for a spell,” said Nomad. “If not, we’ll being leaving tonight.”
Jace added, “Mason City has been good, average. Every place is different. Some place we don’t make anything and others, we make enough where we don’t have to do this (ask for change) for weeks.”
A Mason City man noticed the 3 hobos hanging around Monday and sent this to NIT: “Three people begging for spare change by Murphy USA in front of Walmart. One of them is sitting on the ground playing with a nice cellphone looks like a smartphone to me. Begging for change, but has enough money for a smartphone.”
id just like to add that we dont just beg for change we work also. sometimes though our funds run out before we can find more work. also because we dont have permanent address local resources wont help us most of the time. thanks to all that helped us while we were in town. try offering a hobo a job and see if he doesnt take it before you judge. also jaces mom pays his cell phone bill in case he needs help. its not a friendly world on the rails all the time but its a better way of life than living in a box. peace love and happiness to all
Atleast they are moving on and not moving to the north end. LOL yuck, yuck, yuck.
Maybe its a government phone!
You never know maybe a relative gave him the phone. I case he was hurt or needed help.
I suppose they have already voted too.
They MUST have! They are part of the 47%!
Not many of them around anymore. When I was young (a while ago) they used to come through on the railroad and would work for food. Now it seems they just beg. When I lived in Texas there were quite a few because the weather was warmer. Used to find them dead in the mornings once in awhile. Snake bit from sleeping under the overpasses.
Bums with smartphones. What a world!