Serene Desert Oasis

I once met a man who lived out of his teal bug for 7+ months, at the most remote hot springs I’d driven, down the “loneliest highway in the US.” There is no food or fresh water at this location in the 🏜, being over 100 miles from any form of civilization. Yet he lived there. Rent free. No reservations. I was camping solo & enjoying some alone time in the hot springs, when he began to head my way. Gaunt, chest length beard, crooked bones, & skin of leather. He asked to join my pool. Using every ounce of instincts, I determined he “felt safe” despite his appearance, keeping a mental backup plan to bail or defend. I was curious, as I am about most people who are drawn to places where there aren’t others. He was astonishingly well read, providing quotes to books we discussed & recommending reads. We shared the MOST interesting conversation speaking of philosophy, theories, humanity, etc. He spoke frantically & would sometimes get excitable, causing me to tense up like a cat. “Take a breath” I’d say. He’d slow. Bonafidely eccentric. The Definition of A real life Chris McCandless. Though old, his life force was as young as mine. Later we were joined by train jumpers. A young couple who lived a lifestyle jumping trains. They looked like a scene from Divergent, and would have been cast in the “Dauntless group.” I learned about train jumpers, not from a book, but from this moment. At night, I exited the hot spring, setup my camp & fire alone, blanketed by infinite stars, and fell asleep to the sounds of wild mules and coyotes that roamed the area. I awoke to find my bathing suit frozen solid from the cold winter air, frost all around my camp, & my peace undisturbed. As I was leaving this magical place, I packed 80% of my provisions to gift to my new friend. So he could stay, as keeper of the springs. Upon visiting his hauled out, sticker adorned Bug, I met a half dozen others he’d charmed overnight, who were also gifting him their supplies. We all discussed travels & life over matcha tea he provided. He had nothing, yet everyone he met gifted him supplies enough to live. The road less traveled alone is full of stories