Roadrunner is 27 years old, has two dogs, and is a real live hobo. He's on his way to Britt, Iowa for the National Hobo Convention on August 8th through the 10th. He will be competing for Hobo King.
His real name is Lars Olin, but he prefers to go by Roadrunner. He humorously calls his dogs, “Dumb and Dumber” but their real names are Marmaduke and Luna. Does he find it hard hitchhiking with two dogs? No. He actually feels like he gets more rides because of the dogs. The two dogs are tethered together for ease of control while he's hitching on the side of the road. Roadrunner prefers lesser traveled roads and small towns.
Roadrunner is from Lufkin in East Texas. He graduated from high school when he was 16 and left home at 17. Except for a short stint when he tried to settle down to a “normal life” he's been pretty much on the road and riding the rails ever since. He does not consider himself homeless. His bedroll and tent are his home, his dogs his companions.
So, do people, or hobos, still ride the rails? Yes. But not in boxcars. The image of escaped convict, George Clooney, in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” running alongside a slow moving train, hopping into an open boxcar, is just that—an image. For one thing, boxcars nowadays are not open, and they are much taller than they used to be. Roadrunner is not a tall person. The opening to a boxcar comes up to his sternum. And hobos don't run alongside a moving train, trying to hop on. That would be suicide. The trains are stationary when they board. Roadrunner prefers “grainers” or grain cars (gondolas) that typically have a platform or “porch” at the rear or front of the car. His second and third choices for riding the rails are flat cars or shipping containers. Is riding the rails illegal? Absolutely. Roadrunner was arrested once in 2018 in Santa Fe. With the exception of the Northeast, he's been all over the United States with his dogs, riding the rails and hitching. He likes the freedom. His only bill is $25 a month for a cellphone.
Is “hobo” an acronym? It may be. The term originated after the Civil War when so many soldiers were returning home riding the rails: “Homeward Bound.” Or it was a term used to describe farm workers who carried their hoe from one farm to the next (hoe boy), with a sack or pillow case tied to the end of the hoe. Or, there's the possibility “hobo” is named after the crossroads of Houston Blvd and Boston St. in Chicago where “bos” hang out.
Is it a myth that hobos marked houses known for giving handouts? No. In fact, hobos still practice the marking system today, although Roadrunner wouldn't divulge what the marks look like. The marking system has kept up with the times. Markings now indicate not only where a meal and overnight accommodations might be available, but also internet, device recharging, and air conditioning.
Is there romance on the road or riding the rails? Absolutely not! Roadrunner does not use alcohol or drugs, and doesn't associate with people who do. He's the picture of health and happiness. He takes good care of himself and considers his body a clean, well-oiled machine.
Roadrunner likes Iowa's bottle-and-can deposit law, and wishes more states had such a deposit, rather than the few that do. It's an easy way for him to pick up a little money, and it helps keep the roadsides, dumpsters and trash cans free of excess litter.
While passing through a town, he often works, and technology helps out. He jumps on the internet, looks for a local chat group, and posts that he's passing through, looking for work. It's easy to find odd jobs.
Roadrunner is trying to clean up the image of the hobo. People might think of hobos as low-life people: thugs, thieves and murderers. Nothing could be further from the truth, as far as Roadrunner is concerned. The hobos he knows are some of the most honest, friendly people you will ever meet. They will do anything for one another, or anyone else. Roadrunner's family has a hard time understanding his attraction to the hobo life. His mother has come to accept it, and he calls her every couple of days to see how she's doing and to let her know where he is at. He became interested in trains as a boy when his mother took him to the Railway Museum in San Angelo, Texas. He was in awe of the building and the trains. A hobo, Gringo Bandino, taught him how to ride the South Orient Railway around Lufkin. Roadrunner was hooked.
One of the requirements to be named Hobo King, is that you have to prove you rode 5,000 miles on the rails. Roadrunner doesn't know how you can possibly prove that. If you've had someone riding with you, that person can vouch for you. Or the judges can ask questions like, “What train line runs through Baton Rouge, Louisiana?” “What is the main train line in Northern Mississippi?” to test rail knowledge.
(Author's note: I find it strange that an illegal activity, riding the rails, is used as criteria for a convention award.)
Come August 8–10, Roadrunner will be doing his best to win the prestigious title of Hobo King. Look for his green tent beside the boxcar in the hobo “jungle.”
Will he ever settle down and quit hoboing? If he can find a good Christian lady for a wife, he might.
Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him a curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.
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