Broken Saints

Reverie

I have this on my LiveJournal, but I thought I'd share my little encounter with you all as well, just because I have to.

Okay, so I was at work today, in the back room, fixing up my Mom's laptop, when I hear voices coming from our little parking lot. I went out in case if they were customers, and then for some reason checked out the door. That's when I find a few cars parked, and some guys hanging around. But what stood out the most was this:

"What is this strange contraption?" you ask. At first I (jokingly) thought it was a time machine. One of the guys aweing at it said it's something you'll never come across anywhere else, for sure. It actually happens to be both the home and mean of transportation for a nomad.

Thankfully, because all I had was my cell phone and my broken digital camera, this one man who was taking pictures of it said he'd copy and give me the images later. I didn't think he'd do it on the same day, but thankfully he returned with a disk of all the jay-pegs. There was much rejoicing, and all was well in the little peasant village.

Would anyone like a visual tour? Of course you do! Just follow the magical little scroll button downwards and we'll get started.

Here's the awesome bike from the outside, with our resident nomad standing next to it. Apparently, this guy had started it thirty years ago, and has been riding in it since. It goes seventy miles per hour. It's capable of preserving electricity through that solar panel above the bicycle, so he can use a television set and stereo inside the trailer thing.
If that isn't what I call awesome, I don't know what.

No, that's not ductape, but that's what I thought at first as well, since of course I asked him about that, too. It's actually some kind of silver masking tape which sort of reminded me of tin foil. He said it's very durable and while doing seventy the only thing that really rattles is that roof thing he's got there. I forget how he gets the thing fired up, but for the most part it works as well as any other vehicle. Except going downhill in this thing is a nightmare, because of the breaks.

Looks like a bike, doesn't it? Probably because that's what it is (or was): A very awesome, very fast bike. There was also a sign on the front panel saying not to sit on the seat, or else it could topple over when he has it parked like that. I'm wondering if he says this from experience.

The door there slides open and close, and that's where he sleeps. He doesn't need blankets because it heats up inside once you get settled in (he's working on putting in an air conditioner someday; I asked him about that since it has to be miserable during the summer). Inside, he's got a towel, books, notebooks, a stereo, television, dice, and other things. Very neat.

Here's a closer look on the interior. Just what everyone needs. I can't help but wonder what he's got written in those notebooks.

Oddly, I didn't notice this earlier when I was looking at it. I'm not sure if he painted this, or someone he knew painted it, or if he bought it from somewhere, but it's a neat painting either way that I'm sure my Mom and my sister would drool over.

The rear end of it. A towel covering the window for privacy.

Some more of the exterior.

And more of our friendly little nomad sitting in his awesome invention.

One of the other people there asked him if he ever gets any crap from the police. Surprisingly, he doesn't; not like you would think, which is great. It's better than having him stand on the side of the road with a sign begging for money.

I can't really bring myself to call him a homeless person, even though that's what came to mind at first. Thing is, if he's got all that, he's not really without a home. He's also traveled all over the country (he was talking about all the places he's been to--east coast, west coast, countryside, desert. I wouldn't be surprised if he went to Canada and/or Mexico if he's been driving the thing for thirty years). Even though he does have a little donations flap next to the window, I think he's more of a nomad than an annoying, pan-handling hobo, especially since he didn't ask that we donate.

Speaking of which, I donated eleven dollars or so, which is the most I've ever donated to...anyone like this. Personally, I wish I dropped in more. The guy surely deserved it and a hearty kudos for innovation. I mean, really. Wow.

What's even greater is that he's a native to Portland. At least, that's where he said he first started it. This is his first visit to Portland in many years.

Just looking at these pictures, it still blows my mind. Not every day you find something like that out in your parking lot. It's still almost unbelievable.

Infinite Blue, Quack M.D. · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 831 Location: Bleh! :D

That... that's so cool.

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dumbwhiteguy · Joined: 23 Jul 2003 Posts: 1647 Location: Keesler afb

*cleans up the load he just dropped in his pants* I desire that bike.
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My robot Jesus is just like the regular Jesus, only he's a robot.

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Couch Guy · Joined: 15 Nov 2001 Posts: 1937 Location: PA

...I have a new ambition in life.

Perhaps it is time to get off the couch...
...
...
...
Nah.

sum_dum_guy · Joined: 21 Oct 2001 Posts: 1301 Location: socal

Why get off the couch when you can turn it into an awesome solar powered couch car bike thing?

bs · Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 11:54 pm Post subject:

COUCH?!?!?

WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
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It is flickering
A distant lamp
But I can still see it
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It is Me
It is You

The Eggplant · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 4:46 am Post subject:

You must send that to BoingBoing.
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"I dream of a different world..."

Vertigo21 · Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 353 Location: WA

That is the greatest thing I have ever seen.
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Rexfelum · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:30 pm Post subject:

Whoa! He has the same towels I do!

(Maybe I should ask Dream what the word is for when you take any pathetic connection to something really cool as "making your day.")

That sounds/looks like a wonderful setup. Did you establish what he did with the dice, or was it just generic clutter you noticed?

Other than that . . .

unavoidable · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:00 pm Post subject:

That is astounding. It's actually beyond belief. I WANT THAT BIKE.
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Reverie · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 6:50 pm Post subject:

f-ram.net · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 237 Location: Montreal Quebec

that bike is cool and all but then couch posted and i could care less.

wtf- couch?!
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barelyproper · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 1

He was in the Davis, Ca area for several years. Here is our local Wiki page about the Human Powered Housing Project.

dominic_428 · Joined: 12 Oct 2008 Posts: 1

OMG!!! I just stumbled upon this and was surprised to this. I live in portland and have seen him loads of times

Rexfelum · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

Wow, now we're talking about raising dead threads. I must thank you, dominic_whydoyouhavenumbersinyourname, for this opportunity to catch an old spambot post that had been towards the bottom of the thread.

It's still a cool topic. And I'm glad to hear that the fellow is alive and well. Does his home look the same as it did in the above photos?

--Rexfelum

FallenAngel · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:45 am Post subject:

bs · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject:

OMG - great post...and ghostly posters as well!!!
_________________
It is flickering
A distant lamp
But I can still see it
Not just another star
It is Me
It is You

Darius · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 393

I remember this topic and that fact alone scares me because I thought it was from late 2007 at the latest and here I find that the last post was almost exactly 2 years ago.

It's a freaky feeling.
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Red Ninja · Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 373 Location: I'm in your house.

No, THIS is the greatest invention ever.

The Eggplant · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject:

I think latex condoms are a pretty neat invention.
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"I dream of a different world..."