Why the hell would you get in the back of a sketchy bus?
A Drunk Day in Sisters, OR

The small school bus was spray painted black. The windows were spray painted black, as well. The passenger access doors were blocked. There was no easy escape, I’d have to punch my way out. The engine started and the bus headed deeper into these unknown woods…

How the hell did I end up here?

______

The clouds waltzed from tree to tree and ascended up the side of the mountain as my steps approached Santiam Pass. The rain fell in random spurts. A little burst of rain, then back to dry. The forest switched quickly back and forth from burnt trees to living trees. The bursts of rain dampened my clothes and spirits. I was eager for a quick hitch in to Sisters, Oregon. A man in a jeep pulled over and offered me a ride, he had a dog. My mood was starting to improve.

I got dropped off at Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill.
I sat at the bar and ordered a beer and a burger. My layer of dirt, pack and stench must have hinted at my thru hiking tendencies. There was an open seat on either side of me in the packed bar.

At 1 pm, Two girls walked in the bar and ordered Vegas Bombs.
Me: “Y’all are getting Vegas Bombs at 1 pm?”
“Hell yea we are!” They replied
“What’s the occasion?”
“Don’t need one! You want one?”
“Hell Yea I do!”

Shortly after this Vegas Bomb a white haired man walked in. He greeted all the workers by name, they all greeted him by name “Hey Bob.”
As he sits, his gin is delivered by the bartender. He’s comfortable here. A true regular. The type of guy who makes the culture of a place. I aspire to be this type of energy at my local watering hole. After he kisses sweet nothings to the waitress he turns to me.

“So a hiker eh?”
I nervously reply, not sure yet if he approves of my presence in his establishment.
“Yes sir”
“That’s awesome! Can I get you a drink?”
(Phew) “Yes sir!”
I order a beer. feeling loose now.
“I told my wife and daughter I was just heading out for some lunch.” He remarks as he sets down his first empty glass, a second glass full of gin glides in to replace the first.
Then he wants me to try a local whiskey he likes. It’s good i am relxed. Then his firend 2 chairs wants to by me a bee r. and i lik e iet a lot . Then he gets me an oth r whisk. oh borthr i have hike to go an d hke. Then stwats tel ng about how gin mae d givs me s ip of his drink. itsss reallly goodd, i haa vve oonnenn of f those.

At this level of drunkenness’ I realize I’m not getting back to the trail. But my new friend, Bob, won’t leave me hanging. He has a plan. A buddy who lives in a small school bus out in the woods. In fact, he’s heading back that way soon!

I squeeze in to the back of this school bus, blacked out windows, extremely lived in. And trapped in the back of a bus we venture down dirt roads into the middle of a forgotten forest. I know what you’re thinking, “Keon what the fuck are you doing you idiot, this is how people get murdered” BUT my new bestie vouched for him. That’s my literal guy right there. He wouldn’t steer me wrong. In fact, the bus driver dropped me off and said he’d be back at 7 am the next morning and he was. There was even some cell service at that particular spot.
Trust the trail, for it provides.