American Nomads: Travels with Lost Conquistadors, Mountain Men, Cowboys, Indians, Hoboes, Truckers, and Bullriders
by Richard Grant
by Richard Grant
Richard Grant has a way of ingratiating himself with people on every status level and uses that to great success so that readers can vicariously travel the west in railroad cars, campers, and trucks with people who would scare the S--- out of them if encountered in some wild open place.
Rodeo riders looking to win the big prize so they can squander the money on booze and "Belt Bunnies", Hobos,tramps and other rail riders as well as the organized gangs that prey on these riders, A-campers - the alcoholics and derelicts that camp off the main area of Rainbow Gatherings, but get assistance when they need it. There are senior nomads in their expensive RVs, and historic wanderers like Joseph Walker, the underestimated Mountain Man who may have been the greatest of them all.
From Montana to Arizona there is a culture of Nomadism, but the story starts in Florida and the early Spanish expedition that spawned the wanderings of Cabeza de Vaca.
The wanderings are fascinating, but the conclusions are loose and not particularly enlightening. It is just a good read with great characters - including the author.
Rodeo riders looking to win the big prize so they can squander the money on booze and "Belt Bunnies", Hobos,tramps and other rail riders as well as the organized gangs that prey on these riders, A-campers - the alcoholics and derelicts that camp off the main area of Rainbow Gatherings, but get assistance when they need it. There are senior nomads in their expensive RVs, and historic wanderers like Joseph Walker, the underestimated Mountain Man who may have been the greatest of them all.
From Montana to Arizona there is a culture of Nomadism, but the story starts in Florida and the early Spanish expedition that spawned the wanderings of Cabeza de Vaca.
The wanderings are fascinating, but the conclusions are loose and not particularly enlightening. It is just a good read with great characters - including the author.
No comments:
Post a Comment