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Tales of Open Road
As one of the original members of the SilverStringers, Bill Jodrey was 85 when he began attending the weekly meetings and had never written a story in his life. After a few meetings he tried his hand at what was a series of stories he called "Tales of the Open Road". They recounted his experiences as a hobo, having left his Melrose Highlands home in his teens to take the burden of feeding him off the shoulders of his parents during the Depression. After his fourth "Tale", it was suggested that Jodrey should write a book. He continued to write short articles each month for the Melrose Mirror, attracting wide readership. Meanwhile, he was re-casting his stories onto his word processor at home, churning out 26 chapters in three months. At age 87, Jodrey had published a book called "Diary of a Hobo." He died at age 92.
It's 1934, and I Join the CCC
by Bill Jodrey
... Another chapter in Jodrey's "Tales of the Open Road"
The Ohio Crossing
by Bill Jodrey
It's 1934, and I Join the CCC
by Bill Jodrey
... Another chapter in Jodrey's "Tales of the Open Road"
Drifters -- Six Days in a Boxcar
Tales of the Open Road, by Bill Jodrey
...From 1929, a young hobo goes west.
The Berry Express
Tales of the Open Road, by Bill Jodrey
... walking eastward along the tracks ...
Mojave Crossing
Tales of the Open Road, by Bill Jodrey
... Sunrise on Tuesday was a sight to behold.
Portland Hotshot
Tales of the Open Road, by Bill Jodrey
... and I had misjudged the target ...
Riding a la carte ....
Tales of the Open Road, by Bill Jodrey
... you go with the flow ...
A Really Bad Day
Tales of the Open Road, by Bill Jodrey
... I have never worked so hard before or since ....
The Northwest Passage
Tales of the Open Road, by Bill Jodrey
...I saw 13 policemen standing at attention ...
The Unexplainable Incident
Tales of the Open Road, by Bill Jodrey
...I had lost my bindle in a sandstorm near Walla-Walla ...
The Dark Night of Passage
Tales of the Open Road, by Bill Jodrey
... and I was considerably troubled for my welfare.
One Very Wet Night
Tales of the Open Road, by Bill Jodrey
... a young boy who was cold, hungry, afraid -- too young to be a wanderer.
Retrospective Thoughts on Hoboing
Tales of the Open Road #15 by Bill Jodrey
... An Objective Review
The High Plains Passage
Bill Jodrey
... hobo days are not a pleasure to remember... nor can you forget them...
Hunting Deer with the C.C.C.
Bill Jodrey
... Bill Jodrey, Cook and Hunter 1933
An Objective Review
Bill Jodrey
... Beginning of the end.... of the Adventure
Moonlight on the prairie
by Bill Jodrey
... a chilly interruption in my journey
Westward ho!
by Bill Jodrey
... a hobo remembers a special dawn, in 1931.
A Youngster on the lam
by Bill Jodrey
...a day's adventure moving west
The Secret
by Bill Jodrey
... and with an audible expulsion of his breath, he was gone.
The Pennsy farm
by Bill Jodrey
... Trials of the trails
Police and Injun Town
by Bill Jodrey
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