I stopped at a weight station outside of Missoula, MT to fill up my water tank.
A few minutes after I pulled up, a trucker pulled in beside of me, and began unloading his water bottles. We made eye contact, did the silent head nod thing, and I continued to fill up my water. After he pulled a few more gallon jugs out of his cab, he asked if I built this van myself.
“Yeah it’s self converted.”
“Do you mind if I look inside?”
“Sure”
He glanced over the bed into the van, and said “pretty big living quarters.”
At this point I noticed he had a vaguely Russian accent. Not quite that strong, but almost.
“Water..,You hold how much?”
“40 gallons.”
“Oh! Is that all for drinking?”
“Yeah, it is. I have an inline filter”
“40 Gallon is quite a bit…So, you are prepared then? For the collapse?”
I kinda chuckled and said “Well, insulated from it I hope.”
I asked where he was from originally.
“Czech Republic.”
“Oh, when did you come to America?”
“Early 90’s…”
This guy has seen a country collapse. He knows the warning signs.
I asked if he liked it here. His response was this;
“Yes but..it was better back then. Not as much lying and corruption. It seems that’s all there is now.”
We chatted for a few more minutes while I wrapped up my water hose. He wished me well in my travels then added “You should get bigger tire. Might be better.”
I will do that, my guy.