I Am Now A Tourist Attraction LOL

[Knitting_Guy]

I'm sitting around the truckstop in Cali waiting for dispatch to find me a load. It'll be tomorrow now. It's a really nice day here. The sun is shining and there is a breeze blowing. Although the breeze is slightly chilly the air is still reasonably warm and the sun feels especially good.


I was sitting at one of the picnic tables near the building and knitting when a tour bus pulled into the truckstop. A passel of tourists piled out of the bus. Most of them were elderly but there were a few younger ones as well. From what I could hear of their speech they were from Northern Europe.


I can usually recognize various languages even though I can't speak them, but I am not entirely certain where these folks hail from. Their language is one I've not heard spoken before, but it sounded almost like a cross between Russian and Greek. Definitely one of the Slavic languages to be sure.


They all disappeared into the truckstop and I didn't give them another thought until they all eventually came back out again and started running all over the truck parking lot snapping pictures of various big rigs. I saw one lady walk close to my rig a take a pic or two. I just kind of chuckled to myself as I know the trucks in Europe aren't even close to the size of the rigs we have here. I'm sure it was really something for them to see and get close to those big trucks although I was a tad concerned that they might get run over or upset some trucker who didn't want his picture taken.


I resumed my knitting after watching them for a minute or two and then one of the elderly guys with a huge moustache approached me and said something or other in his language while pointing at my knitting and making motions as if to take a picture. He was obviously asking my permission to snap a pic of me knitting.


I smiled and nodded my assent. He motioned to a lady who stepped up a meter or so away from me and snapped a couple of quick pics. She said thank you in English with a very heavy accent and it sounded something like "sanks yoo". I just gave her a smile and told her she was welcome.


I started to resume my knitting when a few more came over and snapped pics of me knitting. I guess giving my consent to one was enough for them all to have a go at it. I really didn't mind too much.


The old guy with the huge moustache came over to me and pointed to my knitting and made a motion around his chest. I understood he was asking if I was making a sweater. I nodded and said "yes, a sweater" although I know he didn't understand a word of it. He understood my meaning though and said something to the lady that I assume was their word for sweater.


Either that or he told her I was making a really large hat LOL


A couple of the folks, both men and women, gave me the thumbs up for my knitting. No matter where you go everyone seems to understand the thumbs up thing. I just smiled at them, thanked them, and went back to my knitting. I was starting to feel a bit like an animal in a zoo and was kind of glad when they finally got the cattle call to return to the bus.


I guess they'll be able to tell the folks back home how American truckers sit around and knit when not working LOL

[Tutu Carol]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[suzeeq]

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later..... :lol:

[Knitting_Guy]

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later..... :lol:

I dunno, never in a million years would I have thought I'd attract the attention of a bunch of European tourists :rofl:

[suzeeq]

Well, but you already attract a lot of attention in Applebee's around the country, and several bars....

[Knitting_Guy]

Well, but you already attract a lot of attention in Applebee's around the country, and several bars....

True and that's perfectly natural, but this was a little...odd. :rofl:

[Plantgoddess+]

:thumbsup: That's a great story.

[snowbear]

How could it be anything but odd? KG.. We are talking about you, lol. KG, you are obviously loved everywhere, now even over seas! Can you believe the stories they will be telling? You really need an ambassador of knitting button!

Big Bear Hugs!

[Knitting_Guy]

How could it be anything but odd? KG.. We are talking about you,

Well, ok you do have a point there...

:rofl:

[suzeeq]

You really need an ambassador of knitting button!

Or a sash like those diplomats wear.... The order of DPNS....

[Knitting_Guy]

Or a sash like those diplomats wear.... The order of DPNS....

Ummm, I already get enough odd looks just from knitting...:teehee:

[PCwombat]

Heehee. That's a good story you have to tell now. Just think of all the scrapbooks you may end up in. LOL, I wonder what the caption would be.

And I get what you mean about feeling like you're in a zoo. Whenever I'm in the library, and a prospective student tour group goes through, I feel like I should do something interesting or somehow be extra student like.

[Knitting_Guy]

Whenever I'm in the library, and a prospective student tour group goes through, I feel like I should do something interesting or somehow be extra student like.

Wouldn't that require taking a keg to the library with you? :teehee:

[McKnitty]

Your fame will spread all over the world! Those tourist will go back to their homeland with the pictures of you and stories of the Great American Knitting Guy.

[lactosefree]

What a great story! I would have loved to have been a fly on your rig fluent in the language they were speaking.

Where abouts in California were/are you?


I guess they'll be able to tell the folks back home how American truckers sit around and knit when not working LOL

:roflhard:

[Knitting_Guy]

Your fame will spread all over the world! Those tourist will go back to their homeland with the pictures of you and stories of the Great American Knitting Guy.

Oh the horror!!!!!

[Knitting_Guy]

What a great story! I would have loved to have been a fly on your rig fluent in the language they were speaking.

Where abouts in California were/are you?




:roflhard:
:LOL:

I'm in Bakersfield of all places. :waah:

[evona]

:LOL:

I'm in Bakersfield of all places. :waah:

Oh the inhumanity!!! (My apologies to any KH members from Bakersfield)

[Knitting_Guy]

Oh the inhumanity!!! (My apologies to any KH members from Bakersfield)

It's ok, they know they're in Bakersfield :rofl:

Well, at least it isn't LA.

[evona]

It's ok, they know they're in Bakersfield :rofl:

Well, at least it isn't LA.

:rofl: Hey now! I'm in the San Fernando Valley!!! I do have to agree with you about L.A. though :wink: To think that I was born and raised in LA and moved out twice to Northern California and CAME BACK!!!!! It was the money though. I'm a single mom and just couldn't get a good enough job up there. Now that my daughter is graduating and my son is heading for the home stretch I am getting close to leaving for good :woohoo:

[Wildfire]

Congrats! Now, can I sell the maps to your house? :mrgreen:

[walmin22]

KG - You have the greatest adventures! I absolutely love reading your posts! It’s always nice to have good chuckle! :muah:Thank you.

Not to seam like I’m slaying the dragon because in your story you were minding your business but I can somewhat understand how you feel……..

A couple of years back my husband and I were in Hawaii visiting my Mom and Step-Dad. They had brought us to this farm that had numerous movies filmed on it. While there, you could go on a tour of all the sites. The four of us were the only American’s on our tour. At some of the film spots we stopped and were able to get out of the bus and the tour guide would explain the spot while other spots the bus would just stop and the tour guide would speak and you would take pictures from the bus. One of the movies filmed on this farm was Godzilla. There were a few large footprints of Godzilla. The bus stopped and the tour guide spoke in Japanese for all the other passengers on this tour then spoke in English to us. It seem that all the other passengers had stopped taken pictures and He was about to tell the driver to move on to the next spot when my husband asked if we could get off the bus to take a closer picture. The Tour Guide seemed a little taken. I guess nobody had ask to get off the bus at this stop. My parents stayed on the bus, while My husband and I ran off. My husband then laid right in the middle of the footprint making it look like he gotten stepped on Godzilla and while I took the pictures. I turned around and saw that the whole bus seemed to have gotten off the bus to take more pictures. My parents then told me that the only reason everyone filed out of the bus was due to my husband laying in the footprint. They had also stopped taking pictures after my husband got up. We can just imagine what people were saying back in Japan. My step-Dad took a pictures of the people taking pictures of my husband.

[Knitting_Guy]

:rofl: Hey now! I'm in the San Fernando Valley!!! I do have to agree with you about L.A. though :wink: To think that I was born and raised in LA and moved out twice to Northern California and CAME BACK!!!!! It was the money though. I'm a single mom and just couldn't get a good enough job up there. Now that my daughter is graduating and my son is heading for the home stretch I am getting close to leaving for good :woohoo:

Understandable. Ya have to make a living. We truckers just dislike Cali due to the state's aggressive hatred of trucks and the constant harassment we get when out here. That's why I rarely come out here.

[Knitting_Guy]

Congrats! Now, can I sell the maps to your house? :mrgreen:

Why not? I'm never there :rofl:

[Knitting_Guy]

KG - You have the greatest adventures! I absolutely love reading your posts! It’s always nice to have good chuckle! :muah:Thank you.

Not to seam like I’m slaying the dragon because in your story you were minding your business but I can somewhat understand how you feel……..

A couple of years back my husband and I were in Hawaii visiting my Mom and Step-Dad. They had brought us to this farm that had numerous movies filmed on it. While there, you could go on a tour of all the sites. The four of us were the only American’s on our tour. At some of the film spots we stopped and were able to get out of the bus and the tour guide would explain the spot while other spots the bus would just stop and the tour guide would speak and you would take pictures from the bus. One of the movies filmed on this farm was Godzilla. There were a few large footprints of Godzilla. The bus stopped and the tour guide spoke in Japanese for all the other passengers on this tour then spoke in English to us. It seem that all the other passengers had stopped taken pictures and He was about to tell the driver to move on to the next spot when my husband asked if we could get off the bus to take a closer picture. The Tour Guide seemed a little taken. I guess nobody had ask to get off the bus at this stop. My parents stayed on the bus, while My husband and I ran off. My husband then laid right in the middle of the footprint making it look like he gotten stepped on Godzilla and while I took the pictures. I turned around and saw that the whole bus seemed to have gotten off the bus to take more pictures. My parents then told me that the only reason everyone filed out of the bus was due to my husband laying in the footprint. They had also stopped taking pictures after my husband got up. We can just imagine what people were saying back in Japan. My step-Dad took a pictures of the people taking pictures of my husband.

Great story!

Actually while these people were snapping pics the thought did occur to me that I wished I had my camera so I could take pics of them taking pics of me :rofl:

[Jan in CA]

I was going to say "now you come to CA when I'm in DC!" But, I see you're in Bakersfield so never mind..:teehee:

We have this running joke about "B" towns in CA...for some reason they all seem to be..uh less desirable place to live.. Bakersfield, Beaumont, Baker, Bell, Barstow, Brawley, Boron, etc. :teehee: Okay, there are actually a lot more B towns than that, but we seem to hit a lot of them when we head across the desert to AZ. ;)

[suzeeq]

Ya know those B towns you mentioned are all in the south, and I can't think of any in N Cal that begin with a B. Maybe you're right....

[Knitting_Guy]

I was going to say "now you come to CA when I'm in DC!" But, I see you're in Bakersfield so never mind..:teehee:

:roflhard:

[hummingbird]

great story Mason! You always have great stories! :P

[Eccie]

I'm really beginning to think you should write a book

[Knitting_Guy]

I'm really beginning to think you should write a book

You're not the first to say that, but really who would buy it? Nobody wants to buy a book about the tales of a wandering trucker. It would make for some pretty dull reading.

[KnittinMitchie]

Mason I'm sure they are telling ALL of their friends. Not only do American men knit, this one is a truck driver. :) If your ever out near Abilene look us up. We have a small club that meets on occasion.

I'm also an attraction but not on the large scale. My daughter has speech once a week and I knit. EVERYONE seems to sop and ask "What ya making?"

[evona]

Well, there is Brentwood!!! Not exactly undesirable (except for a time in about 1994)

I was going to say "now you come to CA when I'm in DC!" But, I see you're in Bakersfield so never mind..:teehee:

We have this running joke about "B" towns in CA...for some reason they all seem to be..uh less desirable place to live.. Bakersfield, Beaumont, Baker, Bell, Barstow, Brawley, Boron, etc. :teehee: Okay, there are actually a lot more B towns than that, but we seem to hit a lot of them when we head across the desert to AZ. ;)

[evona]

Ya know those B towns you mentioned are all in the south, and I can't think of any in N Cal that begin with a B. Maybe you're right....

Hey there is a Brentwood in Contra Costa County too . . not too shabby a place!!!! :rofl:

[lactosefree]

Ok now I feel like I need to represent my 'hood. Cities that start with a B in the Bay Area:

Brentwood (the one in contra costa county - is the best place to go cherry, apricot, plum, peach and nut picking!)
Belmont
Burlingame
Berkeley
Brisbane

---

Mason - I'm sorry to hear that you get harrassed in California! :neutral:

[Plantgoddess+]

Now Mason don't underestimate yourself or knitters. Look how many people enjoy the Yarn Harlot's books. Her life before book tours was not full of amazing experiences except with her knitting projects. It's more how you tell the tale not the tale you tell.
Don't dismiss the idea of a book, there are a lot of people who enjoy reading about a life involving something they are passionate about.

[Debkcs]

Mason, my heart goes out to you, or anyone, stuck in Bakersfield. My Dh and I were stuck there for a week one day (to rip off an old John Denver song). Hopefully you've got a haul now, and are making tracks down the road.

That is just about the perfect trucking story!

To Mason, our Ambassador of Knitting!

[Knitting_Guy]

Mason - I'm sorry to hear that you get harrassed in California! :neutral:

It goes with the territory. Thanks.

[blueygh2]

And I thought I was an attraction...

People seem confused by guys knitting. Even more so by truckers. Okay, I'm not a trucker, but I'm a guy. And I'm knitting.

Mostly in the train to kill the time (2,5 hours). People seem reluctant to have a seat next to me for some reason. At first it was awkward knitting in public, but since I've knitted at the trainstation, waiting for the train (about 2-3 hours), in fear of getting attacked because of me knitting, I don't mind anymore. Not so long ago in the train, there were a few girls spying at me and giggling. A friend who sat with me asked if that didn't bother me, and I said I didn't mind. Anyway. Knitting is great. And not just for women! :wink:

[Knitting_Guy]

And I thought I was an attraction...

People seem confused by guys knitting. Even more so by truckers. Okay, I'm not a trucker, but I'm a guy. And I'm knitting.

Mostly in the train to kill the time (2,5 hours). People seem reluctant to have a seat next to me for some reason. At first it was awkward knitting in public, but since I've knitted at the trainstation, waiting for the train (about 2-3 hours), in fear of getting attacked because of me knitting, I don't mind anymore. Not so long ago in the train, there were a few girls spying at me and giggling. A friend who sat with me asked if that didn't bother me, and I said I didn't mind. Anyway. Knitting is great. And not just for women! :wink:

I actually have a lot of good conversations that stem from KIP. I knit pretty much everywhere I go whether it's a truckstop, a cafe, or a biker bar. It's a great ice breaker and invariably some woman can't resist coming over to ask about it.

When yer as ugly as I am ya have to use what ya have :rofl:

[blueygh2]

Oh but you're not ugly!

But you're right :D

[cindycactus]

You're not the first to say that, but really who would buy it? Nobody wants to buy a book about the tales of a wandering trucker. It would make for some pretty dull reading.

Just look at how many people read this thread. You always make your stories so alive. Keep a journal of all these things that happen on your trips, and there you go, you have a really interesting book.:thumbsup:

[Sunshine's Mom]

Mason, you have the greatest stories! Thanks for sharing.:thumbsup:

[blueygh2]

Just look at how many people read this thread. You always make your stories so alive. Keep a journal of all these things that happen on your trips, and there you go, you have a really interesting book.:thumbsup:

And be sure to include some pics in the book :hug:

[suzeeq]

Ok now I feel like I need to represent my 'hood. Cities that start with a B in the Bay Area:

Brentwood (the one in contra costa county - is the best place to go cherry, apricot, plum, peach and nut picking!)
Belmont
Burlingame
Berkeley
Brisbane


D'OH! How could I forget Berkeley? I lived there for 3 years.....

[Jan in CA]

Well, there is Brentwood!!! Not exactly undesirable (except for a time in about 1994)
Ok now I feel like I need to represent my 'hood. Cities that start with a B in the Bay Area:

Brentwood (the one in contra costa county - is the best place to go cherry, apricot, plum, peach and nut picking!)
Belmont
Burlingame
Berkeley
Brisbane


Oh yeah, I know. :thumbsup: Lots of wonderful places begin with B. There just seemed to be a lot of dusty, tired "B" towns on the way to AZ through that desert. :teehee: No offense intended.

[evona]

You're not the first to say that, but really who would buy it? Nobody wants to buy a book about the tales of a wandering trucker. It would make for some pretty dull reading.

Actually I think it would make for a really good book :thumbsup: I'd buy it. And the next time you're in Bakersfield I might take a drive up to have it signed. You'll get mobbed by knitters at truck stops all over the country wanting an autograph :rofl:

[lelvsdgs]

Ya know those B towns you mentioned are all in the south, and I can't think of any in N Cal that begin with a B. Maybe you're right....
Blue Lake... it fits...

[lelvsdgs]

You're not the first to say that, but really who would buy it? Nobody wants to buy a book about the tales of a wandering trucker. It would make for some pretty dull reading.
Are you kidding?!? It would be a vicarious adventure for all of us who are stuck in one town working in the same office/place every day, never getting to see new things... I think you'd be surprised by how many people would love to read something like that...