"Stretch" and his dog, Burlington

Stretch, an affable, 36-year-old railriding hobo from Salem, MA,

arrived in Binghamton, NY, in a freight car with his dog,

Burlington. The pair spent the night under a bridge, getting soaked

in a cold downpour. They dried out the next day while relaxing--in

cloudy, 25 degree F. weather--on the downtown courthouse lawn.

Stretch planned to walk with Burlington to an edge-of-town truck

stop to catch a ride south--"where it's warmer." He said outgoing

freight rail traffic was pretty much shut down for the holiday

weekend: it was Christmas eve...Your comments and critiques are

always appreciated. Thanks...Bill

My experience is that people adhore or maybe dislike topics like this; on the other side, the same people will honour the photo of a beggar. Stretch is obviously not a mainstream guy but he is independant, brave, even proud in a way. I like the picture. Best regards, vf

Bill I just discover you by the fact that Mike O'day pair our names to thank us. I have work with the homeless and with inmates for years, now for the past 16 years I'm a counselor in a Middle School. I feel everyone teach us a lesson and give us an opportunity to give them something. I like this image very much and the message it sends. We are all in a path of evolution and transformation, and we do not know the reason behind each individual process. Thank You for sharing your images. Like you I am into taken photographs of people. Warm regards.