Roy and His Suspicious Pirate Associates

Roy’s connection to pirates began in Kentucky, which is not where I expected to encounter a pirate problem. What appeared to be another unexplained disappearance became the beginning of a relationship with suspicious associates, unidentified drivers, and treasure hunters who have followed him across several states.

The Kentucky Pirate Incident

Roy had wandered off during our travels and, as usual, left no explanation about where he was going or when he planned to return. Eventually, word reached me that he had been spotted on a pirate ship during a parade.

I hoped it had been an isolated incident. Roy occasionally picks up unusual acquaintances on the road, and asking too many questions rarely makes the situation clearer. Still, something had changed. He had apparently made friends in Kentucky, and those friends seemed to remain part of his life long after we left.

Scouting Lake Tahoe

His behavior at Lake Tahoe confirmed my suspicions. Roy stood near the water for several minutes, studying the shoreline and the mountains in the distance. At first, I thought he was simply enjoying the view. Lake Tahoe can hold anyone’s attention, and even Roy occasionally becomes quiet when a place is impressive enough.

Then he started asking about the treasure situation and whether California had different maritime laws.

He was not admiring the lake. He was scouting it.

I decided not to encourage the conversation. The fewer details I knew about Roy’s plans, the less likely I was to become responsible for whatever followed. He kept watching the water, wearing the permanent grin that makes it impossible to tell whether he is pleased, plotting something, or both.

When he finally finished studying the lake, Roy announced that his day off was over. Nevada was apparently still willing to let him report for work, so he caught a ride at the state line and headed back to the post office.

I had no idea whether he actually had a job waiting for him, but I admired the confidence.

A Delayed Message from Monitor Pass

Sometime after Roy left Lake Tahoe, I received a delayed update from earlier in his travels. He sent me a photograph from Monitor Pass in California as proof of life, although he had already moved on by the time it reached me.

Naturally, my first question was who had given him a ride.

He refused to answer. I did, however, hear someone in the background yell, “Avast ye scurvy dog.”

That left me with two possibilities. Either Roy had accepted transportation from his pirate associates, or he had found a group of treasure hunters with absolutely no standards. Neither explanation seemed unlikely by that point.

The way Roy gets around remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of traveling with him. He does not drive, has no reliable income, and never appears to carry enough money for transportation. Yet he can turn up in another location without explaining how he got there or who helped him along the way. Whoever keeps giving him rides has chosen to remain anonymous, and Roy protects their identities with surprising loyalty.

Roy did make it back to his post office job. His position ended soon afterward, although I have no evidence connecting that development to pirates, treasure hunting, or unexplained transportation.

The Black Scorpion

For a while, the pirate stories settled down. Then Roy changed our route. We were leaving Prescott National Forest when he gave me the look. It is difficult to explain how a skeleton with no eyes can stare at someone, but Roy has mastered it. His permanent smile also has a way of becoming less cheerful when he wants something.

“Turn here.”

By then, I knew better than to expect a reasonable explanation. Roy’s side quests are usually questionable, and the people involved are rarely anyone I would list as an emergency contact. I followed his directions until the Black Scorpion pirate ship came into view.

One of his suspicious associates was already at the wheel. Roy immediately headed for the anchor with the confidence of someone returning to his assigned station. No introductions were necessary. Everyone seemed to know him, which answered one question while creating several more.

The crew was cleaning and reorganizing after its previous adventure. Apparently, even pirates have their own version of unpacking, resetting their equipment, and preparing for the next trip. I do the same thing with the 4Runner, although my cleanup usually involves less treasure and fewer associates whose names I am better off not knowing.

I watched Roy settle back into pirate life and decided not to ask where they had been or what they had done with the treasure. Some information is safer not to have.

Trust Me. I Have a Plan.

By then, the phrase Trust Me. I Have a Plan. felt less like a joke and more like Roy’s personal philosophy. He had disappeared in Kentucky, joined a pirate crew, scouted Lake Tahoe, passed through Monitor Pass with an unidentified driver, and returned to Nevada in time to report for work. None of it appeared accidental to him.

That history became the inspiration for Roy’s pirate sticker. It shows him at the wheel of a ship, wearing an eyepatch and his Outlaw Trail red bandana, looking entirely too confident about whatever comes next.