Road is Freedom
Rubin Calderon rides his motorcycle to Western Hills Motel in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Tuesday, January 22, 2023. Rubin plans to drive to back New Mexico after recently divorcing his wife. He says “the road is freedom” and has travelled on his motorcycle across 47 states and illegally came to the US when was 13 years old, later gaining citizenship.
Rubin examines motorcycle in a parking lot before heading to his motel room on the night of Monday, Jan. 22, 2023.
Rubin in his room at Western Hills Motel in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Tuesday, January 22, 2023.
As rain falls, Rubin Calderon carries a sack of his clothing down to the parking lot of the Western Hills Motel on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2023. Rubin illegally immigrated to the US when was 13 years old, only later in life gaining citizenship, and says he has travelled on his motorcycle across 47 states.
Hoping to acquire parts to fix his motorcycle, Rubin buys parts from an O’Reilly Auto Parts store on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2023.
Rubin receives straps from his friend Roberto Valdez-almonds to attach his belongings to his bike on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2023.
Rubin talks on the phone with a relative while lying in his bed on Thursday, January 25, 2023. Moments later he received a phone call saying he must leave the motel.
After being informed he must leave the motel, Rubin looks outside his door before speaking to the motel owner on Thursday, January 25, 2023.
Motel cleaning staff has already begun to clean his room before Rubin has the chance to leave. Rubin goes to stay with a friend and says he has no more money left stay at the hotel. By Monday, January 29th he has left town.
Five days after separating from his wife, Rubin Calderon sits on his motorcycle in a parking lot next to a church. He tinkers with his bike under the harsh streetlight, his 1980s Indian Motorcycle engages to life with a few attempts at the throttle. His plan is to leave town tomorrow, January 24th, he rides back to the Western Hills Motel in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Worn and rugged, the motel sits next to a “Huck’s” gas station, rusted stairs and peeling paint lead the way to his room, motel guests watch.
In his room, it is clear he now owns very little to his name, a large suitcase and duffel bags carrying his belongings, clothes and two pictures of his him and his motorcycles. He will leave behind his wife, children, and his life in Bowling Green.
The morning brings rain, and a broken bike means Calderon must find parts to fix it. He checks out of his room and stows his bags with a friend, hoping the rain will pass. He acquires parts from an “O’Reilly Autoparts” store and ratchet straps from his friend Roberto Valdez-almonds.
Rain for two more days, Calderon waits at the Motel. He says he can't sleep very well because his hands are in too much pain, a result from two strokes he previously had, and has no more medicine to soothe the pain. He stays in new room for two days, cluttered with his belongings, his bike, parked just outside his room.
The phone rings, Calderon must leave, he has missed his checkout time and must pay extra. Calderon argues with the motel owner and walks back to his room where workers have already begun cleaning his room.
He says he has no more money to stay and waits for a friend to pick him up.
Two days later, on January 29th, he says he is currently heading to Portland Oregon, finally completing his personal charge to ride off to a new chapter.