"Turn Around and Go Back!"

I have a story...a true story.

Just over a month ago I was out for a short ride and I seen this bright yellow object approaching in the distance. To my failing old eyes it appeared to be a motorcycle.  While still some ways off the motorcycle turned, coincidentally down the same road I was planning on taking.  That was still a km or so away, and so imagine my surprise when I did turn, to still see the bike some ways ahead.  That was my first clue that it was not a motorcycle, and indeed it was actually another cyclist with large yellow saddle bags on both sides of the bike, front and rear.  As I wasn't really out on a "hell bent for leather" ride, I decided I was gonna slow down and chat with the guy.  How cool to discover that the gentleman was from a little town called Rockaway Beach in the state of Oregon, and that he was riding his bike across the continent.  We had a great chat about the ins and outs, the challenges and the joys, the pain and the gain of such an undertaking, and eventually said our goodbyes and I took off.

So back up to speed I got, and probably a minute up the road I thought to myself, "I wonder where he's staying tonite? Maybe I should have asked him if he needed anything".  I actually slowed down and considered going back but wisdom got the better of me.  I got back into a big gear, and away I flew.  I mashed away for another few minutes (the guy was out of sight by now) but the feeling that I just missed something important wouldn't go away.  Again I slowed down and actually did a complete 360 in the road before again shrugging off my impulse, and I took off again.  A minute later and this time I finally turned around and headed back.

What a surprise to the gentleman to see me again, and so in way of explanation to him I just blurted it out.  "Where are you staying tonite?"  Turns out he wasn't staying anywhere.  It was the friday of a long weekend in Canada, and our cyclist was heading into Port Stanley, where he had already found out there were absolutely no hotel vacancies to be had.  He was very tired as he had been averaging over 100 kms/day and on this particular day he had put in over 160!

I invited him to our house for the night and he took about 3 seconds to take up my offer.  So, a quick phone call to Roo to get her blessing (which I got with less hesitation then I did from our cyclist), then I charged home, grabbed my truck and went back and picked him up. 

Meet Gary

By this time he was 2/3 of the way in about 5 weeks, with another 1600 kms to go. He hoped to arrive in Maine in about another 2 weeks.So Gary had a shower, a couple of beers, the 3 of us shot the breeze for a couple of hours, and off to bed for the night.  In the morning I made him a nice breakfast, we chatted some more and exchanged address and phone information, and after a few bike adjustments he was on his way.  I only wished that he could have stayed with us for a few days, because that way we could have celebrated his 65th birthday with him!!  A truly amazing man....he inspired both Roo and I.

Yesterday the reward came...in the mailbox.  Who says you have to wait for heaven.  I hope Gary does not mind if I share this with you.  If it is too small to read simply click on the photo to get a larger version.  I think it  is worth your while.

To what do I owe such a gift from such an amazing man?  I don't know.  I only know for sure that in my previous life (pre cancer) I would have been much more effective in shrugging off my good samaritan inclination, and I would have been much better off.  I wouldn't be sitting here now with tears in my eyes.  After all, the man drank 2 of my beers and ate 4 of my eggs, not to mention the hot water he used up.  The next time, I'm gonna keep my head down and keep riding.

The moral of my story? Turn around and go back!!  It's never too late!!

Gary my friend. It is Roo and I who owe you!!

Ride, 34kms, 1hr, 5 mins
Run, 7.3kms, 40 mins

"There is an immeasurable distance between late and too late."---Og Mandino

love
peter