Since we are on traveling adventures, I willl relate an experience that happened to me three years ago. I was on my way to visit my parents solo on my Triumph Trophy, St Joseph MO to Mesa AZ. I stopped for the night, the first leg, in Springer NM. The next morning I was taking some pictures before I started out and checking the bike. It was then that I noticed a color difference on the rear tire. Hoping it was mud I found it was cord. I had rolled too many miles off of the tire. Did I mention that it was Labor day and shops would be closed Saturday through Monday. Now Springer NM was nowhere between Triumph dealerships or any bike shop that might have a tire that fits. I decided to risk it and limp into Santa Fe if possible. Thirty minutes later I was feeling pretty good rolling into Wagon Mound for gas. As I down shifted on the ramp the back of the bike sagged. I eased it into the petrol station and checked the tire. The cord was showing all around the tire and in the widest spot was a nickle sized hole. So much for a patch.
There is a train and a bus that goes through Wagon Mound NM, but neither stops. No motel, just gas food and a rodeo going on. I put in a call to my parents and started to pull the rear wheel. While talking to the station attendant, he was also a paramedic for the area, I asked if I could leave my bike there for a couple of days. He told me that was fine but I better not leave it outside as there would not be much left when I came back. He told me I could put it in the second stall and it would be safe there. He then lent me a second wrench to remove the wheel. Before he left to stand by at the rodeo I asked him how much to rent the space. He would not take anything, just glad to help out.
Six days later I found the bike right where I left it, not a scratch. A year and a half later I went through Wagon Mound on my way west to thank him again. Missed his shift by a couple of hours. I asked the attendant to to tell him I rememberd his kindness and to thank him for me again.
You find character and kindness everywhere.
Regards,
"A man's got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter what his job." John Wayne
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