Kenneth...Part 2

To fully appreciate this entry, you must the past post titled "Safford - Globe...Day 32".

After exploring San Diego, Joshua Tree National Park, and Los Angeles with my wife, I decided to drive back home instead of flying. After dropping Liz off at LAX I stopped at a grocery store to pick up some supplies. Because I was going to retrace about 300 miles of the Southern Tier bicycle route in California and Arizona I wanted to have enough granola bars and bottled water for cross country cyclists I would meet along the way. By the time I left the route and headed toward South Central New Mexico I had distributed over 30 granola bars and 2 cases of bottled water to 10 very appreciative cyclists.

Luckily, I purchased too much. As I drove Northwest of Las Cruces, NM on Hwy 70 toward Alamogordo I noticed what looked like a cyclist on the side of the road. As I slowed my vehicle I couldn't believe my eyes...KENNETH! Just like on May 18th when I first met Kenneth I drove around him, this time, looking at him in my side rear view mirror while contemplating the coincidence of meeting him for the second time in almost 3 weeks. With 4 bottled waters in my hands I slide out of my vehicle and walked toward this intrepid traveler.

"Kenneth, You look thirsty", I said with my arms extended handing him the water. He took the bottles and placed them in his cart. "How do you know my name" he asked. I explained that I met him almost 3 weeks earlier outside of Globe, AZ. He looked puzzled. I continued by saying that I was on my bicycle and had offered him food, water, and money and that he had refused everything that I offered. He said that he had met several nice cyclists over the past few months. I could tell he didn't remember me. I then mentioned the word "cigarettes". A big grin came across his face and he yelled "You gave me a lighter and matches!" Kenneth then reached into his cart and pulled out an unopened 3 pack of bic lighters and offered me one. I declined and said he needed the lighters more than me.

We chatted for a few minutes. Kenneth said he was going to take a few days off in Alamogordo which was another 7 miles up the road. I mentioned how hot it was and asked if he was ok. He confidently said he felt great. I couldn't believe it but he actually looked better than when I first him on that cold afternoon outside of Globe. However, today the temperature was over 100 degrees. While he was adjusting his cart I walked back to my vehicle and opened the back hatch to evaluate if I could get his cart and belongings in the back of the vehicle. There simply wasn't going to be enough space.

I asked him if he felt comfortable placing all of his belongings in my vehicle and leaving the cart behind. I explained that I would take him into Alamogordo to a campground. We could drop off his stuff and then hurry back to get his cart. Kenneth reached into his cart and pulled out a pack of smokes and lit one of the cigarettes. He was in deep thought.

After about 30 seconds he explained that he couldn't take a chance of someone stealing his cart while driving to and back from Alamogordo. I said that we could hide his cart off the road under countless tumble weeds that lined Hwy 70. I continued by promising him that if on the slight chance that his cart would be gone upon our return that I would make sure he got a new one from one of the grocery stores in town. He continued to silently think about my offer. Breaking the silence I said "Kenneth, my car temperature gage is reading 104 degrees...Let me take you into town".

After another silent 30 seconds Kenneth wiped the sweat from his forehead and said "You are right...it's damn hot...but I can't risk leaving my cart". In a weird way I understood where he was coming from. If the roles were reversed I wouldn't leave BIG RED under a bunch of tumble weeds in the desert in hopes that it would stay hidden for 30-45 minutes. I asked him if I could again take his picture and mentioned that he was a minor celebrity on my blog. He said "I'm a celebrity?...In that case take all the pictures you want".

For the second time in almost 3 weeks I wished Kenneth safe travels. Godspeed Kenneth!