by Dennis Augustine
Sometimes a bike ride becomes about much more than the miles.
While riding the Los Gatos Creek Trail toward downtown with my good friend Bill, and pausing to see summer camp sailors and paddle boat riders enjoy the end of the sean activities, we met a lone cyclist traveling slowly on a heavily loaded fat-tire e-bike. Everything he owned appeared to be packed onto his bike.
When I asked his name, he smiled and said, “Hayden.” He told us he had begun his journey in Oregon and was trying to reach Santa Cruz after facing several hardships. He shared that his e-bike battery had been damaged during an altercation and that his cell phone had been taken. We didn’t press for details.
True to his generous nature, Bill opened a map on his iPhone, showed Hayman the route to Santa Cruz, and gave him one of his energy bars for the road.
We wished Hayden safe travels. What stayed with me wasn’t the mystery of his journey, but his calm spirit, warm smile, and appreciation for a simple act of kindness.
Sometimes we can’t change someone’s circumstances, but we can remind them they’re not alone.
