Angel of mercy

Editor:

A few days ago I was riding into your area. The day was nice when we left Walden, but as we bicycled along the weather began to fade into gloom. My friend was about a mile ahead of me. A stronger cyclist, she usually gets to our destination 30 minutes before I do. As the wind howled, the dust flew and then the rain started, I realized I wasn’t going to bicycle any further. By then, I was still at least 3 miles from town. I was pushing my bike along the highway, looking for a flat spot to get off on. I was also becoming very scared. Here I was in a strange place, with only one person I knew and she was probably already in Saratoga. I tried my cell phone in hopes that she could send someone to help, but to no avail.

I finally found a place to pull off the road. A small gravel patch that was level. I was leaning on my bike, in the depths of despair, when a vehicle pulled up. I looked up and there was a blue pickup with a lady looking out the window. She smiled and said, “You doin’ OK?” I nearly wept. All I could get out was “No, I don’t think I can make it to Saratoga.” Without another word, she was out of the truck, helping me take the bags off my bike and carefully placing it in the back of her truck. She then helped me load my bags in her truck, helped me inside and off we went.

She introduced herself, but I was so upset I don’t remember her name. We visited a little about where I had come from, how long I’d been on the road, and where I was destined. She said she was heading home to Encampment. I commented on the weather and she very kindly warned me to keep an eye on the weather and the time of day as these storms are common in the afternoon.

We pulled up to the Wolf where my friend and I were going to stay the night. She unloaded my bags, helped with my bike, and was gone.

I don’t know who she was, but I hope she reads this. She was an angel of mercy to me.

To you, nice blonde lady with a smile that reminded me of sunshine, you have my deepest, heartfelt thanks.

I will be on the road for at least another month, but I love your little town and will come back to visit again.

Sincerely,

Michelle Jackson

St. Louis, Mo.