Today, I was riding my 'bent along the path and at a shelter saw an older gentleman (I say "older" - he was likely younger than I am - sometimes I forget) sitting up on the picnic table sort of dozing.

Next to him was an older Raleigh - sort of assembled as a cross between a hybrid and a mtn bike, and behind was a homemade aluminum/wood trailer with a couple of American flags sticking up from the rear, and a big sign, "Freedom Rider."

As he was dozing, I did not stop. However, on the way back, he was awake, and I stopped to chat.

He told me he was on his way from the Cheyenne Frontier Days (about 125 miles away) to Castle Rock - about 30 miles further. He said he goes around from show to show and place to place and picks up work involved with the different venues. He was headed to a gem and mineral show.

As we talked, he told me that he used to carry 150 pounds in the trailer, but since his stroke, he carries about 1/2 that. He was finishing up the very stub of a cigarette. He had just bought a new 16" tire/tube at WalMart which cost him $31.00.

He described a recent ride across the desert on old route 66 from Barstow to Needles, CA, and how the road was so potholed he had to walk his bike. He spends a lot of time in CA.

He was interested in my recumbent as he said the seat on his bike was getting too high. He had mirrors on both sides of his bars - they were headed straight up and were sort of taped to the bars.

His "kit?"

A pair of very dirty jeans/Levis, and work shirt and work boots, along with a baseball cap. I gathered this was what he wore all the time.

I got the impression that the bicycleis his home, and he just rides all around from place to place, never really lighting anywhere for long.

Everything seems to work for him!!

It was an interesting and fun conversation.