Dave W wrote:
> And an excellent cause.
>
> http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/07/12/wounded.warriors.ap/index.html
It was my honor and pleasure to wait on these fine people when
they passed through Salida last month. I was working at the LBS
when I heard some voices near one of our front doors. When I
stepped out, there was Heath Calhoun rubbing sore hands together.
These folks had ridden over Monarch Pass from Gunnison that day.
Heath had pedalled all the way over the 11K pass, ~70 miles, starting
from 7K Gunnison, with his arms. His jersey was sticking to road rash
on his shoulders and lower back from a crash a few days earlier. He
was joking about that, and about the crash.
The guy was *genuinely* cheerful and polite. He was tired, sore,
had been on a loaner vehicle (wheelchair bike?) since he damaged
his own in the rollover crash near the Utah border that gave him
the road rash.
If there has ever been a man I've met who had earned the right to
whine and ***** about his situation, it was that man, that day. It
was an inspiration. I can't imagine feeling more admiration for
any athelete, or any human being for that matter. I'm sure Heath
has his flaws, but he sure didn't show any of them to us during
the several hours we were honored to be working for him at the
bike shop.
I'm proud to say, we got his ride working better than it ever had
before, and they were able put the loaner he'd been riding into the
van when they left our shop.
Heath impressed me deeply. But I should say that everyone travelling
with the group were a pleasure to have around. They are a class act.
--
Tom Purvis -
http://www.arkansasvalley.net/tpurvis/
Salida, CO
