Ewok

 Years ago, ten or so maybe I was driving over to Last Hurrah on a very warm summer day and saw a guy in front of me on a street bike with street tires, wearing black leather with a full shield helmet. Might as well wear a microwave. 

I caught up to him in the Jeep and rolled my window down to ask him where he thought he was going. He motioned he couldn't hear me. I motioned to turn the key off so he could hear. I had. Then I ask him again. He motioned he couldn't hear me cause he had his helmet on and was playing music. I motioned to him to take his helmet off. I could see the sweat on his face. Then I ask him again. 

He said he wasn't doing very well in the sand. I said you have the wrong bike, the wrong tires, the wrong clothes, the wrong trail and the wrong day. He said he was going back to town but he wasn't. I told him to follow me back to the lodge. When we got there he said he wanted someone to escort him to town. Nicole who Linny and I ride trials was staying here and her son and his friend. They said they'd do it. So they each took an ATV and escorted him to the pavement. He generously paid them a lot though I can't remember how much. 

A day or so later he emails me and says he wants to do the White Rim Trail which is about 100 miles of not fun if you don't have the right bike, tires, clothes, and skill level. I declined. Says his name is Ewok.

Teresa drops Jax and I off on Hurrah Pass and then turn around to start hiking down. There's a guy on a motorcycle watching me. He looks familiar. He says "I know you. We met a few years ago." I said "Ewok? You're a doctor in Michigan or Indiana or some place similar." He says "That's right." We talk for awhile. He found a bulletin board about the While Rim Trail and found four guys that wanted to go, changed bikes, and said he still wouldn't have made it if not for the four guys who helped him numerous times. I told him I had to get going before it got too hot for Jax on the hike back. He said maybe he'd stay here next time in town. I said I'd like that and I think I would.