Back to Lario Park today, in Irwindale, for my Xootr Mg scooter ride. I haven’t been on this trail for several weeks, and it’s time for a revisit.
5.5 miles round trip
I had good tail winds going up, and did it in 620 scoots, less than usual. The trip down, with a head wind, took 420 scoots, a hundred or so above what’s usual for this trail.
Something was missing. It dawned on me half way up: the dozen or so tents of the homeless along the river bed were gone. Relocated. Every single one of them. A few bicyclists passed, all suitably clad in helmets, gloves, and black spandex shorts. But I saw few pedestrians, and none of the homeless guys I used to pass pushing their grocery carts along the trail.
Yes, there were a few more tents around the trailhead rest room building, and a little more activity than usual when I got back towards mid day, just as the food ladies were getting ready to serve pizza. With them was a pastor, about 30 or 35, dressed in black, with a clerical collar.
I joked with a friendly looking food lady, asking where was my lunch? We got into an engaging conversation about the needs of the homeless, about the container shelter sheds I’d put up if I were boss, shelter sheds with bunk beds, bathrooms, showers, and washers and dryers, maybe some cooking facilities too.
She introduced herself as Carol
Carol asked if I’d be interested in joining her church group, and introduced me to Father Spencer, from a church in nearby Altadena. As we talked about the plight of the homeless, I mentioned Ron, who’d saved my life by giving me water on a hot day, as described in an earlier chapter, and how I’d heard he’d moved away, to Oregon.
Father Spencer asked if I were a member of a church, and I said no, but that some of my forebears had been Quakers, and I like the Quaker idea that God lives within each of us.
Driving out of the park, who do I see walking in, but my savior, homeless guy Ron, who now has his tent on the next segment of trail to the south, the one that goes toward the Santa Fe Dam.
I asked Ron to say hi to Father Spencer, and Carol, and I also did a U-ie to tell Father Spencer and Carol to keep an eye out for Ron.
To complete the loop, to make the connection on this Xootr Mg scooter ride
It was all a wonderful burst of positive energy, right at the end of my ride, causing it all to make sense today. Everything happens for a reason. There are no chance encounters.
Don’t forget to check out my website at JonathanKelley.net.