This story is worth posting as it may show that there is still some glimmer of hope that the human spirit and some degree of selflessness actually exists. It's a long post as noted but well worth the read.. I'll follow up once the parties concerned have returned to their respective homes and share the experience of this weekends events...
This is the original post in one of my internet groups on Yahoo..
Bonedaddy, John Anderson and Trainwreck, Eric I believe, should have arrived in New Mexico last night but there haven't been any recent posts on the board.
Pretty interesting story and should get some coverage in the local newspapers and in Dixie Biker magazine's December issue. We'll see what happens.. Then we'll take up a collection so I can pay off my credit card debt. This job has to pick up. Martin is going to be out all of November as well and will be playing December by ear based on his doctors advice. I wouldn't mind a part time second job but I'd prefer it was a night shift. I hate getting up at 4am.
Enjoy
The story is kind of long, but our group has decided to reach out and help a veteran and fellow biker who is down on his luck. This forwarded letter was the start of the drive to help him.
(Steve)
--- Jim
Subject: [Yamaha Star Riders] Cool story about
Clarence.
Read this in a post in a Honda listserver. Cool story. You might even want to go visit Clarence after reading it. Enjoy.
I won't bore the collective with tales and woes of the Mother Road Rally in Tucumcari NM. What I do want to relate is the story of a fellow I met while at the rally. I pulled into my campsite, and next to me was an older fellow, sitting on a kids picnic table, with an assortment of belongings scattered around. Parked close by was a tiny blue yamaha moped. A brown sleeping bag lay on the bare ground kinda in a pile. No tent.
After we introduced ourselves, and he told me his name was Clarence, and the talk kinda flowed, it turns out he is a veteran with mostly nothing to his name. No home, and not much family anywhere. I dont know all the details,and wouldnt post them if I did,but it turns out he had spent some time in Las Vegas NV, and had most all his belongings stolen.
Clarence enjoying the show...
He took a bus to Albuquerque, stayed at the VA hospital for awhile, also spent some time in the free soup kitchens, and when he got his monthly very meager social (in)security check, he bought a few supplies, and an old 1984 yamaha moped,and hit the road. He carried all his remaining clothing and a few meager possesions, plus a sleeping bag, and a pair of used 'willie and max' saddle bags that he found at a garage sale, on this tiny, 49cc moped, and rode from Albuquerque to Gallup NM. Over 120 miles,in the summer heat, at speeds ranging from 20 to 30 miles an hour, depending on winds,and grades you have to climb. He didnt see much that was to his liking around Gallup, so....
He turned around and headed back east. He was originally from Missouri, so maybe thats the right way to go. Traveling along, getting about 90 to 100 miles per gallon, he told me that his coffee stops cost more than his gas stops. He rode back thru Albuquerque, past all the mountains, climbing grades with that little motor just whizzing along, and mostly coasting down hill when he could. I call this little bike a moped, cuz thats what he called it, but really, it was more of a little scooter, having regular pegs, and not pedals, like a true moped would have. Just so yall have the idea, no pedaling. Only that tiny little 49 cc 'weed eater' motor to flatten the mountain grades with. Traveling along on the shoulder of the interstate, and sometimes on frontage roads, he made reasonably good progress. Only once did an officer stop him. This was kinda in the middle of nowhere,and I suppose the officer was curious. "What the heck are you doing out HERE?" the officer inquired. Clarence said he was riding, sir. Where to? I dunno...east I guess. No tags on the bike huh? Dont need em sir, its a moped. Hmmm...how far you ride from? Albuquerque to Gallup, then back to here. "You got more balls than I do", said the State police officer. Clarence told me he said, and I quote, "No sir, just two of em, they're fuzzy and 72 years old.Can I go now?" After a couple of days on the road, and about 450 miles, the little moped carried him into Tucumcari New Mexico. He found the Kiva RV Park, which had a small grassy area, a few trees for shade, a shower, all for only one hundred dollars a month. He unpacked, rolled out his sleeping bagand set up his new home.
He had been there about a week when I rolled in for the rally. He was writing a letter to his family when I walked up and said hello. He has a coffee maker sitting on the picnic table that he bought cheap, and the owner of the park has run an extension out to the table. He gets the water to make coffee from a garden hose nearby. The hose is black, so in the afternoon the water coming out for 30 seconds or so is REALLY hot! He told me "Where else can ya get electricity and hot and cold running water, plus a place to sleep for a hundred bucks a month? I rode to a few places that day with Clarence. At the watering holes he only drank coffee. It was free, and besides, he said he didnt drink alchohol. That night we sat and talked, and I got to know the old guy. He said that living here in Tucumcari was as cheap as he had found anywhere. He planned to stay. Unless of course, plans changed.
There was a mosquito problem, not to mention all the various bugs buzzing and crawling around, and Clarence had no tent. In the morning, I saw him sprawled out across the bedroll, and I suppose the mosquitos had been having a feast all nite long. Later in the day,I said, "Hey you're a vet, and its fathers day weekend, if I get you a tent, will you sleep in it?" He nodded. That afternoon, I went to get us a couple of hamburgers. He had been eating frozen chicken that he kept in a cooler. I also stopped by the local Alco and bought him a 7 by 7 foot tent. We set it up that evening. He mentioned that it was big enough that he could roll his little putt-putt in there if it started to rain. He slept in it that nite....but never zipped up the door. Hmmm....guess he really likes nature.
I know that Clarence has some money, but he mentioned that he has to be very carefull with it, because if not, he has to eat in the soup kitchens the last week or so of the month, before he gets his check from social security.
We rode around, sometimes me following him at 20 mph, sometimes meeting him somewhere up the road. The town of Tucumcari is not very big, he got around on the moped just fine. I introduced him to several people that I know, who were attending the rally, and he got to tell some new (and old) stories to us all. Parked next to $30,000 customs, the little blue moped looked insignificant. But we told some bikers that he rode from Albuquerque to Gallup and back here to Tucumari, and those big hot shots had NOTHING but respect for the old man. They smiled and shook Clarences old tired but tough hands. I was proud.
The next evening my riding buddies arrived from Amarillo. I introduced them to Clarence. Stories were told, and bonds were formed. Three big expensive Harleys, and one tiny little rattley old moped hit the streets of Tucumcari. We went to the Expo Center where all the festivites were taking place. My freind and I split the fifteen dollar gate fee so Clarence could attend. I think he really enjoyed the Arena show.
They had motorcycle tractor pulls, barstool races, a motorcycle demolition derby, even a wall of fire ride for the final event. I could tell that Clarence enjoyed it all. The rally came and went, and Sunday my buddies and I were breaking camp. As we packed up, Clarence came to each of us with his tattered old notebook, and had us write down our names and addresses. He promised he'd send a postcard now and then and tell us how things are going. During the hot afternoons, as we had enjoyed
what little shade we could find, I once asked him, what are ya gonna do in the winter? He pointed at a really old motorhome that the owners had said didnt run, and theyd sell him for 500 bucks. Maybe one day he'll have a decent little place to stay in. We all rode out to the Expo center for the Sunday morning worship and bike blessing. We all said our goodbyes. We rode off. I felt sad. Like I left a good friend behind. Clarence served our country, and now he's living on the road. He has a picnic table for his furniture, a donated tent for a house, and his ticket to freedom, in the shape of a little blue moped. I thank him and wish him good luck.
--------------------------------------------
The main reason I wanted to tell this story, is so if anyone on the digest is riding I-40 this summer, please think about stopping by and visiting Clarence.
He is staying at the KIVA RV park in Tucumcari, New Mexico. He is at the very back of that park, near the brown mobile home. This park is on the main road, Tucumcari Blvd, that runs east and west. Its on the east end of town, about 1/2 mile WEST
of the K-MART store. Big green sign. Tell him Brian said "Hi".
Thanks for letting me tell Clarences story.
---Brian
Republic of Texas
Steve again here. The follow up is, a storm (or
age)hurt his moped, and he was without wheels and far
from any veterans affairs center for help. His Social
Security $$ was not coming in, and he was living in a
tent. Jodi went the extra 300 miles and went to visit
Clarence and see his situation. She has posted
pictures, and there are others posted also.
The group has looked for a long time to find a ride
that would fill his needs, reliable and light enough
for someone of his age or stature.
Bonedaddy has located a bike, and now we are looking
for those who pledged, and anyone else who wishes to
help to donate any amount to finish the deal and get
this bike to Clarence. The bike seems a great fit,
small, a 250 Honda, with low miles.
More to come once the Yamaha Star Riders fill everyone in and the press gets through with Clarence.. This is just great!
Thank you all.
Scott (Another Scott)
-Scott
2 comments:
Cool blog Scott, thanks for directing me to it.
Ride On,
Jodi
My pleasure Jodi, thanks for visiting!!!
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