HeatherAs usual, Matt was ahead of me. I could see him waiting at what looked like the top of another hill. I was sure that beyond what I could see would be another agonizing climb.
I was grumpy, thirsty and out of water.
That’s when I spotted Ruth on her front porch.
We were riding our bicycles through western Kentucky on the Underground Railroad bike route. We hadn’t expected to find so many hills in this state. Clearly, we were wrong.
This was before we knew about the hills in this state!
This day was a particularly hilly day. Most of our time was on the top of ridges, descending into steep river valleys and then having to climb back to the top again. There were no road side couches to stop and rest on either.
The climbs coupled with the heat meant that I had easily consumed all three litres of water I was carrying.
My throat was dry and I could feel my lips starting to crack.
I knew that if I was going to maintain my relationship with Matt (read: not lose my sh!t on him) I would need some water and I needed it soon.
Even the crops looked dry.
As I cycled to catch up with Matt, I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye. I noticed a woman watering her plants in her front yard. Surely she could spare some water for this pathetic cyclist!
I slowed down and asked the nice lady if she would be willing to replenish our water. She looked up and with a quizzical look on her face asked me to repeat myself. I explained that we were out of water and asked again if she could fill up our water bottles.
Matt seemed to sense my desperation and had circled back to join me outside this woman’s house.
I am sure we were a sight to be seen - sweaty, stinky and clad in lycra. No one would be comfortable with us walking towards them.
Somehow and without words, Matt and I communicated to each other that we needed to be gentle with this lady and not freak her out.
This wonderful human being disappeared behind her screen door with six water bottles and returned a few minutes later. As she handed back the full bottles she said:
"Would you folks like a Dr. Pepper?"
Old Dr Pepper Sign Flickr photo by Erin shared under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) License
If you know Matt, you know he doesn’t drink pop. I could hear his lips forming the word no, so I quickly stomped on his foot with the cleat from my riding shoes.
“Yes,” I said, “that would be lovely but only if you will join us.”
The lady disappeared inside again, and Matt shot me a look of “what the heck are you doing?!” I mumbled to him, “Just say yes - you never know what will happen.”
When the lady returned she had coooold Dr. Peppers in her hand and invited us to sit on her porch. We introduced ourselves and learned this water giving soul’s name was Ruth.
What followed was one of the most delightful conversations we had in the nine or so weeks we cycled on the Underground Railroad. She asked us all sorts of questions about our bike trip, and although we did our best to explain how wonderful the freedom of the road is, she just didn’t seem to get it.
“Why not just drive?”
Driving this beast would have made the hills easier....but it would have likely taken us the same amount of time!
Our time came to its natural end as we finished the pop in the can. We returned to our bikes with huge smiles, and Ruth picked up her trowel to return to her garden.
She said: “Matt, Heather have a safe trip.” and we thanked her again for her wonderful hospitality.
I am not sure what made the next climb so much easier - maybe it was the caffeine/sugar level in my blood.
It was more likely the feeling of warmth that comes only from a complete stranger offering the gift of relationship.
Because of Ruth's gift of water we were able to camp nearby in this amazing field that was full of fireflies. The look on Matt's face tells me his toes hurt a little.
That night (as Matt was icing his toes), we remarked at how wonderful people are. Had we not said yes we wouldn’t have learned about Ruth’s life in rural Kentucky. She wouldn’t have learned that the Underground Railroad bike route passes right by her front door.
Ever since that day, we remind ourselves of the power of yes. It is easy to say no - to be independent and self-sufficient.
But maybe, just maybe if we all said yes to each other a little more - the world would be a nicer place to live in.
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