RE: Do I Know You?

It is a small world after all. 

John Knowles

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

-------- Original message --------

From: John Dickson <johnkdickson55@gmail.com>

Date: 6/20/21 22:00 (GMT-05:00)

To: Adriel Holmes <holmesa7557@gmail.com>, Atle Nesheim <atlenesheim@aol.com>, Bart Holmes <bartb59holmes@gmail.com>, Beau Parks <beaumparks@gmail.com>, Becky Linford <beckyrlinford@yahoo.com>, Betsy Nothom <betsy.nothom@gmail.com>, Bill Niedringhaus <wniedrin@gmail.com>, Brian Morris <jm.brian@gmail.com>, Brian Page <bladerunner7@comcast.net>, Brinton Jones <brinton.jones@gmail.com>, Bruce Hunter <brucehunter@frontier.com>, Calene Hall <calenehall@hotmail.com>, Camilla Hallows <camillahallows@gmail.com>, Carson Otto <carsonsjotto@gmail.com>, Chad Green <chadtgreen@gmail.com>, Cindy Layton <clayton1920@gmail.com>, Clay Hunt <claynheidi@gmail.com>, Curran Johnson <curran.johnson@clarkconstruction.com>, Darrell Hineman <Mtnlife4UVA@gmail.com>, David Odiorne <dwoiii03@gmail.com>, Diane Hamilton <dphamilton92@gmail.com>, Dixon Holmes <dixon.holmes@gmail.com>, Dominick Guarino <dominick.guarino@clarkconstruction.com>, Don Hiatt <dhiattcw56@gmail.com>, Duncan Higgins <dhiggins0205@yahoo.com>, Ed Johnson <erj8100@gmail.com>, Ellen Parks <parksklan@comcast.net>, Faye Otto <fayejotto@gmail.com>, Gloria Otto <caribbean4two@gmail.com>, Holly Hunter <hollygooss@gmail.com>, Jeromy Humpherys <jeromy.humpherys@gmail.com>, Jim Kinkead <jim.kinkead@clarkconstruction.com>, Jim Layton <moappeals@gmail.com>, James H <frozenrope123@gmail.com>, John Dickson <johnkdickson55@gmail.com>, John Knowles <jmknow@gmail.com>, John O'Keefe <john.okeefe@atkn.com>, johnkdickson55.pappy12@blogger.com, Kaplin Jones <kaplinjones@gmail.com>, Karen Jones Eagle Project <sadiqi53@aol.com>, Kim Pearson <kimpearson51@gmail.com>, Lesley Jones <jones222@att.net>, Leslie Lewis <danielcollector@msn.com>, Lindi Jones <lindi@nalj.com>, Marci Green <hbmarcig@gmail.com>, Mike Miller <mike@mwpost.com>, Nam Nguyen <quocnam314@gmail.com>, Nathan Jones <nj@nalj.com>, Page Otto <pagedickson@gmail.com>, Randy Monk <emperormonk@gmail.com>, Reagan Holmes <reaganholmes@gmail.com>, Rick Nielsen <rick.nielson@rm.edu>, Rick Otto <rsjotto@gmail.com>, Robert Kipp <merc74rpk@gmail.com>, Rushton Jones <jabbas80@msn.com>, Salem Morin <morinsb@yahoo.com>, Sally Michaux <smichaux5@yahoo.com>, Sam Otto <eldorado.dr@gmail.com>, Shanna Hansen <redrock777@msn.com>, Shannon Hineman <teamhineman@gmail.com>, Sharon Hiatt <yo5mama@hotmail.com>, Tehya Green <tehyahorsegirl@gmail.com>, Theresa Lehmer <tlehmer@comcast.net>, Tim Layton <timothyjlayton@gmail.com>, Tim Pritchard <tim.pritchard@clarkconstruction.com>, Tristram Jones <trisjones04@gmail.com>, Troy Lerwill <troythewildchild@gmail.com>, Tyler Holmes <tylerdholmes@gmail.com>, Will Hunter <hunterrun16@gmail.com>

Subject: Do I Know You?

Just pulled into Orange Peel Bikes in Steamboat Springs, CO at 3:30pm. They had maintenance work on our bikes completed by 5:30. The way bike shops drop everything to give us immediate, excellent service makes us feel like rock stars. Gila Hike and Bike in Silver City NM, Sendero Bikes in Del Norte CO, Absolute Bikes in Salida CO, and OPB here in SS have all been most excellent.

Since we were able to have the maintenance work done so quickly late on a Saturday afternoon, we had all Sunday morning to thoroughly enjoy a 2 hour church conference zoomed from Ashburn VA to the Rabbit Ears Motel. What a great way to spend a Sunday morning worshipping Jesus Christ. Love it. 

You know how blown away you are when you meet somebody that you have a one in a million chance of meeting? Well, how about this morning when I approached a couple getting ready to head out on their Victory motorcycle. As I was oogling over the bike I noticed the Utah tags. I asked where in Utah they came from and couldn't believe it when she said Spanish Fork, the town of my wife's heritage. I excitedly asked them to hold on while I summoned Shauna.

I knew Shauna would about pee in her pants when I told her a couple from SF was in the parking lot. But when Shauna asked the lady's name and found out she was her cousin, but not just any old cousin, but a cousin Shauna regularly babysat, including feeding her a bottle, it's a wonder Shauna's pants remained dry. 

Another time we were on a long, long climb out of Salida CO. After about a third of the way up this climb we heard an approaching rider. Before we saw him we heard him ask, "Are you friends with Paul Vaughn?"  "Well, yes we are, but who are you and how the heck do you know that?"  Turns out our friend Paul Vaughn is buddies with this mysterious rider (Brian Steele) and gave him the link to our GPS dot. Brian, who lives near Salida, is a super cycler (he raced the 2,750 mile GDMBR in 27 days a few years ago) and had been dot stalking us until he could ride with us for an hour or so. Wonderful company up that long, long climb. Thanks Paul and Brian. 

We happened upon Papa Rojas, a CDT hiker taking a break beside a dirt road. As the conversation sometimes goes, I asked where he was from. Virginia. Wow, us too. Where in VA? Arlington. What?!? I was born and raised in Arlington. Where in Arlington? Ballston. This is really too much. Okay don't tell me where in Ballston, I'll tell you where,  because there is a decent chance I was the superintendent building the apartment you lived in. Let's try 851 N Glebe Rd, a 21 story, 412 unit high rise behind the Westin Hotel. Nailed it. On top of that, he worked for BF Saul, a developer with close ties to Clark Construction. No way. Unbelievable. 

I've got a few more of these that I'll save for another time. But I'll certainly let you know if tomorrow we run into Donald Trump. Now that would be one big fat chance encounter.