As I was paying my bill for KOA on my way out of Phoenix/Mesa Apache Junction, the lady recommended I go to Tombstone.  It hadn’t even crossed my mind to visit, but since it was within range for the day, I thought it seemed more interesting that just heading deeper into New Mexico.

It was fairly early in the day, so I thought I’d take a little detour and visit Casa Grande National Monument.   It was actually so early, the gate was still closed.  I ended up waiting outside with the local Chamber of Commerce who were about to give a tour to a group of tour operators.   We chatted a bit and they were nice enough to invite me along to their quick overview.

The Big House – No one’s really sure what it’s for, but it is impressive and lets you dream up your own stories.

During the ‘tour of tour guides’, I had a nice chat with their bus driver about riding Harley’s with the Banditos and one of the more attractive girls invited me to join them at their next stop at ‘the monastery’ .  Unfortunately, I got held up packing up the bike and was talking to someone who was ready to give up his 1982 Nighthawk.  By the time I got moving, their bus was long gone.   I figured if it was a tour ‘hot spot’, there would be signs.   No such luck.  I stopped here:

to google for directions, but nothing came up.  I know it was in the area – I saw their ‘adopt a highway’ sign.   I guess that’s the reason they needed the Chamber of Commerce’s help to get more visitors.

I gassed up in Tucson, and figured I should look for a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives restaurant.  College town, must be something.   I picked on that was ‘on my way’… but never found it.  Overall, I think Tucson was less frustrating than Phoenix.  Similar temperatures, but it was just more bearable overall.

I took a detour on Highway 83 off Vail since it was a ‘scenic route’.  Very glad I did that.  Best riding of the day.

Tombstone itself wasn’t that interesting.  Kind of like Barkerville/Renfaire type deal.  Folks dressed up in period clothing, pitching shows and generally adding atmosphere.  Not a bad tourist trap.  I guess it says something about their ability to survive as a town in this economy.  The schools all looked closed…

I had originally thought to stay in Benson, just north of Tombstone.  I figured by the time I got there, it would be late in the day and time to rest up.   But I left early and decided to push on to Lordsburg.  I-10 was your typical boring interstate.  I gassed up outside Willcox and continued on my way.

Saw lots of activity on the side of the road and blow tire shrapnel on the road.   Some vans and cars were on the side of the road, getting help as well.  I wondered if there was anything I could do… And thought back to the 4 ‘kids’ the day before stuck at a gas station – they had locked their car keys inside and AAA wouldn’t come get them w/out a member present.   Didn’t occur to me until I was already on the highway that I could have been that member.  Might have blown my entire afternoon, but it’s not like I really enjoyed rushing into Phoenix anyway.

I still didn’t stop for the cars – for the most part, they looked abandoned or had bigger issues than I could possibly deal with… And then I saw it!   A guy on a purple cruiser, waddling it down the shoulder.   I pulled over and asked what was wrong – out of gas!  I tried to figure out how to help, and decided to just make a run for the next gas station and see what was up.   I blew out of there – and promptly missed the next exit.   But fortunately, the exit after that had a Shell station.  Picked up a 1G jerry can, filled it with gas and looped back.  Lots of speeding at this point since I now had to cover 3 exits to get back behind the cruiser.

Pulling up behind him, we gassed her up and got going.  Pulled over that first exit, and realized Dixie is pretty much just a ghost town.  Not even sure if the gas station at that exit was open.  We continued through the town until we were back at the same Shell station.

He wanted to pay me back, but this station didn’t have an ATM.   We rode together to the next stop and he gave me $20 and a bottle of water.   Essentially, buying me a jerry can.   I did catch his name – Jesus.

All I could think of was Matthew 25:31-46 – “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”   And wouldn’t you know it, I did it for Jesus.  Okay, he was hispanic and a painter, but still..

And now, I carry a full jerry can with me – and I didn’t have to do the walk of shame to get it!