Sharon's R&R in Ellington, MO

Sharon was left on the side of the road in Centerville, MO., with a crushed bike.   Hundreds of miles from the closest major town. Here's her story:
I had parked my bike for a second and ran into a post office to mail a postcard to my grand daughters, I heard a lot of screaming and ran out to find my bike crushedr and my belongings strewn in the street. I was devasted, shocked and ready to quit the ride. What would we do? Stuck in the middle of Missouri. The kindness and generosity of the folks have made the trip more memorable for me. I have made friends that I will never forget and can't possibly repay.

Looking back on my unfortunate event, I believe my luck was with with me. I needed the rest. When Wayne Swyers, a "warm showers" host heard of my desperate need for help, he immediately left work from Ellington, 20 miles away. He loaded me and my wrecked bike in his pickup and dropped me off at his home, where  I met his wife Betsy, their Army Ranger son, just back from his duty in Irag, his wife and their 2 year old daughter. They made me feel right at home and I enjoyed two days discovering Ellington -- a town of a 1,000 people with 2 streets. Word travels quickly. I was a bit of a celebrity, people coming up to me and asking me if I am the gal that her bike run over. They were the nicest people, willing to help me in any way.

As my luck was, Melinda Hathcoat who works with Wayne, my host, was driving to a son's baseball tournament in Kansas and offered to give me a ride Saturday morning. I am at the bike store in Pittsburgh, Kansas and my bike is being assembled, gee I quess that means I am back on the road again.