[CR]Arizona Fires and My First Bike

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From: "Art Smith" <ahsmith49@cox.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <CATFOODf8BylrQa7kaH00000a9a@catfood.nt.phred.org>
Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2002 21:10:29 -0700
Subject: [CR]Arizona Fires and My First Bike

I apologize is this is off topic, but the incredible fires burning in Northern Arizona have made me distracted and pensive and I thought writing it out might help. In 1967 when I graduated from high school I worked in Yellowstone Park and ended up fighting fires in Glacier Park. When I got back to Tucson to start school I bought my first real bike, with the money I made, at Kittles Bike and Key Shop on Speedway. It was an orange gold Astra with drop bars, a Brooks saddle, and Suntour components. It wasn't a very good bike by CR standards, but it changed my life as bikes often do. The images of the fires on TV and the true human tragedy--the loss of one's property and possessions--have made me think about priorities. I have a boatload of bikes on my property but if I had a half hour to pack up a life's worth of stuff into a vehicle, a lot of what seems so important at any one moment, would have to be left behind. The people who have left those small towns have said that they made sure that what they got out were their family members and family photos....Everything else can be replaced. I find that pretty interesting. ( A final note....the wood at Home Depot has a moisture content of 19%....the moisture content of the wood in the trees in Northern Arizona is 8%!)

Art Smith
Phoenix, Az