The French Man!

Fort Collins to Sterling, CO

The French Man!

After today, both Bill and I wish we knew how to speak French. As we were riding toward Sterling, CO we saw another cyclist coming towards us on the opposite side. We rode to the other side of the street to greet him and find out where he was headed and where he came from. Once we said "hello" we knew that all of our effort might be in vain. He told us he did not speak english. That part we got. And then he started speaking French! We understood that he was going from New York City to San Francisco and that he was from France. And that is all. We then were able to use a little sign language to figure out that he needed water, and wanted to know where he could get a hotel.

We showed him where to get water and where the closest hotel and camp ground was. We also filled up one of his water bottles. I asked if he needed food, and he showed me his chapstick...indicating he had plenty of chapstick. He did have very chapped lips though. Then we all just stood around and smiled...nothing else to say because we didn't know how to say it. We both said goodbye and went our ways.

Moments later Bill and I decided that we should have just given him some of our food....or at least pulled it out. Bill turned around and chased him down. He gave the French man a whole bag of Fig Bars. He said thank-you, and then kept riding.

can you imagine what that frenchman must have thought? "Wow, those fat americans! always keep cookies in thier bags!" we had a good laugh.