JIMMY SWANN

#45 - "Why"

For my newer subscribers. Here is my first post on Substack -

And here is this week’s song – “The Assault on Satori” – on my CD - WILDERADO ‘SERENDIP’. 

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episodes – 1, 2, 3

Jimmy shouldered his pack and headed for Walmart and indeed, he could see that walking any great distance with the supplies he needed would not be possible for him. 

It is eighteen miles from his drop off at Robles Junction to Caballo Loco, with nothing in between. Just desert. Ten miles on the highway and eight miles on dirt. 

And now that he was in warmer and drier weather, he was concerned about the amount of water he would need. He would carry as much as he could. And there was food to get also. 

The baby stroller didn’t seem large enough. Perhaps a wagon would be better. 

Walmart had both and he thought more favorably of the wagon and was about to buy it when the salesgirl said there was a returned stroller in the back. It was “out of box” and on discount.

 She went to get it and on return she wheeled in a three-wheeler 2-baby side by side. Jimmy wanted it right away. Its carrying capacity was 100 pounds. More than enough for what he needed. The hot pink accent color gave him pause but wasn’t enough to put him off. 

It had rubber air tires that he thought would handle better than the four-wheel wagon with plastic composite wheels. He would need to watch out for the rock and cactus though. He bought a bicycle tire air pump and tire patch kit.  

And two packs of bungie cords and a small LED flashlight. A pair of gloves and a fifty-foot length clothesline rope. A large size water bottle. A small ice cooler. And a small breakdown camp chair/stool. He got an umbrella for use as a sunshade. 

Down the grocery aisle Jimmy picked up Ramen noodles and trail mix and bread and an assortment of tin meats. It had been a long time since he had eaten Spam and Vienna sausages, but they might be needed. 

He purchased the goods and outside of Walmart he loaded his gear onto the stroller. All he needed now was water and ice. They could be purchased at the store in Robles Junction along with anything else he thought of.  

It was an easy stroll back to the Bus Station and he was certain he had put together a good plan for getting to the Ranch. Getting supplies once there would be for another day. 

Back at the bus station, he had to pay more for the extra “freight”. He collapsed the stroller flat and reloaded his pack. He carried a few items on board with him. 

The outskirts of Tucson with businesses and homes nestled in the cactus spread out and blended into open range.  

The twenty-five-mile ride to Robles Junction took little time on a smooth wide-shouldered highway. If the highway south was like this, it would be a piece of cake.  

It was 2:30 when the bus pulled into the station. He retrieved his gear and reloaded. A short roll around to the Highway 286 intersection south revealed a narrow rough surfaced asphalt two-lane road. He was glad he had purchased the rubber-tired stroller. The wagon would be a rougher ride for sure. 

It was hot. 92 degrees according to the read out on his cell phone. He thought he’d let the heat of the day pass before he started out. He also needed some items from the store. 

A small restaurant was across the road. A cup of coffee was in order. The last two days were catching up to him. Along with the coffee Jimmy got a breakfast order of bacon and eggs. Soon, it was nearing 4 pm. 

Over at the general store he got water. Five gallons fit easily into the two baby seats. He hoped he would need only a gallon a day.  

He bought a small bag of ice for the cooler, a couple bananas and apples, lettuce, an onion, and a couple of potatoes. They wouldn’t last long in this heat, a day at best. 

What he had wouldn’t fit in the cooler. He put some ice in the plastic bags the food came in and would find a place for them on the stroller. The ice in the cooler would melt soon enough but it was for drinking as long as it would last. 

From the adjacent supply store he got a hand axe. He kept thinking of items he might need. 

He loaded his gear onto the stroller. It took some rearranging before it was balanced and rolled easily. A good number of small items fit easily into the cargo carrier under the seats. The cooler stowed on top of the water. Bungie cords held it all together. 

Maybe seventy pounds on the stroller, he thought. Well under the hundred-pound stroller max capacity. The stroller canopy provided some shade. 

The tent, sleeping bag, clothes, and personal items remained in his pack. Its weight was easily manageable. Maybe fifteen pounds. 

He gave himself three days for the eighteen-mile hike to the Ranch. Eighteen miles wasn’t far, but he was being over cautious. There was nothing between here and there. Something might come up. 

He knew he had over prepared for the short trip to the Ranch, but it was necessary. 

It was still hot. Another forty-five minutes at best, and then it was time to leave.  

He went back in the store for a couple of cherry popsicles. Then, he sat down on the curb on the shady side of the store and relished the ice-cold sweet taste as he thought about his trip so far. 

Only two days ago none of this was in his mind. And now, it was go time, out here, in the desert.

 Jimmy made one more trip into the store for a couple more cherry popsicles. “For the road”, he thought.  

Then he pushed his stroller onto the highway and looked down the road into the empty expanse. 

Out of the blue, a Voice within him asked, “Why?”  

“Why what?” Jimmy replied.  

“Why such a trip as this. The wide-open spaces give you the willies.”  

“I know,” Jimmy offered. 

“Why? Are you searching for something? Your soul? It is said one finds his soul in the desert. Is that it?”  

“No, no I don’t think that is it,” Jimmy said. “My soul found me some time ago and we are at peace.” 

“Why? Is it adventure?” asked the Voice.  

“I guess it could be adventure.” Jimmy continued, “I think it is just for Fun. This is fun.”  

Then, Jimmy’s beloved wife said to him - “When you meet a fine woman who will care for you, welcome her. It’s not good for you to be alone.”  

“I must be tired”, Jimmy thought, rubbing his eyes.  

He had stopped at the road’s edge and was staring into the distance. 

A horn honk behind him gave him a start. Turning around he saw a Border Patrol vehicle.  

“Maybe I should have called Uber for a ride,” Jimmy thought aloud.  

The Officer pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and lowered his window. 

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