Towpath angel

One day I was cycling along the canal towpath. When I was nowhere near any familiar place the chain fell off. Many people went or cycled past me when I was trying to put it back in place. I couldn't do it myself. Then I asked a youngish black man carrying some shopping if he knew of a bike repair place nearby. He didn't, but he stopped, put down his shopping bag and had a serious go at helping me with the chain. No luck either. However, when I asked him again about any repair shop nearby, he remembered there was a car garage on the other side of the canal further on. We walked together, his hands even more dirty from the grease than mine. I told him how grateful I was and he said that back in his country things are different. People treat strangers as friends: greet them, talk to them, help if needed. That's a norm. He is so happy when he goes back home, to Zambia. That's how I felt meeting him. And the same experience at the garage: two young men dropped what they were doing, turned the bike upside down and got the chain in order. No problem! There are good people around!  May we all meet them on our paths and we won't need to wait for heaven to be happy! :-)

Here are some snapshot from my towpath cycling:

Due to the misfortune with the bike earlier I had to be cycling back in the dark. That was a challenge as the rear light stopped working.  I had no choice though. Luckily, good fortune was on my side!