Jeffrey Jackson is an full blooded Apache Indian that introduced himself to me at a bar in Payson, AZ. Jeff is 57, riding his bike from Seattle to Key West for the "17th time", and about 10 beers deep at this point. He is dressed in full cycling gear, minus the helmet, and us showing everyone his calf muscles to prove he is a cyclist. Jeff lives in a 65 foot sailboat in Key West. He had worked as a landscaper for a wealthy widower from New York who's yard had fallen in disrepair after months of neglect. The homeowners wife had been killed on that particular boat and so it hadn't left the slip in years. Jeffrey asked how much he wanted for the boat and the man told him that if he maintained his yard for two years he could have it. Jeff did just that.
He was in the area to visit his nieces that live on the Apache reservation. He asked me to shoot a game of pool with him and I accepted. He said we can be cowboys and Indians. "I'm assuming you're going to be the Indian Jeff?" "Yes!" he said, "then you can say you shot an Indian."
I'm a huge fan of corny jokes so Jeff and I hit it off pretty well. As the night went on, his Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer became empty and his words started to fade along with his eyes.
I'm not sure where Jeffrey Jackson went or where he plans on going. I don't know if he really rode his bike across the country 17 times or if he is headed to his yacht in Key West. Hell, I don't know if the guy's even a real Apache Indian! But there was one thing Jeff said that I knew he was genuine about. "I've got my health and my bicycle. What else do I really need." Amen Jeff, Amen.
I met this exact same Apache in 1995. He was then cycling across Colorado after a bout in the hospital (some jerks ran him off the road in Golden, CO). He had a flat and we gave him a ride from Montrose to Gunnison. I would love to know how to reach him.
ReplyDeleteHa - I met him today. He was walking his bike. He had another flat tire - plus his stuff was robbed in Marana - but he's still recycling the corny indian jokes!
ReplyDeleteJeffrey - If you're reading this - by the time I got back to pick you up by Picacho Peak to drive you up to Mesa you were nowhere to be found. Guess you found another ride. Nice to meet you!
PS Yes, he's a genuine full blooded Apache. He showed me his card.
PPS Jeffrey said DWI means driving with indian!