Robert Flinkman

Robert Flinkman
Ojito Wilderness
pen and ink on Bristol paper
24" X 18"
2001
copyright 2001 Robert Flinkman

July 21, 2001        Saturday

I've been to the Ojito Wilderness area both today and yesterday and have accomplished a fine pen and ink of some fantastic white sandstone formations. I took Friday off from work, and headed over to the area that day to start on the drawing. All went well heading over there, and decided to head up the dirt road following the ochre cliffs rising up on the left. I knew the road to be gutted, many ruts made in the road.....I attempted to slowly drive the car to the right, closer to the right hand side. I made it halfway across, and the left rear tire got caught in soft dirt. I could only spin the wheel there. I wasn't anxious yet, and figured to put some rocks under the wheel to give it some traction. It didn't help. I tried pushing the car - it's really a two man job. What to do? My heart began to sink. I was really in the middle of nowhere, out in the country in the wilderness, no one around. I was truly alone. The ony thing to do was get my bottle of water and hike off to the highway, maybe I might meet someone along the way. The closest town was San Ysidro, twenty miles away. I started back down the road to Cabezon Rd., when suddenly a maintenance truck drove by, heading in the direction of the highway! From the time I left my car to when I saw the truck 30 seconds had passed! I ran, hailing the truck down. The man stopped. The side of the truck said RUST Co. The driver was very kind, and offered to help....He advised raising the car up with a jack, and placing rocks under the wheel - no go. He tried to push it - no go. His maintenance truck had a crane, chains and a spool of heavy, thick wire, and he was going to pull the car out. Just then his partner showed up and drove up the road...The partner decided to pull my car out. He brought his truck up, the chain was attached, and the car was pulled out. I can't begin to describe my gratitude I felt! I truly thanked these men! The whole operation took less than 45 minutes, so little time was wasted. ...Later I got to thinking how more than a coincidence it seems to be that the first man arrived when he did just then. It is true, the good that we do in life is paid back....I do think Fate, God, the Spirit, whatever you want to call it, did intervene here. Right then I really needed help, and it arrived on time.