Nick & Achilles

YOSEMITE, CA | 11.7.18

Nick walked up to me while I finished packing up my campsite. “Thank god you’re still here. My car battery is dead, would you be able to give me a jump?” I’m not sure if he could sense my hesitation, but he began to talk and tell me about his journey. 

He and his dog Achilles were living out of the car on a National Park tour, moving from San Diego back home to Atlanta. They had hit some of the southern parks, Mojave and Death Valley, and were making a plan for next steps. He was hoping to hear from a few different friends about job opportunities that would help him make some money and fund his way home.

I helped him jump his battery and we caravanned into Yosemite. We decided to take an easy hike to Mirror Lake, paved most of the way so Achilles could join us without getting in trouble. Nick kept up a steady stream of conversation, telling me about his past career in finance but how he switched to comedy when he moved to California 7 years ago. How when he saw his mom for the first time in 3 years this summer and broke into tears, he knew it was time to go home. Achilles’ diagnosis with dog AIDS and cancer had proved troubling, but he’d already beaten the predicted year prognosis by 2 months and was healthier than ever.

You never know who you’ll meet along the way, but this morning hike reminded me that I won’t be on this journey alone. Be you Nick and Achilles.