About ten years ago, while on an after work ride, I had the pleasure of running into Ara at a park just north of Seattle. I'd never heard of him or his travels, and just wanted to talk bikes. About two or three hours later we parted ways. Its amazing how a random encounter can profoundly change the way you see the world. It was an honor, and a pleasure to run into him, all the more as it was random fate that caused us to meet.