I've had a lot of time to think on this trip, a lot of it is wasted on trying to figure out what mountains the road is going to be going around and then cringing when I realize that the road doesn't go around but instead goes over the mountian, but some of the time has been salvaged for some productive realizations. One of these revolves around the kind of God I believe in. I have read the Sermon on the Mount several times, and every time when Jesus starts talking about how He cares for the birds and the flowers, and how this should comfort us in how He will most assuredly provide for our food, clothing and shelter, I start thinking about what a lame insurance policy that is. I'm in middle class America which more or less guarantees that I get food, clothing, and shelter without having to depend on any act of God. This is not to say that He's not involved in the orchestration of these blessings, but rather to say that it's not a pressing need that weighs on my mind. This dynamic changes when you get on a bike with a limited budget and want to cross the country. We've been soo blessed with places to stay when we most needed it, good clothing when we didn't even know we needed it, and good food and water at the most unexpected times. We've also been blessed with chance meetings of bike mechanics along the way who have been a great source of help and information. My point is that it has all been a healthy reminder that God cares about the little mundane things in our lives, He shows love to us through the little stupid things that we aren't even cognant of. It makes me stand back a little in shock that He's paying attention.
So if you got through all of that =) Andrew and I are in Lakeview Oregon. After a 118 mile ride yesterday from our campsite at a "full service" rest area (word to AAA: to the average traveler "full service" means running water, not an out house, thankfully Andrew was able to score some water off of a well prepared minivan mom) to Lakeview where we got to see the local firework show and enjoyed hot showers at the fairgrounds! In the future fairgrounds will be the first place we look for a hot shower =) Today we hope to get in 70 plus miles to get within striking distance of Burns OR. We will follow 395 until it hooks up with Rt. 20 and then follow that into Idaho. The terrain will be most flat valleys with occassional large hills to get to the next valley. It's very beautiful country with very few people around to enjoy it.
Andrew's bike is hopefully under permanent renewal right now, the spokes were really giving him problems. It's rideable, but the general rule is that if Andrew thinks that it's a problem, it must be a real problem.
Well that's all for now folks, if you have any suggestions for what to post or have any questions feel free to let me know, blogging can become a self focused endeavor and I'd really prefer it to be more collaborative.
Later,
Nate
PS Random Fact: Did you know we had Antelope running around in California!?! I did not, but they are!
* 80% of all donations go to help fund living water international, 20% goes to trip expenses (ie food) For more information see previous posts.
Love the pictures guys! Can you post one of your bikes all outfitted out? When Christian and I biked around Nova Scotia we were on a tandem pulling a trailer piled high with stuff. It was quite a sight!
ReplyDeleteTravelling up the coast of California was a great idea! What a beautiful state. Thanks for blogging your journey. We will enjoy following you along.
So far so good....how is the food?
ReplyDeleteGreat to read you made it through California on your trip. Did you make it to
ReplyDeleteEureka and then cut east on 299? You're taking the route I've driven several times to go elk hunting in Oregon, so I know the beautiful terrain - but I'm used to seeing it at 60 mph!
At the corner of 395 and 20 is the Riley Store, a combination auto repair, food and great archery pro shop! You have to see the size if the local mule deer mounts taken in the local ranches. I alway went north on 395 in Burns so I don't know the 20 route going east. Don't be surprised if you see elk past Burns- they look like giant deer with brown costs and white rumps under their tails.
How's my duct tape and zip tie work holding up on Andrew's bike;)
Keep updating your blog, we look forward to seeing updates.
Uncle Bill
To Christy: Great to hear from you!! Oh yes we do make quite a site =) I can't imagine what the drivers going past think, but we will take a picture of our set up and post it by the end of the trip.
ReplyDeleteTo Dad: Foods great =) We kinda eat where we please, diners, McDonalds, and the life saving gas stations (there really isn't a whole lot out here)
To Uncle Bill: We just went through Riley!! It was a great place to chill for like an hour after that long stretch of nothing. My favorite is when a town is marked on the map and it's really just a shell of civilization that has long since left. We are in Burns now and will probably be pitching our tent in the local park. The duct tape and zip tie are doing great!!
HA...I know what you mean when you say "if Andrew thinks it's a problem it means it really is a problem." It reminds me of when he broke both of his wrists and came in the house and said "uh, mom, I think there's a problem..." Uh, yes, there was a problem....
ReplyDeleteThanks Uncle Bill for your duct tape and zip tie for our boy! Hi tech! :)
Blog ideas...expand on the characters you meet. How you decide (find?) where to sleep at night. Do NOT tell me ANYTHING SCARY...no scary guys with scars on their faces & very crooked rotting teeth, rabid dogs chasing you up a mountain, or bears growling outside your tent.... Tell us the funny things that Andrew says. All who know him well know there will be at least 6 things per day that are very funny. Local food customs (cactus juice?).
Love you... and BE CAREFUL!! Mom :)