Psalm 62....

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
  for my hope is in Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
  my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
  He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can
    reach me.
O my people, trust in Him at all times.
  Pour out your heart to Him,
  for God is our refuge.

These are from verses 5-8 of this psalm.

wait quietly...

The Lord does not require of us that we attempt to grab back that which we have already given Him.

It is His.

So we wait.

Quietly.

Our hope is in Him.

Not in the ways of this world.
Not in our own strength, wisdom or power.

In Him.

He is my rock...

When we build our lives upon the Lord, upon the surety of our salvation in Him, and him alone, we will not be shaken.

The fortress we have in Jesus is better, stronger, more sure than any military base, any thick walled castle, any alligator filled moat. More secure than Fort Knox.

Our lives are more valuable to Him than all the precious jewels in this world.

Our fortress has been unshaken from the beginning and will remain until the end.

My victory... my honor...

Both come from Him.

Victory in all areas of life.

Victory over bad influences, over doubts, over fears, anxieties....

Honor...

That is something that grows inside of you as you mature in your relationship with the Lord. It is not something you can walk down to the corner drugstore and buy. It is not an item you can order over the internet.

Honor comes when you walk in the character of the Lord.

A refuge...

A refuge is where no one can find you.

A place where you can rest, relax, refresh and renew without worry or fear.

Simply put, God is our refuge.

When we go to the Lord, there is no other place where we can enjoy the sweet fellowship of who He is and our relationship with Him.

Trust...

Have faith that He is in control, even when it seems otherwise.

Pour out your heart....

O, how He loves to hear the cries of our hearts to Him.

He never wearies of hearing our groans, our shouts of joys, our wailings, our heartaches, our desires, needs.....

He loves to hear it all.

All.

Don't hold anything back from the Lord.

Find a mountain to climb and shout it all out.

Or go into a closet and pray in private.

Any way one chooses, the Lord is there.

He is not absent.

He is present.

He is.

So call out to the "I am."

Let Him know who "you are."

It will change your life.

Continuing to joy in the journey,

D.

shake down complete......

The final writing about this shake down ride.

I would say the shake down ride on the bike was a major success.

Got a lot of miles on.

Almost 500 since I left on the 6th.

I did something crazy.

Thought it would be "fun" to pedal all the way back to the farm in one day from Danny and Paula's place out in the Spokane Valley.

A good way to end this shake down ride.

Right!

Well I made it!

17 hours 29 minutes later of pedaling.

146 miles.

8.4 miles an hour average.

I arrived back at 12.30 in the morning.

4 and half hours riding by headlight.

A whole new perspective on the route when it is dark.

Crazy.

The numbers are good to know.

Shows I can do this trip to NM. Or other destinations.

Yet.....

The most important part of all this shakedown ride, come to find out, is the stories from people I got to visit.

Meeting David A. on the road to Spokane the second day of this ride.

From George and DeeDee. My oldest bro and his wife. So beautiful to see them again.

From Richard. My next oldest bro.

From Robert. To many crazy rides with this guy when I lived in Spokane!

From Michael. A new brother in Jesus!

From Paula. Filled with generosity and hospitality to no end. An encourager.

From Steve and Ricky. Reminded me that no matter what, God is in control.

From Jeff and Anna. Two people I am pleased to have gotten to know. Hospitality and a gift of service.

From so many people.

Helping another bicyclist on the road cause I had the right tool with me.

Being encouraged from someone who saw me climbing the hill out of Reardan and seeing me at the Safeway store in Davenport.

How the Lord is working and moving in spectacularly incredible ways.

To hear their stories melts my heart and invigorates, excites and fills me with more passion to spread the glory and the Good News of Jesus.

Never forget how important we all are in the scheme of God's big plan.

No one is insignificant.

I love the fact that He chooses the weak to confound the strong and the innocent to confound the wise.

So there you have it!

What is your most recent story of what the Lord is doing in your life!

You ready to share it?

Continuing to joy in the journey.

D.

May 10.....

Back to Spokane.

Left George and DeeDee's place around 9.30 this morning.

Found out it was fifty miles.

Five and half hours of pedaling.

Average around nine miles an hour.

When arrived Jeff, Anna, and his parents were having dessert.

So, of course, I could not decline.

Something with hucklberries and was it good!

Jeff's dad is a hoot! And a bit of a joker!

But totally sold out for the Lord.

And his Mom, well she can leave that delicious dessert any time she desires!

Cleaned up a bit and then went to Hu Hot with Richard.

If I see one brother, I need to see the other as well. Right!

--------------------------

The stories Paula has been telling me this evening have been incredibly you Lord!

Again, I am awed by how you take us and place us in situations that show who you are.

Incredible!

Just like you to say with your laughter, "Hey, got you again, didn't I!"

Yes, Lord, you certainly did.

And I doubt it will be the last time either.

Continuing to joy in the journey,

D.

To Newport....

May 9.

Fourth day of shakedown.

Woke up at 3.30

Went back to sleep.

Woke again about 4.45

Remembered how long it had taken me to ride the sixty into Spokane.

Got up. Got ready. Left.

Seriously thout it would take me most of the morning and into the afternoon to ride to George and DeeDee's.

I arrived at 2.30

Stopped several times along the way.

Climbing up the one long hill before getting to Sacheen Lake. Just enjoying all the beauty.

With my mirror on now, I can see when people are coming up behind me.

As soon as they would get even with me, or just past me....

Vroom.....

They would punch down on the accelerator and blow on by!

I was laughing so hard.

Just seemed so funny to me.

Part of the reon also for leaving so early was to get through Spokane before all the weekend traffic started up.

People would shout something, though I have no idea if it was positive or negative. Kinda hard to tell when their window is rolled down two inches and they are going by me at forty, fifty,sixty miles an hour.

Helped George move a couple felled trees into position where he will cut them to length and split them for firewood.

Mexican in Newport for dinner. It sure tasted good!

What about evil? How can evil be used for good?

A couple questions that were discussed.

My question.

Do we really need to know why?

Thank you Lord for allowing me to bicycle up here and spend time with these two.

Way too long since I have.

Cont......

God's Word trumps even that!

Flags.

One is even flourescent for nighttime.

A new pump.

A mirror.

And lots of encouragement.

Got back mid afternoon from going to the bike shop.

Patched the tube.

Let it stay out in the sun to dry good.

Put it all back together. Seems to be holding air good.

Jeff took his drill and rounded out the holes where the flags go.

They were just a bit smaller in diameter than that of the poles.

Got a wireless bike computer as well.

Will work all the kinks out over the next few weeks.

Jeff made tacos tonight. Tasty!

It was pleasant eating outside and learning more about his life and desire to serve the Lord.

Thanks for sharing your life and servant heart!

Tommorrows plan is to head north to Newport and visit George and DeeDee.

That is about it for this day.

I stand in awe at the goodness of the Lord.

Continuing to joy in the journey,

D.

May 6th on....

Have not written in a few days. Some of what has happened has been on FB.

Birthday...

Celebrations...

Planning...

-----------------------------------

I started my ride to Spokane on the 6th.

It was a beautiful morning even if cold. Hooded sweatshirt, gloves, long pants. Kept them on the whole day.

Not that it did not get warm.

The wind.

Seems like it was coming from every direction.

Even tried pedaling backwards.

No help!

Just past Wilson Creek as I climbed and crested the hill, I looked back and saw some incredibly ominous looking clouds.

Black.

Sheets of rain coming down.

A wide arc of this allthe way around me.

Yet in front there was blue sky.

A beautiful contrast to our former life in the world and our present life in Christ.

I was goint to try and make it all the way to Davenport, but did not even make it to Harrington.

Ten miles from the town.

Pulled off onto a side road with a farm in view about a mile down the road.

The sunset was full of striking colors showing off so much of God's creativity.

Slept very sound after eighty mikes.

A lesson learned.

It took all my stamina to go that distance.

-------------------------

The seventh, the second day of this shakedown ride, I woke to a beautiful sunrise and cold.

Put on my hooded sweatshirt and my bright yellow "can you see me now" rain jacket. And my gloves as well.

Quickly packed up the tent and sleeping gear, had a roll with PB on it, and a banana, of course, and started out.

I reached Harrington, ten miles away, yet I still was not warming up, so stopped at a fuel station.

I was munching on some cookies, I know, eating again, but it really helps, believe me, when a farmer engaged me in conversation.

He was relating a story of another recumbent rider, hit by a driver.

No flags.

Nothing bright.

Even at the end of our short conversation, before he got in his work vehicle and left, he said, "Get flags!"

So in honor of this unknown man, I have done just that.

I stopped in Davenport for another break. Powering this recumbent by a two legged creature definitely takes some fuel.

There are some long climbs out of many of these small rural towns.

Not necessarily steep.

Just long.

The views are tuly wonderful to see and experience.

The most exciting part of this day was getting over the bridge on hwy 2 at Deep Creek.

I was going quite slow, waitting for the appropriate time, glancing back to see how much traffic was behind me.

Then I took my chance.

Stuck the bike into high gear and pedaled furiously.

Got across the bridge, pulled over onto the shoulder, gave a sigh of relief, and thanks in prayer.

As I was approaching one of my turn offs, I spot David A., in histruck coming towards me.

He made a quick turn around, I got off the bike, and it was a quick and wild conversation, sharing what the Lord had been doing in our lives the last week.

God's timing is certainly never wasted.

-----------------------

If a bicycle can have a limp, mine did.

I just want to say, that Spokane, for all its beautiful parks, flower gardens and surrounding mountains,  for all its attractions, it is not a nice place to try and bike.

No more than two miles from my lodging for the night with my friends, I got a flat.

No big deal.

I havechanged quite a number of flats before.

Patched them on the side of the road.

Been there. Done that.

Got the proverbial t-shirt.

I was tired.

Got out my trusty pump.

It did not work.

Thought I could pump up the tire enough and just keep going the last short distance.

A person could have walked faster than I wa pedaling.

Every turn of the back tire.

Thump, thump.

If I did not know better, I would have thought it was hhe bike's heartbeat.

Saying, "yep, we are still going strong."

So Imlimped into Danny and Paula's place. Jeff and Anna are living here while he is studying aviation at Moody in Spokane.

It was great to get here.

And to have Anna offer me a delicious meal of rice and vegies.

I do not recall much except I got a shower, as I am sure I did not have a pleasant aroma about yself after a couple days, 140 miles of pedaling.

After, I slept.

Hard.

Woke up. It was quarter of ten.

Guess I needed that sleep!

-------------------------

Today is the 8th May. Third day of this shakedown ride.

Had some raisin bran. Did some reading.

Some may disagree, but reading God's Word is the best way to start my day.

Do you remember the old TV commercial bOut starting your day with Wheaties in the morning

Shake down....

I was going to title this post the "hippy hippy shake" as I was remembering that one time in Ukarumpa....

Well, in the morning I will be starting the shake down ride.

Spokane and then....

I know not.

Everything is on the bike except my little go to bag which will stay with me every time I stop and get off the bike.

Pretty sure I have over-packed for this week (or so), but better than under prepared.

Till the next post...

Continuing to joy in the journey!

D.

Packing...

Been down to the relatives/farm since Friday.

Got a ride in today to Ephrata.

24 miles.

Had an extremely delightful time visiting with Mark and Cyndi.

Sun screen and a few other items to make the trip more enjoyable and pleasant.

Communion at fellowship this morning and a sharing from 1 Peter 3.8-12.

A good time.

------------------------------

Been thinking much on what to take.

stuff and more stuff....

somewhat organized...

disorganized again!

So many options.

And so many different and unique weather scenarios I am sure I will encounter on this ride.

Trying to keep it down to two panniers with a food one and sleeping bag on top.

Will see what happens!

------------------------------

I cannot believe just how good God is.

He keeps supplying the needs for this ride in so many ways.

Wonderfully beautiful.

Why am I blessed when so undeserving.

All by God's grace!

That is what it comes down to!

One cannot live their lives only by themselves.

We are social, created that way in the image of God.

Because God is social it can only mean that we need Him.

Social.

That does not mean the same thing as following the trends of society with all its cliques, fashions and affairs.

We are meant to be social in a positive way.

In God's way.

Not man's.

Society can be very corrupt, broken and sad.

That is why we are to be social for God in truth, love, compassion, gratitude, understanding, wisdom...

We are to be social in/through/by the character of the Lord.

We are to influence society by the social standards of God's Word.

So, I will need to be...

I desire to be social on this ride.

Keep reminding myself, it is not about time, or really, in the long run, distance.

Sure, I would like to make it the full three thousand miles.

More importantly though, I desire to share the Lord through all the...

pedaling,

talking,

sharing,

eating...

In all areas...

spiritual...

mental...

physical...

I desire Jesus to be glorified on this ride.

-------------------------

The shake down ride begins on Wednesday.

Spokane and then...

Well, I do not know!

I simply want to follow where the Spirit leads and directs.

April 29...

Republic and back!

71 miles!

The burger at Wauconda was right what I needed!

And the hot chocolate on the way back!

I am not sure if it is because I was tired, or if the climb out of Republic is worse than the climb from Wauconda to the top of the pass!

A few pictures to let you see a bit of what I saw.

Some good hamburgers, fries and hot chocolate here!

Made it to the summit!

A picture before heading down the other side of Wauconda Pass into Republic.

This a great little rest area after climbing up out of Republic and before going back up and over.

Nice quick ride down the hill. Not so quick coming back up!

Headed down into Republic.