Big Hole.....
June 23
Before I begin this post, I need to share a verse that has kept coming back to me many times on this journey ride.
"Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this with gentleness and kindness. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ."
1 Peter 3.15-16
The words that pop out at me are, "they will be ashamed."
They will be ashamed but we as believers are to not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.
Interesting, do you not think so?
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Last night (the 22) was really something.
Six other bicyclists all camping out at Jackson Hot Springs.
Everyone of us took advantage of the opportunity to soak tired and sore legs from climbing up the passes.
Laugher and stories.
Ideas passed around of how best to handle the two passes we had to cross over today.
Some more story telling.
And somewhere in the whole mix of it all we ate.
Even threw down an ale with the crowd.
One of the riders got to the spot late and the kitchen was already closed.
One waited to eat and had a huge turkey sandwich. Loaded with turkey!
The one has a nursing degree and we talked about some of the ethics involved with long range patient care.
I basically threw my two cents in here and there while he talked.
Also talked about life, death and marriage.
He was a very interesting fellow with many varied ideas and opinions.
I stayed up a little later than I usually have on this journey.
Woke up earlier as well.
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Which brings us to this day, the 23 June.
Woke around five and began putting all the panniers and bags on the bike.
Filled all the water bottles.
Drew was up as well and he left a few minutes before me.
Although I did take a few photos with the camera and phone, the majority of my time was spent concentrating on the ride.
It was most definitely challenging.
Two passes this day.
Big Hole at 7400 feet and the one after it at 6500 feet.
Glad my brakes work well as I used them several times on the down hill side of today's ride.
Hit 43 mph with the BOB trailer following along.
Just a wee bit fast for my liking.
After that it was pretty much downhill all the way to Dillon.
Which is where I am now, sharing a tent site with four other bicyclists.
When I came into town on the frontage road which somewhat parallels the freeway, I stopped at the ice cream store that so many others have told me about.
Had a delicious huckleberry milkshake.
I waited there to see if Steve and Ralph would be coming by.
They are pedaling to raise funds for ebola care in Liberia.
And they know a few people from Wycliffe that I know.
Is that God doing his fancy work again?
Certainly is.
I will be riding with them the next couple days until we head different directions when we hit Wyoming and the park.
And Stefan from Germany has been riding with them for the last while.
Totally have enjoyed talking with him about Germany and his rides around the country.
Drew had trouble with his bottom crank of his bike.
It is funny in a beautiful kind of way.
He had left Dillon and was on his way up Hwy 41, when he felt as if the crank was loose.
Turned around, came back to town and found a lady who is taking her bike to Helena and will pick him up in the morning so he can get his bike there as well.
And the shop has the part he needs.
Again, thank you Lord for working out the details in that situation!
So here I am in my tent, writing and being able to send as well, as the campsite has wifi!
How wonderful is that?
Quite!
I must say that sitting around the picnic table with these men and sharing has been a privilege.
Looking forward to the next two days.
It is amazing how we are all here tonight when we all thought we would be going different ways, stopping at different sites.
God is pretty cool that way, is He not?
So glad He has better plans than ours.
As always,
Continuing to joy in the journey,
D.
Forgot to mention that for dinner tonight I had a whole freeze dried meal to myself.
And did it ever taste good!
Thanks to Ed who I met at the Florence IGA for sharing several packages with me.
It is true what they say.
You need not worry about how much you eat while you are riding, as you will burn it all off, and more, as you ride!
