THE BAG.....

THE BAG.....

Lost bag...found bag.....

June 25

In all the miles I have traveled on this ride, I have never lost my go to bag.

THE BAG.

Never.

It has always been strapped onto the back rack of the recumbent.

Never fallen off.

Never!

Whenever, wherever I would stop, off it came.

Up and onto my shoulder.

To the loo.

Into a cafe.

At a rest stop.

Never say never!

Today it happened.

Let me back up a bit now that you all are intrigued.

Is not that a great way to hook people into reading the rest of the post?

I had a great night sleep. 

Stopped at a spot outside of town.

Basically, set up and went to sleep.

The day of riding (24) itself had been hard. 

Got twenty eight in the morning and the destination, Virginia City, MT was still another thirty miles away. 

Could not get any speed or distance in the afternoon.

God knows our plans more so than we do.

Stopped at this really cool place only for bicyclists. 

Saw Steven, the bicyclist from Germany.

He was going a different way, so we said so long and exchanged emails.

Drew got his bike fixed.

Steve and Ralph, the ones raising awareness about ebola in Liberia, were way ahead of me.

Was a pleasure cycling with these men for the few days.

To today again.

Talked with a few of the neighbours in the camp ground. 

Enjoyed a very relaxing hot shower. 

Scraped the whiskers away.

Did laundry.

Yeah for clean laundry!

Worked on the bike.

Cleaned and re-greased the chain.

Repacked a few items to get to them easier.

Then......

Decided to go the mile into Virginia City to have a burger.

Well, anyway, something to eat at least.

I strapped my go to bag, THE BAG, onto the back rack as I have since I began this ride all those many hundred miles ago.

Same way I always do.

Well, I guess it must have been time for a new and different way of strapping it to the rack.

Got to town.

THE BAG was gone.

Now you need to know this bag, THE BAG, is my go to bag.

Stays with me all the time.

Has my journal, maps, phone, camera, cards, notes, addresses, plans....

In a nut shell....

It is THE BAG.

Need to be honest.

My heart did skip a beat.

Then I prayed.

I prayed that even though I could not let any of you know the situation, you would be praying as well.

I went back up the hill.

And slowly came back down the way I had originally traveled to town.

Straight down the hill.

Searching with as much intensity as my eyes could handle.

Nothing.

Went back up the hill.

Against the traffic.

One must do what one must do.

I mean, this is THE BAG.

If it is lost I am up that proverbial creek without a paddle.

And then...

There it was!

Lost and then found!

I cannot put into words how joyful, exuberantly joyful, I was to find THE BAG.

Was like my long time friend returned to me.

Straight away I figured a new way to attach THE BAG to the rack.

And....

To celebrate, I came back into town, is it the third or fourth time, to finally get myself a burger.

A bacon, swiss cheese, avocado burger, fries and a root beer.

Again, the enemy tried to discourage and confuse but not when I have people praying and the Lord Himself looking out for me!

So!

It has been a crazy, delightful, glorious day!

What was yours like?

Continuing to joy in the Lord,

D.

Tomorrow starts out with a four mile climb up the hill. Then a nice down hill. Ennis is the destination.

And prayerfully....

Into Idaho the next day bypassing Yellowstone.

Too many vehicles and not enough shoulder.

Another time.....