Alpine

Alpine WY

June 30

Victor

Swan Valley

Irwin

Alpine

Actually two miles shy of Alpine at a campground.

Need to share about last night.

Saw a magnificent thunder and lightning storm.

There were flashes and booms all around.

Got about six minutes of it.

Even after I crawled into the tent, it continued for at least another hour.

Was truly an energetic time.

And to top it off, it rained.

Was nice to fall asleep to the rain, thunder and lightning, knowing I was safe in the Father's arms!

Best place to be. 

Right?

So today was pedal, pedal, pedal.

First off was riding over Pine Creek Pass.

Started uphill about half mile from the campground.

6764 feet in elevation.

Coming down into Swan Valley was a beautiful sight.

About half way down, I noticed a man walking around in a pull out from the highway.

Pulled over and as he began talking it was very apparent he was not from this continent.

He was from England.

As Tom and I continued to converse, he knew of PNG and had known some who served there during the wars and some who served after as well.

Was fun chatting with him.

So the fuel station/convenience store at Swan Valley has square ice cream scoops in a cone.

So, yes, I did enjoy one.

Mint chocolate cream.

Quite delicious!

Just outside of Irwin is what looks like a family run camp area. 

Fifteen a night for vehicles/RVs and five a night for tenters/bicyclists.

I would have stopped and tried it, but was not far enough miles for the day.

Had the fun of pedaling up the long incline of Palisades Dam.

But also got to go down, in stages, as well.

It was more like up, then down.  

Up some more than down some more.

Repeat.

Repeat again.

That was the pattern of riding this afternoon the whole way to where I am bedding down for the night.

One little bit of rain sprinkle just before the camp site.

Am thinking will go as far as Smoot tomorrow and tackle the pass and down to Cokeville the next day.

Playing this all by ear.

A couple points learned these last couple days.

No one told me the carburetor would need more air coming in.

A little winded at some of the elevations.

No matter how much water or other type of liquid I drink, it sweats out faster. 

All part of the journey.

Or that the fuel tank would constantly be reading empty, even after a meal.

Being at these elevations has had its share of difficulties, but at the same time, there has been great victories over the passes, coming up inclines from overlooks, and making the miles even if did not make the miles. 

That last one about the miles is one of those garden glove moments between the Lord and myself.

The Lord is certainly teaching and schooling me on this journey.

What is He teaching all of you these days?

When I texted some family I was stopping for the day, I was asked by my sister Cyndi what God was telling me right now.

My answer:

To feed myself! 

To stop often, look, listen and learn. 

To keep remembering it is all about people.

Always!

Relationships trump distance.

Needed to make sure that was clear.

Continuing to joy in the journey,

D.