July 7-9 on the TransAm

We arrived in Missoula on the 6th and had a nice stay at the Shady Spruce Hostel–a block from the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) office. On the morning of the 7th we made our way over to the ACA at 8:00 for free drinks, ice cream, and internet, as well as the opportunity to get our picture on the wall of cyclists and our bikes weighed. It was great to meet the people behind the desk of the TransAm, people passionate about cycling and sincerely interested in helping us on our way.

One of the things I needed to do was get online and find a place to stay ahead of Missoula. Though we had not used it yet, I thought I’d check the warmshowers.org site (a community of cyclists hosting cyclists) for options. While online at the ACA I overheard a conversation between Samuel Rhoades (whom we’d met, with his brother Chad, in Corvallis, OR, and with whom we’d met up a few times so far along the TransAm trail, whether at campgrounds or hostels) and two other cyclists passing through on their way to Astoria. They were recommending to Samuel that he really should plan to stop at Phil and Linda Teakell’s house in Conner, MT. They spoke so highly of it that I immediately looked them up on the warmshowers site and sent a request for lodging for either the night of the 7th or 8th.

By the time we finished doing our laundry, updating the blog, getting our bikes back from the shop, and saying goodbye to the ACA–and Samuel, we didn’t leave Missoula until 2:30 PM. It so was much later than I’d planned that I had to check my attitude. It was a blazing 98 degrees. I had wanted to leave by noon. I wanted to make it closer to Chief Joseph Pass than it now seemed we’d be able to do in a day. Forrest had ran over–and crushed–my expensive shades and I couldn’t find a replacement in town. And I felt I was forgetting something. I was not happy. The ride out of town began quietly. On top of that, I had trouble getting us on the Bitterroot Trail (a dedicated paved bike path which runs for 50 miles from Missoula to Hamilton). I had to mortify my discontent and realign myself with the fact of greatest comfort–the God who is, is my God, and He’s in perfect and wise control of every part of this journey.

Once we found the Bitterroot Trail (after getting turned around 3 times) we had a road to ourselves and pedaled on. We arrived in Lolo within the hour and decided to go shopping. I also decided to check my email and saw two replies to my requests from warmshowers. One from Curtis Bunton in Darby and the other from Linda Teakell in Conner (14 miles further). Curtis was more than willing to host us, along with the 6 other cyclists arriving that night, and Linda’s door was wide open. What to do. We obviously couldn’t take advantage of them both because there’s only 10 miles between them. Darby was a 64 mile ride from Missoula and Conner was 78 and, honestly, I didn’t feel like going either distance so late in the day.

I had heard that Curtis was a great host; but something was drawing me to Linda’s. I thought on it for a while as we biked on and decided we’d spend the night in Hamilton (48 miles from Missoula) and then bike 30+ miles to Conner the next day to enjoy a stay in Conner with the Teakell’s. The ride to Hamilton was hot and just a few miles before reaching town a man cycling the opposite way stopped ahead of us with the obvious intention of speaking to us. We stopped and greeted him and he said, “Do you know where you’re staying tonight?” I told him I wasn’t sure yet. He then highly reommended the Black Rabbit RV Park (where he was parked). I thanked him and told him we’d meet him there.

We pulled into the tenting area and within a few minutes of getting set up he came pedaling over asking us if we needed anything in town. I told him we’d already shopped and I was planning to make dinner after a quick shower. After I got out of the shower Bill had already been back to the campsite with cold drinks and fruit. Thanks Bill! After dinner I emailed Curtis and Linda, setting up our stay for Friday night with the Teakell’s. We had a good night’s rest and got on the road in the morning with only fruit for breakfast since we knew we had a short ride to Conner.

On the way to Conner we stopped off on the side of the road for a break and a man, going in the opposite direction, stopped his truck on the other side of the road and said, “I think you’re going to my house.” “Are you Phil?” I said. “Yes I am.” “Then yes we are!” After giving us directions to his house he headed on and so did we. He was such a nice man that it put a turn in our crank, causing us to pedal on with more ease and joy.

We arrived at the Teakell’s at 1PM, greeted by a chalkboard sign on the door with the words, “Welcome James, Forrest, Rocky, and Samuel!” “That’s awesome,” I thought. “Samuel’s on his way here too!” After a knock Linda opened the door with a smile, walked us over to the kitchen for a glass of ice water, and then marched us out behind the house to sit on a log and dangle our feet in the Laird Creek which rushes by no more than 8 feet from her back deck. In fact, she joined us and we talked so comfortably and easily that you’d think we were friends at a reunion. This was going to be a great stay.

We came inside for a late lunch and the boys were soon climbing the hillsides that surround this beautiful home on the creek. Later in the afternoon when Phil returned from town Linda took me and the boys on two four-wheelers several miles up into the hills to the fountain head of Laird Creek. It was a fun ride up and back and the views we got were stunning. After we got back and ate dinner I learned that Phil had 50 bails of hay to get out of the field into the barn. So I offered our help and soon we were bucking hay. It was such a blessing to give something back to these kind people who were giving so much to us.

Back at the house we started talking about the things of the Lord. They were both brought up in the Nazarene church but heard nothing of the real grace of God until they came out of it. The Lord has led them to a small community church in Sula where the preacher preaches the Bible and proclaims the grace of God in Jesus Christ. I was wishing we’d arrived at their home on Saturday night so we had the possibility of staying over on Sunday to go to church with them. When I expressed that to Linda she said she’d love to have us. That’s when I started thinking about the possibility of staying until Monday… It would mean taking another rest day. It would mean passing up the chance to actually cycle with Samuel. But it would also mean enjoying some sweet fellowship and getting some good soul food. So we stayed–and I’m so glad we did.

We had a wonderful Saturday which began with helping milk the goats 🙂 Then around the breakfast table Phil shared how the Lord healed him of stroke-paralysis when he was 25 and how the Lord healed him of hate when He converted him. Samuel sat quietly and listened. I pray the Lord will use it to draw Samuel to Himself and I pray we’ll have the opportunity to add our testimony to it the next time we see him. Once we got Samuel on his way Linda began arranging for the three of us to float down the Bitterroot River on tubes. What fun! She dropped us off at Hanson Crossing and we floated for about 1.5 hrs to Darby Bridge. After we got back the boys finished weeding around several fenced-in trees–a job they’d started in the morning. We had a wonderful evening together, looking forward to the Lord’s Day.

It was a real joy to be in the Lord’s house today. The saints at Sula Community Church were delightful. They welcomed us gladly and the sermon from 1Sam 30 was just the dose we needed. Pastor Del Abbey spoke of the things Satan likes to steal from us, things like our joy, our faith, our peace. He commented how sad it is that we’re often more grieved over losing our toys than we are over losing our joy. He reminded us that God is able to restore what Satan has stolen. I kept thinking of the saying of Thomas Brooks, “If Satan can’t keep you out of heaven (which, bless God, he cannot), he’ll do everything he can to keep heaven out of you.” I was encouraged by the good Word. Thank you Del!

After church Linda took us on a beautiful drive to a bison ranch which a guy in the church (Gary) manages. He met us there and we were enthralled to watch 75 bison feed in the field. We got to see them much closer up than we will in Yellowstone. Thank you Gary! I also enjoyed a great talk with Gary afterwards about the importance of the preaching of God’s Word and the need of the church for a steady diet of it. On the way back to the house the clouds were gathering and soon dropped a ton of much needed rain and a surprising bunch of hail. It was a cool sight for the boys.

I’m so glad we stayed the extra day. I don’t know what the church situation would’ve been like in Jackson, MT but I do know the Lord had a blessing for us here in Sula. The church was half the blessing. The other was the fellowship we’ve enjoyed with Phil and Linda Teakell. They have been a tall glass of cold water for our souls. They love the Lord. They love to serve, give, and do for others and they have a heart for hospitality. In fact, we’ve already arranged for Chantry and the girls to stop by here for a drink. I pray it blesses them as much as it’s blessed us. Thank you Phil and Linda! I pray we’ve blessed you as much as you’ve blessed us.

We’ll have to leave tomorrow, heading over Chief Joseph Pass towards Jackson, MT.  Not sure what the Lord has for us in the coming week, but I can’t wait to meet the people He’ll bring our way. We’re almost finished with our 4th week of biking. We’ve gone over 1000 miles (nearly a fourth of our total journey) and we should be in Wyoming by Friday.

Thanks for praying and thanks for following.

Until next time… 🙂