Today was a great day, full of blessings and excitement. We got an early start from Dayville at 6:30 and made it to Bates State Park in Austin Junction by 6:00. But there’s so much to report between the start and finish of our day.
First of all, after the boys returned from the swimming hole yesterday Lily’s mother invited us over for dinner. It was already late but I was really looking forward to speaking with Sarah (Lily’s mother) and seeing if I could encourage her and her family in the Lord. So we took our leave from Andy, Greggy, and Christian (the 3 other cyclists who showed up to the hostel earlier) and headed next door to Sarah’s house at 8:30. The kids welcomed us in with much excitement but I was a bit concerned when I saw that raw chicken on the counter… “This is going to be a late night,” I thought. I wanted to get us to bed early so that we could get an early start for once. But then I immediately checked my selfishness and thought, “This is just what the Lord planned for us. We’re right on time. It’s about His schedule, not mine. And it’s about the people, not just the miles. Yes, Lord; I’m ready to serve.”
Sarah took a good hour to join us all in the living room. Forrest immediately headed to the kitchen and spent the entire time talking with Lily while she made the most awesome fried chicken to go with the rolls and risotto which she’d brought over to us earlier in the day. And Rocky started playing Candyland with Paul and Ryder. So I just sat down in a chair and waited for the Lord’s leading. Soon, the youngest child, Willow (age 5), came over to me in her pajamas with wet hair. I asked her if I could brush it and she said yes. As I brushed, Ryder turned and said, “She NEVER lets anyone brush her hair!” I thanked Willow for allowing me to brush it and then offered to put her hair in a braid. She was delighted. Afterwards she brought out some of her favorite toys and started posing them for pictures for my wife. “I hope your wife likes these pictures,” she kept saying. Before long Paul was lining up his toys for a picture. I soon realized why I was there. These kids don’t have a father and their mother is very sick with MS and therefore limited in what she can do. They were hungry for attention. I had so much fun playing with them and bringing them such joy.
At about 9:30 Sarah came out in her electric wheelchair hooked up to her oxygen. She tried to apologize for her house but I quickly dismissed it and tried to put her at ease. Then she thanked me for taking time with the children and sat by watching some of the fun we were having. After a while I told the kids I wanted to speak with their mother and directed them to play with themselves. Sarah and I started talking about her MS and the many hard providences in her life since she was in a car wreck at age 16. A very bright future at the Naval Academy was shattered and her life took a very different turn. I encouraged her that she was right where God wanted her and that if there was any better way to conform her to Christ’s image, He would have chosen it. She was on the path best suited to God’s glory and most conducive to her good. She wholeheartedly agreed and thanked me for reminding her of that. I also told her of the great help Chantry has had with her MS by Kangen water and ASEA and urged her to speak with her. I hope she does. Then she asked about my denomination; which got us talking about the authority of Scripture, the imporantance of faithful preaching, and the need to be in a church where the Bible is held to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. It was a most encouraging conversation which lasted right up to dinner. I invited her visit my church website and listen to some of my sermons. I hope she does. All in all, the time at their home was a blessed time of service in the name of Jesus. I pray their hears and spirits were lifted.
We got to bed after 11 and I awoke at 5:30. I decided to get the boys up and get going asap. We could eat breakfast on the road. We packed as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the others and were on the road by 6:30. After a day of rest I was rearing and ready to go and took the lead, setting a quick pace of 14-15 mph. We were biking up river, and therefore uphill, but the incline was gradual and gave us little difficulty. I think the pace was a bit fast for Rocky but I knew that if we pushed hard to Prairie City (45 miles) we could take a nice long break before tackling Dixie Pass. So I kept us moving.
We stopped at the Bike hostel in Mt. Vernon (22 miles) to see Samuel and Chad (whom we’d met at the bike shop in Corvallis on June 19) and to use the restroom and refill our water bottles. After taking off we headed for Prairie City (23 miles) and arrived there at 12:40, just in time for lunch. We could see a good storm brewing and picked up the pace for the last 3 miles or so to get to town ahead of it. Thankful we made it. After shopping for dinner, breakfast, and tomorrow’s lunch we sat down outside a local store to make wraps for lunch. The very nice store owner struck up a conversation with us and then proceeded to tell us that John Day (a town back) had just been stuck with a terrible hail and wind storm (there were even some power outages) and that it was now coming to Prarie City. No sooner had she warned us than the wind began blowing hard down the street and upon us. She gold us to bring our bikes inside and to come in to wait it out.
Before long, we’d ordered three drinks and I was falling asleep in a big cumfy chair while the boys enjoyed some adult coloring books. We sat there for 2 hrs while the wind blew, the lightning struck, and the thunder rumbled. The two ladies (Judy and Debbie) were so very kind and hospitable. I think they would’ve let us sleep there all night if we needed it. But we had a Pass to conquer.
We set out at 3:00 for Dixie Pass. It was an 8 mile climb of over 1500 ft. I wondered how we/I would do after so agressive a ride in the morning. I prayed as we pedaled, asking God to strengthen our muscles and lighten our weight. All in all it was a very hard Pass but the Lord’s was mighty to help. I definitely felt stronger than I did when we climbed Keyes Creek Pass on Saturday. I found myself able to push harder and longer before needing a rest. And despite how hard the boys found the Pass, they both did well and Rocky also did better than he did on Keyes.
As we left the summit heading down to Austin Junction another storm was blowing in. In fact, the wind blew so strongly against us all the way down the Pass that if we hadn’t pedaled hard against it, it would have stopped us dead in our tracks–on the downhill! We pushed hard to get to the bottom and arrived at Bates State Park in time to set up our tent before it started raining. Thank you Lord. But as I sit here now, the sky is a clear blue with only a few small clouds. Looks like we’re in for a calm night!
We hope to get another early start in the morning to get over the two Passes between us and Baker City (48 miles), which will be the end of our 2d map and almost the end of Oregon!! There is more of Oregon on the TransAm than any other state (650 miles) and it’s been absolutely beautiful. But we’re looking forward to Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and beyond…
Thanks for your prayers, comments, and for following.
Until next time… 🙂
