Saturday, June 7, 2008

I know it seems hard to believe but we've been freezing our tails off the last few days...Ever since Silverthorne, Co we have been looking winter directly in the face. This morning we left Saratoga Camp ground in Wyoming, the temp held in at 41 degrees and then as we moved north toward Rawlins the temperatures dipped to 36 degrees and head winds of 20+ miles per hour. Along with the wind came the rain and the sleet that soaked us to the core, now add the speed of the bike at 15mph and you've got a recipe for a biker slushy, I haven't been that cold for some time, I started to sing Christmas songs...and it's June!

Made our way up I-80 and the truckers really worked in our favor breaking the wind and allowing us to make better times through this big hilly, windy, and beautiful state. It was so cold that I put on two pairs of riding gloves, and extra set of leggings and I even put a pair of socks over (not under) my riding shoes, our feet were like ice cubes.
We rode up to Lamont but came back south to Rawlins and are guest of a little Nazarene church today. We called them about 4 hours before arrival and they took us in, even let us use their own shower and rest room in their house .Pastor Dave and his wife Lori minister at this small church, but they seem very content in their ministry.

Well that's about it, Chris Stephens and Scott Dovey join us tonight, they;re flying into Denver and will make the 3+ hour trip to Rawlins, I'm looking forward to seeing them, even at 3-4 in the morning. I started the day as I always do reading Oswald Chambers daily Devotional, the one for today was entitled, "Don't Slack Off" boy was that one ever timely, and it's not only when you're riding a bike, it's also most pointed at the Christian life. We haven't gotten this far on our bikes by riding when we felt like it, and we don't make a lasting impact on others in our life or the life of the church by being obedient only when we feel like it, so here's the word, "Don't Slack Off" serve the Lord with gladness, until next time.
Scott ...aka...The Rust Rider

Michael Stephens and Marvin Tallent are a blessing to have on this trip...word for the day from Michael..."You shouldn't have to peddle down hill, it's not fair." (head winds)

Thursday, June 5, 2008

It's been a week full of ups and downs, high winds, moutains, cold temperatures and a few snow flurries thrown in for good measure. Started the week at Royal Gorge near Canon City, Co, and then pressed on into the Rockies. The hardest climb came early on in the week, Hoosier Pass, nearly 4 miles to the top and 12,000 ft in elevation. The shoulder going up to the summit had next to no shoulder, and the trucks really didn't care much about cutting some slack as much as they wanted to get to the top. The was thin, the nausea was there, and the headaches came in sharp and hard, but it was worth it all to stand at this continental divide and realize that you had made it. Both Marvin and Michael have assumed exchanging driving for riding this week because we have no driver, and it's seemed to work out nicely.

We went through Breckenridge on our way to Silverthorne this week and what a lovely area this is, I didn't see any stars but the place sure exuded a fancy lifestyle, needless to say, we kept moving on. We stay at Abundant life Church on Wed, were fed a meal and attended their Bible Study with about 12 other people, Pastor Rick was a really good host, we had to go down to the local YMCA to shower.

Today is Thursday and we made our way up Rt 9 toward Walden Co. The day was long, and the weather started cold and got colder. In the mean time about 4 days ago we ran into Dave and Forest who were biking from Mexico to Canada and camping out everynight, and we kind of formed a riding bond with them. It was interesting because after that we ran into them another 4 or 5 times...they were riding fat tire bikes and pulling all there equipment behind them. I was hoping to get them to do the intro for Sunday but it didn't work out.

A couple of Texas boys enjoying their graduation from college by doing this bike ride before joining the working class. Had prayer with them today in a roadside resturant, they looked really beat after sleeping out all night.

This trip is so much like life in general, every day has it's challenges, and everyday has it's rewards. Maybe the apostel Paul was a bike rider, because he commented about not giving up or grow weary in doing good, for in a season we would reap a reward. I've yet to get to a scenic breath taking view without first struggling up a mountain. What's your mountain? Don't give up, press on. That it's for today, and if we have internet tomorrow we'll write again.
The Rust Rider---Scott

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

We had a short ride today (55 miles) and ended up in a KOA shadowed by the Rockies, some even had snow on them! We had the opportunity ride through Canon City, Co, and ride out to Royal Gorge. I'm not sure why the Royal Gorge bridge was built, but boy is it high, spanning 1800 ft above the canyon floor over looking the Arkansas river. Simply reminded me of how big and awesome God is and how weak and puny I am. I have a tendency to turn that around some time and get myself in trouble.

Today was the first actual mountain roads I experienced, nothing overwhelming but they just kept going on and on and up and up. YIkes! Keeps us in your prayers as we continue north toward Fairplay and hope to stay at our Christian Camp at Cumo on Tuesday night. The Rust Rider

Sunday, June 1, 2008

We made our way across Kansas this week and it was a hard and discouraging ride. Not because Kansas was a bad state, actually it was quite beautiful, it was the wind. Did I say wind? It never stopped blowing, in fact I stopped by a marker noting the Santa Fe Trail and read a statement made in September of 1825, the statement said, "This is a big territory, but the winds are driving us insane." It was really neat to see the trail of literally thousands of horse and wagons made hundreds of years ago that can still be seen, the Trail was active up until the late 1860's. Plus Kansas is an open plain and very erid with very little change in scenery...I started counting telephone poles. In fact Michael Stephens and I got off of our bikes to walk over to a telephone pole with those green insulators on and in the process a fellow pulled up to my bike and started to throw it in his truck. I yelled at him and off he went, how embarrasing would that have been.

We were able to catch up with Ken & Judy Claar in Garden City, Ks, and had a wonderful time just seeing a familiar face being so far away from home. After our brief visit we headed on to Scott City, were we stayed at a Baptist Church and found a shower down at the community center. On Saturday we made our way to Eads Colorado. It was really cool to cross from the central time zone into the Mountain Time Zone, and gain an hour, it made the day go a little bit easier. When we finally came to the "welcome to Colorado" sign we had enough time to sit under it with our New Day lawn chairs, and eat lunch, along with a stiff Co, breeze. While in Eads we worshipped with Alvin Clamp and even took showers over at his house. Alvin was a pretty colorful fellow, and a testimony of God's saving grace, his wife Margaret was in the early stages of alzheimers and was a delight to be around, another testimony of a couples commitment to the covenant of marriage. Worship with them and then hit the road over to Pueblo Co (where I write this evening). We had to get to Pueblo in order that our driver Dan Mokris could catch a shuttle to Colorado Springs and a flight back to Georgia, we're gonna miss him. The Rockies now lay before us, and as with all challenges we're praying that we're up to the task.

Some of you have commented that I look like I'm losing weight...I suppose a little here and there, but then I'm burning 6-8k calories a day, so I have no problem eating cheese burgers guilt free. Okay that's it for now, drop us a note on the blog and stay in touch, you're words of encouragement and prayer mean so much.

wSc "The Rust Rider"

Friday, May 30, 2008

Well it's been a tough week...we left the friendly confines of Coalgate Ok and push on to Ponca City a little town of about 25k out in the northern end of Ok. We stayed at a fairly large FBC there but had to shower at a nearby YMCA...because this church had no facilities. But as the Lord provides we went over to the Y and they gave us towels, and showers for nothing after they learned of our mission.

From Ponca City we pressed on to Medicine Lodge Ks, the winds shifted and made the 127 mile ride quite a challenge. North of Blackwater Ok we encountered our a river that was out of it's banks and running across a nearby road...to go around we would have had to ride another 25 miles so I'm made the call to go across...water on the road and full speed ahead...the water was never more than 10 inches deep so it wasn't too bad. What intrigued me was the thousands of night crawlers all over the road trying to find high ground...a fisherman's paradise.

While at Medicine Lodge we stayed with the FCC there and enjoyed not only showers, but they had supper ready for us as well. Since our clothes were all in need of a wash we walked down to the local laundry mat (5 blocks away) only to find out the place had closed down a week earlier. Dan Mokris our bus driver however was able to throw in a acouple of loads today (Thur) while we rode north. We were up and at it by 6am (normal wake up) and made our way to Dodge City (Boot Hill) Ks today.

107 miles and without a doubt one of the toughest rides I've ever encourntered...hills, distance and 20-25 mph winds in our face all day...we should have been done with the ride in a little over 7 hours, but 11 hours later we arrived...as I write I am very tired, but mindful that our ride much like life has it's ups and downs and just because things slow you down or get tough is no reason to quit especially if your life is being lived to please Jesus.

Okay on to Scott City (I kind of like that name) continue to keep us on your prayers, we hope to see Ken & Judy Claar in Garden City...wSc "The Rust Rider"

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Hi Followers of the BIG RIDE -

We have not recieved any updates from the riders since Monday, they are working hard at getting to their daily destinations, averaging 100 miles a day this week.

Check out the riders album spot for new pictures that we have recieved this week. Please click on the album day to see each day of the Big Ride Adventure.

Our riders will be ending this week on May 31st - the 20th day of the journey in Eads Colorado, completing 1865 miles- and have hit their half way mark. Only 1831 miles to go on the 3696 mile journey.

GREAT JOB GUYS!!

Monday, May 26, 2008

We arrived in Meeker Ok after departing Coalgate Ok this morning at around 7:15am...the ride to Meeker (a few miles from Ok City) was about 98 miles in distance and with a wind coming out of the south behind us, we made the trip in fairly good time. Roger our first driver headed on back to Fl yesterday and we were joined by my old friend and brother in Christ Dan Mokris. Dan flew 707 in the AF and is confused by all the instruments in our RV "The Mothership." No showers at FBC of Meeker so a good old sponge bath is the call for the day...and I think a trip down to the Shell station for our supper.

Yummy...Tornadoes have been on our mind of late, so everytime the wind picks up and the skies start to darken I'm always on the look out for a low spot to hide out in along the road, so far so good. Yesterday a Tornado touched down to the north of us but we were well out of harms way.

This past Lord's day we worshiped with the Cornerstone Church folks in Coalgate Ok...a small church with a big heart for God. What I noticed about them was their generosity in the midst of their poverty, and their desire to reach Coalgate for Christ. While we were there, they took up a love offering for us (though we didn't ask for one) and then this morning before riding to Meeker as I was getting my riding gear on, I heard a lady say "Pastor Scott," and I went out into the hall way of the church to check it out. A lady in the church who was also their custodian came down the hall and said, "Pastor Scott the Lord woke me up this morning at 3am and told me to give you this, I was afraid you'd be gone"...she handed me 4 $100 dollars bills. I was taken back, and totally overwhelmed by her unexpected gift. I wanted to say "No, you need this more than we do," but then I realized I would be denying her the blessing of giving, and in the process telling God we didn't need what he had provided.

Call it coincidental, but in my Oswald Chambers devotion for the day, I was reminded of God's timely provisions in our life, and how he uses other people to bless and to be a blessing. All day long I've simply been riding and praising God for reminding me, that I don't have all the answers but I serve a God who does and that I can trust him to meet all of my needs.