Grass Spurs: June, Twenty-first, Two Thousand and Twelve

79.7 miles to White Sulpher Springs, Montana

I woke up this morning doing the same thing. Pray, dress, pack, eat, ride.

Today as the sun rose higher and higher, my heart and mind felt somewhat blank. I had the opportunity to ride alone for 12 miles. The entire time I felt like it was a good opportunity to think about the future and try to talk to God to see where He wanted me to go. But my mind was blank. I couldn't focus on questions. We broke at mile 40 and listened to some Bob Marley. Today is the first day of Summer and I can't think of a better way to spend my summer.

At mile 60 we broke for lunch. And at mile 63 we scaled up a roller coaster, not knowing what would be on the other side. We soared  down into the canyon. Wide turns and the most wide sky with landscapes. I couldn't help but laugh and scream. What an incredible feeling. It was as if I were on skis. We rolled into White Sulpher Springs with one of the best tail winds while Rob convinced cows to stand up. We dropped stuff off and headed to some relaxing hot springs when after an 80 mile ride could have provided instant coma... Before the potluck.

Again and again we are blessed daily by community, food and a place to lay our heads for the night. While food was being prepared, I stared out at a cloud as it seemed stationary yet changed constantly. We are like clouds, I have decided. We change constantly. Never stopping. Gaining and loosing different things. Shaping out perspectives and views of ourselves and the reflection of those around us. Projection. Flow.

We ate then went on a tour of the town castle after bell practice with the White Sulpher Spring Ding-a-lings, where Connor helped and Meg, a 12 year old Fidler was playing with them. Her Grandmother, Jerry, was so proud and excited.

 After seeing local history my lungs were stolen by the Big Sky Montana sunset. I couldn't do anything but look. Ellen saw my shock. All I could do was cry. The shape of the clouds clashing with snow topped mountains while the pastels streamed pink, orange, yellow, blue, white, gray. Sheryl and Tim Mcguire didn't know how to react. I couldn't contain the joy. God shows us so much in such little ways. Like sunsets. It's merely a speck. A little something to slightly show us and try to help us comprehend how much He really loves us. Praise God. Thank you, though I don't have all the answers, I am blessed and thankful to know that my God is one who shows himself daily.















This was the day after toward Harlowton...Waiting for Sweep.

Escape Goats

There are times like these I am sure of it that God so desperately wants our attention that He sets things perfectly in place for us to walk right into, like a wall that physically stops us and to acknowledge Him. It began with a pumpkin patch and ended with the excitement of chasing lightning. Flashes that caused us to detour onto Coleman Valley road. Flashes that kept our faith high hoped for seeing an awesome light show swirl over the Pacific.

Cows in Pastures and patches of fog dancing to Ragina Spektor. And as we reached the coast we could see the moon high to our left and a cloud to our right. Straight ahead the yell of the Lord proclaimed, "I am alive and well!" The moon cascaded of the moving vast sea that gave off black and blue. It was as though the lungs of the earth were breathing, moving the chest cavity. And yet it was as though light and dark were dancing while our eyes focused in awe of what we stumbled upon in the heat of the moment. Searching for something that seems so pointless and forgotten in the presence of such divine beauty.

We sat for the longest time as the smells hit our senses and that wall hit our hearts. Awakening something different in each of us. Praise God. Thank God it was His plan all along.

I'm went on a Cross Country Bike Tour:

And this is what I saw...

Appalachians-J
Bikes-D
Crazy Coulee City-E
Dogs chasing me-R
Eauclaire-J
Fantastic fog-D
Gravel galore-E
Huge hills-R
Ipswitch-J
Jessica jogging-D
Kristina Iniguez-E
L-(?)-R???
Montana-J
Nectarines-D
Over large Hobbit doors-E
Painstaking Passes-R
Quick Stops-J
Ridupid Routes-D
Sweaty Bib backs-E
Timid Train hoppers-R
Unbelievably disgusting underwear-J
Various Varieties of Root Beer-D
Wind-E
X-rayed wrists-R
Yellow corn-J
Zoo York-D