Mountain Home to Gooding

So this morning we were awake by 6:00am, definitely not my (Mark) idea of a summer full of sleeping in. The reason was that our "sweep" team was on duty. We had to swiftly set up the tables for breakfast so none of the riders would go hungry. Our job was crucial. If not for us no one could have their nicely mashed oatmeal or cut-up muffin for breakfast. Eventually, at about 9:15 after loading the gear truck, our team hit the road for the days ride. We were off to Gooding, Idaho. It's a town in a forest of waist-high sage brush and desert sand. Actually, the scenery is quite beautiful with the light green color against the tan sand and brown mountains looming far off into the distance.
So our sweep team began our journey. It was a rough start. At approximately two miles into the route, we came across a troupe of lost and weary bikers. They had gone astray, following not old highway 30 but some other deceptive road sign. Thankfully we were there to rescue them and point them in the right direction. This was only the first amazingly and nice good deed out of a million we performed that day. Sometimes we would repair tires, other times replenish empty water bottles, and still other times we would encourage riders to stop with us at the local cafes for a bite to eat (the one called Oregon Trail Cafe in Gooding has really good hamburgers). Not bad for a day's work I would a say. However, despite its glories, "sweeping" is not so glorious. Our day, though it was filled with adventure, was hot and long. We were on the road for about nine hours, arriving at camp at about 5:00pm.
What's so neat about this tour called Sea to Sea, despite its obvious awesome goal, is the unique and diverse people. Some people are strong riders and others prefer to take their time. This can be frustrating, especially when you must wait for them, however, it really does open your eyes into the struggles of that person and the beautiful creation around you. Sure, you're hot and sweaty, dreaming of that nice ice-cold shower at camp, but sweep can really teach you a lesson in patience and relationships. You get to meet some people you never would cause you may otherwise just blow right by them. You get to slow down, look around the road and notice the intricate flowers and rock formations, the rivers that wind and the creeks that appear from seemingly nowhere in the desert. God is truly an amazing Creator. We are so blessed to be able to experience creation on a vehicle such as a bike. What a way to slow down and praise God for all the good things he has made.
And so, approaching camp, I saw ahead a huge cloud of smoke looming a few miles outside of Gooding. A fellow rider, Randy, and I speculated what it could be. Perhaps it was a factory, a huge bonfire, or the grill from the kitchen trailer going up in flames. Well, to our surprise, there was actually a sagebrush fire outside of town. A burning pile of dead brush had spread to surrounding fields and began to burn all the area around it. Thankfully, the firefighters were able to control it before it got too far, but it still did spread about five miles.
Tonight, we had some type of bean, hamburger, and hot dog collage. It was quite good. Desert was pistachio pudding with marshmallows and pineapple mixed in. Quite a treat for us weary cyclists. Supper led into peleton where ewe are now beginning to hear about some of the organizations which will be receiving the funds raised by Sea to Sea. Tonight was Home Missions and the work they do abroad in countries such as Haiti. Small groups consisted of meditating on our shifting gears devotional passage. We talked about "spiritual perspiration" tonight. When you see a person struggling, sacrificing, and working hard, you want to know why they are doing so. Thus your sweat spreads and opens the opportunity to share the reason for your struggle. We related this to our bike tour because when people see us biking, they want to know what's going on, especially when 145 of us ride by their house or stop at the local coffee shop. And so, we are able to spread the mission of Sea to Sea to the surrounding communities that we pass through.
Well, it's late and I must go. Sleep is becoming a priority. Good Night