Sat and Sun July 12 and 13
Mark and I had a long day biking Saturday because we rode with some riders having trouble, separating from each other to help those individuals make it. We all started together today, but earlier on Eric wanted to go slower and met up with his friends. The sky was blue the temperature was about 95 to 105, the sun was shining, and the wind was at our back matching our speed in the afternoon on Hill Road so it was very dehydrating. Finally I reached town, and not just housing developments in Boise. A much needed break was made at about 5pm for huge pop, huge water, burger and fries. Then we completed the last five miles, joining with the sweep crew and Agatha to reach Timberline High School. A cheering group greeted us. And, we had a well deserved meal at 6 pm after a shower. Eric had earlier gone off with friends to some ones home in Boise. We hear that they swam in the river, had grilled pork chops, went ice block sledding on a huge grass hill, then slept at this family’s home, got breakfast Sunday and in the afternoon went tubing on the Boise River (Mark joined them tubing, Larry was the afternoon shuttle driver for laundry and stores by choice to relieve those doing it daily).
We got to enjoy our favorite from mail delivery – Auntie Jan chocolate chip cookies! See the photos. Betsy enjoyed one with Mark and Larry Saturday night at Starbucks.
I forgot to take a few photos last night of the automatic lawn sprinkler “attack” on a many tents and riders about 12:30 to 1:30! What a night for them. I helped two get bedded down in the gear trailer after draining there tents and hanging up the wet stuff. Many waste barrels and tables were set over sprinklers to minimize the reach of their attach.
The worship service with Valley Community Church in the park was great. The message was on the fruit of the Spirit - peace. The music was great, Helena spoke about why we are biking (my son John got to talk with her a little Sat. night while Larry and Mark called home asking if she was Eric or Mark’s girl friend). We know that God is always with us and that He is totally in control even when trials and tempest temporarily beset us. The church fed us lunch, a potluck with burgers and hot dogs, desserts (like peach cobbler and chocolate brownies). It is so uplifting to worship with the community, their praise band, and all us SeatoSea folks. I took some video to try to capture a bit of that so we can show you in a movie that Mark hopes to make when we get home. Several media crews were present. Many people in the community ask about us and some offer some support. One lady really took on any assistance that was requested – thank you!
Hoped to go to Dairy Queen tonight across the street but it closed at 10 pm. Now I am writing about 11:30 to update our blog, but the internet satellite connection is not working. Earlier today I helped cooks and kitchen helpers Dini and Geri get blogs started, and flicker photo sites.
Monday, July 14
Today we rode from Boise to Mountain Home, Idaho. We just cruised along with the wind at our backs the most of the time. Tonight we are on sweep duty so we have to help set up and serve dinner.
This past weekend I (Eric) stayed over at a friend of a friend’s house who is on the tour. We got to go ice blocking on Saturday. Ice blocking is riding a block of ice down a big grassy hill. I guess it is the thing to do in Boise during the summer. We saw some other kids coming out at night to do it as we were leaving because we thought it was getting too dark. The bumps just come right up on you. You really feel it when your ice block stops because of a bump and you keep moving. What a hoot!
Yesterday, Sunday, we got to go floating down the Boise River along with just about everybody else in Boise it seemed. What a blast! The water was quite refreshing. Our hosts served us BBQ ribs for dinner, cheesecake for dessert, provided beds, and just straight up blew us away with their great hospitality. Thanks so much to them. May God bless them for being such a blessing to us, just a crazy group of bike riders.
Interviews happen randomly along the route. Mark has been in the paper and just yesterday I guess I was on the Boise news from what people have been saying. It is not easy being put on the spot when they fire questions at you. I just stuck to the basics in describing the tour. Jesus said to love our neighbor as our self so we are reaching out to our brothers and sisters in poverty, trying to live out Jesus’ words. I also mentioned about how God has and continues to surprise us in so many ways like being hosted for the past weekend by a friend of a friend. What a connection! Thank God for providing such great and encouraging hospitality along the way, not only at the homes we stay, but also just the people we meet who get excited about the cause and give on the spot and the great churches that host the celebration services and serve all of us lunch on Sundays. We also got mail this past Saturday and in it came Auntie Jane's chocolate chip cookies. So good! Thanks!
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