Bucket List - Route 66

Yesterday, I began a journey that has been on my bucket list for several years... to travel (by motorcycle) the Iconic/Historic Route 66 from Chicago to California. I left Mequon, WI, where I spent the 4th of July holiday with the Millers and traveled south to Chicago to start at the beginning of the Route. It begins (although contested) at Michigan Ave and Adams Street, downtown Chicago, IL. Thank goodness, traffic wasn't horrible. 

I'm a bit of a purist, so it is important to me to start at the beginning and follow where the Route takes me. This includes all the little side roads and iterations. If given a choice, I take the earliest (1920-1930 era) Route. So far it is beyond my wildest dreams. It has it ALL... nostalgia, Americana, a sense of sacredness, history, travel, degradation, restoration and renewal, awkwardness (when you miss a sign!), trust, and adventure.
I have no idea where I am going... (except to California). I am trusting the road and its winding path through Smallville, USA, taking in the sights like old gas stations, drive-ins, ice cream shops, and Americana signage from the early to mid 20th century. The sights are ever present and it keeps your mind off of road drone. What I find interesting is journey itself... I've called this sabbatical a pilgrimage all along, but this portion truly is. It's not about getting to California. That's just the end game. It's about the experience of taking in all that this remembered piece of history leaves behind. 

I referred to the road as having a sense of sacredness... referring to that which is set apart for a religious purpose or dedicated to God. The way I have been riding Route 66 is just that... It has been with keen awareness, full of prayers of thanksgiving, with a little bit of a broken heart when I see the remnants of yesteryear left to return to nature. Sometimes I was riding right next to the original pavement of Route 66, and sometimes I was riding ON Route 66, and sometimes I had to go around because portions were closed and no longer passable. The sacred road just kept crying out for something. I was dedicating the road to God and even though it was very worn, it was renewing me in a way.
Life is a journey that mimics the ride I am on in a way. Sometimes the road is a clear path, right in front of you, clearly marked, and easy to navigate. Sometimes the road is a mess, bumpy with potholes and broken pavement.  Sometimes, the road is so deteriorated that it is impassable. And even sometimes the signs are missing and you don't know if you are on the right road or if you are supposed to turn.

I'm not much into predestination, but I do believe that God has put us on this earth for a purpose. That purpose is to get on the path, whatever it may be, and navigate it to the best of your ability, using the love that Jesus taught us as the fuel and listening closely to the Holy Spirit as the GPS. Sometimes we get off course and we need to stop and get our bearings. Sometimes the road that we are supposed to be on is bumpy, and has missing pieces. God gets us through it...

Challenge to Self: Continue to travel Route 66 to see what other places it takes me, and what else it will reveal to me.

Challenge to Trinity: Think about what ways you have been renewed in these few short weeks. Has something happened on your journey this summer that has you thinking about how God is working in your life?



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This Week!

Missouri on Route 66

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Today (Friday) I road across the state of Missouri, from St. Louis to Joplin. Yesterday evening in St. Louis, it was nice to have dinner with a friend (Kelly Saveika) that I haven't seen since we were in high school. We have know each other since elementary school. Life has taken us in different directions, and we keep up on Facebook, but for a couple of hours it was good to connect in person. Tomorrow I get to meet up with my former college roommate, Bill Fankhauser. Bill and I went to the Citadel together (Regimental Band - Class of 89). He and his wife have invited me to spend the weekend with them. So I ride tomorrow from Joplin, MO, through the little corner of Kansas to Oklahoma City, OK. Connecting with friends from years ago really enlightens the journey. It's not just the road that I am on... It's not just the old towns and the interesting countryside of things from what was once the "mother road." It's the people... the lives of those who make up my
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Ohio!

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The last couple of days have been interesting! I left Niagara Falls on Thursday 6/29 and rode to central Ohio where I stayed at Lake Wapusun Campground in Shreve, OH that is run by my wife's cousins, Mark & Lisa Everitt. The night there was rough!! Right after I made camp, a storm front came through about 8:30pm and it RAINED and THUNDERED until 7:00am. My little 2 person REI tent is a CHAMP! I emerged nice and dry. However, I had to pack wet again. (It seems like it's becoming routine!) -  see the reflection on packing wet       Nonetheless, the ride to Toledo on 6/30 was outstanding! The weather was not too hot, not too cool, not raining. I rode to Signature Harley Davidson, where I met up with General Manager, Kris Friar (another of Kelly's cousins). I was able to spend the evening with Kris and she took me to Tony Packo's, a famous Hungarian Food place in Toledo, OH. I stayed over at Kris' and left the next morning. Guess what... another storm came th
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God's Paintbrush!

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Today, I experienced the unexpected! I knew that the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert were in Arizona, but I didn't know where. Who knew they were on Route 66. In fact, I learned that Route 66 once went right through the Petrified Forest prior to it becoming a National Park and protected by the US Government. The ride in from Albuquerque, NM was great! I crossed the NM continental divide at 7200 feet.   I took a "detour" through the National Park and drove down to where 180 goes into Holbrook. It was beautiful. The pictures really don't do it justice. The colors were vivid. It really looked like God took out the paintbrush and said, "I think I will add some color here in the middle of nowhere!" I can really feel the climate changing. It's getting much warmer. I am looking forward to this weekend! I will be in Kingman, AZ and plan to see some folks that I haven't seen in a very long time! My thoughts for today are on the glimmers of grace
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Down to the South East Corner of Washington

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It's Tuesday (8/1) and I am officially 1/2 way (6 weeks) into my sabbatical. Today I rode from Winthrop, WA down to the South East Corner of the state, Clarkeston, WA. It was hazy, due to fire activity in Idaho. I also experienced some remnants of forest fires where it looks like 1000+ acres were burned. As the ride progressed, it got warmer and warmer, until I got to Clarkeston where it was 103 degrees! Glad I'm in for the night with AC! On the way out, I stopped for coffee at Blue Star Coffee Roasters in Whisp, WA. This was recommended by the young couple this morning as I was packing up camp. It was a very good choice!! Great cup of coffee. The ride took me along the Columbia River and finally crossing the Snake River into Idaho then back into Washington. It reminded me of the saying, "you can't get there from here!" If you're from South Carolina, you know what I am talking about. Today's thoughts and concerns are about fire and the devastati
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Getting Psyched! - Day 0

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May 1, 2022  It’s our first night. After church, Kelly took me at Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge, where we (Ken aka “Breadcrumbs,” and I) will spend the night. We hit the trail in the am after an 8 am breakfast. We decided to take a ride to the start of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mt rather than do the approach trail. The lodge is nice. We both repacked our packs and did a double check of all our necessities.  I’m looking forward to the journey. I’m thankful that Ken and I are doing this together. We feel the prayers and support from everyone who knows about our trek.  I think about how we as humans are social creatures. We need each other. For me, part of what makes church a relevant part of life is the connection to other believers, helping care for one another. I pray that others feel the same way.  It’s getting late and the trail is going to be calling early. Happy Trails & Many Blessings! Ken+
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Seaside Monday!

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Today (7/24) I rode from Coos Bay, OR to Seaside, OR. Talk about a cold ride! This one was really cool with the cross winds and overcast. I don't think I saw the sun but twice. I tend to take more pictures when the sun is out, so the bulk of the pictures from today include sunshine. The ride up Hwy 101 and the coast of Oregon was great, even though it was cold and overcast. At one time, I felt wet from all the sea spray. So, not every day has been the bliss of sunshine! Hmmm... it reminds me of life. While the good days definitely outnumber the bad, I've had my share of clouds. I think that the clouds are what help us appreciate the sunshine. It's the gloomy pieces that make the bright pieces so much more enjoyable. Church life is not any different. Church is a messy place sometimes. It isn't all sunshine and daffodils. Sometimes there can be real challenge and real hardship for the community, but if the community is living for Christ, then it is possible to get thr
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Walking in Memphis (for the Weekend)

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But do I really feel the way I feel? 🎶 (thank you Marc Cohn - now I have that song stuck in my head!) Well, for me, it was more like "drying out in Memphis." Friday 8/11 was one of the most wet rides I have had. 250 miles in the POURING rain. I was soaked! Luckly the dry bag and the rain gear works. I was only going to stay in Memphis for the evening and head out to Sewanee on Saturday and spend the bulk of the weekend there. However, I was wet and tired, so I decided to stay for a couple of days - mostly to rest and dry out. I didn't take many pictures on the ride because it was so nasty. I spent Saturday sleeping in and not riding. I walked to the local IHOP resturant for brunch and I just chilled... much needed. No, I didn't go to Graceland and I didn't see the ghost of Elvis. Let the poor man Rest In Peace. On Sunday, I did attend worship at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion. Big Place! Lots going on. They have just completed a capital cam
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