Weekend in Kingman, AZ and Las Vegas, NV

It has been an incredible (and an incredibly HOT 🔥) weekend! Kingman, AZ, with temps at 112 degrees and Las Vegas, NV with 122 degrees!! I have never ridden in such heat! I described it on Facebook... Riding a motorcycle in this heat is like riding a lava flow in a convection oven through the armpit of hell. Keep in mind that my bike is "air cooled" which means, hot air don't help too much! Glad the Harleys are tough!! The bike performed very well... only praises for the Road King! However, I did stop in Henderson at the Harley dealership and bought a cooling vest. It works wonders... You wet it down and wear it under a mesh riding jacket and it acts as a "swamp cooler." The heat was beat!

The first stop on the way to Boulder City and Vegas yesterday 7/15 was of course, Hoover Dam (aka Boulder Dam), put up in 1933 in the Black Canyon of the Colorado river on the boarder of Arizona and Nevada. It was a magnificent site. It took 6 years to build it (1931-1936) at a cost of $49 million and over 100 lives during the Great Depression. Though it cost was high the benefit was power, flood control, water storage, and recreation. Today, with the rising costs of fossil fuel, it's benefits are intact. The lake Mead recreation area is awesome as well. 

 

I am so glad I made this trip, it gave me the opportunity to get together with some folks that I hadn't seen in a very long time. Short Story: When I was 16 (rising Junior in HS), I met a girl while camping at Yosemite National Park with my parents. Her name was Beth and she had a friend camping with her named Susan. The couple of days we were there, we became fast friends, played card games late at night and had a wonderful time. When it was time to go, we exchanged addresses and phone numbers and exchanged cards and letters and phone calls well into our college years. We lost touch after both of us had some rocky relationships, but reconnected through the wonders of social media! I got to see Beth again after 35 years and I got to meet her husband, Anthony! It was fantastic to have lunch with them in Boulder City, NV.

 
After I left Boulder City, I rode into Vegas to see some of my "distant" family. I knew we were related, but I needed to figure out how. After Val Martini and I sat down and talked it over, I figured out that she was my 2nd Cousin - 1x removed. She is my grandmother's aunt's granddaughter to make it more confusing. We probably haven't seen each other in 40 years. My family may be spread out all over the place, but we are close. We may be "distant," but we can get on common ground very quickly. Dinner with Val & her husband Dale was a real treat. I am glad I was able to beat the heat and make it to Vegas on Saturday.

 
Sunday 7/16 was a NO RIDE day. After the heat of Vegas, I was glad to take it easy and rest... I did, however, find a quaint Episcopal Church (Trinity, nonetheless) in Kingman, AZ. It was a fine service with about 60 in attendance. I was greeted and received warmly. The service was a standard Rite II Eucharist. I noticed, however, that I never saw a plate come around for the offering... If it passed me, I'm not sure why I missed it. I spoke with some of the parishioners, the priest and the deacon after the service. I went back to the hotel, did laundry and cleaned up my bike for the trek into California tomorrow! I can't believe it's almost the end of Route 66!


Sometimes it's tough to weather the 120 degree heat for 100 miles and see some friends and family that you haven't seen in 35+ years, but you make the sacrifice and it's worth it... Sometimes, you need a Dam and the economy is in the tank, but you make the sacrifice and it's worth it...  Today, I am thinking about the sacrifice of being and doing church. Sometimes it's difficult to get motivated and go on Sunday morning, I get that... But you make the sacrifice and it's worth it. You may not know how, right now, but it is. The things we do in church are not for "instant" gratification. They have the lasting effects that are good for your soul. So, you may not see the immediate benefit, but you will know it in the long run. We are beckoned by scripture to worship God, not necessarily for God's sake, but for ours. Our worship changes us, molds us, and prepares us to face life and all the challenges life presents. I didn't have to go through the desert to see Beth and Val, but I'm a better person for it... I didn't have to get up and go to church this morning, but I feel refreshed and renewed, filled with the grace of God, and ready to continue the journey ahead.




Challenge to Self: Look for those small inconvenient sacrifices, and make them to make a difference.

Challenge to Trinity: Don't let the world keep you from tending to your soul. The sacrifice (or struggle) you go through sometimes to go worship is worth it. You may not know it now, but it will be there for you in the future. Set the example for your family and show up! 



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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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