End of the Trail :(

Well, that's all, folks! Kelly came to get Ken and me in Dahlonega, GA, and we returned home. I was beyond sick, unable to breathe, stuffy head, etc. After we got home, I was tested and found out I had COVID-19. I am so tired of the virus and how it has ruined everything for the past couple of years. I hope and pray that we will have another chance on the trail one day. 

Location: Greeneville, TN, USA

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This Week!

Happy 79th Birthday, Dad!

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I made it to Goose Creek State Park campground to meet up with my mom and dad in order to celebrate his 79th birthday. My dad’s sister (my aunt Hope) and my cousin Rob were here camping also. My sister, Angel, and her husband, Jason, drove down from their house near Raleigh.   Today was a beautiful ride day! I started off by attending worship at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury, NC. It was an Episcopal “standard” spoken Rite I service at 8 a.m. I call the 8 a.m. service one of the only sacred cows that the Episcopal Church has left. You can change the world, but don’t mess with the 8 a.m. service! I don’t care if you have 4 people there! (Just kidding!). I arrived at Goose Creek SP at about 3:45 p.m. in time to gather with the family to celebrate dad’s birthday. It was pretty cool to have me and my sister there with him as well as his sister. I spoke yesterday of the importance of family connections. It’s pretty amazing how when you’re back together as a group, regardless o...
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Into the Longhorn State!

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Yesterday morning (6/16) I headed for Livingston, TX! I left Metairie, LA and traveled west… Around Houston, TX! The trip was wet from Baton Rouge, LA to Livingston. I was soaked! It was also warm, and riding in a rain suit makes it that much warmer! 🥵 Today (6/17) I arrived in Cibolo, TX. I hung out with Kathy Robinson and her daughters Megan and Bridgett. I knew the Robinson family from my time in Maryland. After Kathy’s husband, Mark, died, they moved to Texas to be near family. The past several years, I’ve watched the girls grow up from afar. It was a treat to go to lunch with Kathy’s mom and dad and then be with them. We watched Bridget play volleyball. It was nice to catch up with all of them. Ministry is a difficult vocation. What makes it meaningful is the lives that you get to be part of along the way. To be with folks during their highs and lows, sharing their joys and sorrows, helping them engage their faith to help them navigate life is why I’m a priest. Life is difficult,...
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Big Sky!

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Today’s ride was clear and wonderful! Montana is truly the Big Sky state! The beauty of the colors does not come across in the pictures. I left this morning early and rode from Piedmont, SD to Billings, MT. I am staying with a new friend, the Rev. Gary Waddingham, a retired priest in the diocese of Montana. We were connected by my friend, Bishop Marty Stebbins (Bishop of Montana). I plan to arrive at her house tomorrow. I am grateful for Gary’s hospitality. Gary is cool. He’s an armature radio operator (ham radio). He’s got radio equipment and antenna’s everywhere. 😳 He’s definitely ready for the zombie apocalypse. 🤣 In all seriousness, since I’ve been in the Tennessee State Guard, I’ve developed a lot of respect for this type of hobby that is always an asset in times of disaster. It was a joy to sit and chat with Gary over dinner and talk about church. He’s been a priest for 50 years and is a treasure trove of information.  On the ride today through the tribal lands of the indig...
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Water Water Everywhere!

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And not a drop to drink… My grandfather’s favorite poem was the Rime of the Ancient Mariner and used that line quite a bit. Well, there is water everywhere, especially when you are headed down the coast of Florida.  I stayed in a hotel last night. Mostly to recuperate from the rain the day before. When I woke up this morning, it had just finished raining. I uncovered and wiped down the bike and looked at the weather report. The report showed possibility of rain on the route, but the radar didn’t show anything but minor blips, so I risked it. I decided not to cover everything or put on a rain suit (man, those things are warm). It ended up being a beautiful day. Hot and humid (93°), but beautiful. It only got hazy toward the end of the day. One of the relaxing joys that I find while riding is what I see and experience vs. what I might see from a car. Relaxed, but hyper-aware and “safe” (for the worriers). I took in the sights today. The last time I was this way was 2015, and I took A...
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Freeport, FL to see more family!

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Today I headed to Freeport, FL to see more family. My cousin Keith (retired COL USAF) and his wife Kim and my uncle Roland (mom’s brother) and aunt Julieanne live in Freeport.  The day started off with breakfast with an old friend, Rusty Burke. Rusty and I attended Frederick together in the 80s (yes, over 40 years ago!). He runs a Karate school in Tallahassee. It was great to see him. The last time we connected was 9 years ago when I came to Florida for a short vacation.  After a short time with Rusty, chatting and catching up, I headed out to Freeport. I thanked the good Lord it wasn’t raining. I believe it’s rained more this trip than it did all of the 2017 trip (but I did have some significant rain days). Anyhow, it was a beautiful trip until the last 10 miles, then rain! 🌧️ I arrived in rain gear, and was greeted by my cousin and his wife. It was great to see them, spend time with them and catch up. We went over to see my uncle and aunt and then went back to their home an...
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A Day In Dahlonega, GA - Day 3

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May 4, 2022 We spent the day in Dahlonega, GA. Woke up VERY SORE with heavy legs. I had to shuffle to the other room. At breakfast, we met up with a man that was Ken's age who had spent the last year preparing, backpacking trips, and practicing and who had also come off the trail for similar reasons. He was having issues with heat exhaustion and extreme cramping.  I didn't remember a fun fact until our shuttle driver yesterday reminded me. An old Army Ranger saying goes, "Sassafrass will kick your ass!" It refers to Sassafrass Mountian, which is the assent that we didn't make yesterday before calling for a shuttle. On the other side, the Army Ranger School is at the bottom of Sassafrass Mountain. Now, it all makes sense. 😦 We have spent the day walking around Dahlonega, trying to work the soreness out of our muscles. Ken took his pack to the Wilderness store in Dahlonega to have the woman evaluate his gear. Mostly he was in good shape. We could have both shaved a...
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Over the Teton Pass (this time without snow! 😉)

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I spoke a bit yesterday of my time in Idaho Falls, ID. Today I crossed the Teton Pass! That is significant to me because the last time I went over the Teton Pass it was in December 1989 in a blizzard in a rental car (Mercury Tracer) with bald tires. The story is... Lisa Montelongo and I decided to take one of our days off to go explore the Palisades and Jackson Hole. When we were eating dinner in Jackson and here comes the snow. We decided to look at the map and rather than backtrack our path, go across the mountains and beat the snow. That didn't work! Lisa's fingerprints are probably still in the dash of the rental car that we had. Even though I got to go over Teton Pass doesn't mean that I got to see anything. Today's trip was extremely disappointing.    I think it was only disappointing because I knew what was on the other side of the misty haze. The majesty of the Teton Mountains is awesome. On a clear day, they jut up into the sky like they were just painted ther...
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