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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Getting Ready for Sabbatical 2025

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I’ve said before that preparation for a long journey is just as important as the journey itself. This time it’s been interesting. I have been preparing the trip, getting my gear together and making sure that I have the right amount of stuff. I’m packing much lighter than I did in 2017, and I feel that will be a blessing. A pilgrimage is about the journey rather than the destination. I want to be "free" to experience the pilgrimage "by the Spirit," so I think it's important not to plan every segment of the trip. There are places I’d like to go that I didn’t have the opportunity to go in 2017 because of weather or other obstacles. I have entitled the sabbatical: A Pilgrimage of Reconnection and Renewal: An Episcopal Priest’s Journey to the Four Corners. Therefore, I will attempt to reach the four corners of the contiguous United States on my journey and offer prayers at the four corners.  I have planned out a route that begins here in Greeneville, TN and goes East...
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Pacific Northwest (Second Corner!)

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Friday, 6/27, I rode from Helena, MT to Clarkston, WA through the Clearwater canyon. Beautiful scenery and 100+ miles of nice smooth winding roads (aka “twisties”). Truly a motorcyclist’s dream. I enjoyed HWY 12 through Clearwater in 2017 going in the opposite direction. It was better this time, from the ascent to Lolo Pass into Idaho and then along the river. The pictures are good but don’t do it justice. I stayed the night in Clarkston, resting up for the long Saturday ahead where I will go diagonally across Washington State. (I road the Cascades last time I was out here).  Yesterday was a beast and I was beat! So glad today was a rest day. Very thankful. I road from Clarkston to Port Angeles, WA. (Yes I crossed the Puget Sound on the ferry!) Beautiful ride all around… taxing when going through Seattle and Bellevue. The traffic was miserable.  View of the Olympic Mts on the way to church. I was good to be with Gail and Doug Wheatley and their family again. The last time I sa...
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Beginning of Route 66 (Third Corner)

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I’m not sure the complete reason for the infatuation I feel for the Historic Route 66. When I traveled 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica in 2017, I spoke a bit about the “sacredness” of the road… about how traveling the road connected me to something from the past and something other than myself. I prayed the Litany of Supplication at the 3rd Corner of these contiguous United States, asking God to guide us to peace and reconciliation.  One of the main treats of today was meeting up with my classmates and friends, Pete Ince and Bobak Montemedi. It was very cool to get together with them at Ye Olde King’s Head, a restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. just up from the West End of 66. Pete, Bob, and I graduated from Frederick Military Academy together 40 years ago. With this as the year of our 40th, and them not able to make the reunion in August, I felt it was a real honor to see them. We enjoyed stories of yesteryear and bringing each other up to date with what’s going on in our lives. Like...
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First Night Out

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I left this morning about 8am. My first stop was Starbucks for some coffee and a nut bar. However, that's not the point of my reflection today. My reflection is packing and re-packing... I will probably pack two or three different times until I get it right. I'm not one to leave my creature comforts at home, so I took as much as I thought I needed. I am sure that I will end up sending some back home.     I found this scripture fitting. “Then Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out with no money bag, or traveler’s bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?” They replied, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now, the one who has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag too. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘ And he was counted with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me is being fulfilled.” So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” Then he told...
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Day Two!

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Woke up wet!! There was a big rain storm last night so I had to pack wet. The tent kept me nice and dry. The morning I had to rig for rain, but ended up being a great riding day. The trip to NY was great. When I got to Gilbert Lake, I was excited that there was no rain in the forecast, so I opened up and hung everything out to dry. I decided to sleep under the stars... I bit nippy to do that at 51 degrees.     I have often said that it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. What we do on the journey, the people we encounter, the way we act, the lives we touch, the lives that touch us, the roads we travel, all have a formational piece to them. Our Christian life is about the journey (and sometimes we have to pack wet - knowing the soggy mess will be with us at the next destination.) So much for mixing metaphors. I have the versus in Exodus rolling around in my head every time I put up and take down a tent. The Israelites were a nomadic people when they ...
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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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