Back on Route 66 (Arizona)

Yesterday was wonderful. I got to spend the morning with my good friends Beth & Anthony Tripp in Boulder City, NV (just a short jump from Vegas). We spent the morning catching up over coffee and then set out to see Boulder City. They took me to the park to see the Big Horn Sheep that come down to graze in the green grass. Then we drove by the pirate house and the local Episcopal Church and the National Cemetery. 






It was wonderful to spend time with them. Beth and I have been friends since High School. We met (along with Susan Bastin who I caught up with in McKinney, TX) at a Campground in Northern California in 1983. The last time we connected was 2017 when I came through on my Sabbatical. This time we were able to spend more time before I left to pick up Rt. 66 in Kingman, AZ and ride to Williams, AZ.


The ride to Williams, AZ was cooler than crossing the Mojave, but I still rode part of the hot desert. My cousins were telling me about the Grand Canyon Railway that goes from Williams to the Southern Rim of the Grand Canyon. So today I stayed in Williams (skipped church) and went on the Train to the Grand Canyon to bask in the wonders of God’s creation. 


Needless to say, it was breathtaking. I missed the Grand Canyon in 2017, so I wanted to be sure that I made it this time. Truly a geological wonder and a display of the beauty and awe of creation. The smoke you see in the background (on the northern rim) are the devastating fires that destroyed the historic lodge, visitor’s center and 50 other structures. It continues to burn. The trip back and forth to the Grand Canyon was very enjoyable. There was entertainment on the train. I helped an English Couple navigate the shuttle busses from the train to the different points along the rim. On the way back to Williams, the train was mock “robbed” by some actors. All in good fun. 

What struck me the last couple days is the diversity of life and landscape. I went from High desert with long horn sheep to mountain scapes to flat area to rolling hills to a large hole in the ground dug by a river. (You can see the rapids in one of the pictures). 

In Psalm 95:1-7 which we read in Morning Prayer as the Venite reminds us that it ALL belongs to God. Verse 5 says, “The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands have molded the dry land.” It’s is amazing to think that all the vast wonder that I have experienced the past couple of days was molded by the Creator. The sheep, the land, the mountains, the lake, all made by God.

Challenge to St. James & Self: Look for the wonder and beauty of creation. Much of it can be found in your back yard. Respect and appreciate what God has given you. By honoring creation, you honor the creator.



 

Location: Williams, AZ 86046, USA

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This Week!

Day in Salisbury

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Today was a lazy Saturday. Definitely a rest day! I met up with Bishop William Gregg who is retired and living in Salisbury. He is the bishop that ordained me to the priesthood. Throughout my ordained life, he has been a wonderful mentor and friend. We met at lunch at a place called Recipe downtown Salisbury. It was great to spend some time with him and catch up.  The afternoon was spent with Kyle figuring the materials it would take to fix/build his fence, I washed the bike for tomorrows ride, and had some quiet time around the house. Kyle and Kara have a bit of a zoo: 3 Cats and 2 Dogs. Peaches, Mopar, Bella, Shelby, and Yami.      Today is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It’s the celebration of the time that Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth when they were both pregnant; Mary with Jesus, and Elizabeth with John who will be known as John the Baptizer. If you remember the account from Luke 1:39-57, when Mary greeted Elizabeth, John “leapt” fo...
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Route 66 (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas)

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This past week I’ve been riding the historic Route 66. From Santa Rosa, New Mexico, I crossed into the top of Texas (7/16), then to the middle of Oklahoma (7/17), into the corner of Kansas (7/18). In Texas, I had lunch again at the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, TX. I ate there in 2017 when I was west bound. The place is full of nostalgia and signs. They are dedicated to keeping the memory of the mother road alive. The “Midpoint” is exactly 1139 miles in and equidistant between Santa Monica and Chicago. In Oklahoma, I crossed myself in Oklahoma City and was invited to spend the evening with the Fankhouser’s again on my way through.  The scenery changes quickly on Route 66. Different towns offer different levels of preservation or dilapidation, depending on the circumstances. The landscape goes from high dessert to rolling hills, to flat prairie. Lots of agriculture and small towns. The Americana of yesteryear lurks in the shadows of neon gardens and museums. The “old road” is barely pass...
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Big Sky!

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Couple Days in McKinney, TX

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Yesterday (6/18) after a very long and HOT ride (100°) to the Dallas Fort Worth area of Texas. Yes, I cheated a bit. It would have taken 7 hours to “go around” on back roads away from the interstate (and possibly avoid some heat). But, I had plans and needed to arrive in McKinney, TX by dinner time so I took I-35 North 🤷‍♂️. I finally arrived in McKinney at 5:30 p.m. to stay with a long time friend, Susan Bastian. Susan and I met in California when we were camping next to each other in the summer of 1983. She was with the Gibbons family (Beth Gibbons Tripp to appear later in this story!) Susan attended Johnson & Whales Culinary Institute in Charleston, SC when I was at the Citadel. I was the “guinea pig” and sampled her new culinary creations. We lost touch, but reconnected on social media several years ago. She’s been a great friend for a long time. We went out for a special dinner when I arrived (she’s a foodie and a chef, so good food is what she does!). Today, (6/19) we went t...
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Route 66 (through Missouri)

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Yesterday (7/19) I rode Route 66 diagonally through the wide “hot” state of Missouri across the Ozark Plateau. I broke out my cooling towel that I had stowed since lower Texas back in June. It started out well and got warm, up to 94°. Route 66 did not disappoint. Leaving Baxter Springs, I got to see some of the most “famous” Route 66 sights, the Rainbow Bridge, the Devil’s Elbow, and some other Old Road places. In one area, past Devil’s Elbow, it’s obvious that the original concrete pavement of the road still exists. I pointed it out in the video. The road was paved with a concrete conglomerate with the edges of the road turned up, no shoulder to speak of, weeds growing onto the road. We’ve got to remember that this was the first of its kind. When it was finished in 1938, it was the first highway to be completely paved from start to finish. I had no “meet ups” yesterday. The one thing I did was against my normal protocol. When I stopped for gas, the heat was really picking up, so I for...
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In and Out of Dodge!

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When considering my next destination on Monday, yesterday 8/8 I decided to ride to Dodge City, Kansas. Yes, that Dodge City. No, I didn't see Marshal Dillon, Ms. Kitty, or Festus, but I did learn some great history of the old west and how Ft. Dodge became Dodge City and why they called the burial mound "Boot Hill." Dodge City was once home to the great lawmen of the west, such as Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp.   The way I understand it, in the times of the conflicts between the US and Native Americans, the government wanted to deplete the buffalo herds so they invited a hunting "free for all." They thought this would cause the This caused every ragtag hunter within hundreds of miles to decend upon Ft. Dodge. Most of them took a liking to the many saloons. Fights would break out and then be taken to the streets. Someone would end up killed. If they were an unknown or of little means, then they would end up in a mass grave that was called Boot Hill. This was becaus...
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Georgia Bound!

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Got up this morning and walked around down by the marsh. Needless to say it was beautiful. After I broke camp, I loaded up. Not liking the look of the hazy sky, I put the rain covers on the bags. Wet luggage is something that I learned how to deal with the hard way in 2017. I took off for Georgia headed to Kingsland which is south of Savannah. I road to Mt. Pleasant and decided to have breakfast. I met up with Jim Brown who recently moved to Mt. Pleasant from Greeneville, TN and was a member of St. James. We chatted over breakfast and enjoyed some coffee. It was great to see him again. When I got to West Ashley, I stopped for gas and it started to spit rain. (Glad I covered the luggage!) I donned my rain suit and off I went. The whole ride was periods of wet, dry, rain, wet, rain, dry, rain (you get the picture).  I was able to connect with another friend from my past, Amy Cadawader and her family. Amy and I have known each other for at least 53 years. From elementary school on. We...
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