Camping Under the Redwoods 🌲

Magnificent trees! The giant Sequoias were a sight to behold. I road to Sue-meg (sue-may) State Park near Trinidad, CA. Yes, I crossed into Northern California and I will be in California for the next few days. No intended connections today other than random campers who see my bike and the Tennessee plate and wonder if I rented it or rode it here. 😜 I assured them that I road it, I’ve got just over 7000 miles clocked into this pilgrimage.



There’s something about camping I love. I’m not sure what it is… being outside, in nature, living off of the minimum, the set up/take down, making do with what you have. [sort pillow story: sleep systems are important! My camp pillow died (wouldn’t hold air any longer), so I had to wad up my hoodie sweatshirt as a pillow. It was awful! Yuck!! It’s not bad being on the mattress pad in a sleeping bag, but no pillow is the worst!] Anyway… I was raised camping and have camped with my family and scouts all my life. 

I want to talk a bit about the campers (and others) that I encounter that ask me questions about my journey. The question is always, “what’s your destination?” I say, “back home - that I have no ‘end point’” and am on pilgrimage (or ride-about). That usually starts up a conversation about where I’ve been and where I’m headed on the journey. 

I’ve said many times, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” This journey so far has been freeing in many ways. I am relaxed, comfortable, my head is clear, I’m able to connect with others, I’m experiencing new vistas, and other things. It really is awesome. The journey really is sacred, connective, and fulfilling. 

The ride today down the coast was awesome! Lots of pictures of beach scapes and fog and Redwood trees! It really was good. The temps were a chilly 52°, so chaps and leathers made it a comfortable ride.


The Christian life is a journey of spiritual growth and a commitment to following the teachings of Jesus the Christ. As Christians, we should focus on the journey and let the destination take care of itself. What I mean is, some folks are so worried about eternity that they forget to live, love, and enjoy this life. If we have faith and are following the teachings of Jesus and growing in our spiritual life, then we will reap the rewards of eternal life with our creator. I’ve said before that faith is not “celestial fire insurance” or a “get out of hell free” card, so we should be concerned with loving others and loving God and enjoying life on this journey and not worry about heaven.

Challenge to St. James and Self: Enjoy life and love and walk in the way of Jesus the Christ, loving God and loving others. Eternity will take care of itself.

Reedsport, OR to Trinidad, CA
Ride: 221 miles




Location: Sue-meg State Park, CA 95570, USA

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This Week!

Overnight in Camas, WA

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Today I road from Port Angeles, WA to the Washington / Oregon Boarder at Camas, WA to the home of Gary and Mari Osterhage. Marni and I graduated from FMA together in 1985, so we’ve been friends for 44 years! It was good to spend the evening with Marni and Gary and catch up. Marni is a children’s pastor at a Four Square Gospel Church, so of course we talked shop for some of the evening. The ride today was great until just outside of Portland, OR headed to Camas, WA (on the boarder). I road down the Hood Canal (Hwy 101) and the Columbia River. Beautiful scenery.  Marni and I were talking about God and relationship. She recently passed her licensing and ordination for her denomination, so she was telling me about her process. One of the questions was about Trinity. I shared with her the “master class” sermon that Heather Holland gave at St. James on Trinity Sunday. I appreciated when Heather told the congregation that the preacher would be better off sharing photos of Kittens during t...
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Weekend in Oklahoma City

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Yesterday (Saturday 7/8), I rode 66 from Joplin, MO through the "corner of Kansas," 1/2 way through Oklahoma to Oklahoma City (actually Moore, OK) where my friends, The Fankhauser's, live. Bill Fankhauser was my roommate sophomore year at The Citadel, and we haven't seen each other since 1989. He recently retired from the USAF and now works in the private sector. Catching up with Bill and meeting his family over the past couple of days has been fantastic. Saturday evening we went into Oklahoma City and ate dinner then walked along the riverwalk. It was a very nice evening.  This morning (Sunday 7/9), I attended Mass with the whole Fankhauser family at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Norman, OK. It was very encouraging for me to be staying with a family who goes to church together after we had breakfast as a family. (And no, this wasn't because of me being there) Worship is a regular thing in the Fankhauser house... regular attendance at Mass,...
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Bucket List - Route 66

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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...
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First Night Out

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Day Two!

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Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs!

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For some reason, I can't think about Seattle without the crazy theme song from Frazier running through my brain. Well, I guess now that it's running through your brain if you've ever seen the show, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Guess where I am!! That is correct, today I rode from Camas, WA to Seattle, WA to meet up with and stay with some more friends. It almost seems that I have more friends in the Pacific North West than I do in the East. I first met up with Cathy Banks on the South side of Seattle. We met for coffee and to catch up. Cathy and I actually went to Chesapeake Demonstration School together. CDS was an experimental elementary school in Chesapeake Virginia in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Cathy and I lost touch after I went to Frederick and she moved to Florida. She and I were in school together from 1st to 8th grade. It was great to catch up with Cathy after 36 years. I then went to meet up with Jenna Ingersol. Jenna is like a second daughte...
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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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