Countdown to Triathlon – 143 Days, 20.42 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 81 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - It's not only what we do, but also what we don't do, for which we are accountable."  Moliere

This last Sunday, March 27, 2011, Terri, who is the one fixing tires in the bike ride story, went with me by car and we re-traced the Fairfield to Napa part of the FOTF Bike Ride route.  It was amazing to see all the distance we traveled on a bicycle.  We were gone for most of the day and it was so wonderful to spend time with her again.  I hadn't seen Terri for a couple of years.  Since I am training for a triathlon in August in Maryland and have stalled on my training at the moment, Terri has agreed to make me be accountable to her for my training and weight loss.  So, the thought for the day, above, has much meaning.  I will be accountable to her for not training as well as for training.  Having her friendship right now is a real shot in the arm and is making me desire to accomplish great things!  Thank you Terri!!!

Terri looks exactly the same as the last time I saw her and no older than she looked nine years ago on the bike ride.  How does she do it?

The Journey - Installment Eighty-One

        After talking with one of the volunteers in the minivan I got off the phone (we all had our cell phones with us) and turned around. Terri was already changing Yvonne’s tire.  What a life-saver she was.  Tire fixed, we turned our bikes around and got back on the right trail and headed through the town of Davis and out the other side,  east toward Dixon. It truly was "God interferance" in this situation, because if we had gone the right way, Yvonne might have been stranded there for a long time.  If she had not had the flat tire, who knows how long she might have ridden in the wrong direction and there would have been no one to assist her. Because we were all chatting as we rode along, the time from Sacramento to Davis seemed to go quickly, except for the interruption of the flat tire.  What I marveled at was that years ago I used to commute from Davis to Sacramento to work and it seemed to take a long time.  This time, riding a bike, it didn’t seem long at all. How could that be? It felt strange being back on a bike riding through Davis.  Back in the days I attended the University there, (which is where I met my husband Bod), we rode our bikes to class and everywhere we needed to go.  No one had cars at that time but we would never have ridden to Sacramento from Davis and there certainly were not bike trails to follow back then.  We would have had to ride on the Yolo Causeway and that would have been not only prohibited, but very dangerous.

           

        Throughout the entire three-day ride, sometimes I rode with Lisa or other women, sometimes I was alone.  I could usually see some of the others, either ahead of me or behind me.  I was probably the only rider without a road bike.  God had given me the bike I rode but it was also the kind that FOTF had recommended that we no use.  Mine was a hybrid.  The frame was heavier and the tires wider than a road bike.  It was not built for the speed that the road bike attains.  We had about nine miles to ride between Davis and Dixon where we would have our first rest stop at the Dixon Community Church which would be about 24 miles from the Capital.  

Countdown to Triathlon – 144 Days, 20.57 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 80 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

The Journey - Installment Eighty

   

  

         Our ride began as we set off heading west on Capitol Mall, over railroad tracks just before the Tower Bridge.  I had been over that bridge many times in my life in a car, but never on a bike.  The perspective from a bicycle is quite different from speeding over the Sacramento River in a car.  All the riders were still within sight of one another at this point.  Once over the bridge, the men and some of the fast women riders took the lead as we rode on West Capitol Avenue toward Davis and then disappeared from view.   We turned onto a bike trail for six miles.   By this time, there were only a few women riders in view, myself included.  According to the directions on our yellow card which was attached to our bikes, we were to turn and go over some railroad tracks.    There was some confusion because several of the women felt we were supposed to continue on the bike trail.  Instead of insisting, I figured that I was probably wrong and turned back to continue on the bike trail with the others.

            This was our first mistake in following the directions but it turned out to be a God-intended mistake.  We came upon Yvonne who had been riding way ahead of us.  She had made the same mistake and had not turned when she should have but had continued straight on the bike trail.  She was stopped and off her bike examining her tire.  She had the great distinction of being the first to have a flat tire.  I can’t remember who was with me other than Lisa and Terri.  Lisa and I had been riding with Terri and talking with her as we rode along and getting to know her.  I found out that she was the lady from Modesto and one of the people I had called several weeks before the bike ride when I had received the letter from FOTF along with the roster of the riders.  I had left a message about possibly getting together with her and doing some practice rides but we had never been able to get together before the ride this weekend.

          As we came upon Yvonne and saw her predicament, I wondered what was to be done.  It was so early in the ride and I didn’t have a clue about changing a tire even though my son Hollen had shown me how when I was training in April with him in Hawaii.  We looked forward and behind us and not another rider was in view.  We called the Minivans to tell them of the situation.  They were not able to come to our aid because we were on a bike trail.  As we tried to describe where we were, they seemed to think that we should have made a turn and gone over the railroad tracks.

Countdown to Triathlon – 145 Days, 20.71 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 79 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -  "Courage is about doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared."
---Eddie Rickenbacker

The Journey - Installment Seventy-Nine

        The months that I had been scared of this upcoming ride - now it was here!  I should have been trembling in my shoes That morning as we prepared to mount our bikes, I was aware of something missing as we waited to set off from the hotel. Missing were my feelings of dread and anxiousness.  I had absolutely no fear and was actually excited to get started.  I’ll never forget the sound of twenty or more bike riders starting out for a ride.  As each of us got on our bikes and started to pedal, we had to click our riding shoes into our pedals and the sound was at least forty clicks (two shoes per rider).  It was a comforting sound to know we were all starting this journey together.

                          

        We rode to the capitol building in the cool of the early morning on a June day, Father’s Day weekend, which showed promise of a bright, sunny day.  When we arrived in front of the capital, my parents were there to see me off on our excursion.  Also there to greet me was a high school classmate named Alice who was part of Encina High School email e-group and had been one of the people who had been encouraging me these many months. Many of the people I had graduated with in 1962 at that Sacramento high school had been communicating back and forth via email for a couple of years keeping posted on each other and what we were currently doing. 

            Once at the capitol, we waited there for a short time for the local television camera crew to arrive and interview  Ryan Dobson about the ride and its purpose.  Once the interview was completed, I said goodbye to my parents and to Alice as they wished us “Godspeed” and our group started up on our adventure.

The California State Capitol buiilding in Sacramento.

Here we all are before starting the bike ride.  We'd riden to the capitol from the hotel.

You won't see my bike thrown in a heap on the lawn.  I have a kickstand.  Of course, no serious bike rider has a kick stand because (1) it isn't cool and (2) it adds more weight to your bike.

Here's my Mom on the right, Lisa and I'm on the left with my knee braces.

Countdown to Triathlon – 146 Days, 20.8 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 78 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

The Journey - Installment Seventy-Eight

On the morning of the first day of the bike ride, everyone was up early and we congregated in the hotel’s lobby for a continental breakfast.  We prepared ourselves by stretching, loading up our back pocket with snacks and filling our water bottles.  We were given a laminated card which would be fastened to our bikes by zip ties.  This card would be replaced each day of the ride by a new one which would list the route for that day.  The card would include each turn we would make and the mileage to the next turn.  This first day was to be the State Capital Building, Sacramento to the Hawthorne Hotel in Napa, 83.5 miles total ride.   We were again reminded to watch for the small neon crosses which had been painted on the edge of the road at intervals along our route.  It was stressed to us to remember to keep hydrated and eat energy generating snacks frequently.  There were some pep talks, someone gave devotions and we had prayers to send us off and for our safety.

Here I am getting ready for the ride.

(Just kidding)

Barb and Lisa all ready to start the ride.

We had our pictures taken in front of trailer that carried all the supplies and tools.  We were informed that the trailer had been donated to Focus on the Family by Ritchie and also all the tools donated by Park Tools Company.

 Here is the group posing in front of the donated trailer. It is not a good view of the trailer, but it was huge and was our constant companion at the beginning and end of the day.  Besides tools, it contained all of our gear from the hotels and all the extra snacks and supplies that the accompanying mini vans did not contain.  It was a welcome sight at the end of each day because when we saw the trailer, we knew we were finished riding for that day.

        2^nd row far left, standing, the lady with the braids, Toni from Kansas.  She rode the Kansas ride, our Northern California ride, and the Colorado ride in July for the Silver Anniversary of Focus on the Family.  At the time she had five children, all girls.  Would you say she loves to bike ride?  Third from the left is yours truly. The blonde next to me is Lisa.  Next to Lisa is Terri from Modesto who will become a good friend but Lisa and I didn’t know her yet when this picture was taken.  The second lady from Terri is Yvonne.  I’ll be mentioning her later.  She was amazing and we learned that she taught spinning classes in her home town.  Third from the right with the white shirt is the lady from Arnold who had to drop out of the ride.  These are the main ladies that ended up riding with me.  I won’t mention the men because we rarely saw them except at the beginning and end of the day.  They got on their bikes and disappeared from view.

        We said good bye to the lady from  Arnold, California.  Remember, I didn’t want to ask her to ride with me in the weeks before the ride because I thought she would have legs of steel since she lived and biked in the mountains.  She developed problems with her blood pressure and couldn’t ride. She came the night before hoping that her health would allow her to ride, but it was not to be.

        After pictures, we set off toward the State Capital building which would be our starting point,  1400 Tenth Street,  Sacramento, California.  I commented to Lisa that we had to ride to the capital, which was 2.57 miles away and that wasn’t even considered part of our ride and was not listed on the route card.  It was extra riding.  It reminded me of the lady in Riverbank at the Wine and Cheese Festival in October of the previous year who commented about a couple of extra miles not being of any consequence.  I had to surmise, “What’s a couple of extra miles when one will be riding over eighty miles.”  As it turned out, there had been a typo on the laminated card and our total distance for the day ended up being 92 miles.  Maybe it is a good thing we didn’t know that we’d only be short eight miles of reaching 100 miles or a Century Ride. 

Countdown to Triathlon – 149 Days, 21.2 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 77 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -  To be judgmental - The Bible says in Matthew 7:2, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
NIV
The Journey - Installment Seventy-Seven

        Dr. Dobson was the founder of Focus on The Family, twenty-five years ago (in 2002). According to the printed program we had been given, his son Ryan was going to speak to us at the restaurant that night and be present on the ride.  I remembered that back in January of 2001 when I first heard the FOTF broadcast, Ryan had been on that first ride in California – Santa Maria to Santa Barbara.  I remember hearing him speak about that ride which had just been completed.  As I looked around the room at all the people, I wondered which person was Dr. Dobson’s son.  I had listened to Focus on the Family for so many years and had seen many of Dr. Dobson’s programs such as Turn Your Heart Towards Home.  I had so much respect for Dr. Dobson.  He had spoken of his children  many times on the broadcast and I had assumed that his son would be just like him. (Remember what happens when you assume.) My pre-judging attitude reared its ugly head once again. It seems that I am so often in that mode.   When Ryan Dobson stood up to speak, I was absolutely horrified.  There, speaking to us, was a rather small-looking kid with spiked red-dyed hair.  I could not believe what I was seeing.  My judgmental attitude caused me to say to myself, “How did Dr. Dobson have kid like that?”  (Reader, please continue reading so that you will see how way, way wrong I was in my thinking and how I came, once again to see the folly of my judgmental spirit.)  He spoke briefly as did some of the other representatives of Focus on the Family.  The dinner ended and we returned to the hotel to prepare for an early departure in the morning.  By the time we returned to the hotel, Bob had arrived.  Lisa presented me with a gift of a book of poetry.  I went quickly to sleep, marveling over my lack of nervousness about the upcoming three days of riding and grateful for my change of heart so that I had no fear of the days to come. 

 

       ________O

           \   __ _\)                            

         (+)  >  (+)

Come back on Monday to read day one of the Focus on the Family National Bike Ride for the Family.  IT BEGINS!

Countdown to Triathlon – 150 Days, 21.42 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 76 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – Egad! It’s getting closer isn’t it and I need to get training more.  We finally got the glasshouse cleaned and now I have access to my stationery bike and all my weight room equipment.  I’ll tell my self – “You go girl” or  in other words – “GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR!”

        _______O

           \   __ _\)                            

         (+)  >  (+)

Shortly after arrival in Sacramento Thursday afternoon, the day before the bike ride, Lisa and I checked into our rooms.  Mini vans gave us all rides to a restaurant in Sacramento for dinner which was hosted by Focus on the Family.  It was held in a small restaurant in a rather small room.  I remember that we were all spread out at tables, quite crowded together and seated four to a table.  I glanced around the room wondering which of the people seated there would be riders and which were from Focus on the Family.  As I listened to the presentation about the upcoming ride, I was really amazed at the organization and support that would be provided.  We were told about the volunteers from each city that would be riding along with us and encouraging us.  It was explained to us that Focus on the Family had a semi truck with everything in the trailer that could possibly be needed for bike breakdowns.  They had a bike frame straightener, all the tools needed, tires, tubes and everything I didn’t even know one would need. We were told that we would be provided all the drinks and snacks we needed and that we were to avail ourselves of these provisions in order to keep ourselves hydrated and full of energy. 

 I had not realized until they told us at the dinner that the riding suits we had purchased from FOTF as part of our registration fee, (remember the $200 which my accountant gave me) contained a pocket on the back of the shirt which was to be used for snack food.  I had already worn the suit on a couple of occasions and didn’t know about the pocket. It was explained to us that if we became thirsty, we will have already become dehydrated and we must not let ourselves get to that point.  My thought at that moment was that if we drank so much we would need to go to the restroom often.  But then I thought back to the months of my training and I had only had to concern myself about that situation one time.  Because of the exercise and sweating from the exertion, evidentially it freed us from nature’s call. 

It was explained to us that the semi truck driver had gone ahead of us the day before on a motorcycle and had marked our path with neon colored spray paint at intervals on the edge of the roadway.  Those marks, in the shape of a cross were our directions for the entire journey. 

    

Countdown to Triathlon – 152 Days, 21.71 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 75 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - "Dingbat" - One definition is: A weird thing, person or situation, a person considered stupid or foolish

For you younger readers, Archie Bunker was the leading character In one of the most successful sitcoms in history.  The show was about a bigoted, loading dock worker, his wife Edith, daughter Gloria and son-in-law Mike.  Mike was Polish and Archie aways called him "meat head"or Pollock.   The show ushered in a new era in our television broadcasting because Archie never shied away from controversial or socially relevant subject matters.  There wasn't a race of people or nationality that he didn't make fun or insult.  He was always bemoaning the fact the world wasn't the same anymore.  Hence, those were the days.  The show can still be seen today on cable or satellite TV and Bob and I have watched it recently.

Lyrics to "Those Were the Days"
from the TV show of the 70's
All in the Family, starring Carroll O'Connor
and Jean Stapleton

"Boy, the way Glen Miller played.
Songs that made the Hit Parade.
Guys like us, we had it made.
Those were the days!
Didn't need no welfare state.
Everybody pulled his weight
Gee, our old LaSalle (a car) ran great.
Those were the days!
And you knew where you were then!
Girls were girls and men were men.
Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again.
People seemed to be content.
Fifty dollars paid the rent.
Freaks were in a circus tent.
Those were the days!
Take a little Sunday spin, go to watch the Dodgers win.
Have yourself a dandy day that cost you under a fin (five dollar bill).
Hair was short and skirts were long.
Kate Smith really sold a song.
I don't know just what went wrong! Those Were the Days!"

Why did I mention this show?  Archie always called Edith a dingbat and I called myself that in the story below.  After typing that word, it just reminded me of the show and I can still hear them sitting at the piano and singing the above song.  Edith would play and sing in a very screechy voice and off key with Archie singing along.

The Journey - Installment Seventy-Five

         On Thursday, when they arrived at our home, Lisa’s husband loaded my bike and travel bag into their pickup truck.  Someone was with him in the passenger seat.  From where I stood near the driver’s side, I didn’t think that person was Lisa and I assumed it was their daughter.  She had long, flowing hair worn down around her shoulders and looked so young.  I remember wondering where Lisa was and that maybe I hadn’t noticed her getting out of the truck. I did a complete 360 degree turn on the driveway.  When I didn't see her, a hopeful  thought flitted through my mind that maybe her husband had dropped her off somewhere nearby, at a store perhaps, and was going to pick her up on the way out. But that didn't seem plausible.  I had an ache in my heart and a stabbing feeling in my stomach.  That old feeling of insecurity raised its ugly head again thinking that perhaps she had changed her mind and wasn’t going to ride with me after all.  We had to have a huge laugh over that because as soon as she spoke I realized that the person with the long, flowing hair was Lisa.  I hadn't recognized her.  I felt very foolish at that point. I'm sure Lisa wondered why in the world I didn't know it was her. I had spent a lot of time with her when we were Tupperware Managers, years ago and should have been able to realize who she was .  But when we had last met a couple of weeks before, she was wearing a baseball cap, she had biking pants on and her hair was in a ponytail. What a dingbat I can be. Just call me Edith Bunker.  With great relief I got into their pickup truck for our trip to Sacramento. All was now right with the world! We drove to the hotel and Lisa’s husband dropped us off because he wasn’t able to come along with us on the journey.  My husband Bob was to meet me there later that evening.  Bob had decided that he would come to the ride and ride along in his pickup truck as support.

Countdown to Triathlon – 153 Days, 21.85 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 74 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -

This is the motto for the bike ride.  I found it this weekend while sorting papers.  Unfortunately, I did not find the bike ride story file and if I don't find it, all the future writing will have to be from memory.  We had a very exciting Saturday.  Bob went out to get the news paper and a neighbor was walking across the street to our house. She asked if Bob knew his window was broken.  Last week a rock from a truck shattered the lower one third of his windshield so he answered her that he knew about it.  A few minutes later, another neighbor came over and asked if we knew that the drive side window was broken.  This was about 9:30.  Since it had been raining hard all night and there was very little water in the truck, the robbery must have occurred in the daylight hours.  Whoever did it was probably on foot or on a bike.  They broke the window and snatched Bob's new GPS and his new XM radio that I gave him for Christmas.  They left all the cord dandling so they can't be much use to them.

At 9:30 that night we were watching a movie and there was a huge bang which scared me.  Then I saw falling sparks and debris on fire which fell into our backyard.  The power went out immediately.  I called the city and told them I knew exactly where the problem was.  Our side of the street for several blocks each direction had no power. A branch from the neighbor's redwood tree fell across two of the power lines and shorted out.  It was so windy and rainy all day.  It took them about two hours to get the power back on. 

It's amazing how much we depend on electricity.  I kept saying to myself, "Okay, I'll do this then."  Then remembered I need electricity to do it.  "Okay, then I'll go do that."  Can't because I need electricity.  It made me think of how the pioneers must have had to get up at dawn and work until dusk to get all their chores done because candlelight is hard to work in.

The Journey - Installment Seventy-Four

        The week of the bike ride was here!  I could not believe it.  I kept getting encouraging card and notes as well as phone calls from people.  Their encouragement meant so much to me.  I made sure the bike and gear were all ready and that my muscle stimulators for my knees were packed.  Lisa and I made arrangements for she and her husband to pick me up on Thursday around 2:00.  He would not be able to stay for the bike ride and Bob would join me later that night after dinner.  He had decided to to accompany us in his truck.  He would ride ahead and wait at intervals for us to pass and would stay with me in the hotels for the three nights.  I was so glad to have his presence on this upcoming journey.  We were all to meet the night before the bike ride at a hotel in Sacramento and then would be given rides to where FOTF was to host dinner for all the riders and the helpers.



Friday March 18th

Dear Readers,
I have a chance today to get a project accomplished that has been bugging me, so please come back on Monday.  The bike ride journey is in the last week before the bike ride. 
Barbie Jo

Countdown to Triathlon – 157 Days, 22.42 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 73 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - I love this Irish Blessing:




"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be ever at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rain fall softly on your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand."

Roxi and I took our walk yesterday and both of us were tired when we got home. Roxi needs the exercise as much as I do and she headed straight for the water when we arrived home.

The Journey - Installment Seventy-Three

        In preparation for the upcoming ride which was a week away, I continued my knee exercises and continued to ride.  My sweet and thoughtful husband Bob bought me a earpiece for my cell phone so that people could get in touch with me during the ride.  I made sure that all my gear was ready:

     biking shoes and Focus on the Family socks
     FOTF shirt and pants (actually I had two sets)
     my "Camel Back" water carrier (didn't actually use it on the ride; we were provide
     with all the liquidswe needed. It would have contributed to additional for me
      to carry.)                 
     biking gloves
     helmet
     took the bike to be checked; tires pumped up

Everything seemed in order.  I was really getting anxious but didn't have the overwhelming dread that had been my constant companion until that Sunday morning, the week or so before when the bird rose up to meet me.)

        In January of 2001 when I received the letter of acceptance for the bike ride from FOTF, I had figured out that if 150 people sent in $20, I would have the needed $3000 for the ride.  The money was to go to Focus on the Family.  Their mission statement is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in disseminating the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people worldwide as possible - specifically, to accomplish that objective by helping to preserve traditional values and the institution of the family. 

          At one point, I called FOTF to ask,  "What if I am not able to raise the $3000.  Does that mean I can't ride?"  They told me that the sum of money being asked for was a goal and that many people raised way more than that amount.  I was assured that I would ride no matter how much I raised.  At the time of the call, only a small amount of money had come in to FOTF in my name.  By the end of July 2002, almost $5000 had been raised - $4,785.00 to be exact.  I was truly amazed at the generosity of everyone contributing. There were several $500 dollar donations, several $200, $100 and $50 donations.  The majority of the people donated $25.  One 93 year old man from our church sent a check for $10 with a encouraging note which was barely legible because his handwriting was so shaky. He said that if I felt extra weight on the back of my bike, he'd be there riding with me.  I believe that dear Wanda, our pastor's wife told me the same thing.  As much as I would have liked the company, the idea of carrying extra weight was something I didn't even want to contemplate.  I thanked God for all the generous people who contributed to FOTF on my behalf.  So to all those people, the blessing above is for you.

Countdown to Triathlon – 158 Days, 22.71 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 72 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - (This is a repeat) - "If you haven't quit, you haven't failed!"  I haven't quit yet!!!

I'm still having terrible pain in my arm and cannot swim yet.  I'm going to walk Roxi today and try to gradually get going on the training again.  If I can't start doing some real training soon, I'll not be able to participate in the triathlon. 


The Journey - Installment Seventy-Two

        At this time, just a week or so before the ride, I was still getting physical therapy for my knees.  I was doing the exercises at home and praying that the knees would cooperate.  The physical therapist recommended that I not ride the week before and that was really worrying me because if I didn't keep riding, what would the knees do for the three-day ride?   Would they feel better and allow me to ride without so much pain because they had rested a week?  Or, would they be stiff and make riding harder to do than it already had become?  In my heart, I knew I needed to keep riding.  I continued to go the the therapist and do the exercises he recommended.  He gave me  battery-operated muscle stimulators which I would put on each knee when I began the ride.  As I think back, why didn't I get extra batteries?  The batteries only lasted one day.  I continued riding alone but chose some different routes than I normally rode.  The ride was coming up in only one week.  I couldn't believe that the time was almost upon me.  I continued to sing my song as I rode, "Change My Heart Oh Lord!" and to remember the verse my drapery customer gave me,
Proverbs 3:5:
 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him

And He will make your paths straight.”

My husband Bob said this ride was a real significant episode in our lives and was a very significant way to begin our summer.  He sees a message in this event and won’t tell me what he thinks it is until he feels that I have discovered it for myself.  He feels if we cannot understand or learn from what God is teaching us then it is better that we do not attempt the project.  I don’t agree with him that we shouldn’t attempt the project.  We all learn differently and at different rates.  Some of us are slower learners than others but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t allow God to lead us into projects.  We will learn what He wants us to learn when the time is right.  I hope that at the end of this ride I will have discovered the answer for myself.

As I rode, I also kept saying my motto of the ride over and over - "The power behind me is greater than the task ahead of me” and kept repeating "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." Ephesians 6:10 .  All these reminders helped as I rode along the road outside Hughson and in the country. This all sounds like a lot of talking to myself, and it was. However, when I was riding out in the country, there wasn't a soul to hear me but the birds.  And I had not seen even one dead bird since the last one on the Sunday when I told God I didn't need any more dead birds.  Obviously, He took me at my word. 

Countdown to Triathlon – 159 Days, 22.71 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 71 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

It's Snowing.  Check out the ground.  It looks like snow and is the only "snow" we get in the central valley of California.  (It's the pedals of the flowers that drop and look like snow.)

The Journey - Installment Seventy-One

God gives me a gift-wrapped gift of enormous value!

 Early the next week, after that Sunday at church and the episode with the bird flying beside me, I continued to try to contact Lisa.  The amazing thing was that if this were the Lisa I knew what a true miracle it would be.  Of all the people who could have signed up for the northern California ride, including people from southern California and even from other states, the fact that there were only going to be twenty riders and someone I knew would be on that list was truly amazing.  I contacted another former Tupperware manager who knew Lisa well but she wouldn’t give me her number.  I wouldn’t give up the quest.  When I finally reached Lisa, several days later, I told her how excited I was that she was going to take part in the bike ride.  She said that she had signed up the same month that I had signed up, January 2001.  However, she said that she had not been riding and had not sought out any donations and was probably not going to participate.  I surprised even myself when the next words out of my mouth, “Oh yes you are, Lisa!  You are going to ride because God gave you to me as a gift, just as if He had put you in a gift box and wrapped you up with paper and a big red bow. You have to ride!”  I was absolutely sure in my heart that she would be riding.   After talking to her she said she would talk with her family and get back to me.  I had no doubt in my mind that Lisa was going to ride.  I knew God had given her to me so I wouldn’t have to ride alone. 

        She called back a few days later and said that she would ride.  I already knew in my mind and heart before she even told me.   For the first time in all of these months of training I was feeling assured and confident.   We talked and caught up on our lives since we had last seen one another, about sixteen years before.  We made arrangements to meet at her house later in the week for a bike ride together.  We did meet and it was as if that sixteen year separation never was.    We took up just where we left off all those years ago.  She showed me through her beautiful home and then we took a bike ride in the area around her house.  Lisa is about eighteen years younger than myself and not overweight like I was, but she had not been training.  We were still not on the same biking level as she had much more energy and strength than I, but we were nearer in our abilities than I would have imagined.  I cannot remember exactly, but I think it was the only time we rode together before the ride. 

Countdown to Triathlon – 160 Days, 22.85 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 70 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - "Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines."

Robert Schuller

Now, if I could figure out what the "guideline" is.  My arm is so painful that I sometimes have to take my other hand and lift my wrist of my right hand to move my arm.  I have been to the doctor and had it x-rayed but they don't what the problem could be.  I need to be better soon or the triathlon will not occur for me.  I can train the lower body, but I will for the race have to swim and cannot practice in the pool at the moment. Time is getting shorter until August 24th.

The Journey - Installment Seventy

  If God could own the cattle on a thousand hills, know every bird in the mountains and the insects (by the gazillions) are his then He could certainly cause this pitiful woman to complete the bike ride. Here is Rick's song.  I am so sorry that I couldn't figure out how to post his recording of the song.  If I find out, I will post it later.

(If you missed the posting about the cattle on a thousand hills, go back to archives, February 23rd to read it.)

The Cattle on a Thousand Hills ~ Psalm 50 

Mesa Way Tunes, Steve Blechschmidt & Rick Larson, 2002 ~ All Rights Reserved

The Mighty One, God, the Lord has spoken. 

Summoned the earth from the rising sun to it’s setting. 

Out of Zion, the perfection of God shows forth. 

Every beast of the forest is Mine, 

The cattle on a thousand hills. 

Every bird of the mountains. 

Everything that moves in the fields. 

Call upon Me in the day of trouble. 

I will rescue you, 

And you will honor Me.

Rick, thanks for sharing your song with us.

Dear Wanda posted this story in my comments sections: "I heard a wonderful true story of a man who was in need of financial help, raising support as a missionary, and reminded the Lord he owned the cattle on a thousand hills in his prayers...so he would trust Him for his support. Later that week, he received a large check from a rancher in Colorado he didn't know, and the rancher wrote that the Lord impressed him to sell one of his cows, and send the money to this struggling missionary.
Sounds like a Barbara story, doesn't it? "

Countdown to Triathlon – 165 Days, 23.57 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 69 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

CLAM CHOWDER

I promised a reader from Canada that I would post my clam chowder recipe.  It came from my Uncle Robbie who used to gather clams in Baja (Mexico) and cook the chowder right on the beach.  We have done the same from Tomales Bay on the northern California coast.  Often, after skiing at Lake Tahoe, we would come back to the cabin and I'd fix a pot of delicious clam chowder.  It is quick to make and very filling - a real comfort food.  I'd serve it with sourdough bread or French bread and we'd all go to bed warm and toasty and quite satisfied. You can also serve it with a Caesar Salad or green salad of your choice, but we just eat it with bread. It's really good in a hollowed out individual bread bowl but we usually just eat it the regular way, a bowl and spoon.  It proably serves 4-5 people depending on what else you serve with it.  I used to triple the recipe for our family of six when the kids brought friends to Lake Tahoe skiing. They ate every last spoonful and there were never leftovers.  Here is the recipe:

1/4 # bacon, diced
3-4 stalks celery, diced
1 small green bell pepper, diced.
1 small onion, diced

Put the above in a dutch oven or deep pot and cook until the bacon is thoroughly cooked and the vegetables are limp.

Add 3-4 large potatoes, diced and enough water to cover everything in the pot.  Cover and cook until the potatoes are done.

Add 1-2 cans minced clams (depends on your taste - start with 1 can)  and heat 5 minutes at medium temperature.  Cooking clams at too high a temperature or for too long will make them tough.

Add 1 can (15 oz.) of evaporated milk.  Be sure it is evapored milk and not Eagle Brand Condensed Milk whch is sweet and you don't want that.  Heat until chowder is hot. Salt and pepper to your taste. If you don't want to use black pepper you can use white pepper and you won't have the black spots in your chowder.  I don't usually care - we just want to eat it.

Here's the secret to thikening the chowder:   Add about 1 cup of instant potatoes.  It takes a few minutes after you stir them in to begin to thicken. You may have to add more - just wait a few minutes to see how thick it gets.   If you don't finish it at one sitting, remember, after the soup is refrigerated and eaten the next day or so, it will be even thincker so you'll have to add more evapored milk or even whole milk.  We never have any left over so it's never a problem.

You can also add a can of drained corn and/or red bell pepper instead of the green.  Some of the chefs in Mendocino had added shrimp and mussels out of their shells and Sherry.  The sky's the limit.  But my family loves it just plain, the way I describe it above.   .

     Just typing the above recipe is making me hungry for clam chowder.  Unfortunately, we can no longer eat it because Bob has a heart condition and cannot eat cholesterol rich foods.  I could however, use the Smart Bacon (soy product) and use soy milk.  We won't be quite the same, but as close as we can get it.  The rest would be fine for him.  I'd have to use a little olive oil because without the bacon grease, the veggies won't cook quite the same.  But where there is a will - there is a way.  I only just thought of doing this as I was typing.  Good idea!  I think I'll try it tonight.

The Journey - Installment Sixty-Nine

Recently I wrote about the Cattle on a Thousand Hills. I am trying to figure out how to insert the mp3 of Rick singing the song of the Cattle on a Thousand Hills into blogspot. If anyone can help me, please comment below.  I googled "how to add an mp3 to blogspot".  I downloaded Open Drive but am stuck on the next step.  I have the mp3 copied into the Open Drive file but don't understand how to go from there.  HELP SOMEONE!    I'll post that tomorrow or whenever I find out how.  PEA - DO YOU KNOW HOW?

I hope you're ready to see some photos.
This is the house we rented with our friends, Shirley and Lynn.























Here's the view from the house on Friday - storm's coming in.

Saturday was the Whale Festival in Mendocino.  We started at 11:00 am with chowder tasting.  There were about 10 chefs with their chowder from various hotels, bed and breakfast places and restaurants in the area.  For $10 each, we could sample all the chowder we wanted until the supply ran out.  YUM!

Then there was wine tasting.  One of the wine tasting stops was in the Mendocino Art Center. In front were these whimsical animals made from nuts, bolts, various gears, car parts, etc.  You have to believe that someone has a very vivid immaginaton.

KITTY

ANOTHER KITTY

DOGGY

PIG

RABBIT WITH CARROT

BIRD (I GUESS) WITH IT'S OWN WINE BOTTLE

YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE - THOSE ARE OLD DOOR KNOBS FOR HANDS

A LADY OF SOME SORT!

A HORSE MADE OUT OF DRIFT WOOD

Lynn, Shirley and Bob (right) in the rain.











Bob and I

My sweetie bought me a hat!













The Village of Mendocino

These are the yellow flowers in the picture of the water above.  I just thought these were pretty photos of the ocean I shot.

I'm afraid that this is all we could see this weekend of the whales.  Look closely and you'll see their spouts way in the distance, almost like puffs of clouds.  It was stormy terribly on Saturday and today (Monday) there were so many white caps because the sea was rough that you'd never see the spouts.  In January when we were in Mendocino, you could actually see their backs.  All those dots in the foreground are part of a kelp bed. Instead of tree-like roots that extend into the earth, kelp has "anchors" called holdfasts that grip onto rocky and sandy bottoms. When you scuba dive you navigate around the stalks which is like being in a forest with tall trees where the foliage is way above your head.  Once the kelp get to the surface, it fans out with all the "foliage". 

I don't want to overwhelm everyone, so I'll continue tomorrow with the bike ride story.