June 2nd-4th

I'll try to catch you up on what's been happening the last couple of days. I understand our internet server has changed and there have been some times of no computer access. Should all be fixed by now.

After almost having my tent blow away on the first night (Monday), I was able to get some rest. During the night, however, my water bottle leaked all over my journal and my camera, so the camera no longer works and I'm using regular pen and paper to keep track of things. I've picked up a couple of disposable cameras, and I'm also taking pictures with my phone, so when I send them by e-mail to be put on the blog the quality may not be the best. You'll get the idea!
I was able to splice together the wires on the GPS cord so it now works again.

Tuesday it was really rainy and cold, with lots of wind. When I got to the campground it was really stormy, so I decided to ride into town and rent a room for the night. It was a wise choice! Lots of interesting people at the campgrounds and gas stations. Met 12 bikers from Sweden who are in the U.S. just riding around the countryside. Many bikers doing the same thing I'm doing, trying to hit all 48 lower states.

I got my first bumper sticker in Nevada: "I Survived Nevada. The lonliest state in all the 50 States." I'm putting the stickers on my stainless steel boxes that Richard Elkins made. I hope to have a sticker from each state by the time I'm finished.

Ended up Wednesday night at Big Pine, CA. It rained all day again and the wind was blowing about 50 mph. Felt like I was riding a bucking horse all day. Pulled into the campground and was really having trouble getting my tent to stay put. Some other campers came to help and we finally bungied the tent to a fence and then to my bike. That worked, but it was raining so hard I decided I should ride into town to get something to eat. Couldn't do that however with the bike bungied to the tent so had pretty much resigned myself to a "power bar" for dinner. Fortunately the rain and wind stopped long enough to make a small fire and heat up water for one of my "instant dinners." Yum!

Spent Thurday riding through Death Valley and the Mohave Desert. Really beautiful scenary, and it was 100 degrees!! Made me very happy to be warm again. The wind was really strong. It was so hot that I changed helmets and wore my half-helmet. I had my full helmet strapped to the bike, and the wind was so strong it sheared off the face mask shield (this keeps the rain out of my face). I have no idea where that ended up, but I did get my second sticker stating I made it through Death Valley! Tonight I'm staying in Needles, CA at the vacation home of a pastor friend who has attended our Pastors' Seminar and pastors Live Ride Christian Church. He's a "biker dude," too. I've got the AC cranked up, enjoyed a long shower and will get to sleep in a real bed. I'm planning to spend some time on my computer working on sermons tonight. Life is good.

On Friday I'll be in Arizona riding at the Grand Canyon. Looking forward to that. Please keep praying for me. I'm still trying to establish some kind of routine, but so far the weather has been pretty extreme. Understand you've all had some interesting weather at home as well. I'm praying for all of you.