I don't even know where to begin.

Its been awhile, I know. And that really makes things difficult for us. Where to begin? If I try for chronology, I'll run out of time. If I got by best stories, I'll pass over so much. Well anyway, I'll try and get my thoughts down succinctly.

First of all, I'm about to go to Montana. Yes yes, I know, its cold there. And yes yes, you don't have to remind me, I dont like the cold. But! I'm going to be driving a car there! I'll be able to visit several people on my way, (Lauren Bull, Solomon Rudy, and finally Will Erikson) And then the kicker... I'll be getting free fare back down to the warmth of the south. And, if luck is on my side it just might be a plane ticket.  :-)   

So from that, maybe you can better understand the overwhelming sense of excitement that makes it difficult to type and share the stories of the past several days. But I'll try.

Right now, I'm typing from the computer of one Gary the kayaking instructor. He picked me up back in Tuscaloosa Alabama. He was on his home to Houston from the Smoky Mountains of N.Carolina where he was working for the summer at Nantahala Outdoor Center as boating instructor. Although his vehicle was loaded to the brim he managed to work in a spot for me and we managed to strap my bike to the front of his trailer. 

He had a full ride.

When we arrived in Houston he offered to let me stay in the guest room, take a shower and do laundry. A good nights sleep was well needed as was some cleanlyness. For the remainder of the day (we got into Houston around 9:30) he gave me a short bike tour of the city, through parks and bike ways leading all over. When he then went to vote I took off back to the park and went tearing around the mountain biking trails that they have right there in downtown. Harrisonburgers, think of Hillandale on the Texas scale. It was a blast.

Now a few words of thanks and recognition to those who've helped move me along:

From Charlotte NC I got a ride with PJ Davis to Columbia SC where I biked on over to I20.

PJ Davis

There I got a ride with Kickaboo to the west side of Atlanta. Special thanks to him for going out his way to drop me at a good spot. 

Kickaboo. Sorry about the bad lighting.

From Atlanta I rode with Marcus to just east of Birmingham Alabama. He is a very cool dude and those of you in the Pell City area should totally sign up for his CSA. He is doing great stuff there on his one-man farm like building a green house out of old windshields, making a grey water system that will feed a bog of lushness, and building an aquaponics system. We all wish him the best in his endeavors. 

Marcus

Next up is Jack who took me from Pell City to the ring road 459 that goes around Birmingham. 

Jack

After that I got a ride with Dave Childers who went way out of his way to drop me off at a well traveled location. He also gave me $40, despite my insistence that I didn't need it. I plan to pass it along to those who do.

Dave and his work truck

From the other side of Birmingham I got a ride with Chris the music teacher. He is a friendly jeep driver and despite the small vehicle we managed to get the bike in!

Chris

 And after the ride with Chris I met Gary and now I'm here.

So thats it as far as rides go, but now I want to say a few words about the other people I've met.

This is Steve.

 Steve is traveling to Phoenix AZ. I forget from where. Like me he is traveling. Unlike me, however, he needs much more help than I do. All the kind words of encouragement people gave me, the rides and snacks. The hospitality, showers and a chance to do laundry. Those are all things that Steve needs way more than I. He needed help. This guy is 63 years old. He's traveling on a scooter carrying, as you can see all his stuff in plastic bags strapped together haphazardly. Some of the bags are duct taped and tied. On the back of his bike was his dead pet squirrel. It was evening when I first met him and because I didn't get a ride I saw him the next day. He had bought a mirror for the scooter and when I saw him the next morning he was struggling with the small nuts and bolts to get it on. He was a determined man and eventually figured it out despite my offers to help. Although I don't know his full story he clearly has had a hard life. Despite all this, God's love still shone through him. When I mentioned that I had lost a bungee cord with one of my past rides he gave me one. He even asked if I had enough to eat and probably would have been willing to share!
Reflecting back on my interactions with Steve I find my self frustrated with how I dealt with him. I started this trip planning to meet 'the real church' and receive from others generosity and trust. Now I find that learning about love is about way more than receiving. I must also remember to pass it on.