No Bike, No Net, No Blog

Thanks to an update from Microsoft, I was unable to get online for the past two days, until I spent two hours on the phone with tech support this afternoon. Now I finally have an internet connection and can do a blog again. Sorry about that!

Yesterday was supposed the be the big ride from Monterey to Cambria on the Pacific Coast Higway. As I said the day before yesterday, fires shut down the road so I took advantage of the change to take a real day off.

Diana and I began our day with a visit to Cannery Row in Monterey, CA. Unfortunately, her pictures are still in her camera so I can't share any of them. After a drive to our friends house, I used the rest of the afternoon for maintenance on my bike. I replaced both tubes and tires, and cleaned and lubricated the entire drive train. I wiped off some of the crud from the first 1000 miles, and was ready to go again. Here's a shot of me in action in Tom's back yard.


We had a wonderful back yard barbeque with our friends and got ready to have a new "soigneur" for the rest of the ride. In case you don't know, a soigneur is a personal assistant to a Tour de France rider responsible for food, clothes, personal gear and escorting the riders whenever they are off the bike. Actually, I haven't made either Diana or my friend Tom do that much for me, but they have been wonderful assistants in many ways. If you're a soigneur to a top notch rider like Lance Armstrong you are very well paid.

I was thinking about what a true soigneur might or might not do for a rider who employed him. Then I got to thinking about what Jesus does for us, and has done for us, all by sheer grace. He paid the price for all our sins by his death on the cross. He opened the gate to eternal life by his rising from the grave. He rules all things from his throne in heaven for our benefit, as members of his body, the Church. And he continually intercedes for us before our Father in heaven. And he does it all for free! I think I'll skip the soigneur and be satisfied with my Savior. Praise God for Jesus.

Tomorrow's ride is planned to be 70 miles from Cambria to Santa Maria. Please keep Diana in your prayers while we're apart, and continue to lift up my ride for safety and strength each day. I deeply appreciate your prayer support. May God bless and keep each one of you.

P.S.: I miss you already, Diana. Elijah and Rebekah, I really miss you! MaryBeth and William, I miss you and look forward to seeing you next month.