He Who is First

The first shower of the day!

Fields of heather 

In the New Testament It says, “He who is last shall be first.” That might work for getting into heaven but it doesn’t work very well on this bike ride. He who is last always gets a cold shower and the worst area to sleep. Today I rolled in first and for the first time ever, I had the first shower in the portable outdoor shower tent. I was awesome! I also got a place to sleep nearest the bathroom. Most of the older riders fight for this spot. This has been a GREAT day. Being a bit more serious, today’s ride was tiring because of the strong head wind and a prairie that seems endless. As I did on the Southern Tier Ride, I think about the people who settled and traversed these immense western areas either by walking, horseback or wagon train and I marvel at their determination and courage. Today the sun was relentless and the mosquitoes were everywhere. The wind howled over the endless fields of prairie grasses, crops and flowers. At mile 18 as I slowly descended a hill I saw the most beautiful blue lake in the distance but I as I got closer I realized it was an enormous field of heather. This was the only highlight to an otherwise long tough ride. Tonight we’re staying in a church in Malta, Montana. It seems like a quiet little town but the sun hasn’t gone down yet.