Ready, SHOOT! Aim . . .

A friend of mine once announced with unenvious wonder that I was like Moses as I led my burgeoning congregation in a new church-plant.  Like my ancient counterpart I would lift my staff, point to the cloud or fire (of opportunity) and yell, "Here, follow thou me!"  But then I'd see another cloud and point there, "No, wait, it's over there!"  

Humbly, I accept the comparison, knowing the challenges that on-the-edge ministries require--speedy shifts and swift shuffles.  

When it comes to long-distance cyclo-travel, each day requires that speedy-shift-swift-shuffle kind of decisions that can make a big difference: 

• do we wait the storm out and risk missing our campground or do we boldly blunder through it?  

• Do we wait 'til the moose gets off the road?  

• Rick, you wanna tell that grisly grizzle bear up ahead who's boss? 

• Do we camp here near the river or try to make it to the campground twenty miles further down the road?

Though we minimize risk, we never fully banish it from cycling or living.  You just try to do what you can to minimize risk, but in the end, you still have risk in virtually anything you do.  

Rick has done amazing research for this upcoming tour--he' reduced risk as much as he can, I think.  The danger/s that remain, we live with.  Here's the basic framework of our tour for those who will be following us as we journey . . . 

Part One: Billings to Missoula

June 16th -- (leave Billings) Lavina

June 17th -- Harlowton

June 18th -- White Sulphur Springs

June 19th -- Townsend

June 20th -- Avon

June 21st -- Ovando

June 22nd -- Missoula

Part Two: Transport Bikes/Bikers to the Arctic

June 23th -- Missoula / disassemble bikes

June 24th -- Missoula / box bikes for transport

June 25th -- fly to Deadhorse, Alaska

Part Three: Begin Tour Southward to US from Arctic

June 26th -- arrive Deadhorse / reassemble bikes

June 27th -- bus to Prudhoe Bay / return to Deadhorse

June 28th -- leave Deadhorse on bikes