Day 15 of CROSSNAMERICA!

It's hard to keep track of the days as we travel, but it is Friday and we left the Econolodge in Durango around 6:30 am to drive the 12 miles beyond the town on US Hwy 160 to begin the ride where we left off yesterday.  It was a cool 63 degrees when we started riding just after 7 am.
The first several miles were without a shoulder, lots of traffic, white knuckle, sweaty palms, praying without ceasing kind of roads.  I turned to Gene and said, my hands are SHAKING!!  God is good and surrounded us with His guardian angels to protect us once again!

The road & traffic improved and we took a break after riding about 12 miles.  A man & his son (we're sorry - don't remember your names!) rode up on their bicycles as we were on our break.  They are riding from San Diego to Washington, DC to benefit the homeless in San Diego.  What an awesome priveledge meet others who are cycling across America for a purpose!  We had a nice visit and took a picture.

Halfway between Durango & Pagosa Springs we began to see smoke in the air.  Russ said his eyes were  burning some, but thankfully, it didn't last long.

We met with our new friends again for a break at the crest of a hill.  Then Russ rode on with them for awhile.



Today we saw our typical Colorado wildlife once again: cattle, horses, prairie dogs...we even had a butterfly join us in the van for awhile!  The cattle did their typical, "oh my goodness, what is that?" stare at the bicycle.

We arrived in Pagosa Springs around 11:00 am and rode to the Pizza Hut where we had lunch. 

 The mountains are so beautiful here! But also, it reminds Russ of the climb that is ahead tomorrow!

After lunch we rode on to the San Juan Motel where our nice room was ready for us!  Russ took a shower to cool off, then he and I went to The Springs for the afternoon where we enjoyed the wonderful hot pools there ranging from the river, (64 degrees) the pool, (96 degrees) and another 18 or more pools at increasing degrees until the Lobster Pot (114 degrees)!  I just stuck my toe in that one, Russ got to his waist...maybe!  It was a relaxing afternoon!

Tonight we have eaten some pizza leftovers for supper and walked down to the river. There's something so beautiful and peaceful about hearing the water and feeling the goodness of God. 

It is so peaceful and beautiful here, almost like being in a cabin in a campground! We will be here for the weekend so we can relax and enjoy the beauty here.

Enjoying the evening on our porch.  We ate our supper on the picnic table which is off to the left.

Russ plans to ride the STEEP climb up Wolf Creek pass tomorrow so he can take it from there on Monday morning.  He has a massage scheduled for tomorrow evening to celebrate the accomplishment of the pass and the first 1000 miles!  That is incredible, isn't it?  Over 1000 miles in 16 days of riding, PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Some parts of today were nerve-wracking and scary for me, but the praise song that says "I will be still and know you are God" was running through my mind today.  VERY comforting!  When our children were young, they had a video called "The Music Machine" with a song called "Have Patience"...I sang that MANYH times in my head today as well as we encountered impatient drivers...

"Have patience, have patience, don't be in such a hurry. When you get impatient, you only start to worry. Remember, remember, that God is patient, too; and think of all the times when others have to wait for you!"

I can think of so many times when I am impatient with others, God forgive me! So many times we miss blessings when we are impatient or so focused on our "agenda" that we don't enjoy what God has in store for us.  Let us all take time to be showered in God's blessings each day and not hurry our way through this wonderful journey called life.

Thank you so much for your prayers, they mean everything to us!

Until tomorrow, patiently bask in God's goodness!

Russ & Carol