malta, montana

Lots of memories here.

 The ride from Havre to Malta on Route 2 was much tougher than the century we pedaled yesterday. Only ten miles shorter, (90.9) but hot, hot, hot. In fact, it was hotter here than it was at home in Statham, Georgia. The heat, being a factor, did slow our pace a few miles and hour but the wind often helped us bump it up just a bit. No matter what, we still made it to Malta, ate supper, took showers, and in a few minutes will be asleep.

Tomorrow, Lord willing, our plans are to ride to Glasgow, seventy miles to the west. Since we are staying in Glasgow, we will, for sure, eat pizza at Eugene's Pizza. Yesterday, our waitress at Murphy's raved over Eugene's Pizza. This morning, a man at the motel told me that he eats it every time he's in Glasgow. When we went there in 2009, the owner gave us t-shirts, note pads, and other assorted items advertising Eugene's Pizza. I'm hoping to dig my Eugene's Pizza t-shirt out of my bag to wear for supper tomorrow. Either way, it will be a fun visit with good food. Look out Eugene's!

While riding to Malta, we couldn't help but notice a lot of abandoned buildings. Some were homes and some were businesses. I suppose the homes interested me most. I thought about the people who had lived there, grew up there, and why they left. I thought about what could be found if I was allowed to go though the houses and outbuildings. Would there be toys? Would there be tools? What about old cooking utensils? How many children were born in the house and where are they now? Who owns the property? Will some family member ever return simply to connect with his/her ancestors' homestead? Lots of questions and I'm sure, lots of memories for some of the family.

I had, sort of, a trip down Memory Lane while riding today. I've ridden this section of Route 2 before. In 2009 my friend, Jonathan, and I tackled America. We departed Anacortes, Washington on May 3 and arrived at Old Orchard Beach, Maine on June 27. Not counting our rest days we pedaled fifty-one days from sea to shining sea. Riding today's part of the ride, I
remembered the spooky church on the hill and the spookier cemetery next to it. I remembered the little white concrete block diner where Jonathan and I wolfed down burgers, fries, and some soft drinks. (It was cold that day unlike this day of blistering heat.) And, I remembered the Airmen's Memorial across the road from the diner. I saw the Western Tack Shop that I photographed. It's closed now. Nothing there but a boarded up wooden building. And probably some memories.

My favorite memory quote is, "Memory is a wonderful treasure chest for those who know how to pack it right." Basically, life is a wonderful treasure chest for those who know how to pack it right. I've talked with people who packed the wrong stuff and I've talked with folks who have not only packed the right stuff but plenty of it. Their treasure chests are overflowing.

Pedaling, even with someone, gives a person a lot of time to think. For sixteen days now, I've been thinking and, most of the time, I'm unpacking my treasure chest of memories. Of course, I'm putting them back into the chest for another day. One of the surprising thoughts in this whole unpacking process is that there are some bad things in the memory chest that have turned out for my own good. And as I pedal, I get more and more grateful for the life I've had and the abundant blessings I've been given by the Lord and by family and friends. This whole thing reminds me of a line from one of my favorite worship songs at church: "All my life you have been faithful. All my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God."

Pedaling and packing, that's what I'm doing. You may not be pedaling today but you are packing. Pack your treasure chest right.

All my life You have been faithful!