October 1 Crossing America

New Bern, NC – Bath, NC a distance of 49 miles.
6,157 miles traveled through today, 5,089 on a bike.

Chilly this morning, I had to put on a jacket for the first time since arriving on the East Coast.  I was hoping to be done before the cooler days of fall arrived.  Tomorrow is predicted to be colder than today.  Outside of a windbreaker and one
long sleeve shirt I’m not prepared for cool days. I guess with only three more days to go I can tough it out.

This has truly been a spiritual day for me.  Please don’t take this wrong but I’m not
becoming a Christian zealot but I do believe in God.   Other folks may call him by another name or some may call it a higher power.   Whatever you believe or don’t believe is your right and I respect that right.  So what was so spiritual about today?

First sign from God today was his response to a prayer asking him to keep me safe while crossing what looked to be the scariest bridges I have ever ridden my bike across.  Heading north out of New Bern I came to the top of the ramp to the bridges crossing the Neuse River both bridges combined spanned more then two
miles.  Three major highways converge onto these bridges, similar to the bridge in Wilmington, there was substantial amount of traffic zooming along as it was rush hour.  I didn’t mind the heavy traffic and speed they were traveling until I saw the shoulder of the bridge was strewn with all sorts of debris including broken glass and a good many tire shards (pieces of truck tires with thin wires exposed, the ends of which puncture bicycle tires like a needle going through soft fabric) making the shoulder impossible to ride on.  That’s when I said my prayer.  Motor vehicle traffic was heavy as it was the height of morning rush hour and moving fast.  Within a quarter mile the shoulder was clear of debris as if a street sweeper had just passed.  There was a lull in traffic including when I had to cross the two additional entrance ramps to the bridge.  When I reached the end of the bridge I came to a stop,  thanked God for answering my prayer.  I even took a picture of the bridges to
remind me God kept me safe on these two bridges.

Shortly after crossing the bridges I felt the sudden need for a break and stopped at the first convenience store I came too.  When I purchased a Gatorade I handed the
store clerk one of my cards, introduced myself and gave her a brief account of my journey and effort to raise awareness and money to defeat Multiple Sclerosis.  I’ve have literally done this hundreds of times throughout America.  She didn’t seem all that interested which happens and that’s OK.  When I went outside a lady came up to me and said she overheard my conversation inside and wanted to thank me and give me a hug.  I said OK and we hugged.  Kim, the lady’s name, told me she has had Multiple Sclerosis for 10 years and is struggling to cope with the disease and
may soon lose her job as her condition is worsening.  I told Kim there will be a cure sooner than later, hang in there keep the faith and stay positive.  She said she  would and she believed God sent me today as she was having a difficult day.
We hugged a second time.  I had a pretty good lump swell up in my throat as Kim and her husband drove away I thanked God for sending Kim to me reaffirming what I’m doing is good and to keep passing out my cards to folks bringing  awareness of this dreaded disease and asking for their donation, even when the response is less than receptive as in the case of the store clerk.  Before I continue with how God has manifested his being to me this day, I’ll make a pitch asking if you haven’t already donated to the NMSS please do so your donations will help defeat this disease and save folks like Kim.  Thank you.

The next route turn I found myself doing battle with a 15 mph headwind for what would turn out to be most of the day.  Instead of complaining about having to
struggle through yet another day of headwinds I kept thinking how insignificant
my short battle with a headwind was compared to Kim’s daily struggle battling
MS.   Amazingly the strain of pedaling into the headwind didn’t seem like such a struggle after all.

My mind was filled with the thoughts of Kim and other folks with MS when  suddenly I was startled by a rather large ferocious dog charging me from the right side of the roadway.  Instead of trying to outrun him, which I wouldn’t succeed doing anyway I talked to him as if he could understand what I was saying, “Hey puppy, (he wasn’t a puppy by any stretch of the imagination) are you protecting your territory, don’t worry I won’t intrude.  You sure are a good looking puppy.  How long do you plan on running with me”.  The verbiage worked as the dog
slowed, stopped barking and even wagged his tail.  I told him, “You take care puppy and stay out of the road I don’t want you to get run over by a car”.   Outside of the initial shock the dog gave me I wasn’t afraid he would bite.  The real jolt to my senses was when I looked forward after this encounter.  Directly in front of me maybe a quarter mile there was a church sitting in the roadway.  “Come on, I didn’t see a church in front of me before the dog charged.  There is no way I could have been in that much of a daze, could I”?  I asked myself.  When I got closer to the church, I realized it was sitting at a bend in the road but why hadn’t I noticed it
before the dog. God is showing me his being this day.

Church in Middle of Road

My day of Spiritual awakening wasn’t over.  Arriving in the little town of Aurora I made the turn on Route 306 to go to the Ferry landing to cross the Pamlico River
seven miles down the road.  I hadn’t ridden two miles when there was a NCDOT sign reading “Bridge Out, Road Closed Detour” and had an arrow pointing to the right.  Oh come I don’t need extra miles today as it is very possible I will have to ride over 80 miles if I’m unable to find somewhere to stay in Bath.  At the  intersection of Rt. 306 and the detour road I hailed down three local drivers as they came along and asked if I could get to the ferry landing by staying on the main road and not take the detour.  All three told me the bridge was just before the ferry landing and they didn’t think it would be possible even for a bicyclist to get across the bridge.  A fourth driver approaching from the “Closed Road” looked like it might be a driving a construction company truck so I waved the driver to stop
thinking he should know if I could or could not get to the ferry.  He wasn’t with the bridge construction company but worked for the Potash Mining operation which is on Rt. 306 near the bridge and ferry landing.  The guy was pretty sure I couldn’t get across the bridge but he did call someone else to verify yes or no.  Whoever he phoned said someone could walk across the bridge but didn’t know if a bicyclist could make it across.  I thanked the driver for his help and told him I was going to go forward and take my chance.  He advised me I’d more then double the distance if I risked continuing forward instead of taking the detour route.  I told him I know but the detour road would have taken me down a dirt which I didn’t think I could ride with a fully loaded bike with semi-narrow tires.  I thanked him for his help and continued on the closed road.  God has led me to making good choices and I had this feeling in my gut I was doing right to continue on the road to the ferry.  I felt even more confident when just before arriving at the ferry landing about a dozen vehicles passed me going the other direction.  They either had just departed the ferry or were a bunch of workers going on lunch break whichever I’d find out very soon.  Unbelievable, I arrived at the ferry landing without having to cross the closed bridge as it was immediately past not before the landing.  Thank you yet again God.

Ferry ride I was contemplating what all was happening to me this day

I’m not done as this is going to get even better.  For believers they are going to praise my witness to God’s power.  For non-believers, well you are probably  thinking the Old Guy has been on the road too long and is losing it.  For me, all
doubt of God’s being is gone.  Two miles outside of Bath there was a sign that said “Visitor Center 2 miles on right”.  I knew a Visitor Center would be a good place to start my search for a place to stay tonight so planned to stop there first.

Before I get to what happened at the Visitor Center I’d like to tell you first time reader and a reminder for regular readers of my journal about “Road Angel”.  This is the name used to refer to folks who come to the aid of touring bicyclists.  A Road Angel might be someone who provides encouragement or a kind word at moment when needed as when I’m feeling down and questioning why I’m doing this ride.  It
could be someone who has given me a ride when I’ve been tired or my bike had broken down.  It could be someone who has bought a meal for me.  It could be someone who has provided shelter.  You get the picture a Road Angel is a Good Samaritan.

Entering the Visitor Center I didn’t meet a Road Angel I met an Angel sent by God her name is Elizabeth Ann.  OK, you think maybe I’m crazy but hear me out.  There were three gals working the Visitor Center Office.  The youngest was the receptionist Elizabeth Ann.  After sharing the usual information and need for a place to stay this night.  Elizabeth Ann asked, “Do you want a place to stay for  free”?  Yes I replied.  The other two gals looked at each other and started to think who to call while Elizabeth Ann picked up the phone and began calling folks on my behalf.  Her first positive response was a man named Curtis.  He wanted to visit with me and after a couple minutes offered to have me stay at a motel in   Washington.  However when he learned where my next overnight stay would be, he said Washington would take me 20 miles in the wrong direction.  Both of us agreed that wasn’t a good way to go.  Curtis took my number and said he’d call around and get back to me.  Elizabeth Ann didn’t stop with this one contact and made a couple more calls.  She was unable to contact some of the folks and said she would keep trying.  I thanked her for her persistent efforts on my part.  Told her I was hungry as I hadn’t eaten since early morning and was going back in the direction I came from to a diner I saw and get a bite to eat.  I gave Elizabeth Ann my cell phone number so she could call me or whoever she found could call and I left the visitor center.  The ride back to the diner was a short one and I was soon sitting down to the daily special.  When I looked up from my plate I saw Elizabeth getting out of her car.  Hmmm!  She must be taking a dinner break I thought.  When she entered the restaurant she came directly to where I was sitting and I invited her to sit with me.  She hadn’t come to eat, she came to give me the name of a family who would host me this evening and I was to call them in half an hour as they were out on a bicycle ride.  I was duly impressed with this young lady’s above and beyond efforts on my behalf.  Elizabeth Ann and I visited for the next half and I found her to be
extremely uplifting and positive in spirit. The half hour whizzed by as if it were minutes.  I told Elizabeth Ann I should phone the folks to confirm I’d like to stay with them.  While I was on the phone with John, my host to be, Elizabeth Ann picked up my dinner check and disappeared.  After visiting with John getting directions to his home I realized Elizabeth Ann had paid for my dinner.  I quickly told her, “I’m not penniless Elizabeth Ann I can pay for my own dinner and reached into my pocket to give her money.  Elizabeth rocked my world when she replied, “God had sent her to me and told her to pay for my dinner”.  Chills ran up and down my spine and I shook my head in disbelief at her words.  I could feel myself trembling and was at a loss how to respond to Elizabeth Ann’s statement.  I thanked her and said I’d best be getting to John and Cindy’s home.  We stood and Elizabeth Ann stepped close and gave me a hug.  While we hugged I felt a glow of warmth and happiness come over me as never before.  I believe I had been touched by an Angel.

As if I needed more proof of God’s existence he further reinforced it when I arrived at John and Cindy’s home as they are devout Christians.  They welcomed me into their home with open arms and heart.  As I walked around their home I noticed several Gospel paintings and passages from the bible on the walls especially in the guest room I was staying.  I once again found myself shaking my head with all that has happened spiritually today.  John and Cindy are Road Angels sent directly from God’s flock to comfort me today.  Tme to time I have questioned if there is a God especially when bad things happen to good people.  Why did God choose this day to remove any doubt in my mind that he is real?  I do not know why but I kneeled down prayed and gave thanks to God.

If you are still reading here is how the rest of my day went.  I found another old homestead that intrigued me and took a picture of it.

I like taking pictures of old homesteads

Then I met a couple of guys while waiting at the Ferry landing.  The first to drive up was Nate a Phoenix firefighter and Adventure Junkie.  He has done about all of it; scuba diving, rock climbing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, even has a 4×4 rock climber vehicle.  I think he even said he has done skydiving and hang gliding.  He is just finishing up a 3 week tour of the southeast seeking out and doing all the adventures he could cram in.  Before we parted the ferry he even offered to give me a ride down the  road to wherever I needed to go or join him for a couple days touring as much of the Outer Banks as is accessible.  The Outer Banks was hit hard by Hurricane Irene and they are rebuilding the roads and bridges.  I had planned on going there but  the NCDOT internet posting for the area said it was closed to visitors until Oct. 5 minimum that must have changed since I last checked while at Jack and Connie’s home.  Just before we disembarked from the ferry Nate gave a Mud Slinger Beer which I’ll add to my beer bottle collection at home.  Next to drive up was Ryan from Holland he is the crew leader for a group of 8 fellow Countrymen touring by
motorcycle here in the Southeast.  He was fascinated with my ride and hopes to one day ride across America on a bicycle, too.  I was interested in visiting with Ryan about the motorcycle tour, as I’m giving consideration to maybe leading or
help lead bicycle tours.  He felt the tour he was doing needed more rural areas to ride.  I suggested he check out the Adventure Cycling website for maps.  When I mentioned I’m thinking about trying to lead bicycle tours and he encouraged me to do so.  He said with 6,000 miles experience I shouldn’t have any trouble landing a job with any of the many tour companies both in America or Abroad.  Now that
sounded like an idea I need to explore further.

While on the ferry a fellow passenger snapped this picture of me contemplating my life and what to do next.  Especially after all that has happened today and I might add that was before I was touched by an Angel.

While at the visitor center while Elizabeth Ann was finding me a place to rest this night I learned some of the history of Bath.  It was founded in 1690, incorporated as a town in 1705 and still has St Thomas Church built in 1734 in use today.  Bath’s most famous resident was Blackbeard the Pirate and rumor has it he was born in the US not in England as the history books state.  I also learned Blackbeard’s ship was anchored in the cove next to John and Cindy’s home.  Visiting with them we discussed what a mecca Bath could be for tourism and quality of living but unfortunately a few of the townsfolk want to keep this rich history of the area to themselves.  What a shame, Bath could be a great place to visit and live.

Staying with John and Cindy this night further confirmed my belief in the existence of God.  They are such fine folks, really refreshing to the spirit being with them.  They have five children, three of them still at home.  Bright kids all of them.  It was great to hear their children’s friends prefer to come to the Baldwins home to play and visit.  I told John its better the kids are at his home in a safe and Christian environment than out who knows where doing what.  John confirmed he and Cindy felt the same.  As with the other folks who have befriended me on my journey I found John and Cindy to be instant friends and it was going to be difficult to have to say goodbye to them in the morning.  Thank you John and Cindy for inviting me into your home especially on such short notice but then again it was God’s plan.

To my readers please let me know what you think of this day.  Thank you for being a part of my journey.

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