Memorial Day Mania, May 30

6 am wake up. I hit the shower, got my gear all good to go, and sat down to an amazing breakfast made by Grandma. Pancakes, sausage, orange juice, and eggs made me a happy guy. As Grandma was flapping some jacks she was singing "On the road again." Yep. It was time for me to get back on the road. Apparently there is some of the worst traffic of the year on Memorial Day, especially around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; the most visited National Park in the country. I didn't care so much about the traffic because I wanted to make it up to Boone, NC before I headed back to Greenville by Friday. Also, the routes that I have been taking are on the most obscure back roads out there. All I could do was hope the traffic wouldn't be overwhelming, and if it was I would just have to suck it up.

Aretha and I departed the Grandparent's house at 6:50 am. Immediately I thought, yeah I want to ride 400 miles in the next 5 days, but I really want to see the College Lacrosse National Championships today! In the end it was alright because Maryland lost to Virginia anyway. Bummer. As I pedaled away from this fancy lake community I was headed straight back to the the foothills in East Tennessee. There is a ton of poverty out there and I'm pretty sure that it is the kind of place that Jeff Foxworthy got a lot of his "You might be a redneck if..." jokes. I thought about the one that says "You might be a redneck if the bluebook value of your truck goes up and down depending on how much gas it has in it" a few times. Even though there were double-wide trailors with 10 rusted out cars on the side, the people who lived inside the houses were nice. They were all out on their porch drinking tea because it was Memorial Day. It was also the hottest day of the year. The temperature was right around 100 degrees, so I had to refill my water regularly. I stopped to ask a few people along the side of the road for water. They all thought I was crazy for riding in the heat. They were right. The heat was worth it, however, because I wrangled another snake, saw a sweet covered bridge, and even saw a sign warning for bears! Yes! I wanted to see a bear.

60 miles into the ride I was feeling great. I was excited to see Russell and get to Boone, and I wondered if it would be possible for me to ride to the campsite I planned on staying at the second night (160 miles from my starting point). By the time I got to the North side of the Smokies, I headed up to the campsite I had originally planned to stay at. I thought I could do 160 miles. Wrong! I bonked at 85. The Cosby Campsite cost $14 a night, but none of the rangers were around since it was Memorial Day. I figured if I stayed there and left early, nobody would catch me breaking the rules. Then I thought about breaking the law, and the hefty fine that would come from trespassing in a National Park Campground. I was about to pay when I took out my phone to text my parents that I was alright. No service! Dangit! The hill I just came up was huge and I didn't want to ride back down it to get service. Decision time. I was angry and emotional after a long, hot day of riding, so I stormed off on the bike. After zipping down the hill I sent the text to the parents. I told them I was safe at the campsite, but I kept riding. I had nowhere to stay. It was about 4pm.

I am learning about some of the things I love and hate about bicycle touring. One of my favorite things is when it is the end of the day, you have maxed your body out physically, you have no more energy reserves, and you don't know what is going to happen next. Obviously you eat some peanut butter, a power bar, and drop some gatorade mix into your water to prevent your body from shutting down, but you are still spent! This Memorial Day my strength had maxed out. The only power I had left came from the Lord. I rode and prayed. I said, Lord, if there is anywhere that would be good for me to stay tonight just show me. Literally 2 minutes later, after a grand total of 102 miles, I came across Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. There were 5 guys sitting out front taking a break from some gardening. One guy was about 70, one about 50, and there were 3 boys about 10 years old. I talked to them about free camping and the Pastor, Steve, the one who is about 50, said that they owned tons of property around and that I could camp anywhere. Yes! Thanks God! Another example of His great provision.

I set my bike down and chilled for a bit before going back to talk with Steve. The other guys had left at this point and Steve and I exchanged stories. He is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and he talked about his crazy story that led him to Christ and then Seminary at about 30. He was a great guy and was super authentic. We talked about communication and accountability in the church and how it is tough to pastor a church in the rural South where people want their religion, but often don't really want to follow Jesus' ways. Even though we shared struggles like these, we were able to encourage one another for a few hours. Towards the end of the conversation I told him I was feeling a little delirious, so he let me into the church. He said I could actually sleep inside and could eat whatever food they had. Score! I drank a soda, ate tons of chicken noodle soup, graham crackers, and chips. Then I made some phone calls. Dad said I was lucky to find a place like that. No offense, but I don't believe in luck. I believe in God.

The church did what the church is supposed to do. They lent a helping hand. By helping me out and giving me a story to tell about it they are edifying the community of Christians. Pastor Steve showed me love like I think Jesus would have. That made me smile towards the end of the day. I was so thankful! I found a Bible there in the basement and started to read it. It was the King James version. If you have never read King James, it's practically another language. It might even be tougher to decipher than my Gullah New Testament translation (which is so much fun, by the way!). I randomly opened to Romans 15 and in my tired state tried to read it and understand it. Here is what it says...

 ¹We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
 ²Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
 ³For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
 ⁴For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
 ⁵Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
 ⁶That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Boom God! Thanks for showing me this passage. This is exactly what had just happened to me. Others were helping me, the weak. I know it seems easy to understand, but I was so delirious and was about to pass out. So I did, around 9 pm...like an old man.

Great day overall!