Yesterday was a mix of all kinds of roads and experiences.   I left the campground on the west side of Rawlins and rode through town.  I had been in so many small towns with few services that riding Rawlins felt odd.  Rode past a bunch of fast food restaurants, Walmart, little shopping malls, and there was traffic.  I then took a two lane road to Sinclair WY and had an industrial experience..  This is the home of Sinclair oil and gas stations.  If you have been out west you would know them because of the green dinosaur emblem and the green dino statue they have at their locations.  I rode right past their huge oil refinery and truck filling location on one side and a rail yard filled with oil cars and lots of equipment on the other.   The next stretch of road was a bit intimidating when looking at the maps. The only way to get to the route heading to Colorado was to ride on I-80 for about 12 miles. This is part of the official TransAmerica Route as there are few paved roads in that area.  Fortunately, I-80 in that area allows bikes and walkers and they have a 12’ smooth and paved shoulder to accommodate.  It turns out it wasn’t any worse than many of the busier 2 lane roads we were on with logging trucks or RV’s. After a few minutes I realized it wasn’t too bad… just noisy!  I was very thankful it was sunny again, (Yep- second sunny day in a row) if it had been raining the spray from the vehicles would not have been fun.  I even found that when there were trucks in both lanes and they passed me, the air behind the trucks pulled us ahead with a little burst of speed.  It was like getting sucked forward.  That was cool!

After 12 miles on the interstate I turned off onto a lonely 2 lane road heading for Saratoga WY.  This was a quiet road with antelope on both sides, rolling hills, mountains in the distance, and sagebrush as far as you could see.  The noise and business of Rawlins, Sinclair, and I-80 were replaced with peace and tranquility. I slowed down my riding pace and just soaked it in.  For them next 20 miles I listened to music praising God and just spent time in his presence.  It was peace.  Piers and Stef got way ahead and actually stopped to wait and see if I was ok/had another flat.  Nope, just resting wanted to spend time with Him in that time.  They pushed ahead again and I went back to singing.   Pretty sure my singing out loud of various worship songs may have been the reason the antelope were running…

We arrived in Saratoga for lunch and found a city park that had free hot mineral springs.  We ate and then soaked in the 106 degree water.  What a fun way to take a break.  We left the springs and finished the last 18 miles arriving in Riverside WY (population 50) at a great campground right on the North Platte River.

I think my 20 miles of peace riding between I-80 and Saratoga might be in my top moments of the trip so far.  Too often I live in the busy, hurried, world instead of resting in the peace God has given.  Even though it was hot and my body was moving me down the road on a bike, my mind and spirit were totally at peace.  It was a great time of worship.  The scriptures talk a lot about peace look them up!  God knows this is important for us!

I encourage you to look for a time of peace in the midst of everything going on.  Find a way to do something or be somewhere where you can see His greatness and sing his praises.  It is a great time of refreshment and encouragement and it gives honor and glory to our lord… the creator of true peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid”. Words of Jesus as recorded in John 14:27