. . . the rest of the story

Ok . . . so we've been back home for a little over a week and I'm just now getting to telling about the rest of the trip!

We spent  Sunday [the day after Jim & I got back from Sedona with my bike], hanging out in Durango Colorado.  Jamie, Cole, Ginny-Laine & John went rafting that morning.  Later we visited a few shops and went to dinner at a Mexican Restaurant that we have eaten at before on a previous trip to Durango.  I used my crutches throughout the day so that I didn't put too much stress & strain on "the leg".  We planned to all go up to Silverton on the Narrow Gauge Railroad that runs between Silverton & Durango the following day but when Jim went for tickets he could only get six.  It was decided that "the lucky ones" [Dad, Raymond, Ginny-Laine, John, Jamie & Cole - and of course Sarah who didn't need a ticket], would ride up on the train and Jim, Scott & I would make the ride up on our bikes.  It's a fun road, so we were sure we would enjoy the ride . . . but I was disappointed that we would not make the trip all together.  The next morning the train riders boarded the train and we started our ride up the mountain a little while later.  Jim talked to Jamie before we got on our bikes and found out that they would be delayed a bit because of a rock slide along the train tracks.  It was a beautiful ride for us but we encountered road work, causing us to have to sit and wait a couple of times on the way up and back.  Once we got to Silverton, we didn't see a train.  When we asked someone, we were told that the trains couldn't get through because of damage to the track from "the mud slide.  The train riding group ["the lucky ones"] never made it to Silverton, but even worse they sat on the train the rest of the afternoon while the railroad folks maneuvered the two trains back that left after them, before the train they were on could travel back to the station.    First to leave . . . last to get back. . . not a fun day and Sarah-Bearah was just about at her coping limit by the time they got back!  We took the tired crew out to dinner as soon as they arrived and then back to their rooms for rest.

On Tuesday Jim, Scott, Raymond and I left on our bikes heading towards home, while the rest of the group were loading the rental van preparing to head to Albuquerque, New Mexico where they would catch a flight the next day.  We rode through Pagosa Springs, Colorado, the San Juan Mountains and Taos, New Mexico.  Just outside of Taos, as we were riding along . . . we started seeing some unusual "earthy" homes, many of which were built into the ground.  There were a lot of them, which made it pretty interesting [at least to me].  Some were pretty strange looking.  As we passed by one that was near the road we saw that it was a "visitors center", open for viewing.  We turned around and walked through to check it out.  These homes are 100% fully contained and self-sustainable in every way.  The concept is called an "Earth Ship" and was pretty cool . . . I really enjoyed seeing it.  After our little break, we got back on the road and just a short while later got on a twisty, curvy road that was lots of fun.  I tried to get the guys to go back and do that ride again . . . but, they wouldn't.

On Wednesday we  got on I-40 and had a fairly boring day of riding on the interstate.  Thursday we rode through the Ouachita National Forest and spent the night in Mena, Arkansas.  Friday we rode all the way home . . . traveling through Hot Springs & Little Rock Arkansas, back onto I-40 over to Memphis where we got on US - 78 back to Birmingham.  Home Sweet Home . . . arriving at 9:00 at night [and no, I don't like night riding while on my bike].

Since getting home I have been taking care of "the leg".  It has amazed me that after four weeks, I am still having trouble with it, but it is getting better everyday.  I've had some therapies sessions and have started swimming a bit . . . my best advice though is . . . stay away from the deer on the roadway!

There are things along this journey in life that change our plans a bit . . . sometimes we encounter things that are painful and frustrating . . .  and unfortunately, things don't always improve as quickly as we would like . . .  Because "adjusting" is not always my strong suit,  maybe God is giving me the opportunity to get better at it!    [Romans 8:28]