DAY 29 What did I do to deserve this??
I am up at 6:30 and there is a fierce wind blowing from the south by southeast. I am a normal cowboy who’s center of balance is derived from his moustache, somewhat like a cat and his tail. I have a thick moustache, mostly grey now, but I share it equally with both sides of my face. Well up until this morning at least that was the case, but now I am having to get accustomed to my moustache all being blown over to the left side of my face. It made what little speech I needed to do, very difficult. In order to keep my moustache centered I needed to tie the right side off to my right ear………..I did that for a while but over time the little string began to bother me so I let it go to where ever the wind would blow it.
I thought to my self, what Lord have I done to deserve this. SO I took refuge in the thought that yes there was a wind and with an hour or two of character building that the wind will give me it will surely die down and I will have a nicer afternoon. SO I resigned my self to the struggle of a mostly head wind slog over the flatter portions of Canvas.
That’s what I done was SLOG, just a grunt a fart sort of morning all the way, I don’t think that I ever got past 10 miles per hour. I am getting low on water, and have to ask a farmer that I spot if I can fill the bottles up. SO he says, why the #@*& are you riding that thing anyways? To which my reply was, it was simply a personal challenge and a goal I wanted to attain, and I explained where I had started from. You @#$% Californians sure do some stupid things, you should just get a job. Well, believe me I had a quick retort right there on the end of my usually speedy tongue…………but from someplace in the back of my pea-brain I heard this clarion call…………..”you need water you idiot.” So I gave him his point, and told him I would have one as soon as I finished the ride and asked again where the water faucet was located, and from the there filled all my bottles and left with one full mouth full just to be sure I had all I could and had no room for a smart remark as I rode away.
I had set the goal of getting to Jetmore as a final destination, but that little town just always seemed to be miles away as I slogged thru the wind. It was well after noon now, and my character was changing, not sure it was the sort of character that the Lord wanted to develop within me. SO I remained confident that the wind would die in the later part of the day. When I finally got to the town of Jetmore, I was so thirsty and drank a qt of Gatorade too quick and didn’t feel that great after.
PLENTY OF CORN, SORGUM GROWN AROUND HERE.
SO, I took a break and called my older brother Neil, since he had already done a ride cery similar to the one I am doing now. I just wanted to know if there was another way to deal with the wind, different cloths etc………I even considered riding nude and rubbing Olive Oil all over myself, but thought better of it. It would be a lot of olive oil, and sort of a waste. The campground that I was told about in the town had be turned into a refuse disposal site, and so I rode on for another 6 miles.
I set up camp once again in the high side of the ditch since it really looked like rain in the sky tonight.. I was dog tired, and the stinking wind was still trying to rip my toupe off my head. I cooked up Chicken Gumbo which turned out great. I can tell you that if the Lord was working against me, I sure don’t want to spend a lifetime with him as my opponent. Sure looks like rain, and the clouds are heavy.
Good Night and God Bless
Comments
When do we get the story of you hanging out in a tree with a hammer in your hand?
Posted by: Mike | September 19, 2006 11:15 AM
Wow Mr.Watt wind, wind, wind. with all that wind make sure you don't make another Wizard of Oz (HEHEHE). GOD Bless you and I'm totally praying for you.
Emy or Emi
Posted by: Emi or Emy Rose | September 19, 2006 1:29 PM
I agree with Mike. I am curious to hear more about that. Strong winds don't help...unless they are in your favor. God bless and have a great day!
~Darren
Posted by: Darren Ramalho | September 19, 2006 4:50 PM
Brother, I can go on with one lines, about into every life a little rain must fall. But again you and i are going through it (...what is it? God working on the both of us at the same time while in different parts of the country) together again. This past weekend I was blow around by the winds of doubt and uncertainity. And today the Lord gave me an answer, I was able to see some the what was coming up over the hill for my family and I. Like you it is going to be a lot of work, and why are we going to do it, it is the same reason that you are biking across this country. "BECAUSE IT IS WORTH IT." God sent us. And our obeying and trusting in God for everything each and everyday, "IS WORTH IT." And dear farmer... if you don't like it you can take it up with our supervisor when you get to heaven. O wait... I forgot to keep the water in my mouth ...Opps. ;)
Dear Lord Jesus, Be with JW this week, this day and this hour. Guard him and protect him, guide him and grow him, feed him and shelter him, love him and bless him. We commit him and this trip again to You. Thanks for my friend and brother in You, Jeremiah Watts. We praise you and ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.
Good night and may God continue to bless you.
Posted by: Robert Schlosser | September 19, 2006 9:24 PM
Jeremiah,
I have been following you from the moment I heard that you were AWOL from the saddle shop. Wonderful thing you are sharing in these blogs. I had a mighty chuckle today as I read about the comment from the fellow about Californians. I wondered if the fellow did not detect your Canadian accent. Makes one wonder if some judge everything on face value. Wonder what the fellow would have said if you were in your buckaroo flattop with a wild rag. I will be thinking and praying for you. The prarie may seem so flat, but as we know they're bumps along any trail...good luck my friend..
Randy Kildow
Posted by: Randy kildow | September 19, 2006 9:42 PM
Jeremiah,
Wow! What a day you had. Just know you are in our prayers and thoughts throughout the day. What stories you are going to have for your grandchildren.... forget the grandchildren... I know you are going to have lots of stories for all of us when you get home. You hang in there... the east coast is getting closer with each mile you complete.
Gloria, Scott and the crew
Posted by: gloria authier | September 19, 2006 11:11 PM
Hi Jeremiah -
Hope you're doing OK. Yeah - the wind is quite a factor when riding a bike. Something we don't realize when we're driving a car...
Love your pictures - keep 'em coming.
Keep the faith.
All the best
Per
Posted by: Per Kronvold | September 23, 2006 4:05 AM
My friend~ by no means do i doubt your persistence but i did want to share something with you that ties in with your "tuff day on the road"...ive been struggling with my roping a little lately, ive really been trying to get to that "next level" along with improving my horsemanship. Today i got an email from my cousin, Tyler Magnus, he has helped me alot with my roping and horsemanship and heres what he had to say...."Jon, in your struggle to succeed i thought this quote by Walt Woodard that might help", Mr.Woodard is 50 yrs old and leading the PRCA as a heeler and has a good shot at winning the world title in December... Walt said..."Press on. Nothing in the world will take the place of persistence and faith. Education will not. the world is full of educated derelicts. Talent will not. The world is full of unsuccessful men with an abundance of talent. Persistence, determination and faith in god alone are the keys to success."
So my man, no wind in your face or rain on your back will be what stops you. I think god is just throwing a few things your way to make your adventure and struggle all the more richer!!!!! Heck, now what fun would it be to ride all the way across the country in the sunshine and on flat ground? HAHAHHAAAA, keep on keepin' on!!!!
Posted by: Jon Tracy | September 27, 2006 9:03 PM
We were especially glad to have you this AM at New Hope Baptist Church in Paris, TN. May God continue to bless you and give you an adventure to long remember.
Posted by: Horace | October 1, 2006 2:17 PM