Today we bicycled 78+ miles from Carrington to Valley City, North Dakota. Beautiful sunny day, but we had some head winds to contend with. All arrived safe and sound.
I can’t say how impressed I am with North Dakota. Wow, the entire way we have experienced just beautiful green fields, with much tall grass in which the wind creates waves of movement that ripple across the land as far as the eye can see.
Carrington and most other locations have wonderful tree-lined streets and impressive homes. The churches in both Carrington and Valley City are very impressive buildings.
On my ride today I couldn’t stop thinking about the song, “America The Beautiful.” What we have seen since leaving Seaside, Oregon has continually screamed, “AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL!” We are truly experiencing the line from Sea to Shining Sea.
This part has been on my mind, “Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain.” God has certainly shed his grace on thee America. Sometimes I do feel like a pilgrim, I also often reflect on trials of those who first came west in covered wagons!
But what has impressed me most on this bike ride is America’s greatest resource, its people. In this day and age, it is all too easy to become jaded by the many media sources, as they portray so many negative things about the people of our country. The good people I’ve met on this ride are too many to mention: so willing to help, who love God, are hard working, honest, and caring. They have blessed us and the Fuller Center, beyond what I had imagined.
The real America is not what is portrayed on the news, but it is a land of people who are willing to sacrifice to do the right thing. That also goes for all the riders I’ve met on this ride, what a great group of people to be around.
Looking forward to continuing the adventure.