Soo's Scribbles Day 5

Day 5 started off bad.   At 5:30 am woke to the sound of the pounding surf down by the beach.  Cold.  Very cold.  Frozen into a fetal position underneath the sleeping bag and four layers of clothing, my first cogent thought was, "Wow, that surf sounds pretty powerful.  Like God."  But that was quickly replaced by, "Oh dear God, we have to do this again today?"  Camping three nights in a row does something inhuman to your psyche.

After a quick snack, the loading up of Hercules the van, and a 10-minute frantic scramble to find lost car keys, Marty and Jordan set off to conquer the Astoria Bridge.  What a stunning, breathtaking drive over the Columbia.  But for the bikers, the last 1.4 miles is all uphill.   

Jordan just eats up those hills.  Initially, I was worried about him in the way only moms can worry.   Worried about his stamina and endurance.  But he's doing great.  Think I should be more concerned for Marty.   Marty's been valiant, determined, pushing through the pain.  Every day a different body part threatens to go out on him.   Kinda like the whack-a-mole game.  You neutralize the mole in one spot, but then it pops up in another.  Marty's pain has migrated from cramping calves to sore butt, to a knee tendon, to a hamstring just about ready to pull.  Please pray for his body.

Martin and I found a coffee store in Astoria that just opened 13 days.  It was a coffee roasting place.  Oh...that caramel macchiato tasted absolutely heavenly.  Don't mean to go on so about coffee, but after two days without it, close to hitting code blue.  The place is called Columbia River Coffee Roaster.   The young barrista told us he is moving to Seattle in the fall to attend Cornish to study acting.  His name is Elijah.  So.. took a deep breath, sent up a prayer--and invited him to church when he moves up.   Gave him the address and website.  He was surprised, but said he would keep it and look it up.  So please send up a prayer.

 Trying to Listen to Him on this trip, you know? Surely, He doesn't intend me to just point this car south for the next several weeks.  So, trying to keep my eyes/ears open.  Been wondering what He wants each of us to learn on this trip.  

Martin and I spent a couple of hours at Ft. Clatsop to check out Lewis and Clark's old haunts. Sacajewea (sp?) was pretty amazing.

We met up with Jordan and Marty at Cannon Beach for a late lunch.  Then the final 13 miles with the last killer uphill climb of five miles for Jordan and Marty set against the background of an absolute gorgeous drop-dead view.  What is it about seeing the brilliant wide expanse of the ocean that simply increases breath in our hearts and lungs, lifting our spirits?    And even so...His love is greater and deeper.   His breath is Life.

Hotel in Manzanita, OR.   :o)

Soo