Day 4

by   August 4, 2021 with No Comments

By David Freeze

More than expected happened on an important day

  I had a plan to attack big heat on the hottest day yet. My goal was to cross the desert at its most famous point, from Brawley to Palo Verde. That is about 70 miles from my motel. Part of my Adventure Cycling map is an elevation description and I didn’t expect today’s ride to be as hard as the last two.


  My heat plan was to start riding in the dark at 4am when the low for the night was 87 degrees. I left the motel in Brawley and had ridden a  couple miles but  wasn’t sure which way to go. I asked an employee for the Department of the Interior, who said, “You certainly are not  going now, are you? It’s dark out there and there are cows and plenty of speeding vehicles”.  I just told him I was going now because the expected high was going to quite hot.


    i rode holding a great little flashlight and just missed hitting a possum, but no cows got in my way. The first 25 miles went perfectly and I saw a wonderful sunrise. Through this area is a big Naval Reservation where I heard planes and gunfire for hours.


  I stopped in Glamis when I found a store open that was supposed to be closed. Had a nice talk with the store owner about all the cyclists she has met. The owner gave me a bag of ice too, good for keeping my water cold for about 10 miles as the heat rose.


Just before Glamis was six miles of huge sand dunes, something that locals celebrate with a beach store. And just after were miles and miles of the Chocolate Mountain range. The heat was really up full blast as I pedaled for miles over rollers that the locals signed as “Dips”. Up and down, some hard climbing involved, even though my maps didn’t show it.


  Next came my first ever sight of a Border Patrol Station, with all vehicles required to drive through. I stopped after pedaling  though and seeing a sign that said, “Don’t stop”. Then I sat outside under the overhanging roof for precious shade.


Thinking it a long shot, I decided to knock on the door and get some cold water possibly. Border Patrol Agent Fraser was most accommodating and filling my bottles with ice and water. He told me that local agents were working hard and were away today while processing illegals and that a very large amount are trying to get in.
  On a day that my face and ears were burning out in the desert, I made it though, well sort off. I will explain this tomorrow along with a short ride and part of a rest day.


  Let’s don’t forget Skinny Wheels Bike Shop as one of the trip sponsors. They boxed and shipped my bike perfectly this time. No damage! Eric and Scott are a wealth of knowledge concerning all things bikes.


  See you tomorrow!

Grains of Sand

by   August 2, 2021 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

Grains of Sand

Sand. We love it. We hate it. Mostly love it. The times I hate it are when I am trying to get to my spot on the beach on a hot day while barefoot. Sand gets hot – sometimes up to 130 degrees.

For those who may be walking on the sand barefoot, here are some tried and true recommendations that may help us not get our feet burned:

*Run from shade to shade – like to a lifeguard stand or beach umbrella.

*Put plastic bags on our feet.

*Wet our feet or wet the sand.

*Walk fast.

*Stay on lighter colored sand.

*Wear shoes.

Sand. It changes as the day goes by. The tide and waves move it around. People move it around. In the evening, walking on sand is cool and comfortable to the feet.

But the incredible thing about sand is the quantity of sand in our world.

Is there a way to count the grains of sand? That seems impossible and would only be something God could do.

Scientists have given it a try though. One way was to count how many grains would be in a teaspoon, and then multiply it by all the beaches and deserts in the world. That would give it around seven quintillion, five hundred quadrillion grains. That sounds like a lot of sand.

That number, which is only an estimate, is not even understandable to most of us. That makes Psalm 139:17-18 even more amazing!

Verse 17:

How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God!

How great is the sum of  them!

Precious means to be of great value or high price jewels.

His thoughts unto us means that we are on his mind.

A sum is adding together to get the total amount.

‘Great’ means magnitude beyond the usual or to an extensive degree.

Verse 18:

If I should count them, there are more in number than the sand.

So, if we take all the grains of sand, and add to get the total, God’s thoughts of us are more than there are grains of sand.

Grasping that concept could be a lifesaver.

Lord, help me to remember that You are thinking of me – always. May I live peacefully and joyfully in that truth. Amen

Day 3

by   August 1, 2021 with No Comments

By David Freeze

I have decided that California isn’t my favorite state, not even close. I started out from Pine Valley this morning. I will admit to spending an almost sleepless night. I listened to the weather late and discovered that serious heat was just ahead, much of it from the same system that is gripping the northwest. I had a plan, sort of, but not good enough to sleep on it.


      I had some more climbing to do and hit two peaks above 4,100 feet. I am writing this early because I took a break to do it while cooling off in Seeley, a little farming community. I am going to submit the story and ride at least another 20 miles. I have a room in Brawley tonight and it will take 2 1/2 more hours to get there with water stops, if I can find them. I have to make Brawley because it starts possibly the biggest adventure day of my life tomorrow. I’m keeping it secret until I do it.


  Other towns visited today’s so far were Boulevard, Jacumba Hot Springs, Ocotillo and I am about to hit El Centroi with hopes to sleep in Brawley. Nothing special about any of them to this point. Lots of hay has been harvested near Seeley, amazing to me because I haven’t seen anything green all day.


    I did see the border wall, one of goals for the trip. It is very substantial and well guarded at least in this area.


    I cycled over a live snake racing across the road and though about picking up the rattlers from a dead rattlesnake, I met Mary from Tucson and her sister Ruth from Portsmouth, Virginia. Mary had done my same trip years earlier and plans to follow along.


    I had my first law enforcement encounter just a short while ago. All cyclists, and I haven’t seen another long distance one yet, were told to exit I-8 and take a frontage road called Ethan Howes Highway. The road has not been paved in years and is in sad shape. After a half mile, I found it block with barricades that said “Road Closed”. I turned around and went back onto the interstate to the objections of a convention store owner who said, “They will write you a ticket.”

    I had that encounter with California Highway Patrol officer an hour later who told me that he was about to take me in. I told him that without the other road passable, I had to be allowed a way to keep going. He told me I was making matters worse and should have called 911. I said, “It wasn’t an emergency, obviously to your state which doesn’t put a priority on fixing roads.” There is more the story but I’ll save it for later.


    Send those prayers for tomorrow. And keep following along, this trip certainly has the makings of something special. The amount of emails and texts has been amazing so far.
Can’t wait to see how this ride develops. Thanks to all the readers!

Day 2

by   July 31, 2021 with No Comments

By David Freeze

  I awoke very early on Tuesday morning in El Cajon at the Motel 6. The previous night, the front desk gave out a second key to my room, and of course mine stopped working. We both went to the office at the same time and got it squared away.


    I’m still on Eastern time and got up very early, beating the sunrise. Starting at about 300 feet in elevation, Alexa told me that the route was very challenging on the way to about 4,000 feet.


    The whole day was about the climbing amid desert scenery. The first significant town was Alpine, almost exactly half way to the top. The initial 2,000 feet went well during cool and mostly cloudy conditions. I saw the first California sun on this trip late morning and steeper roads. A few scenic views, mostly of the California desert, highlighted the morning.

Looking ahead toward the town of Pine Valley from about 4,000 feet.


    Enough water and supply points kept me in food and snacks. At 3,000 feet, the sign posted nearby as I rode Interstate 8 briefly, I met a man and woman from Yuma, Arizona who told me I was crazy to do this ride. We talked at a scenic overlook as he and the woman smoked. They did give me a couple waters.


    With elbows dripping sweat, I topped out at 3,999 feet at the little village of Guatay just after 1pm.  My celebration with the convenience store owner included only an ice cream sandwich.


    A short mostly downhill four mile ride ended in Pine Valley, my home for the evening. It was another short mileage ride of 31 miles. I did celebrate correctly with a pineapple milkshake here in town.


    Tomorrow’s likely route takes me to the Mexican border at Jacumba Hot Springs after some serious up and down climbing in the early morning, then a long downhill into California’s primary agricultural area. I have bigger mileage in mind now for tomorrow.


  Traffic was light all day. Gas in Pine Valley is $4.99 and a 24 pack of water is $8.99. Food is higher but not as ridiculously so. Day 3 will have good supply points but they will disappear as the heat rises as I continue east.
    I missed Accelerate Therapy and Performance on the sponsor list last night. Thanks again to Delaine Fowler for her continued contribution.


    To the readers, some of the days ahead will be extremely challenging for various reasons. All the messages and your prayers are much appreciated!

The Garden Season

by   July 31, 2021 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            How is your garden doing? I went out the other day and checked on my potatoes. I have never learned the proper time to dig potatoes. I wait until the plants have died back and it doesn’t look like there will be any more growth. My timing can’t be all wrong. I got one of the best potato harvests I’ve had in several years.

            We’ve had several meals of green beans and butter beans. We got a few ears of corn, but the squirrels have really enjoyed them. We enjoyed some squash, until one night the deer noticed that I had forgotten to close the gate and they ate the squash leaves. I didn’t know deer would eat squash plants. We’ve been enjoying tomatoes for the last couple of weeks. I have a few watermelons and cantaloupes coming along, and I discovered the turtle in that part of the garden the other day. He was just checking to see if they were ready.

            It’s time to get things replanted if I want to get a fall harvest. I need to clean out where things are done. I have the seeds already, I just have to pick an afternoon and go for it. I don’t think I am going to grow the squirrels any more corn. I am definitely going to plant more beans. I have sunflower seeds. It’s too early for broccoli, but I might try some more squash. Whatever I decide, I better get busy or I am going to run out of time.

            We are at about the midpoint of summer. We are facing the hottest few weeks ahead. It is hard to keep the garden watered in these hot, dry times. Soon gardeners will be facing tropical storms and their remnants. There are always challenges, between the weather, garden pests, bugs, and diseases. Then you will face frosts. No matter what the conditions, I am still going to fight to grow things in my garden.

            The thought that runs around in my head is that I don’t want to run out of time. I have to get out in that garden sooner versus later or I will run out of time. Time is an element in all of our lives. My pastor has been teaching us about eternity. He tried to talk to us about forever the other day, but that is a concept that none of us understands. Our whole lives have been related to time. We are going to be with Jesus forever. We can’t understand forever, but we will experience it.

            I am looking forward to whatever heaven will be, but I still have more gardening and writing that I want to do while I am here. The more I think about it, there are lots of things that I still want to do, including traveling and spending more time with family and friends.

            With the pastor talking about eternity and what heaven and hell are going to be like, I feel a stirring in my spirit that I want to make sure everyone I know and meet will find their way to heaven. I don’t want anyone to be separated from God’s love, and that is a very biblical thing because God feels the same way. He wants everyone to come home to heaven, but He leaves that decision in each individual’s hands.

            Our eternal destination is our choice. The invitation has been sent to every heart. If we discard it or ignore it, then we have made our choice. The doors are open while you have breath in your body to accept Jesus as your savior or to walk away from an eternity with Him. I hope that everyone whose eyes fall upon these words will make their choice to be forever with our savior in heaven. You don’t need to understand everything or have every question answered, you just need to trust Him and make your decision sooner rather than later.

            I can assure you that God wants you to be with Him in heaven. So I encourage you to make that decision now before it is too late. I know some people who believe that Jesus is coming back in our lifetime. The Bible tells us that no one knows the day or the hour of His return except God Himself, and He hasn’t even told Jesus. But the Bible also tells us that we can know the signs of His coming. Some signs are pointing in that direction. Our personal clocks are ticking and biblical prophesies are suggesting that the end could be close.  Make your decision soon. I want to see you in eternity.

Doug Creamer has a new book at Amazon: EncouragingU: Summer Stories. Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

The Trip Begins…

by   July 30, 2021 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Editor’s Note: David is making a trip across the Southern US on his bike. His adventure will be chronicled here. Come back daily to see where his adventure takes him.

My flight west on Monday morning went very well until just before the initial descent into San Diego. A passenger collapsed just as he passed my row of seats. Quick reaction by several medical personnel onboard revived him and EMTs got him off the plane once we reached the gate.


  With a direct flight, I was on the ground well ahead of scheduled arrival time. Bernie’s Bike Shop opened and as soon as the display bikes got put out, Roger Lovett went to work on mine. He put on two new tires that I brought with me and while he worked, I repacked the gear into the panniers and got the bike ready to go. Yasuko Lovett sold me a new multi-tool and a pair of leather gloves. I asked them both about the route and what I needed to see. Roger was more focused on the days ahead and so was I. He gave me excellent pointers and told me that riding the first mountain was too much for Monday, but we both thought it was a good idea to get a start on the dreaded climbing.


  I decided to think about when to start as I rode over to the nearest beach at Ocean Beach State Park. Officially, I had to get the start photo, only properly done when that new rear tire got wet in ocean surf. A nice young lady took the photos and we laughed as the surf chose to make the next wave bigger and soaked my shoes. The same thing happened at the start of my other west to east cross country ride back in 2013. I will count it as a sign of good luck ahead since that other trip turned out very well.


    With my feet wet and sand on the bike, I decided to wash off the bike and start riding east. The Adventure Cycling map called for following bike paths, not my favorite thing. Bike paths protect the rider from excessive fast moving traffic, but they also limit contact with locals and scenery. I followed the bike path for a while, then jumped on the main roads and ended up in El Cajon. I rode an extra three miles to save $40 on a motel, something I consider part of the game. This afternoon’s ride was 28.5 miles, a large part of it very hilly as I climbed east of San Diego. The first big climbing day comes tomorrow, as I will have another short day filled with extreme climbing.


    Just before finding a Motel 6 with some dollars saved, I met my first special person in Santee. Steve Bradley was intrigued by my bike and gear, and my plan to go to Florida in 6 weeks. Steve weighs about 300 pounds and is hard at work on dropping some weight. He was on his second ride of the day when we met.


  I have a couple minor gear issues to work on tonight and decide from what point I will attack the climb to Pine Valley. And I had discounted how challenging the climbs set for the next day will be. I should spend three days in California, working hard to complete it ahead of entering Arizona.   


  I saw regular gas for $4.73 per gallon an hour ago. Prices are higher in general than any state except Alaska and Hawaii.


  Primary sponsors for this trip include Frank and Janis Ramsey, Father and Son Produce, Vac and Dash, Dick and Jean Richards, Leonard Wood, The Trophy House and Gear for Races.


    Check back for updates online and in the printed Post on Thursday. Thanks for riding along once again. We’re going to have fun!

Last of the Nine

by   July 30, 2021 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

A road trip to the Sandhills of South Carolina is required. Unlike most requirements, this one is given freely because of the summer days I spent with Aunt Lynn and her husband Uncle Gene when I was a young boy. 

The year 1928 was not the best of times to be born, but Aunt Lynn’s parents and nine children managed through the Great Depression, even using it like a fire to temper their strength and resolve. She grew and married a local boy, Eugene Burch. They, too, farmed– cotton, corn, soy beans, corn, timber, wheat, and what ever else would bring them a profit. They also had chicken houses and that is how I experienced some wonderful summer days as their egg gatherer, cleaner, grader, and packer. But most of all, I remember those summer days as ones where I was given the responsible for me: The accountability of how I performed my egg duties, how I chopped my two rows of cotton as Uncle Gene chopped his four, and how I managed the other given tasks that, when done correctly, contributed to the farm’s success.

Aunt Lynn allowed me to grow during those hot summer days by giving me freedom that her older sister, my mother, could not. She shepherded me so that any decision I made seemingly was mine, but they were mostly hers. Her stern hand guided me as she fed me great meals that never seemed to lack anything a young boy wanted.

But every great summer day ended, and a ride for me with some local farmers who worked the 2nd shift in Plant 1, Cannon Mills, was found, and I returned home: A boy rich with memories of many achievements and adventures on a small, Sandhill farm.

Larry Macon Wins Highest Award

by   July 27, 2021 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Larry Macon receives FAA’s highest award

    Nearly 62 years ago, Larry Macon went on his first airplane ride. A friend had invited Larry’s dad, who never realized his dream to be a pilot, and his son tagged along. Macon said, “I was so excited and kept running back and forth from side to side in the back of the plane. I couldn’t believe the view of everything so small from that altitude.” The senior Macon saw his son’s excitement and offered financial assistance. Later, with college about to run out, Larry Macon took him up on that offer and began his dream of flight.

    On Monday, Macon received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, the most prestigious award that the Federal Aviation Administration issues. This award is named after the Wright Brothers, the first US pilots, and is given to individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft as “Master Pilots”.

    Presenting the award was Paul Meyer, FAA’S Team Program Manager from Charlotte. Meyer said, “Larry has been accident free, with no violations or accidents for 50 years of flying. I have gotten to know Larry through the process of this award to be an aviation ambassador, always promoting aviation to someone. Larry is a student of the game, always learning.”  

    Meyer reported that most recent figures show that 6,572 pilots nationally have earned the award, with 175 of them in North Carolina.

    Macon’s first flight lesson was at the Rowan County Airport on June 1, 1968. Within a month, he completed his first solo flight and another month later, flew solo across country on July 20th. Macon got his commercial certificate in 1987 and became an advanced and instrument instructor on March 18, 1988.

     A a charter member of Cloud Capper’s Flying Club, Inc. in 1970 at the old Rowan County airport, Macon serves as treasurer at the renamed Mid-Carolina Airport. He bought his first plane, a 1998 Super Decathlon, in March 1999. Macon has flown 84 different airplanes, with 3,030 flight hours and 1900 takeoffs and landings.

     Macon sold the Decathlon and acquired the aviation love of his life, a 1996 Pitts Special S2B, affectionately called “The Ride”. He said, “The plane is like NASCAR on wings with a skin, tubes and a big engine. I was fortunate to find exactly the plane that I wanted.”

     Macon told of his first ever aerobatic flight in 1980 with then airport manager and aviation showman, Lindsay Hess. He said, “He had a Pitts too, a little under powered than mine, but it set me on a path for aerobatic instruction.” To date, Macon has over 1,000 hours in aerobatic flight.

      Completely hooked on aerobatics, Macon had his first International Aerobatic Club competition on October 15, 1999, in Farmville Virginia. Since then, he has competed in 42 IAC contests in 11 states with an incredible record of success. Winning first place in 30% of the events, Macon has also placed either first, second or third in 67% of them.

      Macon said, “I only competed twice in 2019 but won first place in both the New Jersey and Virginia contests. Then I missed a year and a half for Covid. My first competition for this year was on May 14 and 15 in Rome, Georgia, resulting in a second-place finish.

    A mechanical engineer by trade, Macon spent 40 years at what was eventually known as Performance Fibers in polyester manufacturing, maintenance management, mechanical design, marketing and sales. Business travels have included 27 countries and 38 of the United States.

   As a member of River of Life Church, Macon has served as elder and administrator. Active in the community, some highlights include serving on the Rowan County Advisory Board, the Rowan County Arts Council, and as Campaign Chairman and President of the Rowan County United Way.

    Hobbies, other than aerobatic competition flying, include driving and maintaining classic cars, currently a 1978 Datsun 280Z and a 1969 Chevelle 396 SS. Macon said, “And I also play golf, but I am much better at flying.”

     Kyle Bridges, from Congressman Ted Budd’s office, attended the ceremony and read, “To most people the sky is the limit, but to others the sky is home.” And Macon added, “And to me, it’s a playground.”

    Macon and his wife Pat have been married 38 years. Pat said, “Larry joked that I have never flown in his Pitts, and I have only seen it four times. I know I have seen it at least five times! I like to fly in our other plane to the beach and to see friends but flying around in circles like Larry does in the Pitts is his time. I am so proud of him, he has put in the work, but I am scared for him too and nervous but would never ask him to stop. I pray that he will be safe every day, and he does that for me too.”

    Mid-Carolina Airport Manager Valerie Steele said, “I’ve been here about 19 months now and Larry took me on an aerobatic ride not long ago. I get to have personal interaction with lots of aviation people and Larry is one of the best pilots, but better yet, he is just simply a good man!”

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