BIKING GUARDIAN ANGEL WAS WITH ME!!  FEEL SO FORTUNATE & GRATEFUL.

Said good bye at breakfast to biker babes until 2015 in Puerto Rico.  Georgia & Rusty leave this afternoon for mission training in Philippines for 18 months.  How they managed our reunion knowing they were leaving today-I’ll never know.  They are both very involved in the Mormon church-before our TX reunion they spent 18 months in Africa. 

GEORGIA-1st met in 2002.  Mother of  8-her husband had died 4 months before–had planned on doing cross country together.  We roomed together most of the tour-always positive-never biked on Sundays-would call & get someone to take her to church & to the next town.  She hasn’t changed a bit–married Rusty (4 kids-wife had died) & continued to bike & serve God.

Weather is cool-feels like winter until 1st hill.  Biking right along coast for most of the day-fantastic views-some very narrow bike lanes.  Getting further behind my leader-bike is acting weird.  Stop in Yachats (20 m)-Armand notices that the axel rod that connects my bike to the front tire is missing-which means that my tire could have come off at any time.  If my guardian angel had not been with me-I hate to think of what could have happened to me.  Thank you God–more reasons to pray along the way.  No bike store here-go to hardware store-buy rod & nuts ($1.80)  to try & hold the bike together for 30 miles.  Get ready to go through tunnel-leader looks back & sees light house-take picture.  He insists on going back & up the hill.  Before hiking up-ask a young couple if it was worth it-by all means YES!  Find out the girl grew up in Portland, TX & now lives in Portland, OR.  Told her we were from Austin-she graduated from UT in Plan 2-so did our son John.  Andy is a photographer-takes a picture of us.  Take tour of light house-guide lives in SA, TX-comes here in summer to escape heat.  As we’re leaving-Jean walking up the hill-Lynn is guarding bikes below.  Continue along coast-Sugar & Tiger love it but are hungry.  Stop outside Florence-mouth is drooling when I see the donuts–best ever donuts!!!!  Get to bike store-$15 for rod & $35 to clean & inspect bike.  Stay at Lighthouse Inn ($67.65)-sharing bathroom w/Jean & Lynn.  PATRI-college friend of Jean’s joins us for dinner-good time.  Suppose to rain & have high winds tomorrow.