Mood:  energetic

My plan for the day was to have breakfast around 7 AM, and head for the town of Hamilton, about 58 miles south of Missoula. This being Sunday, I didn't think there would be much traffic. In fact, since I was leaving wso early, if there was a church having their sunday service when I drove by, I thought I would stop in, bicycle clothing and all, and worship with them. For the longest time it seemed that all the services were at 10 AM or 11 AM, so i would be a ways up the road before stopping.

There was a bike trail along the highway that I was having trouble finding. while asking for directions, a fellow, upon seeing my Seattle Seahawk, asked if I was from Seattle. Come to find out, he and his companion were from Darrington. They were building a home for a client nearby.

As I passed through the samll town of Florence, I saw a sign for a Florence/Calvert Creek Community Church. It was not visible from the highway, but I turned off, figuring to go 1/4 mile, and if I did not see the church then I'd get back on the highway. The road came to a "tee" and off to the right was a nice looking church with a full parking lot. This would be the church I would attenc today. I entered the Narthex, only to find that the service had started earlier, and that everyone was seated. Like many churches, the proceedings were broadcast into the narthex, so I was able to worship, in my bike clothes, alone in the narthex.

The pastor was just commencing his sermon. It was on Noah, and how Noah "walked with God" in his daily life. The pastor challenged us to step out of our daily routine, and ask God how to walk with Him. I felt the message was directed to me.

After the service, I was cordially invited to have coffee in an adjoining room, where I was able to meet many nice people, the very first of whose daughter went to massage school in Everett. Upon asking for information on available restaurants up the road, a couple invited me to their home for lunch. I spent a very nice time with John and Joann Haven. John is a retired Physical Therapist and Joann is a practicing nurse. They built their home themselves and did a beautiful job of it. John has a gift of woodwork and liked to hand build kalaidescopes. After a delicious lunch, I bid them farewell, and headed south.

Hamilton is one of the larger towns south of Missoula, and there were two objects that I wished to get before the stores closed: a pair of long bicycle pants (my leg warmers were prone to slipping down, and with some passes to climb, I didn't want to take a hand off the handle bars to fix them while riding) and hand warmers, a brilliant idea by my bride, Karen. Figuring that the stores would close at 5 PM, I hustled to get there by 4:30 PM.

Apparently, there are still some towns where most stores close on Sunday, and Hamilton is one of them. I would have to wait until Monday morning. Fortunately, the next day was going to be my shortest one so far, mileage-wise, about 30-35 miles. So leaving mid-morning would not be a problem. The reason for the short mileage was because I have a major pass, Chief Joseph Pass, to climb the next morning.

Will McMahan