LOVING THE WEST COAST.






We had fun playing with the kids toys.

Our wonderful hosts in Abbotsford.

The Seattle skyline.



With our host in Olympia, Jim Eby minus his wife Wilma.

 



Vancouver harbor.




Olympic cauldron with city skyline in background.




Cauldron upclose.



 Well it has been a while since I posted so I would like to start off by sharing some thoughts and reflections from the past several weeks. Let me start by saying that God and his creation are amazing. The beauty that He has made in this country alone is breathtaking and can't be captured in words or pictures. From the farm lands of the Mid-West to the Badlands of South Dakota, Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone of Wyoming, Glacier National Park in Montana and the coast of Oregon and many other places in between, His handiwork is evident everywhere. It is even better when you get to experience it on a motorcycle (everyone keep that in mind before you plan your next trip). I think my favorite spots so far have been Glacier National Park, the Grand Tetons, the Badlands, and the Oregon coast. Another thing that has stood out to me has been the overwhelming hospitality that we have received everywhere we have gone. So to all those who have housed us and given us meals, I would like to thank-you again so very much.

After leaving Earl and Edith's place last Thursday morning, we headed through the top of Idaho into Washington. We stopped at a gas station in eastern Washington and enjoyed the sandwiches that Edith had made for us before we left (thank-you so much Edith, we really enjoyed them). While at that gas station, we had the opportunity to chat with an older gentleman named Cal who gave us some great encouragement from the Lord and he also prayed over us before he left. It is amazing how God can place those people and moments in our lives no matter where we are. In Washington,Laban and I split off from the other three guys, and we headed south-west toward Wanatchee to see Laban's dad. We camped outside of the city Thursday night and on Friday we headed into town, picked up some oil and I got my oil changed. We found out that Lester was running a little late so we rode to Leavenworth, WA. Now if Bavarian culture is your thing, than Leavenworth is your town. Everything in that town had a Bavarian theme to it even the McDonalds and NAPA. We stopped at a bakery and picked up a loaf of the world's best cinnamon bread, or at lest that is how it was advertised. Well, we took our loaf of bread, found a picnic table along the street and dug into it with our hands, needless to say we probably looked like a couple of bums, but we didn't care because the bread was that good. While devouring our bread, we had the chance to talk with a young man named Kyle who sat down with us to share his faith a little bit. I was real cool getting to talk to him as well and he also prayed with us before he left which again was a real blessing. After Leavenworth, we rode back to Wanatchee and met Lester. I always enjoy  talking with Lester, and I know Laban really enjoyed getting to see his dad again, so a great time was had by all. After a brief visit with Lester we headed off to Canada, and as soon as we left it started to rain. Well that rain didn't really stop the entire five hours that it took us to reach our destination of Abbotsford, British Columbia, and we arrived there around one in the morning. Before we got to Abbotsford, while at the border we were forced to throw away the fresh apples that Lester had just given us, which made me not real happy with Canada from the start. Once in Abbotsford we had an awesome weekend with our hosts Kathleen Doll and Gary and Carly Davey (sorry if I spelled that wrong) and their beautiful children. On Saturday we got the chance to help Gary with his deck which was really fun because it gave us an opportunity to do a little work for a change. That afternoon we went into Vancouver with Kathleen and another one of Chad's friends, Jill. While in Vancouver we got to see the Olympic cauldron and eat some really good Indian food. Sunday afternoon after attending church with Kathleen and Jill we headed back into the good old USA and rode to Olympia, WA. In Olympia, we got to stay with on of my mom's cousins, Wilma Eby and her husband Jim. For dinner they cooked us the best salmon I have ever had and I also got to watch my Giants even though they got pounded. Side note here, I have really learned to cherish the few times that I have been able to watch football or baseball and I can't wait to watch the Phillies win another World Series title. After Olympia we headed towards the Washington coast and rode down into Oregon and we are currently in Florence and are getting ready to ride to Crater Lake. The stretch of rode down through Oregon along the coast has been absolutely beautiful.

Unfortunately right now I can't put up any pictures from the last several days, so as soon as we can we will update you with those. 

--Dwayne