The Adventure begins. Ephesians 1:11 11 In him we were also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.

As we were settling down in the Hotel Thursday evening I found a small Cross and to me this was God letting me know Christ is with me! Doug also found a dime which I have been finding many dimes lately and this is God telling me he will give back to me ten-fold all that I give to him! I had to go to Walmart early in the morning for some last-minute supplies. When I parked in the parking lot the car next to mine had a fishing lure hanging out of the trunk. This reminded me that my biggest regret as I lose my mobility is that I have not fished enough. I was planning on doing a lot of fishing when I retired. After I paid and was leaving a young man named Juan came out to get in his car and I told him his lure was hanging out of the trunk. We proceeded to have a very good Jesus conversation. He prayed for me and it was a powerful prayer. I was amazed that even though we had cultural differences I knew we served the same God. I was very blessed by our encounter and it was just another reminder of how God Surrounds each of us! I went back to the room and we all shared breakfast together before we went to the pier for Doug and I to embark upon our adventure.

We drove to the pier and we made our pictures before our departure. I was going to take Doug's picture as he cycled away but he was much to quick for me. We all drove around the harbor and then went back to the hotel where we said our goodbyes and I left in Doug's truck to catch up to him. I did have to stop at Costco first to pick up some nuts and fruit as I plan to do a modified Daniel fast for the duration of our adventure. It was a beautiful ride to Lake Henshaw as I passed many nursery's and orange orchards. The orange orchards were on the hillsides and not on flat land which surprised me. I guess there is more to things than I see or understand. Sometimes I think we can limit ourselves because we only try to do that which we understand. God has taught me in this great adventure called life that he is the one who sets the limits and I am the one to listen for his voice and do that which he tells me.

As I was on my way up the mountain to Lake Henshaw I passed Doug. It was a pleasant rest for Doug as he had found a couple of oranges that were so ripe they fell from the trees and into the roadside. Talk about fresh oranges!!! It was also a good wide turnout and Doug filled his water bottles and changed bicycles for the uphill climb ahead of him. When he finished at Lake Henshaw he had actually climbed to an elevation of 2800 feet from sea level. (This does not count that he went up an down three large mountains which made it much more difficult) Lake Henshaw had a nice campground and we picked a campsite on a secluded edge of the campground. This was nice until we heard the coyotes in the not to distant woods. They were having a fishing tournament and I think the smell of the leftovers from cleaning the fish attracted them. We also had an eagle swoop from the sky to try to snatch a ground squirrel. Fortunately for Mr. Squirrel he missed and left with empty talons. There was a beautiful view from the hillside on which we were camped over the valley the lake was in.

We shared dinner with Connor from Doug's church Canaan UMC. Doug met Connor several years ago and in the years since Connor has a wonderful testimony about who God is in his life. Connor's wife and two young children had dinner with us also and his children were so sweet. His son was about 18 months and his daughter was four. She was a blast. She invited us to have a sleepover at their house that night. She said she loved sleepovers because you stayed up late and played and talked. We had a great time and the dinner at the little restaurant at the campground was actually very good. We really enjoyed the Ribs and Chicken. We fellowshipped and prayed in the parking lot before they departed. It was a great day where we saw God in many places and finished with fellowship and prayer! God is so good!