Day 7: Neskowin to Yachats - The Cycling Pilgrim

We woke the next morning well rested and Todd’s ribs only hurting him slightly. After a quick meal we got back on the road to Lincoln City. Yikes! What a sprawling place -- a lot like Williston Rd in South Burlington. We stopped at Safeway to stock up and felt disoriented by the busyness. From there we just kind of put our heads down and rode. The wind had picked up, there wasn’t much coast line to explore, and it was colder.

The next town south of Lincoln City was even bigger -- Newport. I got a flat tire and had a huge bridge to cross. Bridges and tunnels on the coast normally have a push button at each end for cyclists. It activates a flashing light and sign that warns drivers that a bike is on the bridge/tunnel. This bridge also had that button, but it had a sidewalk on which you could walk your bike. We chose to ride, but it was scary and long, with winds pushing our heavy bikes around and more than one driver yelling at us from his car to get off the bridge. Phew.

The last 15 miles to our destination were cold and quiet as we zoomed past our turn off and had to back track 4 miles into the wind. But when we got to our next WarmShower’s hosts’ home, we found a note on the door welcoming us in and telling us to make ourselves at home. To my delight I saw a copy of issue 47 of Heron Dance on the kitchen counter! There I was, already in his house. That was the issue in which I published an autobiographical essay called "The River."

Brian Heron arrived around 6:30 and together we made and ate a beautiful meal of spaghetti, salad and wine. He is a Presbyterian minister who is seeking a way to include other aspects of his spiritual life into his work as a minister. He had recently gone on a 2 ½ month cycling pilgrimage around the western states to visit important places in his life and reconnect with many he had loved and been connected with. We were lucky to view a slide show of his trip -- an impressive ride, averaging 65 miles a day that included a 5 day crossing of the Nevada desert. It was more impressive in its impact on this contemplative man. Crossing the desert was a paring down, no distractions sent him deep within. I look forward to following Brian's life and his work.

Brian is a beautiful soul. His book case was filled with books for the journey of life. Familiar authors lined up: Anne Lamotte Joseph Campbell, Thomas Merton, Thomas Moore. Julie Cameron, Evelyn Underhill, John O’Donohue. When I described my work with Soul Flares he responded, “Sounds inspired by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.” “Well, actually, you are right Brian. The name Soul FLares was inspired by her essay, “Letters to a Young Activist During Troubled Times.”

Wow.. Serendipitous events like this abound on the road!