Day 7 – June 10 – Umatilla, OR to Walla Walla, WA – 54 Miles

An Encounter at the Fruit Stand

This did not turn out to be a rest day, although we slept in and didn’t hit the road until nearly noon.  We had looked at the available attractions at Umatilla, OR vs. Walla Walla, WA and there was no question that Walla Walla was a much better location to spend some time off the bikes.  It was also the location where we could catch up with the rest of riders in the group.

I had considered quite a while ago the group dynamics that are involved in bringing together varied people for such a big, and personal undertaking, each having their own reasons, motivations, goals, objectives, timelines as well as personalities.  The last few days as Joe and I tried to catch the other riders it became clear that there were differences.  The last 3 days riding with Joe had been the most pleasurable of the trip.  Over the last several years we had done quite a number of shorter trips with my older brother that followed much the same fashion that Joe and I had taken apart from the larger group.  I was nonetheless stressed about the prospects of breaking from the group and taking our own tact at the ride.  It was something I prayed about and talked with Barb about.

So, as Joe and I were about halfway between, Umatilla and Walla Walla (don’t ask me where these names come from) we came upon the junction of Route 730 with Route 12.  I signaled Joe that I wanted to stop to do a map check and stretch.  That is when we noticed a roadside fruit stand at the junction selling oranges and freshly picked Washington cherries.  Just as we pulled up a lady was pulling up in her SUV.  As she got out she immediately started commenting about the great oranges she had at church this morning that had come from this fruit stand.  Of course we couldn’t purchase a 10 pound bag so she offered us a couple from hers and asked about the ride.  This was the type of encounter that I was looking for when I imagined this trip, the occasion to meet perfect strangers and engage them in conversation about the cause.  It was something that we had not been so readily able to do with the larger group.

Just as our friend with the oranges was leaving and as Joe and I were snacking on a couple pounds of cherries a young couple, obvious touring cyclist, pulled up next to us.  They introduced themselves and said they had spent the night with the rest of our group two days ago.  As it turned out Pete and Lauren were Northwestern grads who had headed out on the road with the eventual goal of Yorktown, Virginia.  Pete told us that he had grown up in the town of Mazon near Dwight, IL.  What was interesting was that they both commented that when they met the other riders in our group, they noticed the focus on building up the mileage, and that it was not the way they wanted to spend their ride.

For me these encounters were a profound moment.  The encounters illustrated with out any uncertainty what I had been struggling with in my head and in my prayers.  It became clear that Joe and I needed to chart our course and set our own timing for the rest of the ride.  I immediately recognized God at work, it was just right.

Joe and I continued on to Walla Walla and met up with the rest of our group.  In the evening we had dinner together and eventually had very nice, frank and respectful conversation about each one’s goals for the ride and philosophies about how to approach the task at hand.  They had already made the decision to leave in the morning, to press on for 75 miles to the next stop.  Joe and I had already decided to take a rest day.  It was something our bodies needed.

So we decided to part ways, each respecting the other’s decisions.  Joe and I wish them all the best for the rest of their journey.