Day Three: Seneca Lake to Skaneateles Lake
Distance: 78 miles
Weather: Overcast for 40 miles, sunshine for 10, Rain for 28 miles
Favorite Part of the day: Off my bike, watching the amazing sunset over Skaneateles Lake
Theme of Today: Slow and Steady
Today was one of those days that makes for a great story afterwards but is not the most enjoyable when in the midst of it.
I woke up feeling groggy. The weather matched my mood as it was gray overcast skies. I decided early on it was going to be a slow and steady day. The beginning of our ride we biked by Seneca Lake. Then more country farmland. Pretty flat. Around mile 40 I felt a burst of energy... I then realized that the sun had finally come out. Amazing how much the sun affects my mood and energy level.
Mile 45 we stopped for lunch at Seneca Falls. I had fun wandering around downtown. I glanced around a little museum that was an interesting combination. Half of it was human rights displays and the other half was "It's a Wonderful Life" display. Seneca Falls most likely was the inspiration for Bedford Falls. http://therealbedfordfalls.com/therealbedfordfalls.php I also popped into the National Women's Rights Museum.http://www.nps.gov/wori/index.htm
After lunch, I was excited to get onto my bike. After a tiring morning, I was looking forward to the sunshine and some hills. I enjoyed the next five miles and then it started to rain. I continued to ride for a mile or so... until it started to downpour. lightening and thunder. I ended finding shelter and waiting for the storm to pass over. I felt like I was in the middle of no where with these three old country guys under their front porch. They were nice as they talked all about the weather.
When the downpour stopped I headed on my way. Yet it continued to rain for the remainder of the ride. Thankfully, it wasn't pouring. I wasn't cold. I had put a baseball cap under my helmet to keep the rain out of my eyes so I could see. I felt like I earned a new rite of passage as a cyclist now that I've ridden some 25 miles in the rain. And the hills I was looking forward to... there were some good climbs right at miles 70 when I was wet and exhausted. I tried to remind myself that I loved hills as I climbed them. When I finally caught a glimpse of Skaneateles Lake I was excited to be almost done with my ride.
Slow and steady wins the race. Today was not a fun spectacular day on the bike. I didn't feel strong. I didn't have amazing time with God. I wasn't in awe of the scenery. Yet I continued to ride on, even in the rain. Even if my pace was slower than normal. I rode on and I eventually finished. How often is life like that? So many of our days are not spectacular or exciting. Sometimes we simply have to press on. I love the word steadfast. steady.
Steady: constant, regular, free from excitement, calm. Steadfast: unwavering, firm in faith, fixed in purpose.
My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Psalm 57:7
They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Psalm 112:7
Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Psalm 119:5
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. I Peter 5:10
Lord, I pray that You would make me strong, firm, and steadfast in You.
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