Well...I don't suppose Katahdin's going anywhere.

Just after midnight on the morning of our planned hike, after having managed ourselves to bed a bit later than expected anyway, we received a phone call from Lauren that she was feverish and ill. By the time we settled down again, the alarm clock was sounding. We decided that 6 hours of driving and 10 hours of climbing were not advisable after a sleepless night. So we bagged the trip until 'next time.' Perhaps that will be one year in late September when the leaves are in their glory, and God will whisper, "See, isn't this better?" T'is disappointing, but I trust that you were attending to us in prayer and there is purpose in this.

We are traveling for the next few days and postings may be scarce. Today we travel south to the Portland area to grab a hotel in preparation for an early Thursday morning flight back to Greensboro. A quick swing by the farm to pick up the bike and gear and books and...we're off on a 16+-hour drive through the night back to Overland Park. After spending my last day with Lauren (who is doing better now) before she heads off to Emporia State, washing clothes and re-gearing for the home stretch of this sabbatical, I take another early flight Saturday morning to LAX for class next week in Pasadena.

Blessings to you. Will likely sign in again in a few days. Perhaps I will have Pastor Stephen type "hello."

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It is now nearly 10:30 pm on Wednesday evening. We have settled into a nice converted inn in downtown Portland, but only for a few hours as our flight leaves the jetport at 6:00 am., about the time the folks at the Inn at St. John are laying out the continental breakfast. The feet and the camera are disappointed that the hike did not happen today, but the common sense knows that we made the right decision. Can't imagine starting out on the highways for Kansas after two nights of sleeplessness.

Heard from Pastor Stephen tonight. He called to say that the directions to his house which he had sent earlier were not correct. The exit comes at 1.8 miles and not 1.4 miles. Talk about precision! He suggested that I save the message and play it back en route. Probably the closest that I will come to having a GPS. It will be good to reconnect with this colleague and friend.

Here's hoping that Delta has it's act together tomorrow. I'll reconnect with this blog in a few days or so.