The 3:10 to Tucson

Our 3000 km. drive from Mayne Island to Tucson went really well. We stopped to have Christmas with Shelby and family Sunday evening and as you can see above, Maizy and Lulu got right into the spirit of the season. We did lunch with cousin Janice in Eugene on Monday. Our visit with Sheila and David Monday evening included supper with Mark and Dondee and boys… which was a real treat!

Tuesday morning we called Bart Shields (a CUC '64 classmate) to inquire where to buy chains in Grants Pass and while we were there at Les Schwab's he surprised us with a quick “hi” on his way to work. We knew if we bought chains it would guarantee us not having to use them and sure enough, we had perfect winter driving conditions… the highway was bare and only wet in places. No snow or ice. Tuesday was our main push… we went from Roseburg to Loma Linda, which was 1376 km. (860 miles) getting in about 9:30 PM to the Hilton on Waterman.

On Wednesday we had an easy drive to Tucson, so we stopped at Salome, just a little NE of Quartzite, to have lunch with Geri and Werner Seidel… more CUC classmates and helpers on the orphanage project.


After checking into the Comfort Suites hotel,


And unloading the luggage on to a dolly, we unpacked and then went to Costco and Target nearby to stock up the kitchen... and while shopping it started to rain really heavy.


Thursday we enjoyed our first complimentary breakfast at the hotel… which happens every morning in this lobby. The internet here works really fast, so we are both delighted with our hotel.


For our first walking/hiking experience we headed up to the Sabino Canyon Park, where we bought a $20. annual pass... I told Shirley it was our health club membership while we are here in Tucson... and it is only 4 miles from the hotel. So far we have gone hiking in Sabino Canyon every day.


We just love the big Saguaro cactus.


The hills are full of them!


With all the rain and snow on the mountain tops, the once dry creek beds are now swollen and overflowing. This is the waterfall over the Sabino Dam.


We have gone every day for a hike in Sabino Canyon... and every day we take a differnt trail. One day we hiked up the main road thru in the valley floor, which crosses over a stream 8 times... hence 8 stone and concrete bridges. With all the rain here this past few weeks the runoff is still coming off the hills and is flowing over the bridge decks. It isn’t all that deep… it varies from 4-8 inches… but it really feels cold. I was wishing that there was a “Moses” around… which comes from just reading that old Exodus story where the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. Here are some details that you won’t find in the Bible.


Crossing the Red Sea was no small miracle to pull off with 2-3 million people in one night. If they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles long and would require 35 days and nights to get through. So, there had to be a space in the Red Sea, about 3 miles wide so that they could walk 5,000 abreast to get over in one night.


Did you ever think about feeding that many people? According to the Quartermaster General in the US Army, it is reported that Moses would have needed 1,500 tons of food each day. To bring that much food each day would require two freight trains, each a mile long!

If they needed firewood to cook their food, this would take 4,000 tons of wood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long, just for one day. Just think, they were forty years in transit.


And what about water every day? Just to have enough water to drink and wash a few dishes, it would take 11 million gallons every day, and a freight train with tank cars 1,800 miles long, just to bring water!

Then there is the problem of finding large enough campground space. Each time they camped at the end of the day, a campground about 1,500 square kilometers… the size of Mexico City. Think of it!

Do you think Moses figured any of this out before he left Egypt? I’ll bet not! You see, Moses believed and trusted in God. God took care of these things for him. So, do you think God has any problem taking care of all of our needs?

I DON'T THINK SO!!!!


Shirley is telling us "This water is sooooo cold!" And I can confirm. She asked me to go back and forth a few times in one of the deepest crossings just so she could try to get a better picture!

This little ball of fluff also had cold feet.

You have likely heard that the early bird gets the worm.
But it is the second mouse that gets the cheese!

A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.

May neighbours respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.