7

Wednesday, 6-11-08, Northgate Christian Fellowship, Benicia, CA
After sleeping in, we finally left the Motel 6 after 1:00 pm. Gloria’s seat screw had worked its way out and fortunately I had a spare. It seemed hot compared to the coastal areas, so at 1:30 we decided to eat lunch rather than ride in the hot sun. We ate at a nearby Chinese restaurant. I don’t think I have ever eaten so slowly and long before. I was so tired and thirsty that all I wanted to do was sip glass after glass of water and sugary tea for hours. The restaurant owners were nice and let us lounge around until after 5:00 pm. Another family who was eating helped us plot our course toward Fairfield. They recommended the Lake Herman area as a possible place to put up a tent. When we finally got there, the grounds keeper couldn’t let us camp but was nice and contacted a friend who put her in contact with the pastor of a nearby church, Northgate Christian Fellowship, who gave us permission. We arrived at about 8:00 pm and they invited us in to eat the remainder of the food they had served a children’s Bible study group. After filling up on hamburgers, carrots, and chips, they gave us the leftovers for tomorrow’s journey, another blessing. Peter Marston was very hospitable and opened the bathrooms for us and told us to contact him anywhere on the journey if we were having trouble. After a rousing game of basketball, boys against girls, we all hit the tent or wrote in the journals. Some didn’t get to bed early; Becky hit the sack around midnight. A great, fun, day. Only 11 miles.