Today began with Vigil Prayers at the Abbey at 3:15AM(not required for guests) and ended after dark at Saint Andrews Apostle Church (just barely)

Morning Vigil - Reading from Isaiah

Who would not feel more at peace here in the presence of these Holy Women

Morning Santa Rita Abbey

After a couple of more hours of sleep, it’s up and to morning prayers and communion service.

Santa Rita Abbey - Scripture readings

Santa Rita Abbey - AM Communion Service - a Beautiful and Holy group of women who are a touch stone for today

Then off on the road by 9:45am – beautiful day and feeling good.

The Border Patrol is on the Job. Helicopter overhead as well and circling Drones at night.

The drivers on on the road were very respectful particularly the big trucks. Not many and those there were pulled wide and a couple even slowed until they could.

The road to Seirra Vista is rolling by faster today - less wind and mild climbs

Seems in the middle of no where and it is, even so when I stopped for a break and lunch, a car stopped to check if I needed anything. I thanked them and off they went – there are more good people out here than not. So if I were doing then news all could focus on is the negative  circling Drone airplanes at night that confuse me when I am looking at the stars, they keep blinking red and green.

Coming into Fort Huachuca I was all in. The ankle keep wanting to lock up and behind the knees stabbed with every stroke. A little rest, Ibprofine and clenched teeth got me to Saint Andrews church.

My grand plan of 50 miles a day average is looking a little grand. This is kinda of like when in school trying raise you grade average, those low test scores a the beginning, made the catch up work much more difficult. Of course I am out of school and I can take it easy on myself, realizing I will own the results, what ever they are.

Made is to St. Andrew the Aposital Church in Sierra Vista. I could have gone another mile more than the 35.6 I did today

The room with a view

After vigil prayers with the Sisters this morning at 3:15am, I felt pretty good. I guess I was just dreaming though, after a nap until 6:45am, must have been beaten by winds and mountains. So I am here for the rest of the day. The Trapestines Sisters here are so cheerful, when ever I see or speak with one. This place is truly blessed. They have lots of room for more sisters or guests. Web site is http://www.SantaRitaAbbey.org.

A visiting Priest at Santa Rita Abbey

Sr. Margarita, Santa Rita Abbey, She came in 92', after 18yrs working as a nun in Bolivia.

Sr. Margarita is the guest relations contact for retreats, visits, she also cleans  the rooms, washes the sheets. Thank you for all you do for Christ in the world today.

looking out from the chapel

Asleep by 7:00pm right after Compline prayers. Feeling better already.

Day 2 Morning View from side of Hwy 83 - 12 miles short with 5 miles of up hill to go.It is still a long way up - the head wind a little less today.

Once again I showed that if you’re tired enough  you can sleep soundly almost anywhere. The one exception was  the coyote about 100Yds away,  on the other side of the highway. He must have  moved on after  I fell back asleep.  The rest of the climbing did entail some pulling the ICE wagon up the steepest parts of the grade.  Then finally the downhill. The turn off to Santa Rita Abbey on Garden  Canyon  was easy to spot a couple of miles past the border patrol check  point.  Since I am heading south I needn’t stop.

It is still a long way up - the head wind a little less today.

I love these signs

Yes the Border Patrol are on duty

Finally made to the Santa Rita Abbey at 1:00 PM

The Garden Canyon is dirt with lots of washboard, slow going. Missed the turn off on Fish camp road  and had to come back after a ½ mile. The last stiff uphill to Abbey at a warm 1:00pm was all I could walk up. Sister Pam was out walking and spoke with me. What a delightful, welcoming person.  The church is beautiful in the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappistines) The area is south west hills and mountains, brown grass covered this time of year. Rested and was able to attend Vespers and compline Prayers with the sisters and Albert, another guest. The vesper prayers, followed by compline prayers  give one the feel of peace and rest as the sisters chant the psalms in their beautiful voices. I am so tired I may stay an extra day to rest physically and mentally in the presence of this wonderful place.

Santa Rita Chapel

The chapel is adorned in the Cistercians Tradition – simple, peaceful

Santa Rita Abbey Guest House

A beautiful meditation Chapel and small library as well which I was able to use.
This a wonderful place for rest, meditation, and prayer.

Santa Ritas Mountains

A view from the Abbey and less than an hour from Tucson by car or  2 days for fat old guys on bicycles.

Monday 01-02-12 25 miles

The Journey continues – the start of today is a lot more challenging than the

Santa Rita Shrine

first day from Nutrioso in November. The Winds are 25-30mph straight head on.  My first indication this was going be a long day was the 2.5 hours, of hard peddling in low gears against the wind a very slight incline to just make to Church at Santa Rita Shrine in Vail, AZ at 8:00am. What a relief to get out the wind and feel the grace of God for today. This church has a really interesting history as noted on a newspaper article framed in the back of church. It was built for the Mexican population in the Vale, AZ area to attend catholic mass. The widow of the 1890’s Japanese Scientist who discovered Ad reline in the Japan.  Mr. Tanakama visited the USA, fell in love with an American woman, married her in 1897 and moved to Japan.  In the 1910s He and wife moved to New York. Mr. Tanakama, who was raised Buddhist converted to Catholicism. Sometime after his death in 1922, his widow married a rancher from the Vail, AZ area. Together she and her second husband built this Catholic Church in memorial to her first husband and named it after Saint Rita in 1935.  Saint Rita is known as the patron of the impossible similar to the more widely knows Saint Jude.

The whole area bears names to Saint Rita, such as Santa’s Rites Mountains, and Santa Rita Abbey, for the Cersticians nuns. The impossible part hits me more after today’s uphill into the wind. The lack of conditioning and 60lbs overweight make this journey even more improbable. Just keep trusting in God and the fact that the conditioning will get better and the weight will be eventually left on the side of the road.

The first night camp is 12 miles short of the Abbey with still 5miles of 5-6% upgrade.

Heading out at dark Thirty

Into the mountains

Happy New Year to everyone.  The Journeycontinues in the morning at 5:00am. Looking everything  look good to go. This last for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years has been great, with Helena and the Friends and her family in Tucson.

2012 is the year of search of the western USA and through Canada.

I will miss all the food I have been putting away and the TV and Movies for the last month. The cable news channels thankfully didn’t dominate the air waves during the day while I was here.

Mostly I will miss being able to attend nearly daily, close by. My journy goal is to find as many churchs and Masses along the way as I can. The first will be tomorrow about 12 miles into the journey at St. Rita’s Chuch in Vail, Az. The evening plan and incentive is to be at Santa Rita Abbey for the evening after 37miles. The Cestercian Nuns have given permission in an email for me camp on the grounds and attend prayers with them. 

My trepidation is in the 37 miles with 30miles of up grade. The elevation gain is 25% of what the total for the whole 1450 mile segment to the Gulf of Mexico coast, estimated by “www.ridewithgps.com

The following picts are of a couple of the churches was able to attend.

St Agustine Cathedral Tucson

St Agustine Cathederal - noon Mass