I made friends with a mule today.🥰 In Kentucky I wrote about the wires that get blown everywhere when a steel belted radial tire goes. They work their way in through the tire and pop the tube. That’s how I got my first flat about four months ago so I keep a close eye out, but you just can’t see them all, they’re so small. today I ran through a long string of those tire parts, then couldn’t shake the feeling that I should hop off my bike and thoroughly check the tires, a time consuming process when the bike is upright. I started slowing down anyway to pull over, and a pitbull charged out of tall grass straight out me. I was glad for my heavy boots kept riding while I kicked at him and yelled at him. He always stayed just out of reach while going after my legs. Another was running over to join when he gave up and fell back. I don’t understand the mindset of ordinary people allowing vicious dogs the freedom to harm other people. The suddenness of it left my heart just pounding. So I rode on and calmed down, and the compunction to check my tires returned, so I did. I could not believe it. No wires but I dug out three significant pieces of glass and a thorn! Only one piece of glass was actually even visible, and I barely saw the end of the thorn, gratefully I had the right tools. The two larger pieces of glass were completely buried. I have plenty of cuts in my tires now and no good reason to suspect those two, but I looked at them and just felt like I needed to stick my tool in there and work it around, I couldn’t believe my eyes. So grateful! This afternoon I stopped at a rest stop and briefly visited with this lady a couple times. She was working so hard and fast, making it just shine. She offered to bring me out a chair, and I commented on her work. Her name is Aileen, and in a few things she said I could tell she’s in the same situation I was in five years ago. A scary and painful place. I just felt I didn’t have much to offer her except that I could relate and there’s hope & purpose on this side, and asked if she’d like me to pray for her. she decided yes and then broke down. We had a precious few minutes and exchanged pictures so we would both remember. I was just thinking about how my day had started with an accidental false start that delayed me more than an hour. I'm thinking again about the turtle, I didn’t recognize what was going on, but I pulled into that rest stop at exactly the right time. Such a gift. If you’re willing to pray for Aileen I’d appreciate it a great deal, she has a very rough road. I finished my ride to Eureka with threatening skies, and such a treat waiting. Tonight we are due for thunder & lightning that looks like a 2-day storm with heavy rain, so Dee changed our reservations from the city park to a motel.🤗🤗🤗. I did have a little visitor above my headboard a while ago. I hit him hard. Cliff & Kathy are in that next room.😁😇 Sweet dreams. Early day tomorrow! This stop was refreshing. ♥️terri