June 27th, 2024
The original plan was to go north from Wild Horse Reservoir along Highway 51 to find a dispersed camp site between here and Boise. The X factor I was not expecting was the crickets. The more north I went, the more mormon crickets gathered in massive patches along the road. They even seem to have nefarious motives as to where they choose to gather. I found them the most concentrated in tight turns through the canyon passes, the places where traction was most needed. As the cricket population continued to grow the farther north I went, I began to realize this was not going to work. No way would God want me to finish out this trip surrounded by a plague of locusts, not after the journey He had brought me on so far. I had one of those feelings… the pull. I felt compelled to stop and reevaluate my plan.
I pulled over and dove into my resources. I opened up a map app my new friend Wayne had set me up with and started looking to see what kind of camp site there were between here and Boise. And there it was, like a beacon of hope… CJ Strike Reservoir in Bruneau Idaho, about 80 miles away. I had no idea if I would be able to get a spot there, it was Thursday so chances of finding a spot were 50/50. I called a few of the RV parks out there but no one had availability. Still, I just had this optimistic feeling that God would deliver if I took this leap of faith. So I set the GPS and hit the road.
As I approached the small town of Owyhee Nevada my jaw went to the floor. The entire town was completely overrun with crickets. They were everywhere, on everything. The houses, the streets, the playgrounds, the businesses, the cars, the signs, every surface of the town was covered in these things. Parking lots were just massive seas of crickets. Shuttered businesses had been completely taken over. It was like something out of a horror movie, I have never seen anything like it before. How do these people live? How do they sleep? It was a nightmare. I should have stopped to get some pictures, but I just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. Here’s a couple I found on the internet to give you an idea:
I continued north and just marveled at how out of hand the population of these things was. Eventually I approach the Welcome to Idaho sign. As I crossed the border from Nevada to Idaho a strange thing happened. As the road changed to a smoother asphalt and a higher speed limit, I noticed the crickets were gone. Like, almost completely. There was a single patch of them near a creek crossing a mile into Idaho and after that I didn’t see a single one. They were just gone. Like an invisible force prevented them from entering Idaho, or held them in Nevada. I can’t help but make comparisons to the plagues in the Bible. Nevada is a sinful place. A place where all forms of sin are legalized and encouraged. These crickets very well may be a punishment.
With the crickets thankfully behind me, the rest of the drive was a piece of cake. A little windy, but I finished out the last 40 miles quickly and came to the turnoff for the camping area. I headed down the mile long dirt road toward the lake hoping I would be able to snag the best campsite in the area and just really be proud of myself. Nope. It was taken, and so was the next one, and the next one. And then there was another that looked open, but nope there was a little tent erected in the back of it. I began to sweat a bit. There had been one little dirt patch I could park on but it would be tight. And then I saw it, a modest looking but roomy site surrounded by rocks off the side of the path. I followed the road down to the end noting that every other site in the area was taken and quickly wheeled back around to claim my spot. It didn’t look like that great of a spot from the road, if I’m honest. But it was a spot. God does not always provide what we want, but he does provide what we need.
I didn’t even get out to inspect the site, I just pulled in, threw her in park, leveled the RV and kicked out the slides. This is our spot, this is where we are staying. I completely set up everything in the interior and after it was all done I finally opened to door to get out and take a look around. It’s a campsite, I thought, nothing special. It’s right next to the lake, as in 20 feet away from the shore, but apparently no access, no biggie… it will work. And then I noticed a little path leading away from the site and marveled that there was indeed a path to the shore just past a little fire pit that was hidden behind some bushes. I walked down the the waters edge and just instantly started thanking God. It was perfect. Plenty of room for Danny to splash around and play, plenty of room to haul my kayak down and go for a row. What a score. There was vegetation, and flowers, and trees, and beautiful bushes. It didn’t look like the desert at all anymore. It was just wonderful.
I pulled out my massive outdoor mat and laid it out, secured it down with a few rocks, threw down a beach towel and just laid in the sun for at least an hour just pouring my praise out to the Lord. He just never ceases to amaze me. The delight he brings into my life, like he is romancing me, it is just humbling.
I set out my folding chair and laid back with a cool glass of water, my dog at my side and my Bible in my hand. The weather was perfect, about 80 degrees but the cool wind blowing constantly from the lake took all of the heat off. It was so relaxing, and peaceful. Critters chirping and birds flapping by cawing from time to time. There were a few flies here and there, but nothing compared to what I had been dealing with in Angel Creek and Wild Horse. This was like, paradise. I read until I had finished all the remaining Epistles of the Apostles. All that is left is Revelations. The final stretch… I’m here. I’ve done it. By the grace of God and through his guidance I will finish the Bible in its entirety tomorrow, two days early, and interestingly enough on my Mother’s birthday.
As the sun began to dip below the hills all I could feel was endless gratitude flowing through me. It had taken a real leap of faith to come here. I put all my trust in God when I set out for this place. But oddly, there was no fear. I just knew in my heart this was going to work out… because it wasn’t my idea, it was His. There’s this sense of crazy excitement and anticipation that comes from letting God take over. Like when you are a kid and your Dad is going to take you somewhere you have never been… some random adventure that you just know is going to be amazing. It’s likely some place he’s been a thousand times, but to you it’s like discovering Atlantis. That childlike joy and excitement is what God wants for us, and if we give Him a chance, He will deliver.
The next day, as the weather started heating up and I decided it was time to get Danny in the lake. He had no protest with that idea. I threw on my swim trunks and waded into the lake with a very excited dog. He is so funny, he would do this until his heart gave out if I let him. I threw on some music and we played fetch in the lake for about two hours… he couldn’t get enough and I was enjoying soaking up the sun and finding perfect skipping rocks on the lake bottom while he diligently swam back and forth. We played tug of war and splashed each other around, it was a blast. I was particularly fun to throw the ball in the shallow water and watch him prance and shlog thought the foot deep water… like a newborn gazelle that doesn’t know how its legs work yet. It was super cute.
Once the fatigue started showing on him, I pulled him in and sat down to read the rest of another book that I had put off the final chapter of for this very occasion. It was the final chapter of The Sacred Romance by John Eldredge, which is all about having and growing a loving relationship with God. It was the perfect cap off to finishing the Bible. I got off my chair and laid down on a beach towel in the sun and just marinated in God’s love for the next hour. It was bliss. I watched as the birds flew overhead in chaotic patterns and the gigantic trout jumped out of the lake to catch a meal before splashing back down. I listened to all the sounds of the world around me as my faithful dog relaxed at my feet and I finished the last few pages of my Bible.
I am so thankful that God has led me here as my last stop on this trip. If I had gone my way, I would be knee deep in crickets in the middle of some field in the Nevada desert, hiding inside to escape the nightmare. This place invites me to beauty, and fills me with peace and joy. It is exactly what I needed to further cement this lifestyle as my way forward in life. God has led me to do this, and He knew that bringing me here would be the icing on the cake. I am hooked, I’m hooked on God, and everything He has for me.
I spent the last few days of my trip here just relaxing and playing with Danny. We swam and ran and jumped and dunked. The weather was hot and the lake was cold. We cooled off in the water and then dried out in the sun. We listened to music and napped in thee shade of the RV. It was really the “vacation” portion of the trip. No responsibilities, no goals, no people around, just me and my dog.
It’s been a good trip… no, it’s been an amazing trip. God has shown me so much in this last 6 weeks. Thanks to the experiences I have had and the friends I have made, I have learned what it takes to do this full time. I started out so shaky, so unsure… green. The confidence I have gained during this time is nothing less than remarkable. I feel like a man coming alive. I started out so introverted and each encounter has forced me more and more out of my shell. I needed this so badly. My plans going forward involve a lot of interaction with new people. Trip was a way for me to dip my toe into the water, so to speak. God has challenged me again and again on this adventure to put myself out there and socialize with strangers, and I pray I have made him proud by rising to the occasion. I still have a long way to go, there is no doubt about that… but the ice is broken, and the hard part is over. I know what it takes to keep this rig on the road. I know its abilities and its limitations. I know where it can go, and how long I can stay before maintenance is necessary. I have countless resources now to find places to stay,and I even have a few friends to meet up with when I get there.
This short adventure is maybe the greatest thing I have ever done in my life. It comes off the back of what was beyond a doubt the greatest year of my life… my year with God, which has now turned into my life with God. I am so thankful for every place, every person, every challenge, every frustration, and every joy. There was so much joy to be had in this. I can’t help but feel I was only able to grab a handful of it. But what I got has left me desiring more… much more. Infinitely more of what God has for me out here. God has led me, equipped me, provided for me, and romanced me the whole way. I cannot wait to see where He takes us next. For now though, my path will take me back “home” to Boise where I will pause for a few weeks with my parents before picking a direction for the next big adventure.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.
Psalm 37:5