We couldn't have received a warmer welcome this afternoon as we rolled into Plymouth, CA, dripping dusty sweat in the 90 degree weather. Pastor Cruz and his wife, Connie, are quite possibly the warmest and most sincere people I have ever met, opening up their home and the Pentecostal church to us for the night.
Pastor Cruz and Connie in front of their wonderful church
We were exhausted today because we had made the trek five hilly miles past our destination to visit the Amador Flower Farm, which could not have been more worth it (shoutout to Brian for selling us on the idea). We crashed on picnic benches after finishing our sandwiches and a pot of quinoa, surrounded by flowers and overlooking a pond full of koi fish and turtles.
Amador Flower Farm
When we got back to Plymouth, Pastor Cruz treated us to Mexican food and - more importantly - some genuine words of wisdom. If you take nothing else from this post, take these three things (as applicable):
1. Stop worrying about money. Do exactly what you love and what makes you happy, regardless of the salary.
2. Don't let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. Follow your own path and set your mind on something that matters to you.
3. Don't rush to get married. Settle for nothing other than true love (he shot Connie the slightest yet most endearing look as he said this).
Finally, I unexpectedly fulfilled one of my bucket-list items today: to play a Hammond B3 organ! The church had an organ, a drum set, a keyboard, an electric guitar, and a ~5-string bass~; I was in love as soon as I walked in. It might seem trivial to you or anyone else, but it was major for me - I've been looking forward to this for years, and I never would have expected it to come on a day like this or in a town like Plymouth. If today is any indication of what's ahead, perhaps I should abandon most of my expectations during this trip.
The coveted Hammond B3
It was a tough day. I had a bee fly in my jersey and sting my chest, Rachel got the gnarliest of scrapes down her shin, and we had nothing but thousands of feet of elevation gain to look forward to. But the echo of Pastor Cruz's words of wisdom, the reflection of vibrant flowers, and the sweet sound of the Hammond B3 organ will pull me onward tomorrow.
~Brad