Day 15

A very sluggish morning started with a free breakfast at the hotel, consisting of waffles, biscuits with gravy, and juice. Having our fill of the buffet, everyone took a nice dip in the hottub as Hank packed up his gear to meet an old friend. Living in Sandpoint five years ago, Hank had a couple of people in mind he wanted to visit, one of them being Bob Staton. Currently working at the Bonner Mission Gospel, Bob invited us to stay in one of the rooms under the condition we followed the mission's rules. Having a nice reunion and lunch, Hank rode back to Sandpoint were the rest of the guys were taking care of Kane's most recent mishaps; the cracked rim. The local bike shop placed a order for a new XT hub and spokes which will add 4 more spokes to his rear wheel, incresing the weight capacity. To our surprise the order will arrive by the next morning, and the wheel built by the evening. Kane now bikeless, we started our three mile walk to the Gospel Mission. Walking on the 6 inch shoulder of the highway for a good half mile, the rain started to crash on us. Taking shelter under a tree at the Sandpoint vistor center, Kane called for a taxi, and the rest of us put on our rain gear. Arriving at the mission we were greated by Carl sitting on the front porch. Once introductions were made, the boys got a tour of camp. Three buildings connected together by added hallways dived the kitchen from the office and dorms. The Kitchen also housed the commons area for daily bible study, and a room for Carl, who managed and lived at the Mission. Wayne, a older small stout man reminding us of Popeye showed us the dorms. Another small commons room filled with christain reading material, and a closet filled with donated clothing for vistors who were in need. Behind, was a large restroom with showers and laundry facilties. Across the bathroom were the bunks, four lined in a row with very colorful quilts were going to be our beds for the next couiple of days. Setteling in, we sat outside for fresh air before the 7pm curfew.

From the corner of our eye's we see a man with a very flamboyant stride walked towards the Mission's gates."God, I hope this guy stays here" Kane said in a very sarcastic tone. And in he walked. Long hair pulled up with a makesfit yellow hairband, a bright pink transloucent scraf, a v-shaped gray shirt, and tight, very tight jeans. "Whats the score?" his first words went straight throught our ears as we sat in shock as what just entered this mission. "I don't know, but someone's winning" replied Evan. Pulling out a railroad spike, he asked if any of us were a Blacksmith. Not satisfied with our answer he pointed to eac h of us one at a time. "Mr. Smith?" he asked Kane, "Nope, just Kane" he replied. Donald was next "Mr. Smith?", wrong agian. Changing the name slightly he pointed to Hank, "Mr. Smitthers?". Giving up on trying to guess our names he introuduced him self as Daniel. Sitting in the grass he began to play with it by running his railroad spike into it. "Gargomel!" he shouted when a gray and white cat strolled up into his lap. Questening if we knew the refence, he lost intrest with us as Kane guessed the answer and Carl walked into view of Daniel. Instently giving Carl the finger as he walked to his seat on the porch, he started curseing his name and so on a so forth. Mumbling under his breath he bagn to talk about pig latin, stating he has been studying it for years. Im sure at this point we all were trying figure what drug he was on. Seeing Daniel, Carl asked him to come over and talk to him. Ingnoring the request, Daniel sat playing with his cat. "I told you to change those pants two days ago Daniel!" Carl roared. This caught Daniels attention, standing up he walked over to Carl. The argueing began. "Im not goinjg to change this pants Carl!". "If your staying here you are!" Carl barked back. "Shut up Carl you just dont have any stlye." Carl gave up and got on the phone to call the police. "Im real scared now Carl" Daniel mocked " I have a phone too, but I stuck it up my ass and set it on vibrate." Watching with large smiles on our faces, we sat enjoying our first night at the Bonner Gospel Mission. With the police arriving we stood up and walked around the corner. Daniel began to plead with the police, asking for him and Carl to sort out matters for themselves. Carl insisted that they remove him from his property, the police began to do so. From behind the corner we couldnt see what was happening but we did hear it. "Dont do that sir", the police warned him, "we will taz you sir, do not do that." A load crack and a shrilled scream sent us rushing around the corner. Daniel laid on the floor screaming as the poilce held him down after tazzing him. Sreaming how it hurts and he never wants that done ever agian the police started to handcuff him. Our first night at the Bonner Gospel Mission ended to be the most exciting and funny night of the trip so far.