The Bike Trail From You-Know-Where….

Not exactly the same bike, but somewhat close

It was my second day at the beach when I had this brilliant idea: I’m going on a bike ride. Jared and I have some friends who recently raved about renting bikes on their trip to Orange Beach. They went to a place called “Infinite Bikes,” and it all sounded adventurous and fun! So naturally, I decided I needed a little adventure of my own.

When I arrived, I met Ed, the sales manager. He got me fitted on a Trek bike (non-electric… this detail becomes important later) with smooth road tires. He said he’d give me a map of the course. We chatted, got distracted, experienced a little ADHD, and — shocker — neither of us remembered the map. At that moment I was more focused on the need to explore, so off I went.

The trail was inside Gulf Shores National Park, over 40 miles of terrain. The route I agreed upon was only 16 miles. A perfect bike ride. Honestly, this is starting to sound like the beginning of a Dateline episode: “It started out as the perfect bike ride…”

The Lord only knows how long I’d been pedaling when suddenly the road split. Since Ed didn’t give me that “promised” map, I was clueless. Thankfully, there was a woman resting on a bench, so I asked which direction the 16-mile course was. She didn’t know but said the scenic route was on the left. And because I’m apparently quite the adventurer, I took the scenic route.

About two hours later — I hit another fork in the road and still had no idea where I was. So I pulled out my iPhone and Google-mapped “Infinite Bikes.” Meanwhile, I kept noticing strange looks from the other riders. Then it hit me: I was the only person out there on a non-electric bike. Everyone else was silently gliding by me like forest ninjas, giving me pity smiles as if to say, “Bless her heart.” .

When Google Maps loaded, I almost fell off the bike. I had another hour to go. Based on my very limited math skills, I had already gone over 20 miles. There was a shortcut, though — a six-mile saver that took me along the major highway from Gulf Shores to Orange Beach. Yes, it technically had a bike lane, but we all know that lane is really called the “hope you don’t die while pedaling” lane. Cars fly by at speeds of 80 mph or more on that highway. My legs screamed, “Shortcut!” and honestly, I obeyed.

As I entered the highway, my nerves were at an all time high. I was praying, “Lord, if it’s my time, let me go quick.” I couldn’t believe Ed forgot the map — and yes, I may have been muttering some unkind things about him under my breath — and on top of that, I was LOST. To make things worse, I realized I was pedaling on the wrong side of the road, facing traffic. Perfect. So I had to cross a four-lane highway to get to the correct side, and then pedal another eight miles toward freedom… or at least the parking lot.

As I got close, I somehow got turned around again at a major intersection and ended up on the opposite side of the Infinite Bikes parking lot. I didn’t notice until I was directly across from where I needed to turn in my bike. And where was I? Oh, just in front of the Orange Beach Police Department. Awesome. Nothing like adding a potential jaywalking citation to the list.

I waited what felt like an eternity until there was a break in traffic, then darted across four lanes like my life depended on it. All I remember thinking as I rolled into the parking lot was:

“Thanks so much, Infinite…and Ed. It’s been an infinite journey. Here’s your non-electric bike. Peace out.”

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A Lesson From the Trail

There are seasons in life that feel endless — truly infinite. Soren Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Isn’t that so true?

James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.” We make wrong turns at times, we have to turn around and we still think we will never get there! But if we keep preserving, there is a reward that is much greater than a reward on earth, it’s an eternal one that won’t fade away. Sometimes that’s hard to picture or understand but one day it will be clear.

Endless moments can feel overwhelming — especially when you don’t know where the road leads. We don’t get road maps, shortcuts, or detailed terrain layouts. If God handed us a full blueprint of every twist and turn ahead, we’d skip detours, avoid challenges, and miss the unexpected beauty along the way. And honestly? We might not depend on Him as deeply as we should.

Maybe that’s why the journey feels endless sometimes. It nudges us closer to our Savior who knows the trail better than we ever will. He knows the correct directions and timing of the street lights too.

So let your hair down. Embrace the clueless moments. Quit stressing about the map. God’s got you — minute by minute, mile by mile. He’s not letting go. The “not knowing” IS the adventure.

From a traveler just passing through…