It has begun!

Leader orientation is over, and rider orientation is in progress! It has been a very interesting few days, and already I feel like I know my leaders so well and I'm getting to know all the riders slowly but surely...the group of leaders is awesome and I think we make a pretty good team. Jake is from Portland, Kelsey is from Iowa and Ben is from Colorado. We pretty much have everything worked out for the trip, obviously with a couple kinks but nothing has gone horribly wrong so far! We have painted the trailer, gone on a 25 mile "Shake Down" ride where we double check that everyone knows now to ride safely and done a ton of policy and procedure talking...which can get a little boring. I'm sure the riders are sick of listening to the leaders yap on and on but its necessary stuff to make sure we all make it safe and sound to Santa Cruz. Time is tight today, so here are a few pics!! I'm off to enjoy some southern BBQ courtesy of a bike lawyer we befriended in Charleston! People here are great, and its a really cool city. A great starting off point.

p.s. Thanks to my mom and dad who drove me all the way to South Carolina! They are the best.
p.p.s. No baby for my sister and her husband yet, I'm getting antsy as I'm sure they are.

Oh, also I have decided that since I'm going to be learning a ton this summer about biking, my riders, affordable housing, and the areas we pass through that I am going to start posting a "Lesson of the Day". So here goes:

LESSON OF THE DAY: The sound of 32 people all clipping into their pedals at the same time is awesome.


This is a really cool bridge we rode over on the Shakedown Ride

We have officially taken over the church's nursery we bikes.

Trailer painting!

The family we're building for on Thursday

Me and my fellow leader Kelsey before the Shakedown Ride

SC2SC 2009!!!

Miss you all :)