Only a week in?

Hello again- lots has been happening so luckily the church I'm at in Athens, GA has wireless...

Monday's LESSON OF THE DAY: Its hot in the south.

Stupid lesson, I know. But really, this cold weather girl is not used to the heat! We did a really great ride from Columbia on this day and while it wasn't too bad when we were riding it was really, really hot when we stopped. At one point on some blacktop we stopped to double check our directions and I literally felt like I was baking. I've moved from 30 to 50 SPF because on day two of the trip my tan lines were already out of control. The 50 seems to be doing the trick, so at least I'm not burning on a daily basis now. We ended in a town called Newberry which was really cute, and we made some friends with a few shop owners on their Main Street. The host for that night was great, and made us a big lasagna dinner which was perfect! That night was taken up mostly with very intense games of Knock Out in the gym (the basketball game that you play with two balls...) and Mary proved to be much more apt at the game than the gents. I stayed out of the game for fear of embarrassing myself...a good choice I think.

Park in Columbia

Park in Columbia

First bales of hay!

Tuesday's LESSON OF THE DAY: 75 miles + a late start + glaring sun + not enough food + the biggest hill I've ever seen at mile 65 = bonking/blacking out in a parking lot.

The day sucked. I'm pretending it didn't exist.


Wednesday's LESSON OF THE DAY: Don't sleep in the same room as me when my sister is in labor.

The most exciting news of all is that I am officially Aunt Claire! My sister gave birth to a beautiful little girl early Wednesday morning named Nora Claire. Isn't that the most perfect name ever? :) So those in the room with me that night were forced to put up with me in and out answering phone calls and text messages and playing solitaire on my phone because I couldn't sleep AT ALL. But the lack of sleep didn't bother me a bit, and now I have a reason to pedal hard to get to Colorado so I can meet her! Both mom and baby are doing great, and our whole family is so happy to have a brand new member! I'll upload some pics soon.

The rest of the day in Greenville was great, this was our first day off and we all really needed it. Our bodies are still adjusting to our new schedules so a day off was definitely appreciated. A bunch of us went for a southern breakfast at a little diner, and then spent some time wandering around Greenville which is a really cute little city. We had dinner that night at a restaurant donated by Bill West who is a Bike & Build board member, so it was great to talk to him and he actually did the ride from Newberry to Greenville with us the previous day.

The breakfast crew on Main Street

Thursday's LESSON OF THE DAY: 56 miles is a breeze.

I never thought I would say that, but this was a great ride even though the majority of it was in the pouring rain. It was actually great because it kept us cool and we rode as a pretty big pack the whole way on back country roads so it was a lot of fun. We also crossed over our first border which was very exciting!! We have officially biked through a whole state. Only 12 more to go...

Also, lunch on this day was great because we went through Anderson and went to the home of a Bike & Build alum. Her mom fed us an awesome lunch, and we got interviewed by the paper too. I'll post a link to any media stuff that we can find. We've been interviewed a bunch of times now.

Rainy but happy

Welcome to Georgia!

So that is it for now, I can't believe we have only been riding for a week now...it feels like MUCH longer but we're starting to get in to the swing of things and its all going really well! We have our first really long day in a couple days (96 miles) so I'm going to concentrate on getting really hydrated and really excited for an intense day!

Sorry for the delay, time flies

Thursday's LESSON OF THE DAY: Demo is dirty.

On this fabulous "build day" we were actually doing demo, which is a great way to get out any frustration! I got to weild a hammer and crowbar (even a sledgehammer at one point until I got to weak to swing it) and put a beating on walls, trim and the ceiling until it came crashing down. It was really fun, and everyone got really, REALLY dirty so showers that night felt especially good. I have also learned that hose showers are not that bad and I have actually opted out of a regular one in favor of a hose a few times. When you are as hot as we get there is nothing better than ice cold water to cool you off. Anyway, the demo got a little intersting as we progressed, because we uncovered rat nests in the walls, a dead rat, and many roaches came out to greet us as well. A number of them decided to fall on my friend Jessica's head as she took down a window which was none too pleasing, but she was a trooper and laughed it off. Its really sad that someone was living in those conditions with kids, so it felt great to get rid of all the gross stuff and get it ready to build a wonderful new home for Anette and her kids- their picture is on my last post. She is a really bubbly woman who was so grateful and excited about having us help her out, so we were all really happy that we had a chance to meet her. Here are some pics:

Taking the ceiling with lead paint down

Ripping down a wall!!

Friday's LESSON OF THE DAY: Tire dipping is easier said than done.

Turns out that most of Charleson is on a harbor, meaning there are many beautiful lookout areas to see the water, but not so many to actually dip your tire into...we did find a place that we could climb down too, but it was really messy and muddy and one girl popped a tire on a sharp shell. So we literally dipped our tires, washed off in a fountain, and then had a scenic pic of us all lined up with the water behind us. Enjoy these lovely photos...

The actual dipping after much climbing

Cleaning off...

And the good photo op! Santa Cruz or bust.

I'm ready.

Saturday's LESSON OF THE DAY: Laundry and hospital visits take a ton of time.
I have no pictures to exemplify this fact, but doing laundry for 32 people takes a ton of time, and although I don't actually have to do it I did have the drive the van with the "chore group" on this night. On top of that, a rider of ours had a mysterious ailment so off to the hospital we go! Mark one up for the first hospital visit...turns out he has staph infection, which can really spread to the whole group so we're a little nervous, and really trying to be careful and extra sanitary. Keep your fingers crossed that is doesn't spread to all of us!!

Sunday's LESSON OF THE DAY: Driving the van is bbboooorrriiinnnggg....
The highlight is me getting to honk and wake when I pass riders, but when that is done its just back to boring. I did have to go on a rescue mission to pick up a rider that was becoming physically ill on the side of the rode (FYI she is feeling much better and it seems to be a combo of a small bug and some getting use to the physical nature of our trip). I would much rather be out exploring with the riders but I'll live. The good new is that I seem to be okay at driving the 15 passenger van with the trailer! I even had to do a three point turn and it only took me three tries :)

Have to run, everyone keep my sister and her husband in their thoughts and prayers, the little one is due TOMORROW!!! Ahhh, I can't wait, and I think she is getting a little antsy too :)

Miss everyone!

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 :)

Go Time

Well, it seems to have snuck up on me, but its here! I am waiting right now at Mike and Maria's for my mom and dad to arrive, and so begins the road trip to Charleston. My fellow leaders are on their way right now too, and tomorrow night we'll be in South Carolina ready to have a busy couple days of leader orientation before the riders get there. We'll be doing all the cue sheets (turn by turn directions of every day of riding) and learn how to drive that lovely 15-passenger van with the trailer...yikes. For someone who's daily transportation is a train, that portion is bound to be a little interesting!

Somehow, before the trip even started, I have injured myself. Shoot. I'm stuck wearing this lovely accessory:




Apparently my training has resulted in me injuring a tunnel for ligaments in my hand (like the carpel tunnel, but a smaller one on the outside of my hand, I can't remember the name). So hopefully with the annoying splint, aggressive icing, and some anti-inflammatories I should be like new in a few weeks. Unfortunately the best treatment is rest, i.e. no biking, but that is clearly and option I'm not willing to explore.

Here are some other pics:

My ride!

My apartment :)

So after some goodbye dinners with everyone I'm going to miss so much in Chicago, I think I'm finally ready to get this show on the road!

p.s Some people have been asking about mail drops so I added a section on the left explaining how they work and where/when they are. Thanks for your support everyone!

Bike & Build video

Hey all- Nothing much new here except a general mixed feeling of panic and excitement, but I wanted to share this newly released, and still in progress, video that Brendan and Kristian (the B&B program directors) put together for us to show while we're on the road. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBUT_YmkH24

16 days!!!

Oh-
1. I'm on week two of four months of living out of a suite case. I'm getting used to being constantly wrinkled.
2. Baby countdown- 27 teeny tiny days until there is a teeny tiny family addition!
3. The Derby was so fun, and mint juleps are quite delicious.

Gear, gear and more gear

Sorry its been so long...my mom told me I'm going to "lose my followers" if I don't step up my blog activity so here goes. Among packing up my apartment in preparation to begin my months of nomad-ness, I've been getting all geared up for the big trip. I got a huge and exciting delivery from my sister and her husband that was almost exclusively spandex...three pairs of chamois, leg warmers, arm warmers, gortex rain cycling jacket, two pairs of gloves, a Camelbak, shoes, socks, sleeping bag...LOTS of stuff to try and shove in my duffel bag. A bag which I have to say looks very small considering I'm going to be living out of it for almost three months. I also got a big delivery of gear from a bike shop in Boston who is nice enough to give B&Bers a lot of supplies at cost. Spare tubes, tires, a bike pump, chain lube, tire levers, a new saddle (KEY in my making it all the way across the country!) among other things. So I've been having fun playing with all my new toys and trying to figure out what it all is :)

My bike is all "supped-up" with everything I'll need to ride safely on a day to day basis, and on Friday I'll be taking it to my local bike shop to get my cleats installed for my clip-in shoes and get a good bike fitting in an attempt to avoid any knee or back pain that usually accompanies an improper fit. Last night I tried to install my bike computer but something is awry because I wasn't pedaling anywhere and it was telling me that I was going 75 miles/hr. Hmm, I'll have to tackle that problem somehow. My co-worker was also nice enough to loan me her bike trainer so I can pedal away in the comfort of my own home since it is the middle of April and I am still wearing mittens on a daily basis. Mother Nature is on my bad side right now...

Other than getting all my gear ready, I have been very busy getting my leader responsibilities taken care of! I went to Philadelphia for the Bike & Build Leader Retreat a few weeks ago and got to meet all the leaders from all the trips, and most importantly my fellow leaders Jake, Kelsey and Ben. Let me tell you, Bike & Build leaders are a special breed and I can quite honestly say I haven't ever been surrounded by a group of people so different, interesting, outgoing, and just downright funny. It was great weekend, we learned a lot about what we'll be facing on the road and we managed to have some fun too. One of the leaders gave a presentation on "Health and Hygiene" and I'm officially terrified of saddle sores and road rash...so everyone keep you fingers crossed that my riders and I come away unscathed! I've lined up most of the overnights I'm responsible for, so I'm just pounding away at lining up host for one night in Mississippi, and a few nights in Colorado (Aspen is proving to be a little tricky). People have been so great and so supportive when I tell them what we're doing and I'm amazed at the kindness of strangers, I'm so excited to meet them all over the next few months!

Non Bike & Build related stuff:

1. I'm moving in two weeks and will be shacking up with my friend Maria and her husband Mike for about a month before I leave...they have a spare bedroom in their lovely condo that I'll be calling home, thank god for great friends!!

2. We had a baby shower for my sister in Green Bay a few weeks ago, and she is looking absolutely adorable. June 2nd is creeping up on us! For those of you who can't tell, I'm just slightly excited to be an aunt...

3. I'm headed to the Kentucky Derby in a few weeks as a last hurrah before I leave. Shortly after that all cute outfits and looks will go directly out the window for the entire summer so I'm strapping on my highest heels and a big hat and plan to have a mint julep or two!

38 days! Wow, that is terrifying.

My thermometer runneth over

I thought I was going to be grasping at straws about a week before the start of the trip to get to $4,000...but I've officially reached my fundraising goal! Thank you SO much again to everyone who has donated! I'm so relieved and now I can focus on all the other work to be done...I'm becoming very familiar with the small towns in the south and their churches. I've also fallen in love with Google Earth. It is the most helpful tool, because you can zoom into a town and literally only show every church there is. In seconds! So now its go time to start calling places to see if they want to have 34 overnight visitors this summer :)

Other updates- my bike is ordered and I am anxiously awaiting its arrival, along with waiting for the snow and ice to melt so I can actually ride it. Jeff placed my Pearl Izumi order so a big chunk of my gear is on its way! C'mon spring...