Day Off

So, to date we've biked through the Berkshires, up Mount Pocono, through the Appalacians, and through the Allegheneys. We're all tired. For the last few day's, my left shifter has been broken and I've been stuck in second gear, unable to shift down to first. Not fun over mountains.

I'll be putting up pictures soon. Right now I have to take 30 people to breakfast at Pamela's.

First Century!

100 miles from Berwick, PA to State College.  I'm at home in Pittsburgh right now, eating dinner with my family.  We have the day off tomorrow, which is good because everyone is exhausted.  

Many, many miles of riding

So, since I last posted, we had a 45 mile day, a 55 mile day, a 50 mile day, and an 85 mile day...through the mountains. My elbows have been hurting a little, but I've ace-bandaged them and it seems to be fine. We're biking through the Berkshires right now, and they're absolutely beautiful. As soon as I get a camera cable, I'll upload pictures. So pretty. We're currently in Poughkeepsie, NY, and about to head off for our second build day. The site is about 30 minutes away from where we're staying (somewhere near Vassar) and I have no idea what stage the houses are at. I just hope I won't be digging.

It took us until 5:30 to make it in yesterday. It started raining as Dani and I were a mile away from the host location. We're staying in a dorm of some boarding school, and we biked around the compound for about 20 minutes, in the rain, trying to find our trailer. I think people had chalked it, but it had all washed away. So, we were pretty wet and cranky when we came in. Kyle, unfortunately, was hypothermic, so he had to be warmed up. I think we'll look back wistfully on the cold and the rain when we're in Arizona.

As we rode in yesterday, I couldn't help but notice that Vassar has copied Princeton architecture. Posers.

There are more stories, but I'm tired and don't remember (i.e. have blocked out) some of the bigger hills from yesterday.

Digging

We spent today doing our first build.  When we got to the Lawrence Habitat site, they split us up into two groups, one of which stayed and put up walls on the house frames, the other of which went to another site and put up a fence.  I was in the latter group aaaaaaaaand I ended up digging again.  It wasn't so bad, just fence post holes.  Then I got to mix concrete, which was cool.  We put up the fence posts and moved a few huge rocks that were in the way.  I got to work with Rita and Antonio (a couple with two small daughters) who are receiving a Habitat house.  They don't know where in the area their house will be, but they've started putting in their sweat equity hours.  I met them the last time I did a build in Lawrence.  They're great and fortunately Antonio knows how to do construction stuff.  

We had dinner at the Webber house again tonight, and it was AMAZING.  They've fed us really well.  

I'm really very tired.  45 miles tomorrow to Fitchburg.  

Day 1!

After two days of orientation (which included a 15-mile shakedown ride), we got on the road today!  We biked to Revere Beach, dipped our back tires into the Atlantic, and set off.  23 miles later, we pulled in to our overnight location in Andover, MA.  The ride was good: we stayed together in groups for the first 15 miles or so (to get out of the urban area), and then biked on less-trafficked roads for the rest.  Once we hit the suburban part, we hit some hills!  They weren't very big, but my legs are short, so I went pretty slowly.  

Thus far, we have been awakened every morning at 6  to Flogging Molly or Dropkick Murphys.  I woke up in the middle of last night to discover that Devon, the girl sleeping next to me, had rotated 90 degrees and was sleeping perpendicular to her thermarest.  I was afraid I was going to kick her in the head.  But it all turned out OK. :-)  

Tomorrow we have our first build day in Lawrence, MA.  Lawrence has one of the highest rates of foreclosures in the country, and this Habitat chapter is the one receiving most of the fundraising from our trip.  I did a build there with Erin and Oliver a few weeks ago and we spent the whole time moving dirt; fingers crossed that in the interim the houses have moved beyond the dirt-moving stage. 

There are now some photos from our trip up at www.bikeandbuild.org.  I forgot my camera cable (because I'm an idiot), so I won't be able to upload any photos until I either a) find someone with a compatible cable or b) buy a new cable.  I'll try to steal other people's photos and post them here. 

I love my bike! 

!!!

We start today! As well keeping track of me here, you can go to www.bikeandbuild.org. From there you can select my route (Boston to Santa Barbara) and track our progress. There's also a link to photos there, so you can see everyone's.

:-)

Wrist Awareness

Almost Ready to Get Back on the Bike

My arm is about...92% back to normal. I figure I'll give it until tomorrow and then get back on the bike. I discovered yesterday that I can put pressure on the arm again without pain, so I figure that's good enough. (My cousin the med student is undoubtedly cringing right now.)

I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of my WristStrong bracelet. I thought it was appropriate to wear it across the country because the elbow is basically the wrist of the upper arm. Colbert Nation whooooooo!

Mail Drops

While I won't have regular access to mail, we do have scheduled mail drops ever few weeks. So if, you know, you feel like sending me a care package, here's the list of drops:

Boston to Santa Barbara
						6/18	55 Mansion Street Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
						6/26	700 Grant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219
						7/3	206 E 4th St Bloomington, IN 47408
						7/10	500 W Chestnut Expy Springfield, MO 65801
						7/17	900 Garth Brooks Blvd. Yukon, OK 73099
						7/24	415 N Pennsylvania Avenue Roswell, NM 88201
						7/31	223 N. Williamson Avenue Winslow, AZ 86047
						8/7	201 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89125
						8/14	836 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93102-9998

Address mail to:

Bike & Build
Attn: CYCLIST NAME
General Delivery
STREET ADDRESS (if noted)
CITY, ST ZIP

Please mark the envelope or package with "Please hold for pick-up on DATE."

Food is probably going to be much appreciated. :-)