hello blog followers! pictures are being posted as i sort through them at http://www.flickr.com/photos/philothea/ so check them out!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Santa Clarita, CA
It's hard to believe we are two days and less than 80 miles away from Santa Barbara.
Today we emerged from the desert, crossing over the mountains from Palmdale and descending into the cool green of the valley. As soon as we began our descent I felt the temperature drop, heard birds chirping, and saw grass in its natural habitat, rather than as an imported lawn ornament. Now I'm sitting in a Starbucks (beggars can't be choosers) in the Santa Clarita neighborhood of Valencia, with a few other B&B-ers enjoying some uninterrupted internet time. Really, it's the simple things.
Yesterday we had our last build day, after a 7-day desert trek that included Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert. One of those days was a 120-miler from Parker, AZ to Twentynine Palms, CA...we reached the California border in pitch dark around 4:30 AM! On days over 90 miles we normally have two lunches, but this day we had 3/ Fortunately the temperatures never reached "brutal" status, and most of the group was able to handle the desert heat, mountain climbs, high mileage, and absolute lack of sleep from the night before (we slept outdoors and the temperature never dipped below 85). Our hosts at The Little Church of the Desert in Twentynine Palms were gracious enough to take us into their homes and give us...BEDS!!! for the night, and it was the first time in weeks I can remember sleeping through the night.
120 was followed up by an extremely difficult 90-miler into Victorville. Sore muscles and sheer fatigue, compounded by heat, wind, and climbing, made for a very long day, but it ended on a good note as Denis and I got a free meal at Denny's in Apple Valley before concluding the last long ride day of the trip
The next day was a 55 mile downhill coast into Palmdale, where we were hosted by and built with an organization called Antelope Valley Youth Build. The program is a charter school for troubled teens, designed to teach them vocational skills and help them get a high school diploma and a hopeful outlook on life. The program director, Rossi, his wife Olivia, staff Jill, Janie, and Art are such motivated and charismatic individuals, it's easy to see why the program is enjoying such success, having grown from 7 students to 100 in just a few short years. It's nice to round out our familiarity with Habitat for Humanity with knowledge of smaller, local organizations also doing great things.
Last night we also had our first meeting to discuss grant applications and distribution of funding. All of the grants submitted to Bike and Build HQ have been divided geographically amongst the 8 trips, and we have 11 grants to look at. As a group we have to decide whether or not to fund each of these, and then for how much. After our $35,000 large grant donation to Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity in Andover, MA (in exchange for a van), and $500 per rider to the organization of our choice, we have about $18,000 to distribute as we see fit--not a lot of money for 11 organizations, most of whom are requesting the max of $10,000. It's an interesting process, with 32 different personalities batting for different applications. Each application has its strengths; having never been in a position of this kind of financial influence, it will be interesting to see how we come to a consensus.
Tomorrow we ride 35 miles to Santa Paula, and the next day 42 to our final destination!!
In summary of things that I haven't written about due to lack of internet access: New Mexico and eastern Arizona made this route worthwhile, the descent from Prescott, AZ is worth the trip out west, never ride through the desert of western AZ by choice, there are lots of crazy animals out here (thank God I haven't seen any snakes), I CAN ride 120 miles in one day, In N Out Burger is just alright, the people that advocate for affordable housing are awe-inspiring, and as great as this trip and all the people on it are, I miss y'all on the East Coast.
Love/
Today we emerged from the desert, crossing over the mountains from Palmdale and descending into the cool green of the valley. As soon as we began our descent I felt the temperature drop, heard birds chirping, and saw grass in its natural habitat, rather than as an imported lawn ornament. Now I'm sitting in a Starbucks (beggars can't be choosers) in the Santa Clarita neighborhood of Valencia, with a few other B&B-ers enjoying some uninterrupted internet time. Really, it's the simple things.
Yesterday we had our last build day, after a 7-day desert trek that included Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert. One of those days was a 120-miler from Parker, AZ to Twentynine Palms, CA...we reached the California border in pitch dark around 4:30 AM! On days over 90 miles we normally have two lunches, but this day we had 3/ Fortunately the temperatures never reached "brutal" status, and most of the group was able to handle the desert heat, mountain climbs, high mileage, and absolute lack of sleep from the night before (we slept outdoors and the temperature never dipped below 85). Our hosts at The Little Church of the Desert in Twentynine Palms were gracious enough to take us into their homes and give us...BEDS!!! for the night, and it was the first time in weeks I can remember sleeping through the night.
120 was followed up by an extremely difficult 90-miler into Victorville. Sore muscles and sheer fatigue, compounded by heat, wind, and climbing, made for a very long day, but it ended on a good note as Denis and I got a free meal at Denny's in Apple Valley before concluding the last long ride day of the trip
The next day was a 55 mile downhill coast into Palmdale, where we were hosted by and built with an organization called Antelope Valley Youth Build. The program is a charter school for troubled teens, designed to teach them vocational skills and help them get a high school diploma and a hopeful outlook on life. The program director, Rossi, his wife Olivia, staff Jill, Janie, and Art are such motivated and charismatic individuals, it's easy to see why the program is enjoying such success, having grown from 7 students to 100 in just a few short years. It's nice to round out our familiarity with Habitat for Humanity with knowledge of smaller, local organizations also doing great things.
Last night we also had our first meeting to discuss grant applications and distribution of funding. All of the grants submitted to Bike and Build HQ have been divided geographically amongst the 8 trips, and we have 11 grants to look at. As a group we have to decide whether or not to fund each of these, and then for how much. After our $35,000 large grant donation to Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity in Andover, MA (in exchange for a van), and $500 per rider to the organization of our choice, we have about $18,000 to distribute as we see fit--not a lot of money for 11 organizations, most of whom are requesting the max of $10,000. It's an interesting process, with 32 different personalities batting for different applications. Each application has its strengths; having never been in a position of this kind of financial influence, it will be interesting to see how we come to a consensus.
Tomorrow we ride 35 miles to Santa Paula, and the next day 42 to our final destination!!
In summary of things that I haven't written about due to lack of internet access: New Mexico and eastern Arizona made this route worthwhile, the descent from Prescott, AZ is worth the trip out west, never ride through the desert of western AZ by choice, there are lots of crazy animals out here (thank God I haven't seen any snakes), I CAN ride 120 miles in one day, In N Out Burger is just alright, the people that advocate for affordable housing are awe-inspiring, and as great as this trip and all the people on it are, I miss y'all on the East Coast.
Love/
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Pie in the Sky
Yesterday we climbed 80 miles to the Continental Divide and the Toaster House in Pie Town. Today we ate pie for breakfast and biked to Arizona.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Today is Bike and Build Day!
The mayor of Portales, NM has declared today, July 29, to be Bike and Build Day.
We are officially in New Mexico, our third to last state, after traveling through the Texas panhandle, the beef capital of the world. Cow farms stink, but I still think poultry farms are worse.
There's a bug going around the group, and I woke up with a sore throat this morning, so I'm going to make this short and get to bed.
Last night we held a Bike and Build Prom--thrift store style. The Methodist church in Hereford, TX had a phenomenal youth space with couches, a sound system, cafe tables, and plenty of room for a dance floor. The dancing kicked off at 7 and the guests took pictures, danced, and drank delicious water expertly mixed by bartender Aaron until they were exhausted and went home to bed around 10 pm. A great time was had by all. When I have time to upload pictures I'll edit this entry and add them.
Today I rode sweep with Amary. The first 50 miles consisted of long stretches of cattle farms broken up by "towns"--usually a gas station and some farm machinery repair shops. The highlight of the day was Joe's Boot Shop in Clovis, NM, a huge cowboy outfitter shop with over 10,000 boots to choose from and hats custom steamed while you wait. Did you know that cowboy hats start out with a round top and flat brim? I certainly didn't before today.
We're staying in dorms (= beds!!!) at Eastern New Mexico University, and dinner tonight was hosted by the local UMC with guests including members of the town council, the local habitat board, a habitat homeowner (Wendy), and the mayor. After dinner we got a tour of the Habitat REStore and Wendy's new Habitat home, all against the epic backdrop of a New Mexico sunset and phenomenal lightening storm.
Wakeup is at 4:45.
We are officially in New Mexico, our third to last state, after traveling through the Texas panhandle, the beef capital of the world. Cow farms stink, but I still think poultry farms are worse.
There's a bug going around the group, and I woke up with a sore throat this morning, so I'm going to make this short and get to bed.
Last night we held a Bike and Build Prom--thrift store style. The Methodist church in Hereford, TX had a phenomenal youth space with couches, a sound system, cafe tables, and plenty of room for a dance floor. The dancing kicked off at 7 and the guests took pictures, danced, and drank delicious water expertly mixed by bartender Aaron until they were exhausted and went home to bed around 10 pm. A great time was had by all. When I have time to upload pictures I'll edit this entry and add them.
Today I rode sweep with Amary. The first 50 miles consisted of long stretches of cattle farms broken up by "towns"--usually a gas station and some farm machinery repair shops. The highlight of the day was Joe's Boot Shop in Clovis, NM, a huge cowboy outfitter shop with over 10,000 boots to choose from and hats custom steamed while you wait. Did you know that cowboy hats start out with a round top and flat brim? I certainly didn't before today.
We're staying in dorms (= beds!!!) at Eastern New Mexico University, and dinner tonight was hosted by the local UMC with guests including members of the town council, the local habitat board, a habitat homeowner (Wendy), and the mayor. After dinner we got a tour of the Habitat REStore and Wendy's new Habitat home, all against the epic backdrop of a New Mexico sunset and phenomenal lightening storm.
Wakeup is at 4:45.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Day I have no idea...30? Joplin, MO
Today was everything I imagined Bike and Build to be.
After a hard week of 90-plus mile rides, today's 80 miler was a welcome break. The Missouri weather, fickle every day preceding, held out for us today: sunny and in the mid 80's. We rode gentle rolling hills following the old US 66; perhaps it was the historic presence of the old road, but today was the first day I really felt like I was riding toward California.
We stopped mid morning at a local tractor show, where barrel rolling races were in progress. The local farmers had come out in full force to race each other by pushing barrels across a field with their tractors. They were good-humored enough to let two of our riders compete with their bikes, and Caroline and Christina even beat one tractor's time with their 41 second run!
For lunch we were offered shade and seating at a local nursery--for plants :)--and had the privilege of visiting with the founder and former owner Harold, and his wife, both in their 80's just really wonderful, peaceful people. It was such a pleasant visit, it reminded me of chatting with my great-grandmothers and great uncles.
The afternoon ride, which is normally harder than the morning, continued in the same vein: good weather, low traffic, a stop at a yard sale where two riders picked up huge stuffed animals and hauled them the last 10 miles on their backs...it all ended at a slip-n-slide at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Joplin.
Thank you for your constant prayers and please keep them up--we are fortunate to have made it almost halfway across the US with no serious injuries in a group of 32! Internet access is less readily available but I've tried to set up blogging from my phone so maybe you will hear from me more :)
Thanks for following!
After a hard week of 90-plus mile rides, today's 80 miler was a welcome break. The Missouri weather, fickle every day preceding, held out for us today: sunny and in the mid 80's. We rode gentle rolling hills following the old US 66; perhaps it was the historic presence of the old road, but today was the first day I really felt like I was riding toward California.
We stopped mid morning at a local tractor show, where barrel rolling races were in progress. The local farmers had come out in full force to race each other by pushing barrels across a field with their tractors. They were good-humored enough to let two of our riders compete with their bikes, and Caroline and Christina even beat one tractor's time with their 41 second run!
For lunch we were offered shade and seating at a local nursery--for plants :)--and had the privilege of visiting with the founder and former owner Harold, and his wife, both in their 80's just really wonderful, peaceful people. It was such a pleasant visit, it reminded me of chatting with my great-grandmothers and great uncles.
The afternoon ride, which is normally harder than the morning, continued in the same vein: good weather, low traffic, a stop at a yard sale where two riders picked up huge stuffed animals and hauled them the last 10 miles on their backs...it all ended at a slip-n-slide at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Joplin.
Thank you for your constant prayers and please keep them up--we are fortunate to have made it almost halfway across the US with no serious injuries in a group of 32! Internet access is less readily available but I've tried to set up blogging from my phone so maybe you will hear from me more :)
Thanks for following!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Day 19 - Yellow Springs, Ohio
Finally, we are into the Midwest! Today we are in Yellow Springs, Ohio, a wonderful small town west of Columbus and neighboring Xenia, where my mom grew up! Tomorrow we will actually ride through Xenia and I'll hopefully post some pictures.
The Midwest has been extremely hospitable and friendly, and it's been a treat to stay in some great towns. From Pittsburgh we traveled to Cadiz, OH--via Steubenville! A couple of friends and I took a quick detour up the hill to visit the campus/chapel. The next day, the 4th of July, took us into Coschoctan. I spent the day riding with a group that is a little bit faster than myself (including Matt), and had a great time pushing myself to keep up instead of plodding along by myself. I'm not one of the slowest riders, but I tend to go at my own pace because I don't want to hold others back. I found out on that ride that hanging with others makes the ride much more fun. We stopped for a good part of the afternoon at a car show/carnival in Gnadenhutten where we were treated to free food by a couple that we didn't even have a chance to meet--they met some of our friends earlier and then left money at the fair for any riders that came along after. What a blessing!
The next day we rode into Columbus and I had a chance to visit with Shane (a friend from college) who just got back from a year in Switzerland! We have 3 Ohio State students on the trip, so the whole group went out for a relaxing night on the town, and we got our 11 pm riding curfew extended to 1 am in anticipation of an easy ride the next day. It was great to see Shane and also to get to know everyone in the group a bit better.
The next day's ride (this morning's) was an easy 60-miler along a smooth, flat, beautiful bike path to Yellow Springs. It was such a nice change, we could ride alongside each other and talk the whole way, something we haven't been able to do. At lunch we stopped at a picnic pavilion along the bike path and were swarmed by the local media--3 different people came out to interview us and take pictures! We got into Yellow Springs early and were shuttled to showers at the homes of members of the United Methodist Church--such a treat! In addition to hot showers and real, fluffy towels, our hosts (mine were Roger and Macy) provided fresh coffee, cookies, and internet access! They were excited to see us and we were privileged to be treated so well! Tonight we are going to the world-famous Young's Dairy, on the church. It's so cool to be going places that Mom showed us when we visited Xenia maybe ten years ago.
Still enjoying the road, more soon!
Love
The Midwest has been extremely hospitable and friendly, and it's been a treat to stay in some great towns. From Pittsburgh we traveled to Cadiz, OH--via Steubenville! A couple of friends and I took a quick detour up the hill to visit the campus/chapel. The next day, the 4th of July, took us into Coschoctan. I spent the day riding with a group that is a little bit faster than myself (including Matt), and had a great time pushing myself to keep up instead of plodding along by myself. I'm not one of the slowest riders, but I tend to go at my own pace because I don't want to hold others back. I found out on that ride that hanging with others makes the ride much more fun. We stopped for a good part of the afternoon at a car show/carnival in Gnadenhutten where we were treated to free food by a couple that we didn't even have a chance to meet--they met some of our friends earlier and then left money at the fair for any riders that came along after. What a blessing!
The next day we rode into Columbus and I had a chance to visit with Shane (a friend from college) who just got back from a year in Switzerland! We have 3 Ohio State students on the trip, so the whole group went out for a relaxing night on the town, and we got our 11 pm riding curfew extended to 1 am in anticipation of an easy ride the next day. It was great to see Shane and also to get to know everyone in the group a bit better.
The next day's ride (this morning's) was an easy 60-miler along a smooth, flat, beautiful bike path to Yellow Springs. It was such a nice change, we could ride alongside each other and talk the whole way, something we haven't been able to do. At lunch we stopped at a picnic pavilion along the bike path and were swarmed by the local media--3 different people came out to interview us and take pictures! We got into Yellow Springs early and were shuttled to showers at the homes of members of the United Methodist Church--such a treat! In addition to hot showers and real, fluffy towels, our hosts (mine were Roger and Macy) provided fresh coffee, cookies, and internet access! They were excited to see us and we were privileged to be treated so well! Tonight we are going to the world-famous Young's Dairy, on the church. It's so cool to be going places that Mom showed us when we visited Xenia maybe ten years ago.
Still enjoying the road, more soon!
Love
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Day 14ish - Pittsburgh (Day Off!)
Pennsylvania: the land of endless mountains. I don't understand how it is possible, but Pennsylvania just keeps going up and up, and never down. We have been climbing for 3 days, but now we are in Pittsburgh with a day off!
We are staying at the Smithfield United Church of Christ smack in the middle of downtown Pittsburgh. It's great to be able to take some time and get to know a little bit of a new city instead of just the host site where we eat and sleep. It's definitely a big reason I'm on this trip. With no mandatory wake-up time this morning, we headed out as a group for some beers and dancing last night. As tired as we were, it was great to just be silly on the dance floor and hang out together.
Today a group of us are going to the Pirates/Mets game, and then to the bicycle film festival at the Andy Warhol Museum. I've dropped the silk screening class at VT more than once, and never gotten to go on their trip to the Warhol Museum, so it's been on my to-do list and I'm pumped!
More soon :)
Love.
We are staying at the Smithfield United Church of Christ smack in the middle of downtown Pittsburgh. It's great to be able to take some time and get to know a little bit of a new city instead of just the host site where we eat and sleep. It's definitely a big reason I'm on this trip. With no mandatory wake-up time this morning, we headed out as a group for some beers and dancing last night. As tired as we were, it was great to just be silly on the dance floor and hang out together.
Today a group of us are going to the Pirates/Mets game, and then to the bicycle film festival at the Andy Warhol Museum. I've dropped the silk screening class at VT more than once, and never gotten to go on their trip to the Warhol Museum, so it's been on my to-do list and I'm pumped!
More soon :)
Love.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Day 11 (?) and Update - State College, PA
Hey everybody,
It's been a while since we've had internet access. Since then we've been to Fitchburg, Northampton, and Pittsfield MA, crossed the New Jersey and New York state lines, stayed in Poughkeepsie and Port Jervis in NY, and crossed into PA with stops in Mt. Pocono, Berwick, and tonight State College.
It's been an intense 10 days, and it's hard to believe that much of our summer is already gone. On a typical day we wake up at 6, pack our trailer, clean up the host site, and get on the road by about 8 am. At about the halfway point, we meet up for lunch, and then continue on to our host site.
After the first few days I was so stiff and sore I could barely move. We looked pretty silly...simple things like walking and sitting were extremely difficult. Two days ago for our ride into Port Jervis was the first day I didn't wake up sore, and it was a great feeling. We are all getting stronger, and climbing the hills in the Northeast (there are a lot of hills!) isn't so draining, but definitely still not easy!
Some highlights:
Crossing over the Berkshires was a tough day. On one particularly steep climb, riders who reached the top stopped and cheered on those behind them until they made it up the hill. It was a great feeling knowing you were almost at the top and everyone was behind you.
"Donation Magic." We look very silly as we travel through these small towns. Thirty two people in matching spandex stand out. We have many opportunities to meet all kinds of people and share what we are about, and it is amazing the support and generosity we receive along the way. Last night, as we ate dinner donated by Lesley's (another rider) parents, people in the diner overheard our cause and not only donated money, but showed up at 6 am at the middle school where we were staying to feed us a hot breakfast. Thank you Berwick, PA for your generosity.
Today was a 95 mile ride into State College, and we are all exhausted. Tomorrow we have another hilly 80 miler. There are people waiting to use the computer, so I'm going to have to sign off, but I hope to post some new pictures and share some more anecdotes soon. Feel free to leave comments about what you would like to hear about!
It's been a while since we've had internet access. Since then we've been to Fitchburg, Northampton, and Pittsfield MA, crossed the New Jersey and New York state lines, stayed in Poughkeepsie and Port Jervis in NY, and crossed into PA with stops in Mt. Pocono, Berwick, and tonight State College.
It's been an intense 10 days, and it's hard to believe that much of our summer is already gone. On a typical day we wake up at 6, pack our trailer, clean up the host site, and get on the road by about 8 am. At about the halfway point, we meet up for lunch, and then continue on to our host site.
After the first few days I was so stiff and sore I could barely move. We looked pretty silly...simple things like walking and sitting were extremely difficult. Two days ago for our ride into Port Jervis was the first day I didn't wake up sore, and it was a great feeling. We are all getting stronger, and climbing the hills in the Northeast (there are a lot of hills!) isn't so draining, but definitely still not easy!
Some highlights:
Crossing over the Berkshires was a tough day. On one particularly steep climb, riders who reached the top stopped and cheered on those behind them until they made it up the hill. It was a great feeling knowing you were almost at the top and everyone was behind you.
"Donation Magic." We look very silly as we travel through these small towns. Thirty two people in matching spandex stand out. We have many opportunities to meet all kinds of people and share what we are about, and it is amazing the support and generosity we receive along the way. Last night, as we ate dinner donated by Lesley's (another rider) parents, people in the diner overheard our cause and not only donated money, but showed up at 6 am at the middle school where we were staying to feed us a hot breakfast. Thank you Berwick, PA for your generosity.
Today was a 95 mile ride into State College, and we are all exhausted. Tomorrow we have another hilly 80 miler. There are people waiting to use the computer, so I'm going to have to sign off, but I hope to post some new pictures and share some more anecdotes soon. Feel free to leave comments about what you would like to hear about!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Pictures from the Webbers
Our route, Boston to Santa Barbara, is especially dedicated to the memory of Chris Webber. Chris was a former program director who helped make Bike and Build what it is today. He was tragically hit by a car and killed in 2007. We had the opportunity to build with Habitat for Humanity in Andover, Chris's hometown, and with Hudson River Housing in Poughkeepsie, NY--the home of Chris's alma mater, Vassar.
While we were in Andover we had the privilege of getting to know Chris's parents and brother a little bit. The Webbers provided phenomenal meals for us and it was a special treat just to relax and hang out at their wonderful home. Thank you Bill, Joan, and Nick for sharing your home with us! Chris's memory is clearly alive and well. Here are some pictures from dinner at the Webbers' home, one of our first nights together on the trip (click on the picture above to see more).
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Day 2 - Build Day
Today we had our first build day, with Merrimack Valley's Habitat for Humanity. We arrived at the site in Lawrence, MA at around 9 am, dressed in our Bike and Build t-shirts and ready to work. This particular site is an urban block of Habitat houses which are being rebuilt after being destroyed in a fire last January. Three of these, a single family home and a duplex, were our assignments for the day.
Matt and I both got put to work siding the two-story single family home, along with 5 others. Under the guidance of Habitat volunteer, Ed, I measured (twice) and cut (once) --and sometimes remeasured and recut--fiber cement siding and tossed (handed) the pieces up to Matt and Denis on scaffolding, where they had the task of nailing it into the house. Two other pairs, Christina and Sarah, and Larry and Jacqui, kept me busy and entertained keeping them supplied with pieces of siding at the same time, but I had plenty of help from Ed and kept up pretty well.
We worked from 9 until almost 4, with a break for a wonderful lunch of chicken and egg salad sandwiches supplied by a local church. But when the siding was done, there was still one more task before we could leave: moving a huge pile of rotted and moldy drywall from the site to the dumpster. This required gloves, masks, and many, many hands. I'd say the Merrimack Valley Habitat chapter definitely put us to good use today and took advantage of all of the young and energetic bodies they had on hand. The site was extremely well organized and nobody had a second to stand around and get bored.
It's really early in the trip for us to have had a build day already. But in just 4 days, we've experienced a taste of all of the aspects of Bike and Build, and the coolest thing is how excited everyone we meet is to hear about what we are doing, and how excited we are to share it. We really are making a difference, and this is only the beginning!
Matt and I both got put to work siding the two-story single family home, along with 5 others. Under the guidance of Habitat volunteer, Ed, I measured (twice) and cut (once) --and sometimes remeasured and recut--fiber cement siding and tossed (handed) the pieces up to Matt and Denis on scaffolding, where they had the task of nailing it into the house. Two other pairs, Christina and Sarah, and Larry and Jacqui, kept me busy and entertained keeping them supplied with pieces of siding at the same time, but I had plenty of help from Ed and kept up pretty well.
We worked from 9 until almost 4, with a break for a wonderful lunch of chicken and egg salad sandwiches supplied by a local church. But when the siding was done, there was still one more task before we could leave: moving a huge pile of rotted and moldy drywall from the site to the dumpster. This required gloves, masks, and many, many hands. I'd say the Merrimack Valley Habitat chapter definitely put us to good use today and took advantage of all of the young and energetic bodies they had on hand. The site was extremely well organized and nobody had a second to stand around and get bored.
It's really early in the trip for us to have had a build day already. But in just 4 days, we've experienced a taste of all of the aspects of Bike and Build, and the coolest thing is how excited everyone we meet is to hear about what we are doing, and how excited we are to share it. We really are making a difference, and this is only the beginning!
Day 2- Build Day
A group from a local church made us lunch. Click to see more pictures from the build day.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Day 1 - Revere to Andover
Hey everyone!
First I want to thank everyone again who helped get us on our way! Even just during orientation we talked with so many people and listened to a few presentations that just reiterated for me how much affordable housing is needed in this country and how meaningful and life-changing this trip is going to be, not just for me, but also for the communities, families, and individuals that we will touch along the way. I thought I was excited before I got to Boston, but after 24 hours of orientation I was even more excited to get biking!
Everyone on the team is amazing. We all get along very well. I was on dinner duty the first night, and with the help of our teammate Goose and his mom, we served an amazing chicken parmesan and spaghetti dinner. We are eating so much food it is incredible. We need to take in a minimum of 8000 calories a day, and it's nice to be able to practically gorge yourself and know that it's only helping you stay healthy.
The send-off was at 9:30 this morning on the beach in Revere, MA. Mom, Dad, and Corrie were there to see us off in a slight mist and brisk chill. We only had to do 20 miles today, so we took it at a pretty leisurely pace. I only fell once...at an intersection...because I didn't clip out. Fortunately, I was carrying some ego ointment and the pain eventually subsided. We took some nice pictures at a state park (that was slightly off-route) and we stopped at a thrift shop for a bit (that was very off-route) where we purchased some shiny hub caps for our trailer. Pictures will be linked soon, so you can check them out! Thanks again, and I will hopefully be able to post again soon! Try to keep up!
Matt
First I want to thank everyone again who helped get us on our way! Even just during orientation we talked with so many people and listened to a few presentations that just reiterated for me how much affordable housing is needed in this country and how meaningful and life-changing this trip is going to be, not just for me, but also for the communities, families, and individuals that we will touch along the way. I thought I was excited before I got to Boston, but after 24 hours of orientation I was even more excited to get biking!
Everyone on the team is amazing. We all get along very well. I was on dinner duty the first night, and with the help of our teammate Goose and his mom, we served an amazing chicken parmesan and spaghetti dinner. We are eating so much food it is incredible. We need to take in a minimum of 8000 calories a day, and it's nice to be able to practically gorge yourself and know that it's only helping you stay healthy.
The send-off was at 9:30 this morning on the beach in Revere, MA. Mom, Dad, and Corrie were there to see us off in a slight mist and brisk chill. We only had to do 20 miles today, so we took it at a pretty leisurely pace. I only fell once...at an intersection...because I didn't clip out. Fortunately, I was carrying some ego ointment and the pain eventually subsided. We took some nice pictures at a state park (that was slightly off-route) and we stopped at a thrift shop for a bit (that was very off-route) where we purchased some shiny hub caps for our trailer. Pictures will be linked soon, so you can check them out! Thanks again, and I will hopefully be able to post again soon! Try to keep up!
Matt
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Mail Drops
Hey everybody! T-minus one week until we leave for Boston, and we're almost at our fundraising goals. Here's another thanks to everyone who's gotten us this far!
On the road, we have designated mail drops where we can receive mail along the way. If you feel so inclined, here are instructions for getting that mail to us.
To send mail to a Bike & Build cyclist on the Boston to Santa Barbara trip, address your letter/package as follows:
Bike & Build
Attn: CYCLIST NAME
General Delivery
City, State Zip
Use the following list of dates and locations (City, State Zip) to get your letter/package to the location of your choosing:
June 25
55 Mansion St.
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
July 02
700 Grant Street Suite A
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
July 09
General Delivery
Bloomington, IN 47408
July 16
500 W. Chestnut Expy
Springfield, MO 65801
July 23
900 Garth Brooks Blvd.
Yukon, Ok 73099
July 30
415 N. Pennsylvania Ave
Roswell, NM 88201
August 06
223 N. Williamson Ave
Winslow, AZ 86047
August 13
1500 S. California Ave
Parker, AZ 85344
August 20
836 N. Anacapa St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93102
Lastly, in addition to addressing the package correctly and getting it to the post office in time to be picked up, it is also IMPORTANT that the following is written somewhere on the package: "Hold for pickup on DATE." ("DATE" refers to the dates listed above.) This is important because we will have the post office forward any mail received after we have left town; without this note, your package may be held instead of forwarded.
Hope to hear from you!
On the road, we have designated mail drops where we can receive mail along the way. If you feel so inclined, here are instructions for getting that mail to us.
To send mail to a Bike & Build cyclist on the Boston to Santa Barbara trip, address your letter/package as follows:
Bike & Build
Attn: CYCLIST NAME
General Delivery
City, State Zip
Use the following list of dates and locations (City, State Zip) to get your letter/package to the location of your choosing:
June 25
55 Mansion St.
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
July 02
700 Grant Street Suite A
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
July 09
General Delivery
Bloomington, IN 47408
July 16
500 W. Chestnut Expy
Springfield, MO 65801
July 23
900 Garth Brooks Blvd.
Yukon, Ok 73099
July 30
415 N. Pennsylvania Ave
Roswell, NM 88201
August 06
223 N. Williamson Ave
Winslow, AZ 86047
August 13
1500 S. California Ave
Parker, AZ 85344
August 20
836 N. Anacapa St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93102
Lastly, in addition to addressing the package correctly and getting it to the post office in time to be picked up, it is also IMPORTANT that the following is written somewhere on the package: "Hold for pickup on DATE." ("DATE" refers to the dates listed above.) This is important because we will have the post office forward any mail received after we have left town; without this note, your package may be held instead of forwarded.
Hope to hear from you!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Bogen's Fundraiser
Our fundraiser at Bogen's Steakhouse in Blacksburg a couple of weeks ago was a big success. Here are a few pictures that Jen took of the event:
(me with several of my classmates from studio)
(emma betz P2S09)
(more studio friends)
Thanks everyone who came, we were able to raise $110 each, not including on the spot donations! Thank you again to Bogen's for supporting us, the food was great and I highly recommend it!
(me with several of my classmates from studio)
(emma betz P2S09)
(more studio friends)
Thanks everyone who came, we were able to raise $110 each, not including on the spot donations! Thank you again to Bogen's for supporting us, the food was great and I highly recommend it!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Training
Today I had my first "wreck."
I decided to leave studio a little bit early and go for a ride:
It's a 7.6 mile loop with a bit of an intense climb, a pretty good quick workout. The great thing about training in Blacksburg is that the routes are uphill both ways and you're always heading into the wind (it's not that far from the truth sometimes). Well, on the way out of town, I missed the turn for Happy Hollow Road and continued out into the Catawba Valley, about 5.5 miles out of my way. Once I realized my mistake, I turned around--I wasn't out to do the 18.2 mile Dry Run loop today. Climbing my way back up towards Blacksburg, I finally made it to Happy Hollow, which drops down again quickly before climbing up towards Mount Tabor. I definitely made things difficult for myself--typical.
Well, about a third of the way up Happy Hollow, my left pedal somehow detached itself from my bike and went rolling down the hill. Caught off guard, I of course went careening across the road, falling on top of my bike and breaking my fall with my hands. Upon investigating the cause of my fall, I discovered that the threading for the pedal inside the crank was stripped, and it was impossible for me to reattach the pedal by hand.
Good thing I had my phone on me. I called several friends, and Nick was able to come pick me up. What a sad sight I was by the side of the road with my pedal in my hand. On the way home we stopped at East Coasters where they were kind enough to reattach the pedal for me. So my hands were a little red from breaking my fall, my arms and legs were covered in grease, and the tops of my shifters (?) are all scratched up, but everybody is ok. I guess I still have my first "real" fall to look forward too.
I decided to leave studio a little bit early and go for a ride:
It's a 7.6 mile loop with a bit of an intense climb, a pretty good quick workout. The great thing about training in Blacksburg is that the routes are uphill both ways and you're always heading into the wind (it's not that far from the truth sometimes). Well, on the way out of town, I missed the turn for Happy Hollow Road and continued out into the Catawba Valley, about 5.5 miles out of my way. Once I realized my mistake, I turned around--I wasn't out to do the 18.2 mile Dry Run loop today. Climbing my way back up towards Blacksburg, I finally made it to Happy Hollow, which drops down again quickly before climbing up towards Mount Tabor. I definitely made things difficult for myself--typical.
Well, about a third of the way up Happy Hollow, my left pedal somehow detached itself from my bike and went rolling down the hill. Caught off guard, I of course went careening across the road, falling on top of my bike and breaking my fall with my hands. Upon investigating the cause of my fall, I discovered that the threading for the pedal inside the crank was stripped, and it was impossible for me to reattach the pedal by hand.
Good thing I had my phone on me. I called several friends, and Nick was able to come pick me up. What a sad sight I was by the side of the road with my pedal in my hand. On the way home we stopped at East Coasters where they were kind enough to reattach the pedal for me. So my hands were a little red from breaking my fall, my arms and legs were covered in grease, and the tops of my shifters (?) are all scratched up, but everybody is ok. I guess I still have my first "real" fall to look forward too.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
2 months till trip start
Dear friends and family,
As our first deadline approaches ($2000 by tomorrow!) I am blown away by the generosity and support we are receiving. Yesterday I raffled off three homemade pies in the school of Architecture and raised more than $120! I've also had some very generous and talented friends donating their time and expertise by selling their own baked goods (thank you Michelle and Christina!) and artwork (thank you Chuck!) on my behalf.
Here in Blacksburg we have two upcoming fundraisers: a restaurant night on April 23 at Bogen's Steakhouse (be sure to check them out if you are in Blacksburg, they are extremely supportive of the local community), where 20% of proceeds will be split between myself and Jen Dvorsky , a rider on the Central US trip, and a Road Rally/Bicycle Scavenger hunt which is being planned by some more generous and talented friends, Nick, Jake and Nathan.
This outpouring of support is truly amazing, I would not be able to do this on my own! Thank you everyone who has contributed money, time, or talent, and please call on me in your future endeavors...I will help in any way I can!
Love,
Jodi
As our first deadline approaches ($2000 by tomorrow!) I am blown away by the generosity and support we are receiving. Yesterday I raffled off three homemade pies in the school of Architecture and raised more than $120! I've also had some very generous and talented friends donating their time and expertise by selling their own baked goods (thank you Michelle and Christina!) and artwork (thank you Chuck!) on my behalf.
Here in Blacksburg we have two upcoming fundraisers: a restaurant night on April 23 at Bogen's Steakhouse (be sure to check them out if you are in Blacksburg, they are extremely supportive of the local community), where 20% of proceeds will be split between myself and Jen Dvorsky , a rider on the Central US trip, and a Road Rally/Bicycle Scavenger hunt which is being planned by some more generous and talented friends, Nick, Jake and Nathan.
This outpouring of support is truly amazing, I would not be able to do this on my own! Thank you everyone who has contributed money, time, or talent, and please call on me in your future endeavors...I will help in any way I can!
Love,
Jodi
Friday, April 3, 2009
Oh Happy Day!
Dear Bike & Build participant (That's me!),
Thank you for participating in the Bike & Build program. We have made the size choice for your bike based on the information you have provided us with. At this time, we have ordered you the Defy 2 in a small (I have short legs). Order time is 5-10 business days but do vary. Once your bike is built, tested, re-boxed, and is shipped UPS will forward you a tracking number to the email provided. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Once again, thank you for your participation.
Thanks,
Bokoo Bikes Corporate
bokoobikescorp.com
giant-bicycles.com
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Gaining Momentum
Hey Everyone,
Thanks to everyone who is following our progress and keeping us in your prayers. It is so encouraging to see the enthusiasm and support surrounding us. It's hard to believe it's already April, only a few more weeks left of school. We are looking good as the first deadline approaches. Those bikes should be in the mail very soon! I can't wait to get out of the gym and outside! (It is definitely spring in Chapel Hill.) Thanks again to all our sponsors! Tell your friends! We will be posting new updates and opportunities in the next few weeks, so try to keep up! ;)
Thanks to everyone who is following our progress and keeping us in your prayers. It is so encouraging to see the enthusiasm and support surrounding us. It's hard to believe it's already April, only a few more weeks left of school. We are looking good as the first deadline approaches. Those bikes should be in the mail very soon! I can't wait to get out of the gym and outside! (It is definitely spring in Chapel Hill.) Thanks again to all our sponsors! Tell your friends! We will be posting new updates and opportunities in the next few weeks, so try to keep up! ;)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Thank you Billboard Marketing!
Thank you to the Schulzes and Billboard Marketing for supporting our endeavor!
Whether you are looking for a specific item or just browsing for ideas,
Billboard Marketing is your one-stop shop for promotional products. From fun items to the traditional, you can easily shop for some of the hottest items on the market.
Quickly and easily find products to:
* Improve traffic at trade shows
* Motivate staff
* Thank a customer
* Increase safety awareness
Check them out at http://www.billboard-marketing.com/
Whether you are looking for a specific item or just browsing for ideas,
Billboard Marketing is your one-stop shop for promotional products. From fun items to the traditional, you can easily shop for some of the hottest items on the market.
Quickly and easily find products to:
* Improve traffic at trade shows
* Motivate staff
* Thank a customer
* Increase safety awareness
Check them out at http://www.billboard-marketing.com/
Monday, February 23, 2009
2009 Grant Applications Online
The application for Bike & Build's 2009 grant program is now available online.
One of the ways that Bike and Build donates money to affordable housing is through the grant program. Local, regional, and national organizations can apply for funding up to $10,000.
Bike & Build welcomes all housing groups and service organizations to submit a grant application for consideration. Our program aims to mobilize young adults to affect the affordable housing cause -- we welcome applications for established programs, as well as those for innovative and non-traditional projects.
For more information click here
This is a great opportunity for our fundraising to directly impact our local communities, so if you are involved with an organization that qualifies or know someone who is, please take advantage of this opportunity!
One of the ways that Bike and Build donates money to affordable housing is through the grant program. Local, regional, and national organizations can apply for funding up to $10,000.
Bike & Build welcomes all housing groups and service organizations to submit a grant application for consideration. Our program aims to mobilize young adults to affect the affordable housing cause -- we welcome applications for established programs, as well as those for innovative and non-traditional projects.
For more information click here
This is a great opportunity for our fundraising to directly impact our local communities, so if you are involved with an organization that qualifies or know someone who is, please take advantage of this opportunity!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Welcome!
Hey everybody! Welcome to our blog! Here you'll be able to follow our trip from Boston, MA to Santa Barbara, CA. We'll be updating as often as possible as we bike across the country, so check back often for pictures and stories!
If you're here, you probably know the deal with our trip this summer, but for those of you who don't, here's a bit of background, our intro if you will.
On June 17, we will leave Boston bound for Santa Barbara on our bicycles. Along the way we will stop at Habitat for Humanity build sites in 7 different cities to help build houses for families in need.
We will be traveling with 30 other young adults as part of an organization called Bike and Build. Bike and Build is committed to tapping the power of energetic young adults to raise money and awareness for the affordable housing crises in the United States. We are so excited to have this fantastic opportunity to see our great country and do some real good along the way!
Each of us has committed to raising $4000 for Habitat before the start of the trip. Many thanks to those of you who have already supported us in this! If you would like to contribute, you can click here or use the link in the sidebar to complete an easy online transaction. We mean it when we say that no amount is too small!
As we prepare for our cross-country trip (which will average about 80 miles per day) we will train over 500 miles (I'm at 101!), and we'll also be learning about affordable housing so that we can give presentations to our hosts along the way. We'll keep you updated through the spring on our progress.
Thanks for joining us on this journey, it's great to have you along for the ride!
If you're here, you probably know the deal with our trip this summer, but for those of you who don't, here's a bit of background, our intro if you will.
On June 17, we will leave Boston bound for Santa Barbara on our bicycles. Along the way we will stop at Habitat for Humanity build sites in 7 different cities to help build houses for families in need.
We will be traveling with 30 other young adults as part of an organization called Bike and Build. Bike and Build is committed to tapping the power of energetic young adults to raise money and awareness for the affordable housing crises in the United States. We are so excited to have this fantastic opportunity to see our great country and do some real good along the way!
Each of us has committed to raising $4000 for Habitat before the start of the trip. Many thanks to those of you who have already supported us in this! If you would like to contribute, you can click here or use the link in the sidebar to complete an easy online transaction. We mean it when we say that no amount is too small!
As we prepare for our cross-country trip (which will average about 80 miles per day) we will train over 500 miles (I'm at 101!), and we'll also be learning about affordable housing so that we can give presentations to our hosts along the way. We'll keep you updated through the spring on our progress.
Thanks for joining us on this journey, it's great to have you along for the ride!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
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