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.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
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.
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