an introduction to the summer

Before I get started, let me introduce my co-idiot. I think it takes a unique (or crazy) type of individual to decide that months of training all in preparation for a grueling 2.5 month bike ride sounds appealing. Therefore, it is incredible to believe that in my little dorm room, there ended up being not one unique individual, but two crazy girls who both decided this was a desirable summer adventure. So, for further reference, Carys (my roommate at William and Mary) has been my training partner, gear consult, personal motivational speaker, and yes, co-idiot.

Some would say that she single-handedly duped me into signing up for Bike and Build, but I maintain (perhaps only for the sake of my self-sufficiency) that she merely planted the seed. Fortunately for me, as I mentioned earlier, she is my co-idiot, meaning that even if she duped me, she accidentally duped herself in the process and all summer long we will be trudging through this adventure together.

For those of you wondering how I ended up like this, here's the story:

Over a year ago, my roommate Carys, casually mentioned that she was planning on biking across the country to advocate on behalf of those who did not have adequate housing. Just as you might have, when I said the same thing, I laughed, then I said -- WOW, good for you, then I thought "man, I am SO happy that I am not doing that." Funny how things change...

Now, before people start to think that I am an irrational decision maker, I'd like everyone to know that I made this decision over a very long three or four month period. In October, I called Abby and asked her if she wanted to do something together this summer. She jumped at the opportunity to spend the summer with me (perhaps traveling abroad), and then being ever more realistic than I am, stated that we couldn't leave because we had a duty to our big brother and his June wedding. Those plans foiled, I mentioned the Bike and Build trip. Abby didn't bite, but I think this was the first time I actually spoke the words aloud that I might--perhaps--be considering death by pedal this summer.

From there, I started the application process. Now, I understand how colleges can have strenuous application procedures, and even study abroad programs, but let me say -- it absolutely blew my mind that I had to write three essays and pay a deposit for a trip where I was providing all 4,000 miles of transportation. It is hard for me to imagine that they really had so many people dying to do this trip that they were turning people down for poorly written essays.

Carys kept suggesting that I apply to at least save myself one of those coveted spots on the trip so I could keep my options open into the spring. Though I am now excited about the B&B trip, Carys' advice led to one of my all-time backfires. What I didn't know was that as soon as you apply for the trip, they accept you (I don't think my essay really mattered at all) and before I knew it my face and biography was right there on the page of riders. I could refer to that day as the beginning of the end. Once my name was up there in lights, I was committed.

This lengthy decision-making process might be one of the reasons that I constantly ask myself "how did you get into this?" and "when did you decide THIS was a good idea?"

I guess we will see.