Sunday, June 24, 2007
promises...
I know I have seemed sort of lax in posting stories from the ride, but this is the first time in the last 10 days that we have had broadband access. There was this one time that we went to an internet cafe, but somehow, be it miscommunication or simply lack of communication we arrived long after closing time and then fruitlessly tried to access the wireless from the street corner outside of the Chocolate Cafe in Reading, PA. In fact, right now we are outside of a wilderness outfitters store in Ohiopyle, PA mooching free wireless from these suckers as the sun sets over the mountains. That said, there are more than a few people waiting in line to check their email but I promise that I will have several new posts, especially over this weekend when I attend Dave and Ginny's wedding (read: heaven-sent rest break).
Friday, June 15, 2007
Carys' Blog
For the sake of efficiency, I linked Carys' blog in the case that you just can't get enough of our adventure. You can click on it to the right.
on the road...
When I signed up on this trip, I thought to myself, "wow, it will be so great to see the country from a bike seat!" Let me let you in on a little secret - if you want to know what the country looks like from a bike seat: pull your bike out of the garage, sit on it, and stare at the ground. So far, the pavement all seems pretty standard, but I will patiently wait for the "scenery" to change.
I should start at the beginning. Yesterday morning we went down to the Brown Boat House on some estuary or something (I was told it was salt water, so it suffices for the Atlantic) and we ceremoniously dipped our back wheels into the water. When you see the picture you will probably laugh because we all have these goofy grins on. I can't be certain of what everyone was thinking, but all that was running through my mind was "If I drop this into the water, I probably won't have to bike today..." For whatever reason, I kept a firm enough grip and after a hundred pictures, we huddled up, shared a few words with one another, and set off. Cruising through the city was a lot of fun. We felt like a force to be reckoned with and I was thrilled going 9 MPH. But, as we all know, all good things must come to an end and soon enough we were on what I would call hilly (what the legit cyclists would call a ride with some inclines) ride. I had a bit of a problem with my chain and ended up with grease all over myself, including on/in my nose. At lunch, one of the boys who shaves his legs offered to teach me how to fix my chain while riding. To do this, he had to hold me on my bike like you hold a preschooler learning to ride for the first time. Nothing like feeling like you are five-years-old as you embark upon a journey like this... Fortunately, despite any inconveniences, we rolled into St. Stephen's with plenty of time to lay in the grass, take showers, do laundry and a little bit of hitch-hiking, before they cooked us an amazing potluck dinner. One of my favorite conversations so far transpired between this really sarcastic kid and one of our more serious leaders. When she asked how our ride had been he replied that he was certain that he had been told that the Providence to San Francisco trip was a strictly downhill route and that he hadn't been expecting the hills.
St. Stephen's happened to be a tiny church and most of us opted to sleep in the carpeted sanctuary versus the fellowship hall. As we went to sleep in the aisles, many people commented on how peaceful they though this night's sleep would be, inside of a chapel and all. I just kept thinking to myself "haven't you guys ever slept in church before?"
This morning was much more routine than yesterday and we received our directions and hit the road. For a frame of reference, the boy that I was following ran both the Boston and New York marathons this year. After 12 miles this morning, he told me that this had been the hardest work-out of his life. Awesome. During several of those hills, when I was in my lowest gear, averaging 6 MPH, my friend who shaves his legs would come up behind me and give me a push. It took me a little while to sort that out in my mind, but yes, that means he is cycling with enough force that he can pass me, carrying all of his weight, and push me at the same time, thus carrying half of my weight, while casually telling me a story or giving me advice. So, you can imagine that lunch at mile 25 was a slice of heaven, especially because we received the mail from the first mail drop (so thank you so much to those of you who sent love.)
Tonight we are staying in Middletown, CT (that's right, we are already out of our first state!) and tomorrow we jump up to around 70 miles.
*I just checked the B&B website and after yesterday and today, we still have exactly 3500 miles to go. Each day seems to be merely a drop in the bucket.
orientation!
I apologize for to those of you who work office jobs and have been desperately checking my blog for updates. I have been a little bit busy bicycling across America. The best news is that we are all alive. Just last night, the leaders commented on how thankful they are that we are an extremely athletic group...however, let me tell you - it is hard to pat yourself on the back when every muscle in your body is aching.
Monday was our first day and it got off to an awful start as Carys and I found ourselves lost in downtown Providence with only an hour or so to buy a whole bunch more gear and then lug everything to the quad on Brown's campus. Desperate, I pulled up next to the only cyclist we had seen in 20 minutes, slowed, and rolled down Carys' window. Lucky us, not only could he point us in the right direction, but he was on his way to work at the same shop that we would visit during Bike and Build orientation. Talk about Providence.
Orientation was filled with name games, something called amoeba tag and plenty of trainwreck (think Art Davies' Field Day meets William and Mary orientation). We also attended clinics on everything from bike maintenance, safety and a crash course in "on-the-road" first aid (where the EMT told us that we could use a rain jacket to make a boat...I think I have gone crazy). As a result of the lack of space, I guess, we were sent to run drills in a parking garage. Somehow, it was difficult for me to pretend that the half-tennis balls were really objects worth dodging.
During our time in Providence we stayed in the Great Room at St. Martin's Episcopal Church. Basically, that means that I slept in the hearth. My thermarest took a little bit of getting used to, but I think that I am starting to get so worn out during the day that falling asleep is one of my smaller issues.
On Tuesday, we had a bit of a crash course in "getting-to-know" one another as we were ushered to the Brown Recreation Center to shower. Athletes always argue that communal showers foster a sense of cohesiveness, bonding...whatever. Having to wait in line, naked, for the communal shower didn't really make me feel like part of the team. It made me feel like a first-class weirdo.
In our spare time, we painted the trailer. On one side is the Golden Gate Bridge - the seemingly unattainable. On the other side, the right side, the side we will always see as it passes us, is a picture of a cyclist climbing uphill - the seemingly inevitable.
Fortunately, all the kids on the trip are really wonderful, eccentric characters. There are boys that shave their legs, boys that wax their legs, boys with leg hair and girls. The people who came expecting to "push it out" all trip have actually been very helpful to those of us who are just praying that we "at least make it."
On our last day of orientation, we volunteered at a local Habitat for Humanity Build. While there, I not only dug post holes, but I created a gravel pit. Needless to say, that song has now been in my head for three days. It was a lot of fun pitching in there, and the house was started two years ago by the Providence to Seattle route. Next week they are turning it over to the homeowners. I believe that the building aspect of the trip is not only to ensure that we are working for a cause, but also so that we aren't just getting our legs sore. On our "off" days at the build site, it seems that we will work the other muscles that aren't affected by biking.
Monday was our first day and it got off to an awful start as Carys and I found ourselves lost in downtown Providence with only an hour or so to buy a whole bunch more gear and then lug everything to the quad on Brown's campus. Desperate, I pulled up next to the only cyclist we had seen in 20 minutes, slowed, and rolled down Carys' window. Lucky us, not only could he point us in the right direction, but he was on his way to work at the same shop that we would visit during Bike and Build orientation. Talk about Providence.
Orientation was filled with name games, something called amoeba tag and plenty of trainwreck (think Art Davies' Field Day meets William and Mary orientation). We also attended clinics on everything from bike maintenance, safety and a crash course in "on-the-road" first aid (where the EMT told us that we could use a rain jacket to make a boat...I think I have gone crazy). As a result of the lack of space, I guess, we were sent to run drills in a parking garage. Somehow, it was difficult for me to pretend that the half-tennis balls were really objects worth dodging.
During our time in Providence we stayed in the Great Room at St. Martin's Episcopal Church. Basically, that means that I slept in the hearth. My thermarest took a little bit of getting used to, but I think that I am starting to get so worn out during the day that falling asleep is one of my smaller issues.
On Tuesday, we had a bit of a crash course in "getting-to-know" one another as we were ushered to the Brown Recreation Center to shower. Athletes always argue that communal showers foster a sense of cohesiveness, bonding...whatever. Having to wait in line, naked, for the communal shower didn't really make me feel like part of the team. It made me feel like a first-class weirdo.
In our spare time, we painted the trailer. On one side is the Golden Gate Bridge - the seemingly unattainable. On the other side, the right side, the side we will always see as it passes us, is a picture of a cyclist climbing uphill - the seemingly inevitable.
Fortunately, all the kids on the trip are really wonderful, eccentric characters. There are boys that shave their legs, boys that wax their legs, boys with leg hair and girls. The people who came expecting to "push it out" all trip have actually been very helpful to those of us who are just praying that we "at least make it."
On our last day of orientation, we volunteered at a local Habitat for Humanity Build. While there, I not only dug post holes, but I created a gravel pit. Needless to say, that song has now been in my head for three days. It was a lot of fun pitching in there, and the house was started two years ago by the Providence to Seattle route. Next week they are turning it over to the homeowners. I believe that the building aspect of the trip is not only to ensure that we are working for a cause, but also so that we aren't just getting our legs sore. On our "off" days at the build site, it seems that we will work the other muscles that aren't affected by biking.
Friday, June 1, 2007
oh hello, bike trail
Now, I knew that when I came home, my mother would be eagerly awaiting a few training rides. What I did not know, was that she is deathly afraid of biking on the road. That's right, I am basically about to go pro in amateur road-cycling, and it's "hellooo bike trail!" There are a lot of nice things that mom pointed out about riding the trail: tree lined (just like Kansas, I'm sure), you feel more intense than most of the other people just because you aren't carrying a Blue Chip Cookie bag, and it is absolutely, completely, hold-a-level-to-the-ground, flat.
Now, all of this would set me up to feel totally confident about hitting the trail, except that my sister (athletic enough) and three of her friends took to the trail a day or so earlier to check it out. They rode four miles, to a McDonald's, where one vomited as a result of exhaustion (or heat exhaustion) and two of them had to rendezvous with a parent to get a ride back into town. (For all those concerned, Abby did, eventually, make it home on her bike).
Our ride was a little different. We drove about 15 miles to bike out to an ice-cream shop (nothing like chocolate-chip cookie dough to light a fire under you) and back. All was going well and we were cruising back from Miranda's Ice Cream Shop, having already tackled chain problems and the brutal heat of the day, when a woman comes flying out of nowhere. I hear mom chatting and I think to myself, "she makes friends with just about anyone who shares an affinity for physical fitness." Boy was I WRONG. This woman was none other than my mom's good friend/fitness instructor. As she introduces herself to me (while we are clipping along at a decent pace) I realize that my own mother has sicked her personal trainer on me, either in hopes of improving my form, or perhaps getting a break from riding alongside me.
Well, any confidence I had was instantly shattered as I heaved next to her maintaining my fastest pace ever and she made casual, composed conversation. You can bet I used up all of my energy on asking open ended questions and replying to hers with one word answers. After a few miles, I think she sensed I was actually dying and she told me she needed to check up on mom. I don't know if I have ever been more relieved.
Thank you mom -- you're always looking out for me.
Now, all of this would set me up to feel totally confident about hitting the trail, except that my sister (athletic enough) and three of her friends took to the trail a day or so earlier to check it out. They rode four miles, to a McDonald's, where one vomited as a result of exhaustion (or heat exhaustion) and two of them had to rendezvous with a parent to get a ride back into town. (For all those concerned, Abby did, eventually, make it home on her bike).
Our ride was a little different. We drove about 15 miles to bike out to an ice-cream shop (nothing like chocolate-chip cookie dough to light a fire under you) and back. All was going well and we were cruising back from Miranda's Ice Cream Shop, having already tackled chain problems and the brutal heat of the day, when a woman comes flying out of nowhere. I hear mom chatting and I think to myself, "she makes friends with just about anyone who shares an affinity for physical fitness." Boy was I WRONG. This woman was none other than my mom's good friend/fitness instructor. As she introduces herself to me (while we are clipping along at a decent pace) I realize that my own mother has sicked her personal trainer on me, either in hopes of improving my form, or perhaps getting a break from riding alongside me.
Well, any confidence I had was instantly shattered as I heaved next to her maintaining my fastest pace ever and she made casual, composed conversation. You can bet I used up all of my energy on asking open ended questions and replying to hers with one word answers. After a few miles, I think she sensed I was actually dying and she told me she needed to check up on mom. I don't know if I have ever been more relieved.
Thank you mom -- you're always looking out for me.
MAIL DROPS
For those of you wondering how you will be able to get in touch with me (or with Carys) during our trip, I am posting the mail drop schedule. Like I said in my email, feel free to send anything: words of encouragement, cookies, clean socks, prescription drugs...
INSTRUCTIONS
INSTRUCTIONS
Bike & Build groups will receive mail approximately once a week while on the road, and welcome letters and packages from friends, family, and supporters. Mail will be delivered through USPS General Delivery. Please be sure to send mail in ample time to arrive prior to the pick-up date and only through the United States Postal Service (The Post Office will not accept mail from any other carrier). Address mail to:
Bike & Build
Attn: CYCLIST NAME
General Delivery
CITY, ST ZIP
Please mark the envelope or package with "Please hold for pick-up on DATE."
Late mail will be forwarded to the mail drop two weeks ahead. Late mail from the last two mail drops will be returned to sender.
Providence to San Francisco
June 14 Plainfield, CT 06374
June 21 Harrisburg, PA 17112
June 28 Hillsboro , OH 45159
July 5 Taylorville, IL 62568
July 12 Lawrence, KS 66044
July 19 Holyoke, CO 80734
July 26 Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
August 2 Wendover, UT 84083
August 9 Sparks, NV 89431
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