Kenbridge to Dillwyn

What a good freakin' day.  Slept well last night and kept up with a good group for most of the day. Lots of short hills. Lots of ticks. Lots of country roads. Lots of fun conversations whilst riding. (Also, a gorilla). 

When we got to the host, there was a trumpet sitting around. One of my co-leaders is a hella good trumpeter, so after a delicious dinner and coffee, we played some bluesy tunes and recorded a pretty fresh video for to send Natalie so that she doesn't forget how cool CUS is when she moves on to other teams. 

Tomorrow's my first van day. One of our riders has to rest her knee, so I'm excited for some conversation and lunch spot jammin. 

Aaaand our first build day is only 2 days away! 

Day 3: Waverly to Kenbridge

72 miles. First real hills yet. 

About 3/4 through the ride we started hearing gunshots and found this sign that caused me to pedal faster than I've ever pedaled. 

Again, I rode with several different groups today. It's fun getting to know everyone's different quirks while riding and getting to know them as people. I mostly got to know Athena today, so that was fun.  Also, Drew hung back with me when I started to crash this morning even though  Feeling a lot more comfortable on the road, however still getting used to this sleep schedule, so I took a nap in the trailer again at lunch again and fell asleep as soon as we got to the host. Additionally, the exhaustion mixed with the fact that Natalie left today made me shed a single tear. Once I ate and napped, I got a bit better, but am probably aiming to sleep ASAP. 

Tomorrow we have a shorter ride (53) so hopefully I'll wake up soon. 

Waverly realizations:

Have you ever noticed that Donald Duck doesn't wear pants, but he does wear a towel when he takes a shower? 

Day Two: Suffolk to Waverly

Only 43ish miles today so we made it in to the host super early. I rode sweep with Taylor which was kind of fun because we ended up catching up with a lot of different groups throughout the ride. It rained all day but we ended up on some fairly pretty roads.  I've had some trouble adjusting my sleeping patterns, so sleep at night has not been super restful, thus I've fallen asleep in several odd places. At orientation I fell asleep in the middle of a road, to be awoken by a motorcycle driving around me (it's cool, there were people standing all around me). So today's new fun sleeping spot (which was actually hella comfortable) was in the trailer at lunch break. 

Additionally, I fell dead asleep laying on top if the washing machines at the laundromat. So I'm doin' pretty we'll for myself here. 

Afterwards, we showered at a bunch of neighbors' houses and had a pretty stellar host provided dinner. We're sleeping in the sanctuary tonight, which is kind of interesting. 

Sad note: it's Natalie's last day with us before she heads off to other trips and such. We won't see her again until Oregon. I've been making up reasons to call her a jerk because I'm not a fan of her leaving. (Few people hold a conversation quite like a Natalie). So, we wrote her a song and gave her some blueberries both for her birthday and for her leaving. 

Fun fact: we're only on day two. There's so much left to experience. Woot. 

Day one: Virginia Beach to Suffolk VA

Tire dip! First ride! Big freakin day! 

We started out today by dipping our tires in the Atlantic Ocean and bidding farewell to the coast until we reach Oregon in August.  Nothing looks cooler than 33 cyclists in a straight line on the beach about to set out. 

We hit the road by 10ish and rode 54 miles into Suffolk VA.  Before today, I never really understood how it was possible to bop around from group to group, but throughout today I ended riding with about half of our team at some point in the day. After a night of no sleep because of anticipation and things to do, I fell flat asleep at lunch on Jay's stomach, just to be awoke by an earthquake of laughter (as in, he was laughing so hard that my head shook like an earthquake.) Just after lunch I ended up settling in with just one other gal, Blythe, and we stuck together for the remainder of the day. It was pretty cool to just go our own pace, speeding up and slowing down as we pleased.  It was pretty not cool to deal with the traffic and the drivers along this route. It was a tad scary, but my heart did a huge dance when I saw Dan and Jay, who had ridden sweep (aka last people to get to the host so that they can help any stragglers), got to the host and we knew that our whole team was safe and sound and soon to be clean. 

All in all, a stellar day. Feared the sunburn, but didn't get too bad, so I'm ready to head to Waverly tomorrow. 

Like a Polaroid Picture

Shake it, shake, shake it. 

Brief post because, again, fatigue. 

Today we did a lot, but the highlight of my day was most definitely when I realized that I actually know more about bikes than I thought I did. My biggest fear about being a leader was that I'd be a complete fraud and know nothing about a bike...but today when we answered questions, there was not a single one I didn't know the answer to! I even taught some folks something new (crazy). 'Twas super affirming. 

Opposite of a highlight: My phone died in my hands mid morning. Luckily I had my end of contract upgrade that I had been saving for a rainy day, but I lost all oft numbers and music and such that I had made sure to keep for the summer (if you think I may have lost your number, I did, so text me).  Not a real big issue, but timing and such caused slight stress.

Then, we had a short ride to the lighthouse and back called the shakedown ride where we basically all make sure we remember how to ride a bike, as well as get a feel for our teammates' riding styles. In less than 15 miles, I already got my first flat because sometimes dips come out of nowhere...or sometimes you're just an idiot.

The Grand Beginning

|| "The riders are coming! The riders are coming!" -Paul Revere, if he were here. || 

(My grammar walls are down due to fatigue). 

After an (apparently) abrupt goodbye to the parentals (for some reason a "well...bye" is not the most seemingly heartfelt farewell, but I really will miss the fam), we basically hit the ground at a full out sprint once we all arrived at the host on Friday.  Our time has been fairly jam packed with quick driving lessons in the van and trailer, organization and cleaning, presentation practices, learning how to best shop for 33 people, and a short leader shakedown ride to the lighthouse (pictured).

 

 

Somehow, amidst all of the structure and business, we've had ample opportunities to chat with each other and learn how to work and communicate with each specific personality.  One of the full time staffers, Natalie (who intimidated the heck out of me until now), is with us this week to kick us out of the nest, and she's asked some pretty solid questions that ended up in 4+ straight hours of conversation among our leadership team.  This has been a huge breath of fresh air as a big part of the reason I first looked at spending the summer with b&b was a desire for more authenticity and opportunity to be mentored without being preached to or persuaded, and our team has already broken down some communication walls that have taken four years to demolish in the past.  We're already calling each other on our BS in a way that is genuinely for the good of the team and in an effort to understand and pusheach other. I'm really pumped to see how this dynamic continues and grows, as well as to see the ways we continue challenge each other throughout the summer. 

The riders come tomorrow, though we met three on the beach tonight after a delicious meal hosted by an alum (thanks).  Currently in some defrag time in the hammock before turning in for the night and turning up for the grand beginning. 

Birmingham to Nashville to Virginia Beach

The last few days have been a whirlwind. From graduating from undergrad, to packing up a house I've lived in for the past year, to visiting home for only one day, to riding hours in a car with my parents toward the East. I write today from Virginia Beach with anticipation, fear & excitement, and a full heart. Why? You'll never know. (Kidding) 

Anticipation

For some reason, my folks and I thought it would be fun to spend a day in VA before heading off for the summer. We drove up yesterday, spent today on the beach, an tomorrow they'll drop me off for leader orientation. Yes, we've had plenty of fun (see picture of parentals bein' cute),

but the whole trip has been overshadowed by this sense of anticipation - all I can think about is Friday at 2 when we start leader orientation, or Monday morning when our team is together for the first time, or Wednesday morning when we dip our tires and head west. 

Sometimes at Christmas, my family will go to Midnight Mass, but, as most Catholics know, this isn't something that starts at Midnight. You show up at 10:30, or even earlier, to claim your pew, enjoy some music, look at the decorations, and mostly just wait. The hour and a half anticipating Christmas feels like decades. And now, this trip feels like the hour and a half before Christmas. Just waiting. Anticipating. 

Fear & Excitement

Just a few days ago, I graduated from college, and packed all my belongings (including my bike) into and onto my tiny Ford Escape. Somewhere in the process I messed up my back derailleur.  When I got home and noticed an issue, I tried to fix a nonexistent problem with the front derailleur. I even sent a co-leader a picture of it asking how to fix it.

 Eventually I had done more harm than good and had to take it in to a local bike shop so that they could explain to me all that I was doing wrong. It dawned on me that I know about 5% of what I should know before this trip.  I haven't really been scared about this trip in any way until now, and it's a silly fear that I won't know the solution to every problem I'm presented with. Luckily, I'm partnered with 3 awesome co-leaders who have strengths that I don't, and then we'll be joined by 28ish teammates who also have more knowledge to offer. It's a silly thing to be afraid of. It's a matter of pride. And I'm sure it will disappear in these next few days.

Clear Eyes, Full Heart, Can't Lose

This time last week, I was afraid that this whole fundraising thing was going to hold me back. I wrote all te letters, held all the events, and made some direct contact with a bunch of folks, but I was still short a few hundred dollars. Finally, I went to my last resort of social media and e-mail begging, and as of this afternoon, I'm fully funded. I didn't know what I was going to do if I didn't make the final goal, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to see this final outpouring of support from professors, family members, and friends.  

I cannot thank each of you enough. 

I hope to update this frequently, at least to let you know we made it somewhere. Our first ride is less than a week away! 

pre and post bike & build: updates and announcements

It's been about a month since I've updated you wonderful folks on preparation for Bike & Build, and that's because there's been so much to do and so little time to tell.  With the summer approaching, as well as graduation and finals, the end of crew season (which is a joke in itself because that never ends), and everything that comes with wrapping up your time in a city for good (more on that later).

So here are the key things that you've missed:

sweat equity
One of the things that every rider is required to do before the summer begins, is invest in getting to know a local affordable housing agency and spend a number of hours working with them.  A few weeks ago, I finally got the opportunity to serve with Habitat in Birmingham.  After showing up to two projects that were finished early, I finally showed up to one where there were real people working on a real project (woo! the dream!).



After having so many failed attempts at getting on a real project, I had to fly solo on this one (it was a school day, so not many friends were able to drop everything).  When I arrived, I was the only person their not with this main group of coworkers who had taken the day off to serve.  Later in the day, a group of older men who volunteer every Friday showed up.  While I was working alongside several of them (clearly, showing them how its done and taking no advice), I learned that this same group had come to Nashville after the floods and served.  I told them the neighborhood in which my Meemaw lived before the floods, and coincidentally, these folks had worked in that exact same neighborhood.  It was a really cool connection to make as the flood is one of the strongest factors in my interest in service, non-profit work, and...basically everything I'm interested in.

One of my friends' and parents' main concerns with Bike & Build is that they believe I'll injure myself with all this biking.  I was so set on proving them wrong, that I sprained my wrist during my time with Habitat just to prove that the building part was more dangerous (jokes).  But, I did learn how to put siding on a house (super easy), and I learned how to do it without hurting yourself (after hurting myself).  So lessons were learned, and it was an awesome day!

training miles
Another pre-trip requirement is that we complete 500 miles of training prior to the trip. This weekend, I was entering in the rides I had done that week, and I noticed that I passed the 500 mark!  It was super reassuring to see that 500 miles was not nearly as far as I thought, and that I passed it without really thinking about it at all.

I've figured out my favorite routes around Birmingham, learned that Columbiana is the most fun to ride down and the most hell-ish to ride up, and I even got to pretend to be sentimental with a brief 22 mile ride on my 22nd Birthday!  Additionally, I had my first experience with Chamois Buttr (look it up), and got to have a really long conversation with the bike shop guy about my bottom/rear end/derriere.

other notes and motivations
A few days ago, I was sitting in a local coffee shop working on some final projects when I noticed a friend and a stranger looking over at me and talking.  Eventually, I made my way over to find out that my friend was fumbling over explaining Bike & Build to a random woman he had met in line, and this led to a 30 minute conversation discussing all of the facets of this trip, this organization, and this purpose.

One of the coolest things about this experience (thus far) is all the conversations that it has sparked.  As I'm approaching graduation, tons of people are asking me what I'm doing this summer (and beyond) and it's a super easy segway to get to talk to them about the affordable housing crisis.  To see people so surprised by some of these facts, and so genuinely engaged in these conversations has been reassuring.  I've left tons of conversations wishing that I knew more to share, and that I had more of a solution.  It's also been really cool to talk to people who don't understand why a bunch of "young people" would spend their summer doing this.  My love for this mission of Bike & Build is growing every day.

Just this week, I called a friend who I had lost contact with as I knew she might have some great suggestions for a city we were having trouble planning for.  After over a year of very little (or no) contact, in less than 30 minutes this friend had suggested several options for hosting and affirmed me in all of my future plans.  During a stressful time in school, and a complicated time in planning, as well as super transitional time in general life - this conversation that was sparked by b&b was so refreshing, and everything that I needed to know that this summer would be great, and my future is secure (or secure enough to not stress right now).

fundraising
I'm almost at my goal! But not quite yet.  We had an awesome turn out at a benefit concert last month, and a lot of support has come from reaching out to friends and family in specific ways.  I've been overwhelmed by the prayers, affirmations, and of course-donations that have been coming in.

I still need to raise about $900 before we leave, so if you're holding out for the last minute - head on over to www.bikeandbuild.org/rider/7092.  Every penny counts (really...someone donated 46 cents, and they still got a pretty stellar thank you note).

Not to mention - you get a pretty cool post card from a random city this summer if you donate!

If you're still kind of wary to donate because you don't know where these funds are going - here's a quick explanation stolen from the 2013 annual report:
B&B's Competitive Grant Program: Any nonprofit in the U.S. with a project that engages young adults in the affordable housing cause is invited to apply. The program is unique as the riders get to read about the projects and decide which ones get funded.
Rider Grants: Each rider has the opportunity to designate $500 Rider Grants to the AH org of their choice.
On the Road Beneficiary: As a thank you to the hosts who provide shelter, food, and showers, B&B empowers hosts to declare an On the Road Beneficiary, or an affordable housing organization of their choice to receive $100.
Pre-Arranged Contributions:  B&B provides pre-arranged contributions to a few organizations in exchange for key programmatic necessities, such as a Blitz Build with Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity in Colorado Springs.

post-bike & build
I promise, this is the last section of this post.

A lot of folks have asked me what my plans are for after the summer with Bike & Build ends, and I've kind of just shrugged and re-directed the conversation.  I'm pumped to share, finally, that I will definitely be returning to Nashville.  After looking at positions as far as California, and as close as...Birmingham - I accepted a position working with a youth group in Brentwood, TN.  I'll start less than a week after we dip those front tires in the Pacific, and though it seems rushed, I'm so excited to get back to my hometown and to work for one of my biggest mentors.

the end
Okay, that's it. Promise.
Less than 2 weeks until graduation.
Less than 3 weeks until orientation in Virginia Beach.
And exactly 3 weeks until that first full day on a bike.  Stay tuned.