Hey

Daily Mileage so far:
35
54
51
42
83
70
off
74
57
58
40
We'll start getting up there in mileage until we average about 70 per day.

Extra mileage due to getting lost: 44
Graveyards passed: 39 (not to sure why I'm keeping up with this)
Current Elevation: 2424 (I think)
Dead deers on the side of the road: 3 or 4
Fastest Speed going down a mountain: 40ish (used the breaks the whole time)
Speed going up a mountain: ha!
Total flat tires for me: 5

So I feel like I pee way more on the side of the road than I do in an actual toilet. So far it's been going great (not the peeing just the actual trip. Although I guess that's going great too.). We're in the second week into the trip and this is by far the easiest of the 2. The first week was like a body shock and this week I think I'm certainly beginning to adjust. Except for today. Today was for sure the worst day of the trip. We woke up and it was like 55* outside. We all thought it would warm up b/c well this is the summer. Then it started raining. Then my gears wouldn't shift correctly and I was stuck with one hard gear for climbing the mountains. Then my knees started getting to me b/c of the hard gears. Then we all started shivering and shaking. In the summer! Then I got into the support van for the remainder of the ride. But if that's the hardest day yet then I think it's pretty good. Plus I still have a lot of extra miles stored up from getting lost that I'm still above the projected total mileage. I hope I can get my bike fixed before tomorrow so I can ride. (I've been having a lot of bike problems)

But I'm through talking about the bad stuff b/c there are so many cool things on this trip. Me and a few other riders went to the grand canyon of Pennsylvania. It was only 10 miles out of the way and was so worth it. It's no Arizona but it was pretty cool. We got tons of pictures and it was overall a great day. Actually everyday has been great. I'm getting used to getting up a 6:00 every morning and riding these crazy mountains. I'm getting used to sleeping on the floor with the next person half a finger width away (we are very cramped for space here) The views on the mountains are incredible and are totally worth the climb. Another bear was spotted by someone else on the trip. I wish there was more time to type but these little boys are waiting for me to get off so they can play video games :( Oh and we got to stay at the YMCA today and it has a steam room! And showers with curtains! Yay!

Hi

There's so much to say and so little time b/c people are waiting for me to get off the Internet. We've been to Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania. It's been 6 days into the trip and all I can say is Wow! The tough times and the good times have varied about as much as the terrain. And this is the mountains! The former is usually experienced about halfway up the 6 mile climb to get to the mountain. But, thankfully, the fun times are much more prevalent. It usually happens when I'm flying down a mountain at 40t miles per hour. The hard time comes when you run into a huge pot hole going this speed. As I have found, this isn't good for the body or bike (but I didn't fall!) The coolest thing was when we spotted an amazing waterfall. Everyone then preceded to strip down to bike shorts and sports bra and jump in. Cool stuff like this happens all the time on this trip. Also one of the girls on the trip (Frannie) spotted a bear crossing the road not to far in front of her. The constant companionship from a variety of people with different backgrounds and view has also been great. The last few days of trials have made us really grow closer as a group and it's only been a week! By the end of this trip we'll be like a big family.

The hardest and also the most epic day was yesterday. On the trip we hadn't ridden more than 53 miles and we had 73 miles scheduled for yesterday. Most of this was to be ridden up a mountain with a 200ft to 1,200 feet elevation gain. Well we all got lost. We ended up riding 83 miles with the majority being up a mountain. Including breaks, it took 11 hours. Without breaks it took about 9.5 hours of pure pedaling. The people that I rode with made it so much more fun. We were all a little loopy by mile 62 from pure exhausting work and after that we pretty much just laughed the whole time. I fell down going up a hill and couldn't get up after that for a while b/c we were just laughingso hard. Cars were driving by wondering what the heck was going on. But when we got to our host we knew we had it made. We are used to sleeping on the floor of gyms but this host gave us keys to a resort. Sweet! We had our own beds and everything. The best day so far! The sense of achievement felt after a day like that is indescribable and can only be felt after pushing through intense pain.

Providence!

Well the past few days have been great. I managed to squeeze everything I'll be using in a little bitty bag. I only have 3 shirts for the whole trip. I also managed to successfully navigate to the city of Providence which is an accomplishment in itself. No lost luggage and no missed flights. We've just been hanging around here in Providence for orientation for the past few days. Tomorrow is when we officially leave on our bikes to start this thing. We're all just getting to know each other since we'll be spending almost every waking hour together for the next 2.5 months. Everyone is great and very easy to get along with. They're the only people besides me who doesn't think biking across the country is crazy (hmmm wonder why?) The only problem is slight communication difficulties. Most everyone is from the north so I have to get asked a few times to repeat what I just said. Especially the word oil. Lets just say that the southern draw isn't very common here! But it's actually a very refreshing change and highlights the diversity of America.

We had a short 20 mile "shakedown" ride yesterday around the city of Providence which was absolutely insane. The city, I've learned, is somewhere we're I never want to ride again. Cars, stoplights, and clipless pedals do not go together. In case you don't know what clipless pedals are, it is a type of pedal that you actually clip into (kinda like skis). So basically you're stuck in these pedals unless you do a certain twisting motion to get out. This twisting motion must be learned or you will fall for inability to get out of the peddles. It's great for biking because you are able to pull up as well as down which is more efficient. Yet it is not so great for the stopping and starting that is common in the city. Well apparently the city didn't phase anyone else and they were able to get out of the pedals fast enough. Not me. I was the first fall of the trip. And so far the only. But hey at least I'll go down in the books as the first. It was in a very nice, soft patch in the grass and I just sort of tumbled over in front of the red light. Good thing that 95% of our riding will be out if the crazy city.

P.S: And get this. I just had to close the window to my dorm (where we're staying at) because I got to cold. Ha!

I'll miss you bed

Goodbye nice soft pillow. Head, get used to sleeping on wadded up shirts for the next 2.5 months. Legs, get used to working overtime (extra, extra, overtime). Butt, well…… what can I say? Become buns of steel? Maybe I can hope for that but I’ll be content with just being able to sit down everyday. I am ecstatic about starting this long, and much anticipated event. Although I don’t want to be deluded into thinking that biking across America will a bucket full of peaches and cream (or cherries). In fact, in a sense these next 2.5 months could very well be the toughest and most challenging time of my life. Yet I feel that these next few months will also be saturated with many laughs, thrills, good times and in short, adventure. The unknown is what scares but it’s also what enthuses me. And I can’t wait to start building houses for people. Yeah, I’ll have fun. Yeah, I’ll be extremely tired. Yeah, I’ll fall a few times. Yeah, I’ll hit my hand with the hammer (I’ll just stay away from the nail gun!) But it will be one amazing ride.

P.S. Thanks to all who have supported me. Thanks to all who have read this blog. I’m not taking my computer on the trip so my blogs might be far between. But I promise I’ll document the trip every chance I get. Keep me in your prayers. I’ll need it! Thanks!

Running? Cycling?

Just got through with a run. I’ve been away from my bike for 3 days (it's headed to Rhode Island) so I’ve been running to keep whatever fitness I may have (Ha!). And boy is it slow! I feel like I’m just trudging along mile after mile but hey at least I’m not breathing hard! On top of that my I-pod just stopped working so I can’t listen to it when I run. I might not have one for this trip now. Biking has spoiled me and now running just seems a little on the boring side. Don’t get me wrong, running is my first and last. But not my only. It pays my way through college and I know I’ll run for the rest of my life or until I can’t get out of bed. Honestly though cycling is so much more fun! Not better or worse, just more exciting. Running feeds my competitive drive and cycling um…….. not so much. When I bike I feel like I can just stop whenever I want and do whatever I want without having to keep a certain pace. Is that the most amazing view ever? Well I can stop and take a picture. They sell the world’s best hamburgers here? Well I can get off and decide for myself. With running its get in, get out, and try to beat the previous time (sometimes). I love doing that. They are both great but for completely different reasons. I just thought I should put that out there as my I-pod is broken and this is what I think about as I’m running along. I’m so ready to get on my bike again. Then again I’m sure there will be a few times this summer after cycling every day when I would prefer to lace up my running shoes than my bike shoes!

Dehydration pretty much sucks

It so hot down here in Texas and Arkansas! The heat here is unbelievable and I can’t wait to go up north and avoid all this heat during the summer. Although I’m sure it can get hot there too. The last few of my rides where so slow and hard so I got really worried that I was losing it. Then it dawned on me that it’s probably due to the fact that I’m riding in 90+ temperatures with 70+ humidity. I attempted a 70 mile ride just a few days ago and it was an absolute disaster. I couldn’t drink fast enough from my camel back to make up for the sweat I was losing. It ended up with me laying spread out on the side of the road (no I didn’t fall I was just chillen). I couldn’t so much as move my big toe without getting these intense cramps. But luckily I ended up getting back safely (after 50 total miles) without puking or running into things that I kept seeing two of. I really wish cyclist were around this area that I could ride with because it wouldn’t have been too scary. I’ve actually never cycled with anyone before unless you count riding around the street when I was a kid. I’m really happy that they’ll be plenty of people to ride with and keep me company because it gets a little board riding by myself for 4+ hours in tight cycling pants while weirdoes honk at me. But anyways back to dehydration. It really wasn’t that big of a deal but I learned some great lessons as far as dehydration is concerned. Drink as much as possible. It’s much better to pee on the side of the rode than lay spread out on the side of the road. Despite these few difficulties, I’m extremely ready and excited to start this thing. In exactly 8 days I’ll leave for Providence. I just boxed up my bike today because I’m sending it to DHL tomorrow so for the next 8 days I’ll have run instead of bike. I’ve got to stop writing so I can go study (mini semesters aren’t fun) Bye!

Such is the Life of a Cyclist

I’ve never understood the infatuation dogs have with cyclists. Maybe infatuation isn’t the word, maybe it’s more like um………. hate. What about a bike makes a dog want to chase it down and try to bite the cyclist? I must have been chased by at least a dozen dogs today. I’m starting to fear dogs more than cars and I find myself picking routes based on how dog populated it is rather than on how safe it is car wise. I really do like dogs a lot and they seem to like me but we just don’t seem to get along when I’m sitting on a bike. And honestly I don’t understand owners who don’t lock up their dogs when they know that they’re dangerous and try to bite people. I just feel like this is irresponsible and inconsiderate of others. What ever happened to social responsibility? And really half the dogs that chase me aren’t trying to do anything more than run beside me while barking. I don’t have a problem with this as long as they stay away from my tire. But I’ve learned to tell the difference between a nice one that wants to play and one that wants a piece of leg. I’ve encountered the latter many, many times today and I’m almost out of pepper spray because of this. Plus I seem to have gotten a little on myself and can’t stop sneezing. But enough of my ranting. I feel better now but I just wish people would lock up their mean dogs, especially the pit bulls.