Colorado!

Riding into Loveland was an amazing feeling, the Rockies had popped in to view, I had friends waiting for me to arrive and we were about to climb mountains! We had a build day in Loveland, which gave us some well deserved time off the bike. JP came from Denver for the night and Emily and Micheal came from Minneapolis to hang out too! It was such great timing to see all of them, with everything as it was, and it really made me feel like I got a slice of my traditional summer time fun. We found an italian restaurant that had a big gluten free menu and so Rudy and I each ate an entire pizza. Mmm eating after biking 90+ miles is an incredible thing. Our first climb was into Estes Park, and we were all anticipating a tough day ahead. Our mileage was about 60, and the climb was absolutely gorgeous. I've driven in the mountains lots of times, but you can see an entirely different side of nature when you are experiencing it at about 7 miles per hour. Everyone was so happy and pumped. Robby and I made it to a sign that said Estes Park at about mile 30, and when we realized that we had made it to our host site and the day was actually over we almost cried it was so exciting! We had been climbing fairly quickly, anticipating a long afternoon and then we arrived at the church just as the 10:30 service was starting! It was perfect timing for a pretend day off. We all explored the town and my friends got to spend an extra day with us too! A great send off for our big Rockies climbs!

Building, building..

They tolerated our exhaustion with great patience!

A long, long day as sweep when we got in at 9:00 but the sunset was worth it.

Racing to the host between a storm on the left and a storm on the right..

chalking

A fun thing that is pretty central to bike & build is chalk. We each carry a piece of chalk with us in our jersey pocket, or in our camelbak, and take it out to write each other messages on the road. While riding we get pretty spread out along the road, and the chalk is a way to keep us connected and informed. We chalk the turns that we have to take even though we each have a cue sheet with directions, it's nice to see that you are indeed going the right way. We chalk when we pull off the road to stop at a gas station, or a lake so that the sweep riders know where we are and don't accidentally pass us by. My favorite is chalking encouraging or random funny messages to each other. We chalk a lot while climbing, messages that keep us moving up the mountains and make us laugh. It's a great way to feel connected. An alumni from 2008 came up with the idea to chalk for Paige, and so we have been writing messages to and for her and they were included in her memorial service. I thought you might like to see a few examples, so here they are:

Sometimes on steep climbs, popping a wheelie is a real problem...

After big climbs, we like to congratulate ourselves.

Megan chalked for Paige at the top of Trail Ridge Road.

I wrote mine in Estes Park.

shock

As many of you have probably heard, Bike & Build had some devastating news on Tuesday when a rider was killed while on the road in South Dakota. Paige Hicks was a leader on the Providence to Seattle route, and was stopped on the shoulder with another rider when a truck with an over-sized load hit her and she was pronounced dead when the paramedics arrived on the scene. We heard the news Wednesday morning as we were preparing for a 100 mile ride from McCook, NE to Holyoke, CO. We were all so shocked and shaken, not even beginning to realize the far reaching implications. A few riders chose to ride in the van to make sure they were mentally prepared before getting back on the bike. It was so hard heading out that morning, an overcast foggy day, to do the exact same thing that Paige had been doing when she was killed. I think many of us had been lulled into a false sense of comfort, thinking that we were invincible and not remembering just how dangerous an endeavor like biking across the country really is. The morning started out rough, nobody talked except to point out gravel and to call out cars from behind. People were jittery and afraid on their bikes, which for many people was the first time that had felt that way. Megan and I were riding sweep that day, which means we were the riders who have to stay behind everyone and carry a first aid kit and extra tire in case they are needed. We knew it was going to be a really rough day. It's hard to get out of your head when you are on the bike, something that can serve as a real distraction when you are focused on upsetting news. My mind just could not stop thinking about the girl who was stopped on the side of the road with Paige and was unharmed by the truck. Eight miles into the day Sarah was riding in front of me and slipped off the shoulder of the road when a semi truck came blaring past her. She tried to regain her balance by jerking her bike back onto the shoulder, causing her to flip over her bike three times in midair and breaking her collarbone. I was riding right behind her, and watching her fly through the air made my heart just stop, I was so incredibly helpless. The timing of such a horrible accident couldn't have been worse, and the image in my head is something that I will never forget. While calling the ambulance and the support van, Megan and I were strangely calm, but when the paramedic asked us if we were alright and we told him about Paige's death we both just lost it. The rest of the ride to lunch was just about 40 miles, and it was the worst ride I have ever had. We were so scared of every car and got pushed off the road two or three times be trucks speeding by too close. After making it to first lunch we were vanned and Robby and Rudy took over our sweep duties. It was such a horrible day, so unreal and indescribable. I can't imagine how the P2S group is dealing with their loss when it is hitting my group so hard. I'm sorry if this post is a bit disjointed, the week has been a tough one and the processing is still very much happening. Last night we had our family meeting for the week and it was centered around Paige and how we want to honor her and how we will move forward both individually and together. I invite you all to send mail to the P2S route as they are going to continue on after Paige's funeral and I know first hand just how much mail days mean to everyone on the road. Their maildrops dates are on the website, and I am sure they would appreciate any words and prayers that you could offer. I admire their courage and strength more then I can express. I can't wrap my brain around how awful it would be to lose a member of our group, we have truly become a family as we work our way across the US. Please keep us all in your thoughts, and know that we are taking every precaution to be safe on the road. Tomorrow is our first climb in the Rockies, being back within sight of the mountains have really helped to center me and soon I will be on top of them!

Always with us.

a busy, busy day

Yesterday was crazy, the temperature reached 101 and we rode 98 miles. I was one of the only people who had water right up until 3 miles out as the last gas station/sign of life we saw had been 60 miles back. Kansas, as I mentioned, is really not flat. Rolling hills and long slow inclines were the name of the game, combined with heat, humidity and no shade to speak of. I had a great day though, Robby and I made up lame games and played them all afternoon. We had slow races and no brake races and in general acted ridiculous for the better part of the ride. I love so much that on bike & build everything is hilarious. I think it's a combination of exhaustion, absurdity and maybe a little insanity but I have never laughed harder then I do almost everyday on this trip. I even once fell off my bike mid climb in Pennsylvania into someones front yard because I was laughing too hard to stay upright. So much fun, and such good people. Today was a busy, busy day for us even though we only went 68 miles. The pictures below should explain it, and now I've got to go make dinner!

First up yesterday we reached over 2,000 miles and today was our official halfway point!

World's largest ball o' twine came next.

Here I am at the geographical center of the US!

Rudy and I on the flagpole at the center of the US.

Another state line, which means next up is Colorado!!

Mid-morning break to eat clif bars in a field..

Kansas and another visitor!

Our ride into Lawrence, Kansas was a hell day. SO hot and So crabby was basically the theme of everything that day. It was just a long ride, that started with a bad road and drained what little patience I had in the first few miles. GUH. But, Lawrence itself was an awesome place! I was so surprised to find this hip little town in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, with so much to do! Nora came into town from Minnesota to hang with us for a few days, and that instantly lifted me from my crabby fog. It's been so nice to see so many people while on the road and Nora traveled quite a distance to see us. I feel bad cause I forget how cracked out we are while traveling, and when we interact with the real world we must seem so odd from constant exhaustion and the need to eat copious amounts of food at every sitting, but Nora handled it well. We even got to sleep with her at a hotel, which was a welcome change from the church floors we have been curling up on all summer. In Lawrence we all went out for some games of pool, thai food, bike shop sales, and even a photo booth. It was a really great break, and we spent three nights there making it our longest stay in one town since Providence! The build days were fun, our first site that was basically ground up. We put up the exterior walls and all of the interior walls too. It was sweltering hot there, 100 degrees with a heat index of 115, but we ate popsicles and took turns sitting in the shade and made it a fun time.

Crossing into Kansas! Secretly Kansas is not flat at all..but it sure is hot!

The build site in Lawrence.


Together again! Nora even let me borrow her dress and I felt kinda like a real person!


Robby and I at second lunch, dinosaur vs. shark.

donation haircuts!

The rides lately have been great even though they've been really long! I feel like I am turning a corner of some sorts when I can bike 85 miles and have energy left over to explore the town that I have been heading for all day. The ride into Pittsfield, IL was one of those days, I didn't feel dead and drained when I arrived! Our first exciting thing that we did in town was get haircuts. A salon donated cuts to anyone who wanted one and about fifteen of us chopped our locks into various versions of mohawks. I got about 12 inches buzzed off and it feels GREAT when I'm biking and can feel the wind on my head!

We kept the hairdresser busy all evening, here is everyone sporting their new locks!

The second exciting thing we got to do in Pittsfield was our first homestay night. Most times we stay on church floors with our thermarests and sleeping bags, occasionally we camp out at a YMCA but in Pittsfield we were matched up with families to stay in their homes. This would have been more exciting for me if the family I was matched with had shown up, but they had something come up so Heather and I were put in a room at the local inn. It was great to have a shower and bed and jungle themed room for the evening. It was like a mini vacation for the night! Luckily though, Robby and Arthur shared their family with me and we got to go to Pig Fest with them. We drank fresh squeezed lemonade and took a tractor ride tour of the town. Spending time doing real summery things and talking with the family was really special. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the act of moving forward towards San Francisco and the small things get missed all together. The evening we spent there was such a treat for me! And now, here are a couple more pictures to end the post:

Mornings are still rough..


But sometimes we get to take our 12.7 mile stretch break next to/on top of hay bales!

the parents come for a visit to spoil us, feed us and to bike!

Our ride into Effingham, IL was a long, hot one on a crappy and congested road but at the end of it my parents were waiting for me! It was so great to visit with them and give them a whirlwind tour of my summer. It's hard to convey how the trip really is when most times that I get to write anything I am exhausted and/or hungry and short on time. They got to meet everyone and document our build day in Springfield. They took me out for thai food (twice!) and to target for a supply run. It was great to see familiar faces again, it feels like it's been a long long time since I've connected with the real world. My favorite part of their visit by far was riding with them. That's right, my mom and dad rode with us and it was the highlight of my week. Dad rode the first 50 miles from Effingham to Springfield and rocked it. His longest ride prior to that day was 25 miles, so I was really proud of him for pushing through on such a hot day that was supposed to be flat but turned out kind of hilly. My mom rode the first 13 the morning we left Springfield before they headed back to Minnesota. Riding with them was so great! They got to have such a unique peek into our lives, how we interact on the road, how we spend our time and what songs we sing. Everyone was so supportive and cheered them on, it was such a nice experience for me, and it made my rides both days so much better!

My mom with Robby before taking off!

Lunch break at mile 44 with some shade!

Erica and I cross into Indiana...

...and into Indiana!

Here's Elizabeth and I being badass at the build site. Good times.

Churchill Downs and a day off!

Back blogging some pictures of our first day off on July 3rd in Louisville, and our private tour of Churchill Downs! Having down time was the best thing ever, especially after a day in which the cue sheet was about eight miles off and Erica and I got confused and rode an extra fifteen... Once we arrived it was great to just hang out with no obligations. We went to the karaoke place down the street and sang until they closed. The next day Chris got us all passes to the pool/club down the street that had a 9 million gallon pool. It was gorgeous and so refreshing on such a hot day.

Doesn't it look like summer?

After dinner at Chris's parents house, with homemade ice cream, we made a massage train for our aching shoulders.

At Churchill Downs we got a private tour of the grounds, millionaires row, the VIP balcony... It was pretty cool. We even got to see the jockeys run the horses. Good times.

All of us.

I'll get some more pictures up as I can. Today I'm riding sweep on a 100+ mile day so I am currently sitting on the curb at a gas station waiting for Kristie to patch her flat. I hadn't realized how long it's been since I last posted! I got distracted by my parents visit, which was amazing, and which deserves a post of it's own in the near future.

113.83 MILES!!

Woooo I did my first ever century ride! Here is Arthur and I at exactly mile 100:
Proof positive:

Luckily we were staying at a YMCA and we went straight from bicycle to pool to pavement: